“No. I never do what is expected, and I never leave my home to go and fight another man’s battle. David wants to take me on, he’ll do it on my turf, nowhere else.” He stared into her eyes, seeing the fear slowly begin to dissipate. “Now that we’ve cleared up that matter, I think it’s only fair that I mark you to show every other male that you’re taken.”
“What about you?”
“You can sink your teeth into me anytime you want. I’ve got no complaints.”
He loved her giggle, and he also made a note to be sure to never leave her alone. Cassie’s fear could force her to make bad choices, and he didn’t intend to let that happen.
Chapter Ten
One week later
Nothing had happened, and now it was driving Cassie crazy. Kicking out her leg, Jessica pushed it aside and charged at her. Grabbing the other woman, she pinned Jessica to the floor. Cassie smiled, and it was the wrong thing to do as the other woman took her arm, changing places, and had her in a chokehold on the floor.
“Remember to never underestimate your opponent,” Jessica said.
Cassie collapsed on her ass when Jessica let her go. Abel was busy with other pack business, and she’d taken to training every single day so that she could get accustomed to her strength and control it.
Jessica was one of the strongest women within the pack and had offered to help her. At first, Cassie had been nervous. She didn’t want to hurt the other woman, but after a week of training, she saw she had nothing to fear.
“Every time I think I’m learning I do something to fuck it up,” she said, chugging down some water that Jessica handed to her.
“He got you good, didn’t he?” Jessica asked nodding at her neck.
Cassie touched the bite mark that Abel had left on her neck during their hilltop claiming and rough sex mating. Just thinking about what they’d been doing made her blush. Like always, Abel won, not that she ever had any doubt. His skills were amazing, and he never got bested. She adored him.
You don’t just adore him.
Pushing those thoughts aside, she smiled at Jessica. “This isn’t weird for you? I know I’ve not been around all that long—”
“At first I was pissed. No denying it. You had just come along and without any effort at all he was all over you, so I was a little jealous. Then when you see you both together, that is, like, crazy. I mean, seriously. You make me blush, and that’s saying something. You’re always touching or doing something. He’s got those eyes that scream he’s thinking about fucking you. I can’t be jealous. It goes to show that I thought he needed something.” Jessica shrugged. “No big deal. I will find my mate. I know it.”
“It’s … surreal at times. One moment he was pushing me, saying all that mean stuff about my food, and everything I did. I thought he hated me.”
“We had never seen him act like that before. It should have been the first clue, really.”
“First clue about what?”
“That he actually liked you. Your food is the bomb, no doubt about that. We all love good food, and we’d just been getting by for so long. Then you came along and he complained about everything while also sneaking your food as well. The reason your cookies are always disappearing, check his office. He’s got a cookie barrel with them in it.”
“Really?” Cassie burst out laughing. “I had no idea.”
“It’s why they’re always missing.” Jessica sat down on the mat. “Do you think your old pack will attack?”
“I don’t know. I thought they would have done it by now. I don’t have a clue what they’re waiting for.”
“They’re assholes, Cassie. I wouldn’t worry about it. We’ll be ready for them.” Jessica stretched out, and Cassie lay down on the gym floor, staring up at the ceiling. Everything always seemed so big around her.
“Are you two lazing around instead of working?” Abel asked.
She sat up as Jessica stayed on the mats.
“We’ve been working out. We’re just taking some time to bask in all that we’ve accomplished. What’s the update, alpha?”
Abel smiled at her. “The fences are still intact. No sign of anyone trying to trespass on my land.”
“You know, I wonder if they’re waiting for us all to leave or for Cassie to be alone long enough for them to take her away from us?” Jessica asked, rolling over and sitting up. “The full moon would have been a total disaster. We’re all together, and unless the old alpha had his entire pack at his back, they wouldn’t have been able to take us.”
“I think he’s waiting for an opportunity where she’s alone,” Abel said.
“No problem with that. I’m never alone.”
Jessica glanced down at her watchless wrist. “Look at the time. I totally need to go out and feed the dogs.”