WHITE LYCAN'S REVENGE

CHAPTER 4 - GREYSON - CASSIA'S POV

The last time I'd taken a bath, I was a child. I never risked staying in the bathroom for long, and would just shower quickly and get dressed, but today I was going to enjoy it.

The water felt… strange. Warm, yes, but also sharp against my skin, like hot spikes hitting the cold of my flesh. I flinched, but continued to sit, down, sinking under the water.

This bath was massive, and could fit three of me. The water nearly covered me completely. I closed my eyes, letting the water rise around me. I stayed still for a long time, before washing my skin.

The water was brown by the time I pulled the plug and stepped out, wrapping a fluffy yellow towel around my body. I made sure I was properly dry before leaving the bathroom, a habit I'd adopted as a child. My father had beaten me once for leaving wet footprints on the ground, causing him to slip.

I walked over to the bed, where there was a folded pile of clothing. I ran my fingers along the cotton of the dress. It was a soft blue fabric, a dress. It wasn't fancy, just simple and pretty. I held it up, and stared at it for far to long. It had been years since I'd worn anything new.

I put on the dress. My fingers fumbled with the zipper at the back, before I stepped slowly in front of the old, exquisitely carved mirror. My reflection stared back. I'd never worn anything so lovely, but it didn't suit me. I was too thin to fill it out, too pale. Tears welled up. Hot, heaving tears that spilled over my cheeks. I didn't even feel worthy of a simple cloth dress.

I sat down on the chair against the wall, and sobbed, deep, heartbroken sobs, as I covered my face. I didn't understand why a new dress made me break down, perhaps because it was such a simple gesture of kindness, and after years and years of abuse, this one act of kindness had finally broken me. Perhaps I was wrong, perhaps the world wasn't as dark as my pack?

I needed air. I needed to move. I wiped the tears away, and stood up. I walked over to a cabinet where a brush sat, and quickly brushed out the damp tangles, leaving my curly hair, loose, before I walked out of the bedroom.

Lena was waiting by the door, and straightened when she saw me, ''There you are,'' She smiled kindly, though I still couldn't trust her gentleness, I'd been fooled before, and it resulted in me being beaten and locked in a toilet stall at school, ''I thought you'd fallen down the drain.'' When I didn't laugh or even smile at her words, she cleared her throat, ''Everyone is having breakfast, come this way, child.''

I nodded, and cautiously followed her down the hallway lined with pictures of happy Lycans, and it broke my heart that I hadn't thought to take the picture of my mother I kept safe under my mattress.

''Luna, Clara, Cassia is here,'' Lena announced as I walked into the dining room.

Sunlight streamed through the small windows. The Alpha’s wife Clara sat at the long table, but she stood up when I walked in. Two people I had never seen before were with her. A man and a woman. Their faces were unfamiliar, but they smiled at me. The room was peaceful, too peaceful.

''Come darling,'' Clara pulled out a chair, ''You looked half-starved, come sit and eat.''

''Thank you.'' I said awkwardly, as I walked over. I hadn't eaten a table in a long time.

I was about to sit when a loud roar shattered the calm, and I jumped in fright. Was it my father? Or Aamon? It came from the doorway behind me. I spun around and flinched, expecting to get hit but instead, I saw a tall man standing there.

His face was excited, but panicked, and very handsome. It was King Greyson I'd seen at the party. His dark blue eyes burned with a fierceness I didn't understand. He was very tall, and muscular, and very attractive.

''Grey, I told you she needs time!'' Tolen complained.

"I am going to see her!" He bellowed. His voice shook the very walls. "So if you don't move, I'll break his jaw!"

The Alpha exhaled in frustration, but stepped out of the doorway, no longer blocking Greyson’s path, and he rushed over. His scent hit me instantly, and I stepped back in shock.

''No... How?'' I gasped, he was my mate. ''I have a mate, Aamon was my mate.''

''Was. You rejected him. I'm your second chance mate.'' Greyson took another step, as he looked me over, ''My Goddess, I only glimpsed you at the party, but you're so beautiful.''

He reached his hand-over to touch me, and I panicked and stumbled back, but he quickly grabbed me around the waist to save me, but it only made me panic more, and shoved him back.

