The Winter Solstice: A Cassandra Blake Mystery

Chapter 1.2

Cassie woke up with a start as Malekai’s phone alarm sounded. She rolled away from him as he stretched toward the nightstand to turn off the beeping device. Cassie turned her head toward him to see him smiling at her.

“Sorry about that,” Malekai said, barely above a whisper. “I still have to finalize a few things for tonight’s celebration before lunch.”

“It’s OK. I understand how work sometimes interrupts normal life,” Cassie replied as she stretched.

“I have an idea. Why don’t I hurry and finish things up, and then we can go for a run in the snow and play a little before it is time to get ready and head to the town square for the festivities? You can actually have a little fun on your birthday.”

“My birthday. Whoopee,” Cassie said sarcastically. “But letting our wolves out to run and play in the snow does sound good.”

“Perfect. Go back to sleep until your mom wakes you up. I will call you when I’m done tying up the loose ends. I'll also take care of lunch. How does a picnic in the cave sound as a rest stop during the run?”

“It sounds perfect, except now I will be thinking about that and won’t be able to go back to sleep,” Cassie laughed. Her stomach growled as she sat up and glanced toward the window, seeing the sun shining brightly. “What time is it anyway?”

“It’s almost eight, which is why I have to get dressed and go to city hall. Sorry, I don’t have time to take you to breakfast.” Malekai apologized.

“Why don't you head to city hall, and I will be along shortly with coffee and whatever I can steal from Mom’s bakery?” Cassie said with a smile.

“I like that idea,” Malekai replied as he stood up and pulled down his borrowed pajama pants, leaning over, fully mooning Cassie.

“You don’t have a single drop of modesty, do you,” Cassie laughed as she got out of bed and began to rummage through her bag to find clothes for the day.

“Not around you, Cass. Remember we have been seeing each other naked since before we could walk? How many times have we shifted in front of each other over the years?”

“Oh Goddess, more times than I can count.”

“Exactly! So why should I worry about changing clothes in front of you?”

“You shouldn’t, which is why it doesn’t bother me,” she said as she watched him pull on his jeans and zip them.

“It doesn’t bother you, yet you always go into the bathroom to get dressed.”

“I do that out of habit because I live and work in a city that is almost entirely human. They are a bit more uptight about the whole nudity thing than we are,” Cassie said as she moved toward the bathroom holding her clothes.

“I'll wait for you to get dressed and walk out with you. We might as well give the neighbors something to talk about.”

“The neighbors know us, Kai. They all know what we are like and what we do. If they are going to talk, they talk about us anyway,” Cassie called from the bathroom. “Let’s be honest,” Cassie said as she exited the bathroom. “Half the people in this town think we have been screwing each other since we were teenagers. Over the years, I have even had a few ask me why I torture you the way I do by staying away and making you run the pack by yourself.”

“What?! Why didn’t you tell me that?” Malekai fumed.

“Because it doesn’t matter. We know the truth, and so do our families. Those are the people who matter. Let the others talk.”

“No! That is where I draw the line. I might be a lenient Alpha, but I will not be disrespected by pack members spreading rumors.”

“Kai, you weren’t the one being disrespected. I was. I still am. Every time I come here, it happens. I will hear the off-handed comments and cutting questions; not one is against you. The pack members know where they stand. I know where I stand with many of them since I left.”

“What do you mean by that?” Malekai asked, genuinely confused.

“Everyone watched us grow up together and assumed that when you became Alpha, I would become your Luna. When I left, they looked at it as if I had abandoned you, the pack, and this town. I became a pariah. They hide it from you. Whether that is because they don’t want to hurt you or because they are afraid of you, I don’t know, but they do. They don’t hide it from me.”

Cassie sighed before she continued. “Do you remember when we were kids, and I would work at the bakery and diner after school and on weekends? Remember how often I would end up wearing coffee or food my senior year after my eighteenth birthday? It was every single day, and it was never an accident. Most still carry that grudge.”

Malekai stood gaping at Cassie as she dropped that bomb on him. It was his town, his pack, and he had no idea. “Cass, why didn’t you tell me? My parents and I would have put a stop to it. We all love you and were thrilled that you got into the school you wanted and could do the job you dreamed of doing since you were eight years old. I’m still happy you are doing what you love. Everyone should have that.”

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to cause more trouble,” Cassie admitted as she dropped onto her bed.

“Cause more trouble? What are you talking about?” Kai asked as he dropped to his knees before her and cupped her face in his hands. “Cassandra Blake, you have never been trouble in your life. You are the child every parent dreams of and the adult everyone should be proud to know.”

Cassie looked into his eyes. Malekai could see a sadness in them he had never seen before and knew it went far deeper than what the town rumor mill said. Part of it was because it was her birthday, and it would go unnoticed once again by almost everyone in the town. His chest tightened at the thought of his best friend being so sad and not saying a word to him as to why. He stood, keeping her face cupped in his hands, and kissed her on the forehead.

“Before you leave, we will have a very, very long talk about what is bothering you because I know something is. If you’re ready, let's go downstairs, get our boots on, and walk over to the square. From there, we will split up. I will go to city hall, and you can visit your mom at the bakery and steal everything you can. Just make sure to get me the largest coffee she has. She makes the best coffee.”

“That sounds good,” Cassie said as she stood. “I will probably get extra coffees just to be on the safe side.”

