Healing His Ailing Heart

Chapter 4

Damn, she is beautiful! The same thought that Ashton thought when he caught her at the stairs rang in his head again. Cassandra's eyes were the bluest he had ever seen and they were beautiful. Ashton made sure not to stare for long and returned to his seat.

Soon he was sharing a table with Beta Caleb, Gamma Orion, Delta Justin, Aunt Rosie, Cassandra and Emily. They were all catching up as they ate. Justin had also grown in the Blue Moon pack so he knew Cassandra too.

There was a lot of catching up going on at their table. Even Gamma Orion that did not know Cassandra before was already flowing well with her. Ashton found Cassandra amusing. By now, the discussion topic was now about mates - Aunt Rosie's favorite topic. She pointed a finger at Caleb. "Caleb, you ought to find your mate soon. Are you looking out for her at all?" Caleb just shrugged at her.

“Speaking of mates,” Emily held up her phone for all of them to see her phone screen.

Ashton, who had been sipping his wine, almost choked on it when he saw the picture.

It was Cassie in a bikini walking hand in hand with Johann Strong. She was so beautiful.

Ashton looked around the table and found that it was not only his interest that had been piqued. Orion and Justin was ogling at the picture already. But Ashton noticed Caleb had a scowl on his face. It was like the picture disgusted him.

“So tell us. You and Johann Strong?!” Emily was smiling wide as she brought down her phone.

Cassie blushed and brushed a strand from her face, “He's my boyfriend.”

Ashton heard Caleb cuss under his breath and he looked at his friend. He saw Aunt Rosie shift her focus back to her food. Maybe this matter was a rough patch for them, he thought.

“You know how I feel about you dating Johann.” Caleb finally said out with displeasure.

Cassie quickly snapped back at him, “And you know how I feel about your position as Beta.”

Justin sucked in air, “Whoops, I didn't see that coming.”

Cassie and Caleb were glaring at each other fiercely, the air around the table suddenly became tense. It was like a quarrel could break out any minute.

As Cassie opened her mouth to speak, Aunt Rosie slammed her cutlery on her plate. “Time out! The both of you!” She said sternly. The siblings relaxed into their chairs.

There was silence at their table now. Everyone focused on their food.

Ashton thought about that as he picked mindlessly at his food. Cassandra was displeased with her brother being the Beta of the pack. But why would she have a problem with that? That did not make sense to him. He looked at Caleb and Cassie again, they were obviously still pissed at each other.

“It is time for the cutting of the cake.” The announcer said and invited Caleb to cut the cake Cassie had made for him. He blew out the twenty-five candles enthusiastically.

After a few pictures, servings of the cake began to go round.

Caleb sat down and quickly dove into his portion of the cake. When the first bit reached his mouth, his eyes moistened and he looked at his sister. Cassie smiled back at him sympathetically. The former tension between them disappeared.

Caleb closed his eyes and opened them, then he looked up. It was like he was fighting back tears. He shook his head and pinched his nose. Then he returned to the cake. With the second bite, a tear spilled onto the Beta's cheek. Ashton was surprised to see Caleb so emotional.

“Yo, man. What's up?” Gamma Orion asked.

Caleb sniffed and smiled. “Your cake’s just like Mother's. Lovely.” He said to his sister.

“Awwn.” Emily purred.

Aunt Rosie took a bite of the cake she'd been served. “Aah…Cassie, how did you do it? It's so much like Lydia's.” The elderly woman was tearing up too. Cassie spread out her arms around her aunt and embraced her.

Ashton looked around the hall. People were eating the cake and speaking in hushed tones, they were also throwing glances in Cassandra's direction. What was it about the cake? Ashton wondered as he took a bite of the one before. Okay, this is nice. He was sure this was the best cake he'd ever tasted.

“The cake is really nice, Cassie.” Emily said.

The former tense air at the table seemed long gone now and they began discussing lighter matters.

Open your mouth and say something at least once. Your mouth will soon disappear for lack of use, my Alpha. Caleb mindlinked him.

Ashton eyed him and inhaled sharply. He wondered what to say but nothing came to mind. After racking his head a bit, he gave up and let the discussion continue to flow without him.

“I have a question.” Cassandra suddenly said. “It's been bugging me since I came in here.”

“What's that?” Caleb asked.

“Why is there Alpha Ashton and not Alpha Christian?” She threw a glance Ashton's way and quickly looked away when their eyes met.

Gamma Orion and Delta Justin coughed dramatically. It was an insult to speak of the deposed Alpha in the face of the new Alpha. This was an unspoken rule that had been passed down for ages.

“Ah, Cassie, we…um..” Caleb was at a loss. He gave her a look to say such question ought not to be asked.

Ashton put a hand on his shoulder, “Answer her.”

“Huh?” Caleb turned to him.

