Cassidy blew out a breath, her heart aching. “Did he hurt your beautiful face, break any bones, or…” Cassidy couldn’t bring herself to list that last option.
“No, he didn’t violate me, but he held a knife to my throat. The cut won’t leave a scar, thank goodness. I do have quite a lot of bruises though.”
“I am so sorry, Mindy. This is all my fault. I just thought that if I left town, Doug would give up.”
“Apparently not. On the plus side, I heard his dad took a turn for the worse.”
“Good." Now she didn't need Zach's dad to research it. "I know that sounds terrible, but if he dies, then there will be no reason for Doug to want me anymore.”
“Cass, that might be wishful thinking.”
She stilled. “Why do you say that?”
“Doug is a proud man. Chances are he’s told everyone that you are excited to be with such a stud. He probably bragged that he was going to be the next Alpha.”
That sounded like him. “I wonder what Chris Wentworth thinks about that. Being the legitimate next in line, he can’t be happy that Doug is using some ancient rule to usurp his power.”
“Probably not, but I haven’t heard of any gossip about them fighting, though it’s hard to pick up any facts being in the hospital.”
“You said you were released. Are you back home?” Where someone could attack her again?
“No, I’m staying with Mom. She took some time off to help me heal. I won’t be going back to work for a while.”
“Maybe I should just come back. If Doug hurts anyone else, I won’t be able to live with myself.”
“No!” Her friend practically shouted over the phone. “For starters, what’s done is done. Secondly, you’d be miserable if you were with him.”
“You’re right about that.” Cassidy was dying to tell someone about Zach and Mike. “Here’s the irony of this whole mess. I met my mates, I think.”
“What!”
“Shh.” Not that anyone on her end could hear Mindy or so she hoped.
“Is it Mike?”
“Yes. He is charming, nice, and considerate. He is the total opposite of Doug.”
“I am so happy for you, but now you can never return.”
“Why?”
“If you came back here, Mike would be devastated. I don’t know if the lore about mates is correct, but if he and you don’t stay together, he’ll be miserable for the rest of his life. You wouldn’t want that for him, would you?”
Cassidy hadn’t considered that. “No.”
“Hold on. You said mates, as in plural?”
Cassidy almost giggled. “Yes. His best friend is Zach Granger.” She whispered the last part, not wanting anyone to hear her talking about him.
“Are you kidding me? Mike said his family is super rich.”
“I wouldn’t know. Listen, I shouldn’t say anything else.”
“Tell me this. How did you know they were your mates? Was it instant lust? Did your body go crazy like they say the men’s bodies do?”
Cassidy had to think about it for a second. “I was instantly drawn to them. I remember that much, but who wouldn’t be? Both men are gorgeous. As far as recognizing them as my mates, I was too distracted to think along those lines. Anything I felt, I pushed to the side. I didn’t trust anyone or anything.”
“What changed your mind about them?” Mindy asked.