They hurried downstairs, pulled on their boots and coats, and began the short walk to the town square. Malekai proudly pointed out things that had been set up for the festival and what was still in progress for the night. They reached the center of town and parted ways after Malekai made a point of very publicly hugging Cassie and kissing her on top of the head. She laughed and shook her head as she walked to her mom’s bakery. However, her mood quickly shifted when she stepped into the bakery.

“What the hell are you doing back in town?!” came from across the bakery before the door had even closed behind Cassie.

Cassie scanned the room to see Maryanne Perkins standing beside the table where she had been sitting. Cassie’s heart dropped. Of all the people to have to deal with on her birthday, Maryanne was the last one she wanted it to be.

“I asked you a question, you tramp,” Maryanne spat as she neared Cassie.

“I just came home to spend some time with my family. And since it seems like you forgot, this is my mother’s bakery,” Cassie calmly answered. She wanted to punch Maryanne in the face and beat her until she was only a little bloody spot on the floor.

“And shacking up with Malekai, no doubt like you always do,” Maryanne growled, now only inches from Cassie’s face.

“What Malekai and I do is none of your business, Maryanne. If you have a problem with the actions of your Mayor, I suggest that you take it up with him and be sure to mention names.” Cassie had pointedly referred to Malekai as the Mayor and not Alpha. There were several people in the bakery whom she did not recognize, and she did not want them asking questions about what the title of Alpha meant if they were human.

“Maybe I should go do that right now,” Maryanne sneered.

“I think you should. But please make it fast. I’m here to pick up breakfast and coffee for Mayor Malekai and the city manager,” Cassie said as she glanced toward the counter where her sister-in-law and mother were now standing. Her sister-in-law, Ashley, seemed concerned about what was playing out. Her mother looked absolutely livid.

“Whatever,” Maryanne scowled as she hit Cassie with her shoulder as she walked by her and out the door.

Cassie dropped her head and sighed as she went to the counter where her family stood. Cassie softly said, “Sorry, Mom. If I had known she was here, I would have waited until she left.”

“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart,” her mom quietly said as she took both of her hands and squeezed them. “I have been wanting to find a reason to ban her from here, and she just gave it to me.”

Cassie met her mother’s eyes, saw the sparkle in them, and the smile beaming all the way to her eyes. She knew her mother disliked Maryanne, like most in the town, but she had no idea how much until that moment. Cassie let out a slow breath and returned her mother’s smile. It was nice to know she had someone on her side.

“Cass, if that thing shows her face in her again, I will personally pick her up and throw her out the front door and into the street for everyone to see,” Ashley, Cassie’s sister-in-law, told her as she walked around the counter and wrapped Cassie in a warm hug.

“As much as I would pay to see you do that, you will not do it until after you have this baby,” Cassie laughed as she wiggled her way out of Ashley’s hug and placed her handles on each side of sister-in-law’s swollen belly. “Do you know if it is a boy or girl yet?”

“No, and it’s babies. We just found out we are having twins since one was hiding behind the other,” Ashley said as she returned to behind the counter. “We don’t care as long as they are healthy. We already have one of each, so it doesn’t matter.”

“Are you and Zach trying for a soccer team?” Cassie said with a wink.

Ashley blushed and laughed, “Don’t give your brother any ideas.”

“So, Cassie,” her mom politely interrupted. “What do Aaron, Malekai, and you want for breakfast?”

“Um, I don’t think it matters as long as I can get a bear claw for Malekai and a blueberry muffin for Aaron in the mix.”

“Well, I guess it is good that I made double batches of both today. I also have a ton of mini quiches ready. Let me make you a bag to take over to city hall. And I know all three of you will want coffee, right?”

“Yes, please,” Cassie answered.

She was so happy to see her mother in such a fantastic mood. Her bakery was packed with citizens and tourists who had come to participate in the Winter Solstice Festival that night. She could hear the whispers and false rumors spreading among the people at the tables as she waited for her mom to finish. She tried to ignore them, never letting her expression change or showing any sign that it bothered her. That was something that she had learned long ago, to hide what she really felt. That was one thing that made her good at her job. Even when her heart hurt like it did now, she could put on a convincing smile and continue as if nothing were wrong.

“Here you go, sweetheart,” Cassie’s mom said as she placed a large brown shopping bag on the counter with a drink carrier holding six cups of coffee. “I put in a little of everything I had ready, along with extra blueberry muffins, bear claws, and the quiches you like. I also made each of you two cups of coffee because I know you and Malekai were up late because of when you got in, and he has a lot to do before tonight.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’m sure they guys will appreciate it as much as I do,” Cassie said as she picked up the bag and drink carrier.

“Sweetie, are you alright?” Angela softly asked as she leaned close to her daughter.

“I’m fine. I just didn’t want to deal with Maryanne this visit, yet I saw her right off the bat.

Angela smiled slightly, “I understand, sweetheart. Go visit with the boys and help them work out the final details. You know they saved all the security issues until the last minute so that you can help them.”

“They always do,” Cassie laughed as she headed to the door.

Cassie sighed in relief as soon as she stepped out of her mother’s bakery, and the door closed behind her. She just wanted to go back to bed, pull the covers over her head, and stay there until the day was over. She turned toward the city hall at the end of the block and silently prayed that she could make it that far without dealing with any more drama.