Ashton shrugged. “Yeah.” It was not a big bother to him. It is not like she could do anything about it. Besides, she had a right to know, she was a part of the pack.

When Caleb still hesitated because of the unspoken rule, Emily spoke up. “Alpha Ashton saved us. Christian messed up big time. That's the long story cut short.” She said sourly.

“What?” Cassandra seemed pissed.

“He was all about partying and enriching himself. The pack was suffering greatly, but he didn't give a dime. While children were going missing, he only stuffed himself more.” Caleb explained. “There was a war at hand. The Alpha of the Green Glade had started conquering crusade and was headed our way. Alpha Christian did not care. Alpha Ashton here saved us from him and we merged with his pack. We won the war too.” Caleb said with a tone of triumph.

“Some people have no excuse to mess up, especially someone like Alpha Christian.” Cassandra was displeased. “Valuables lives were sacrificed to secure his own.” Her words seemed to come from a personal wound.

“Well, Christian’s just a real bastard.” Justin spat. “A pathetic excuse for an Alpha.”

“But Caleb, you could have stepped up. Why didn't you?” Cassandra threw another question at her brother.

Ashton could perceive the hidden question in her words. Why didn't you become the Alpha? Ashton waited to hear how Caleb would answer.

“I couldn't. Ashton's the one we needed. Besides, Christian had me locked away in the dungeon.” Caleb smiled at her.

Cassandra looked away. Ashton noticed she was even more unsettled. He wondered what was going on in her mind. She exhaled and pushed back from the table. “Excuse me.” She stood up gracefully and headed out.

Ashton wished she didn't walk away. He would have loved to resolve whatever was bothering her. He stopped himself abruptly in his thoughts. Why am I thinking like this? He quickly kicked out all the thoughts from his head.

Suddenly, Caleb's phone beeped. Caleb checked it and turned to him. “He's here.” They both stood up and excused themselves from the hall. When they got out of the hall, they saw Cassandra by a corner and they stopped. She didn't see them as she was backing them. She was on a call.

“Yes, I'm returning tomorrow. Get a message across to the laboratory team. We'd have dinner together.”

They heard her say. Caleb was startled by that.

“No, no, you don't have to tell Mira. I'd get home myself….. That's alright……I'm so glad we won the award…….Goodnight, Rado.” She hung up and turned around. She was shocked to see them standing there. “What's going on?”

Caleb moved closer to her, “You're leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes.” Her tone was suddenly defensive, like her departure was not up for discussion.

Caleb was silent for a bit, “Why?”

“My project earned an award.” She said blankly.

“The award night's tomorrow?” Caleb asked her. He did not want his sister to leave just yet.

Cassandra looked away, “No. It's on Tuesday.”

Caleb's hands dropped, “So why are you leaving already? It's just Saturday.”

“I have meetings to attend before…” Cassie said sourly. Even Ashton could see through her words that she was lying.

Caleb cut her off, “Don't lie to me. You're upset, right? That's why you're running.”

“I'm not upset. And I'm also not running.” Cassie looked defiant now. “As you can see, I'm standing right here.”

Caleb let out a short laugh, “Very funny, Cassie,” but he was not buying it. “I upset you in there, right?”

Cassie rolled her eyes at him and made to leave, but Caleb caught her hand gently. “What if our parents saw us now? Don't you ever think about that?”

Cassie scoffed as she stepped back to face him, “Of course I do!” She withdrew her hand sharply. “But the truth is they are no more here. And you scare me!” She poked a finger in his chest. “Yes, I'm scared you'd end up just like them with all this pack rubbish you do.”

“Cassie?” Caleb was hurt by her utterance but Cassie was not stopping.

“Don't call my name. You should have woken up from your werewolf fantasy when Christian put you in the dungeon. That's how they all are. They treat you like you're priceless when they have need of you, and abandon you tomorrow. Just like Alpha Richard did to Dad. And Christian did to you. And very soon,” Cassie glanced at Ashton sharply, “he too will do the same to you.” With that, she stomped away.

Ashton was stunned by Cassie's outburst. He knew she was referring to him in the last part. But why would she conclude like that about me? She knows nothing about me. Ashton sighed. “She still hurts from the loss of her parents. But the strange thing is I can't even sense her wolf.” Silo, his wolf finally spoke up within him.

Ashton followed Cassie with his eyes as she went back into the hall. Then he looked at Caleb, his friend was hurt.

Ashton walked up to his friend and put a hand on his shoulder. “I could hear her deep concern for you. She's really scared that she will call home one day only to hear the news of your passing. She does not want to lose you like she lost your parents.” Ashton hoped his words soothed his friend.

Caleb's shoulders fell, “But she called our very essence a fantasy.”

Ashton did not know what to say about that. It bothered him too. Why would a werewolf call their werewolf life a fantasy?