Healing His Ailing Heart

Chapter 3

Cassandra was riding with Aunt Marianne's children, Bea and George, twenty and nineteen respectively.

Cassandra was quickly captivated again by the lovely scenery of Blue Falls. It seemed more beautiful in the evening. It was not a full moon but the place was all so beautiful.

"We're close to the pack house now. " George said.

"I should tell you about your friend, Emily. She is one of the best warriors in the pack now. She's so good." Bea said.

Cassandra remembered Emily. She had been so timid when they were young, but she had been a great friend and partner in crime. She looked forward to seeing her.

They were stopped at a huge dark gate. George rolled down his window and conversed with the guards. Soon they laughed and one of the guards poked his head into the car, "Bea, you might just meet your mate today. Your mother is making sure of that already." The guard laughed.

Bea was suddenly pink with embarrassment. "What did she say?" Their parents had gone before them.

"Nothing much. Just that she has a very beautiful and eligible daughter. She just makes sure to inform every man she meets." The other guard said with a very hoarse laughter.

All of them joined in the laughter. George drove in, he let Cassandra alight at the front. "You should geta little look around." The siblings drove away to set up the cake on a food trolley in the pack kitchen.

Cassandra waited nervously at the front. She looked at the edifice before her. This was not the pack house she remembered from her childhood. This was a new one and in a different location also. She wondered about her family. How would they react to seeing me?

She walked into the pack house. As she passed the lobby, she did not see anyone she recognized. No one recognized her too. They were all engrossed in their little discussions. Everyone was dressed so elegantly, Cassandra was glad she also matched the occasion. Her red dress and silver jewelry gave every bit of regal grace.

As she passed the hallway, many guys turned her way, giving her longing stares. She avoided them quickly.

The grand hall was open and the guests were seated at their tables. The party had begun.

Before Cassandra could go in, her phone buzzed in her purse. She brought it out and checked out the Caller ID. It was Mira, her human best friend. "Heyoo, Mira." Cassandra said as she received the call. "I thought you said you won't miss me and you wouldn't call." Cassandra moved away from the entrance of the grand hall and she went up the stairs in front of the hall. The stairs go up to a point where it leads in opposite directions. Cassandra got to the intersection and stopped there. It had a wonderful window view.

"Yo, chienne!" Her friend, Mira said on the other side of the line. "I don't miss you in anyway. Just wanted to tell that brain of yours 'congratulations'. You did well."

Cassandra did not know what she was talking about. "What are you congratulating me for?"

"Your submission stood out among the many projects. My Dad can't stop talking about your work. You're getting the Research Academy Award this year. Strong Labs' research project came in first place too." Mira rattled out.

"Really?" Cassandra could not believe it.

"Check your email inbox, chienne. And come back quickly. The award night is in three days." Mira playfully hissed. "And no, I don't miss you." With that, she cut the call.

Without hesitation, she searched her inbox and found the mails. Cassandra thought she would burst from so much joy. She let out a little squeal as she leaped for joy. But her heel slipped on the red carpet and she lost her balance. She was going to fall, "No!" She gasped.

But a firm hand caught her hand and after one swift motion, she was staring into the most beautiful silver eyes she had ever seen. The man who had caught her pulled her close to himself to steady her. He had an arm firmly around her waist. All of time seemed to pause as she stared into the face of this drop-dead handsome man and she was held against his sturdy body. The man straightened up and straightened her too. Cassandra seemed to be deaf to the whole world and she stared at the man. He was so tall and so handsome. The brilliant tuxedo he wore was helpless in hiding how ripped he was. She could look at his face forever; every bit of it dripped beauty. "Wow." She said unintentionally, she could not help herself.

His face twitched up, showing that he found her amusing. That when she saw beyond his handsomeness to how tired he was. Looking at his eyes, she wondered if he caught any sleep at all. She remembered the feel of his body. Though it was so sweetly muscular, it had the coolness of a body that was not eating and sleeping well. She wondered about him. C'mon Cassie you have a boyfriend back home. The thought slapped her back to reality.

Her face broke into a smile and she put forth her hand for a handshake. "Yo, thanks." Cassandra said casually.

He didn't take her hand, but just nodded slightly.

Cassandra did not like that. But before she could speak, she heard Bea call to her from downstairs and she turned to her. "Cassie, we're ready." She was referring to the cake. When Bea noticed the man with her, she gently bowed her head, "Alpha."

Oh shoot! A sound went off in Cassandra's head. Had she just spoken to him like he was any regular man? No wonder, her handshake was not accepted. Cassandra bit her lip, wishing she could actually beat herself. How unrefined she must have looked to him.

He turned away from Cassandra. "Bea." Alpha Ashton acknowledged her and walked down the stairs. He went into the grand hall and Cassandra watched all the people rise and bow to him. Cassandra rushed down to Bea who pulled her away to a corner in the hallway.

