Chapter 13: The Gala
1553 Words
Cassian stood glued to Xander's side fearfully surveying the room. He didn't like this place, there were way too many humans wandering the room. He could feel the tension rolling off of Xander no matter how relaxed his face was.
"Xander!" A stranger called as he walked up to them. The man was blonde and very well built maybe slightly less so then Xander. He wore a lazy smile and as he stepped closer Xander and Cassian both noted his sly looking blue eyes.
"Octavio, wonderful job with the Galla, your pack must have gone all out." Xander gave Octavio a big smile as he reached out and shook his hand.
Cassian thought Xander didn't like Octavio. Why was he happy to see him?
"Thank you, I actually had to tell them to tone it down when I was finalizing the plans. My mate orchestrated the whole thing." Octavio's grin turned smug at the mention of his mate.
Xander hated the guy so much. He saw the scoff in Octavio's eyes as he looked down at Cassian for the first time, seeming to finally notice him.
"Ahh yes, I thought I heard something about you finding your mate this year. He's a little young for you don't you think?" Octavio smirked.
Xander’s jaw ticked but he held his cool as he replied. "Only six years apart, I've seen worse."
"Oh is that all? I thought you were older than that." Octavio replied making Xander and Cassian both want to attack him.
Cassian was outraged, no one should be allowed to insult his mate! He wanted to do something but feared what Xander might say. He couldn't let this go on though.
"Alpha Octavio? I would appreciate it if you would stop insulting my mate." (Xander had warned Cassian about calling him master in front of people.) To Cassian's surprise his voice came out strong without a hint of the knotting nervousness he was feeling at challenging the big alpha.
"Excuse me? I don't take orders from a slave. A human would never understand the complexities of werewolf society so I'll forgive your infraction this time but don't you dare speak another word boy!" Octavio growled.
Xander's face clouded in anger but it wasn't directed towards Cassian, thank god. "My mate is no slave and he has more werewolf values at heart then anyone in this room. You will not order him around, he is not yours to do so. Is that how you speak to your mate? The one that loves you so much but I haven't seen next to you all night? Maybe instead of finding a fight your going to lose you find your mate instead."
Cassian was a bit scared of how Xander would react to him trying to defend his master's honor but was pleased with the outcome.
At that moment a red haired freckled face man walked up to the three. He smiled as he approached but frowned when he saw the anger on each of the three faces.
"Babe, what's wrong?" He asked Octavio as he stepped to his side. Cassian and Xander were both surprised by the appearance of Octavio's mate. Now that he stood beside Octavio you could see he was only a bit shorter. Xander hadn't expected to see such a large male away.
"Nothing to worry about just some disrespectful guests. Go enjoy the party." Octavio shook it off and shooed his mate.
When the man's eyes finally turned to Xander and Cassian he smiled in greeting. "Hello, my name is David. I'm obviously Octavio's mate. Nice to meet you. I know Octavio doesn't really play well with others so I'm just going to apologize for him ahead of time."
He went to shake Xander’s hand but Cassian did what he swore he would do while at this gala, with all these unfamiliar bodies and many humans that could set Xander off, he swore to protect his master. The moment he saw David's hand heading for Xander he intercepted.
Xander breathed a sigh of relief. He could kiss Cassian right now. If that human had touched him he didn't know what he would have done. The human, David, looked confused at first but smiled down at the small boy. He was adorable, just David's type.
"How about we humans go and get a drink while the wolves talk." David suggested.
Cassian wasn't sure if the two wolves caught the look David was giving Cassian but it made Cassian nervous.
"Good idea love, go on ahead." Octavio nodded.
Xander didn't want Cassian away from him but knew if he refused the other alpha would take offense.
"Fine, be back in five minutes or I'm coming for you." Xander ordered.
"Wow, can't even trust your mate to come back to you?" Octavio smirked.
"It's not him I don't trust." As soon as the words left Xander's mouth he realized he truly meant them. It was like all of a sudden Xander's world fell into place at the thought. An odd sense of peace and reassurance washed over Xander. While Xander had this little epiphany Cassian began to walk away with the human. Xander reached out and pulled Cassian's back into his chest forming a strange hug from behind.
Cassian felt warmth spread through him at the contact. Xander was hugging him.
"Come back soon." Xander mumbled into Cassians ear before letting him go. Xander didn't like the look in the other human's eyes at all but had to let it go. No fights could be started at the gala.
Cassian walked away with a smile on his face. "I'll return at once."
Xander gave one last nod before turning back to the now appeased alpha Octavio. They chatted for a few moments while waiting for their mates' return. Soon moments turned to minutes and Xander began to worry.
"Why aren't they back yet?" He asked cutting into the middle of whatever Octavio was blabbing on about.
"Alpha Xander, I'm sure they are fine. Probably just got caught up talking to new human slaves. David likes to get news of the human world from them all the time. I'm sure with your mate on lock down twenty-four hours a day he enjoys the news as well." Octavio tried to reason while attempting another insult. That had been how most of their conversations went so far. Octavio peppering in thinly veiled insults throughout.
Xander bared his teeth at that. "If you know how I keep my mate then you should also know my mate isn't like yours. He was born in the wolf world. He doesn't care who won the election or what
pop star caught a scandal. He doesn't know or care about the human world. I'm going to find him"
Xander stalked off to find his mate, his worry growing by the second. He weaved in and out of crowds easily. No one would step in front of an alpha clearly on a hunt. Everything in Xander’s posture made people step back. Even the humans kept a great distance from him though they didn't know why. For that Xander was grateful.
He sniffed the air occasionally but it didn't really help with all the bodies confusing the scent. In the end it was something he heard rather than smelled that tipped him off.
"Come on... Your human. You can't possibly love that disgusting beast. Thank god I've been able to stave off Octavio. I'm no f*****g bottom." Xander heard Davids voice from just to his left but there was a wall there. Xander realized his wolf hearing had kicked in as he had been panicking looking for his mate. This meant that David was on the other side of this wall. The only door out of the ballroom was on the other side of the grand room, where he had left Octavio. He ran as fast as he could his trip slightly hindered by the mass of bodies dancing in the center. Once he finally burst out of the other side he slammed the double doors open and ran as people coming and going gawked. He vaguely noticed Octavio fallowing behind as he passed him but Xander's focus was one hundred percent on finding his mate.
Judging by the words he'd heard a moment ago he wouldn't like what he saw. Just the thought had him picking up speed.
"Wait up Xander! What's wrong?" Octavio shouted.
Xander ignored the younger alpha as he ran from hall to hall. He was getting annoyed with the sheer size of Octavio's pack house. Xander's was big but very organized. This house was just a maze of rooms and halls.
"No.....!!" Xander heard a faint voice cry out. It was Cassians. Xander instantly doubled his speed, Cassian had sounded distressed.
As Xander travled the noise of a scuffle grew louder until he was in front of a set of large oak doors. He didn't hesitate to rush forward and burst through them but an arm on his shoulder stopped him.
"That's my mate's room. Your not allowed." Octavio growled.
Xander jerked his shoulder free and growled back. "I am if he has my mate in there."
Xander stepped forward and flung the door open just as he heard another one of Cassian's cries.
- Writer