''I'm sorry,'' Greyson panicked, ''I just didn't want you to get hurt.''

I frowned at his words, no one ever cared about me getting hurt.

''Grey, why don't we talk privately,'' Tolen grabbed his arm, ''She's still settling in, and she needs to eat, look at her, the girls all bones.''

I looked down at my feet, and gripped the sides of my dress.

''We don't need to talk, she's coming with me,'' Greyson said firmly, and I looked up at him in confusion, ''She can eat on the way to the ship. I want her back in my country as soon as possible for her protection.''

''You're not rejecting me?'' I asked in surprise before I could stop myself.

''Of course not.'' He said, sounding confused, ''You're mine, and I will never give you up.''

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. No one wanted me, outside of using me that is.

''Well be that as it may,'' Tolen stepped closer to him, ''She still needs to eat, so stop being stubborn. Let her have breakfast while we talk. You can leave after.''

Greyson growled in frustration and cringed. He noticed my reaction, and fell silent, ''Fine, we'll talk, but my Beta stays here to watch over her.''

''That's fine, just come,'' Tolen ordered, and gestured to the hallway.

Greyson looked back at me, ''I will only be ten minutes, and we'll leave,'' He told me, ''That is, if you'll accept me?''

I felt everyone's eyes on me, but I didn't know how to answer, as my heart hammered against my ribs.

''I... I don't know.''

Greysons face fell, ''Do you still love Aamon?''

''I've never loved that monster.'' I said angrily, and he smiled.

''Good,'' He nodded to himself, his eyes, though still sharp, held a flicker of hope. ''Will you at least come home with me? It takes a month to travel by sea, so we can get to know each other, and then you can decide if you'll accept me or not.''

I took a deep breath. ''I'd like to leave this country.'' I told him, as I looked into his eyes, ''I want to go with you.''

Greyson smiled, ''Perfect, we'll leave after you eat. Andy.''

A wide-set man with dyed purple hair came in wearing all black, and a fang earing in his right ear.

''Cassia, this is Andrew, my Beta, he'll stay with you while I'm gone, and make sure you're safe.''

I didn't answer, and just nodded.

''Um, Alpha, you do realize you never actually introduced yourself to your mate?'' Andrew smirked at him, and Greyson's eyes widened.

''Sh*t. you're right,'' He looked back at me, ''I'm Greyson, and my Lycan is Zion, we're the King of Moonshadow Pack.''

I nodded, ''I'm Cassia, and my Lycan is Sera.''

He smiled and turned back to his Beta, ''Nothing happens to her.'' He warned and left us standing in the dining room.

''Well that was hectic,'' Clara broke the silence, ''Please darling, sit down and eat.''

''Maybe I join you Luna?'' Andrew asked, his tone cheerful.

''Of course,'' She gestured for him to sit, and instantly sat and started putting food onto his plate.

''This is my stepson, Beau, and his mate Charlotte.'' Clara gestured to the others while I put some food on my plate.

''Hello.'' I smiled awkwardly and fell silent again. My cheeks burning when I realized everyone was looking at me.

''Have you ever been to our country?'' Andrew asked, as he reached over and touched my arm, but I jumped nearly fell off my chair, but Clara grabbed me. ''I'm sorry. I won't touch you again, please forgive me Luan.'' He said nervously.

Luna? That word stopped my panic attack in its tracks, and I stared at him, ''I never agreed to being your Luna.''

''Maybe,'' He shrugged, at ease again, ''But you won't be able to resist Grey, the ladies love him... Not that I'm implying he sleeps around or something, because he doesn't. I just.''

''Andy, shut up while you're ahead,'' Clara glared at him.

I didn't know what to say to anyone and just picked at my food, while the others spoke, but I think they were just trying to break the silence, or perhaps this was just normal banter, and I just wasn't used to it. I kept thinking about Greyson, I didn't understand why he'd want me, or a second chance mate at all. What happened to his first mate? What was he talking to Tolen about? Was he telling Greyson what I'd been through in my pack, and why they'd hurt me? Would he reject me after he knew the truth? Would he blame me for everyone's deaths too?

''Darling, is that all you're eating?'' Clara asked, when I placed my cutlery down.

