The Human in The Wolf's Den

Chapter 8: The Final Straw

It's been three days since the mall. Xander didn't remember anything about that day at all except what he was told. Xander passed by his mate's cage everyday. He never once failed to shudder as he passed. The thought of another human having control over him... Especially her son. Xander has had nightmares ever since. He even woke to wetness on his face. He had been crying in his sleep. He wanted to punish Cassian for what he had done but just the thought of going any closer to the cage gave him an anxiety attack. He planned his days out making sure to avoid the cage. The wolf that came in to clean the room was now also in charge of feeding Cassian. 

While Xander was busy avoiding Cassian, Cassian was silent in his cage. He hadn't said a word since apologizing and begging his master's forgiveness the day of the mall. He only moved from his matress to eat the food the cleaning lady would bring. She was also kind enough to take him to the bathroom if Xander wasn't around which was often. Xander only came to his room to sleep now. Cassian was devastated. He made things like this. He wanted to do something to fix it... But what? 

"Here you go sweety, breakfast." The sweet she-wolf announced as she opened Cassian's cage door. Jullia was a kind middle-aged red headed woman. She was almost as petit as Cassian. He couldn't believe she had six pups. Cassian smiled weakly at her before taking the proffered metal trey. 

"Jullia, I'm leaving for the day. You know the drill." With that Xander disappears. 

"It's been the same thing every day now. He won't be back for like twelve hours. Wanna spend the day out of your cage?" Julia's smile was conspiratorial. 

Cassian shook his head. "No, thank you. This is where I deserve to be. I deserve worse but I don't know why he hasn't punished me." 

"Sweety, I don't know what it is you did but no one deserves to be ignored by their mate. It's the most despicable punishment. Mates are supposed to be all forgiving. No mater what you did he should have forgiven you almost instantly." Jullia explained sadly. 

Her telling Cassian this only made him feel worse. It made him realize that what he did was even worse if his mate wasn't forgiving him. Without realizing it tears began to fall from Cassian's eyes. 

"Oh! Sweety I didn't mean to make you cry! Nice going Julia, you made your Luna cry!" She scolded herself, as she reached into the cage to pull Cassian into her arms. 

"I-I can't believe I failed him so horribly!" Cassian lemented. He didn't want to tell Jullia exactly what he's done but he wanted someone to comfort him. At the same time he wished for comfort he realized he didn't deserve it. So with a heavy heart he pushed the kind maid away and crawled back into his lonely cage. 

"Cassian, honey? Please don't beat yourself up over this. I'm sure what ever it was you did you regret it and will never do it again." When Jullia couldn't get through to him , and he only cried harder, she fretted over what her options were. The only feasible one was to get the alpha. 

She quickly went out in search of the absentee Alpha. She found him hiding in his office like every other day. The Alpha's office was on the opposite end of the pack house from his room. He liked to use the walk over to greet his pack members and be briefed by 

his beta on his way. Now it was the perfect spot for hiding away from his biggest fear. It was nice and quiet until Jullia came bursting in without a warning. 

"Alpha! Your mate is inconsolable! He needs you right away. Please go to him the boy is hysterical!" She pleaded. 

Xander was torn. He didn't want to go to Cassian but his wolf felt saddened to hear his mate needed him. He also didn't want Jullia to know the real reason he was staying away from Cassian. So for his wolfs sake and the sake of hiding his secret fear he stood to check on his mate. 

Leaving Jullia behind he hesitantly wandered back to his room procrastinating the whole way. Once he reached the door he heard the crying clearly but couldn't bring himself to open it. After a minute of standing there dumbly with his hand on the worn brass knob Xander turned put his back to the door sighing as he slid down it until he was on his butt. Now sitting on the floor in front of his apartment Xander thought. 

His mate. The person he was supposed to love and cherish his entire life was on the other side of this door in a cage crying over something he had done to salvage a horrible situation. Deep down Xander knew Cassian would never take advantage of him, but something primal, A self preservation instinct deep within Xander's being was holding him in place and keeping him from fully accepting the human. Xander didn't know how long he sat there contemplating his unhealthy relationship with his mate. He also didn't know when he decided to get up. Once he did he walked away from his own room and down the hall, the cries of his pained mate getting fainter and fainter as he went. 

Once he hit the last door in the hall he knocked on the pack doctor's door. This wasn't Aemellia but Dr. Silius the mental health doctor.