"What were you doing with the Alpha?" Bea looked surprised and excited too.

"I didn't know he was the one. This is crazy." Cassandra held her face in her hands.

"Did you do anything embarrassing?" Bea looked at her with a tease in her eyes.

"I must have looked like a total i***t when I lost my balance." Cassandra shook her head. "I was going to fall down the stairs but he caught me."

"Whoa." Bea laughed. "But that's not so bad. A knight right on time to rescue a damsel in distress."

"That's not the end. I could not help staring like a dog salivating for a bone." Cassandra felt even worse. Bea's laughter was not helping.

Bea shrugged. "Oh c'mon. Don't feel so bad. This is definitely not his first time. He must have had worst experiences with other ladies. I mean, his looks are to die for."

"Then I wanted to thank him with a handshake." Cassandra said dryly.

Bea's laughter reached its peak. She bent over as she laughed. "I can imagine that. Well, in this case, this is surely his first time. He grew up an Alpha's pup, so regal respect is always what he's got since he was young. Until you." Bea burst into laughter again.

"Please stop. I feel stupid enough." Cassandra admitted and Bea stopped.

"The cake's ready on the trolley. We would go in when everyone's settled and Beta Caleb's on the stage. It's gon' be the best entrance." Bea said. "I can imagine his face when he sees you."

"But wait, how come we have another Alpha?" Cassandra asked Bea.

Bea smiled at her, "Well, that's a story for a sweet and peaceful afternoon. But just so you know, we are no more the Blue Moon pack of Blue Falls. We are the Silver Moon pack. So much happened in your absence, Cassie."

Cassandra thought about that for a bit and then focused on her goal - a surprise for her brother and Aunt Rosie.

Soon Bea and George were standing at the close doors of the grand hall with Cassandra and the cake trolley behind them. By now everyone was inside and listening to Beta Caleb recount his life and the things he is grateful for.

"At the count of three." George whispered. Bea nodded at him and collected the cake trolley from Cassandra. George pushed the doors open and led them in. Cassandra suddenly became nervous as the crowd that had been laughing stopped laughing. All eyes fell on the trio walking down the middle aisle.

Cassandra looked up to her brother and all shyness fell off her. When their eyes met, his expression broke into one of surprise. "Cassandra?" Her name escaped his lips as a gasp. She smiled at him. Somebody else called her name from the right. She recognized the voice as Aunt Rosie's but her brother came first. He dropped the mic and rushed to her. They met at the middle and he enveloped her in a warm embrace. She hugged him back.

Cassandra never realized how much she missed her brother until this moment.

Caleb pulled away to look at her and he laughed. "You rascal! Look at you." He lifted her off the ground and twirled with her. That's when she realized how big and ripped her brother had grown. He was almost as big as the Alpha Hottie.

Caleb put her down and looked down at her. "And you've grown absolutely beautiful."

Aunt Rosie came to them with tears in her eyes, "Baby, how come?"

Cassandra embraced her aunt. It was a lovely reunion.

Aunt Marianne led others, elderlies and youths to them. "Everyone, it's Baby Cassie." And before Cassandra knew it, she was greeting many people. The people that had watched her grow up. Those she and Emily had pranked. Those she and her late mother had cared for. Those she had grown up with. Tears spilled on her Cassandra's cheeks. She missed them so much.

"Awwn Baby Cassie. We missed you too." Aunt Marianne cooed as Aunt Rosie dabbed her cheeks gently.

"Baby Cassie, for real?!" Someone shouted from behind there crowd around her. Cassandra turned in direction of the voice. It was a taut and tall dark lady, with lovely dark hair and fierce eyes. Cassie immediately recognized her friend, Emily.

"Emily!!" Cassandra squealed in delight. The two ladies rushed into each other's embrace and hugged warmly.

Her brother called to her, "Cassie, come. Let me introduce you." Caleb held out a hand to her which she took and he led away from the crowd to the one man she hoped she would not have to see again, the Alpha Hottie.

When they got to Alpha Ashton, Cassandra bowed her head and kept it bowed while Caleb spoke. "My Alpha," Her brother did a slight bow. "Allow me to introduce to you my little sister, Cassandra Blade."

Alpha Ashton turned to them and got up from his seat. He nodded to Caleb before he turned to her. "Raise your head." His voice was deep and lovely. He spoke gently.

Wow, even his voice is appealing! Cassandra's mind was running a bit wild but she collected herself. She felt embarrassed to face him because of how casually she had addressed him earlier.

"Raise your head." Alpha Ashton said again.

Cassie straightened and raised her eyes to meet his. For a moment, their eyes held. Cassie wished she could read him, she wondered what he has thinking as he looked at her.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Cassandra Blade." He said.

Cassie suddenly felt like she would melt. Can he say my name again?