''I don't usually eat more then this.''

''Well, we'll have to change that,'' Andrew told me, as he put more bacon and another piece of toast on my plate, ''We need you healthy.''

''Don't pressure her.'' Greyson said, and I turned to see him in the doorway. ''Do you want to eat more?''

I shook my head, no.

''You won't be hurt if you say no to anything,'' He told me, ''Not even with me.''

I looked at Tolen, ''You told him?''

''I did, he needed to know your past, so he can understand why he needs to be patient.'' Tolen told me, as he came into the room.

''If you're done then I'd like to get going, as soon as possible'' Greyson walked over and knelt beside me, making me tense, ''It's about eight hours to the border, so we'll stay there for the night, and continue on in the morning.''

''Where at the border are we staying?''

''Frostclaw Pack, why?''

''Alpha Drakes a bad man, I don't want to stay there near him.'' I admitted, nervous for speaking out.

''Was he one of the men who harmed you?''

I nodded, and looked down as tears filled my eyes.

''I see,'' Greyson's voice trembled angrily. ''We'll wrap around and camp in the Fae territory, before continuing to Silverfang pack, unless Alpha Diaz has harmed you too?''

''He never hurt me,'' I told him ''He never stayed long in our pack whenever he came, and he stayed to himself and his mate.''

''Good, we'll stop there, then,'' He stood up, and looked at Tolen, ''Thank you for caring for her.''

''You're welcome, it's the least I could do. If I'd known my brother was treating the pack members like this, then I would have taken the throne back.''

''Will you?'' Greyson asked.

''I will start to build up my army, but yes, once my troops are ready. I will reclaim what's mine. I can't let Aamon take over for long, though it may take years to get the numbers.''

''Well, when you're ready, give me a few month's heads up, because my troops will be joining you.''

''I appreciate it.'' Greyson shook his hand, before looking at me, ''Are you ready?''

I nodded and stood up, ''Thank you for helping me.''

''You're welcome darling, oh, and Lena has put a bag of clothing and other feminine items in the carriage for you.''

''Thank you.'' I said, feeling a strange feeling in my chest, it was so strange being cared for.

I was led outside, where gorgeous black horses waited, attached to a carriage, and Greyson opened the door, ''We'll travel together.''

''Together? Alone in the carriage?'' I started to panic.

Seeing my distress, Greyson stepped back, ''You ride in here, and I'll shift, and Zion can walk alongside you. If you feel more comfortable tomorrow, we'll travel together.''

I nodded, and climbed into the carriage. I did notice Greyson reaching out to help me, but he pulled his arm back, and instead closed the door.

''It'll be a little bumpy, so if you feel sick, let me know, and we'll stop for a while.''

''Okay.'' I answered, and sat back.

The carriage pulled away, and I laid down on the seat, I couldn't believe what was happening right now. Did I actually die when I fell down that mountain and this is heaven or something? How could I go from being despised, beaten, and unwanted, to being loved and desired?

We traveled for a few hours, until finally, we stopped in a small valley, hidden by trees. I sat up and looked around. Someone placed some clothes behind a tree, and Greyson ran behind it, and shifted.

When he came out, he was pulling a shirt down, and I saw a scar on his stomach, before it was hidden under his shirt.

''Cassia, we're stopping for lunch,'' He told me and pulled open the door, before offering me his hand.

I nervously reached out and placed my hand on his, feeling the bond erupting all over it, as he helped me down, but before I could pull my hand away, Greyson lifted it and kissed it, before letting me go, and I stared into his eyes for a moment, feeling a strange connection between us. I looked down nervously, and he touched my cheek.

He lent down, ''I swear that you're safe with me,'' He whispered, before leaning up again.

''What happened to your mate?'' I blurted out, and he smiled sadly at me, ''Have you met her? Why would you settle for someone as dirty as me, when you could have our real mate.''

''Firstly, you're not dirty, the men that hurt you are,'' He told me, and I frowned in confusion at his comment, ''Secondly, my first mate, Lilian, died, my brother killed her, and when we know each other a little better, I'll tell you in more detail, and thirdly, you are my real mate, just as much as Lily was. I know you're scared, but please give me a chance. I won't hurt you. I will cherish you forever.''