The Human in The Wolf's Den

Chapter 6: Sickly Sweet Humans

"You're not gonna come with us?" Titus asked shocked. He was still pissed about the other day but understood why the alpha had freaked out. He wouldn't have wanted anyone touching or even being near his Emily while he wasn't around. That's why he was shocked to hear the alpha say he wasn't coming with them to the mall. 

"Why would I want to be around all those disgusting humans? Just thinking about their sickly sweet scent makes me want to gag." Xander grumbled. Truth be told he didn't want his mate to go without him but he couldn't risk having a panic attack in the mall. Not in front of Titus. He would carry his secret to the grave. So would Cassian if he knew what was good for him. 

Titus sighed at the alphas abstinence. "Fine, we will make it quick. It will take an hour to get to the damn place and probably half an hour to get the basics. So that's two and a half hours round trip. That's if we get the bare minimum. T-shirts and shorts and jeans, socks and underwear" 

"That won't do. He's going to need nicer clothes for meetings and the gala is being held at that assholes place this year. My mate has to look like a million bucks. Get him fitted for at least one suit." Xander hated the idea of Cassian being away for so long. 

"That adds another hour to our trip. Your ok with him being with another male for three and a half hours?" 

Xander’s wolf growled at the thought. He wasn't ok with it at all. 

"No... I guess I could take the trip with you guys but I'm not going in." Xander sighed. 

"You're going to come with us master?" Cassian who had been listening silently in his cage perked up at the news. Titus smiled at the small boy but then glared at his prison. Cassian was such a good boy he deserved better. 

"Yeah come on." Xander waved the boy over. 

To Titus' surprise, Cassian pushed the cage door open with ease. Wasn't it locked? Why did Cassian stay in then? What was the point of the cage if Cassian could leave anytime? Titus was about to ask Xander just that but decided against it when he saw Cassian skip over to the alpha's side. His face was filled with such love and devotion Titus decided it didn't matter. As long as Cassian was happy it wasn't Titus' place to interfere. 

The unlocked cage was something they had discussed after Xander’s confession. He didn't want Cassian too close due to his irrational fear but his wolf had argued that Cassian would be a sitting duck if someone attacked the pack house. Xander would be too busy protecting the pack to come back and unlock his mate. So Xander agreed to leave the cage unlocked during the day. 

"I want a second car for me and Cassian. You can ride alone." Was Xander's final order after stoically ignoring Cassian vibrating with excitement next to him. 

Cassian couldn't have been happier. Xander was coming with them. He hadn't been happy about having to go at all before but now that his master would be with him he was excited. 

"Master? Whats a mall like?" Cassian asked just to have an excuse to talk to Xander. 

"Ask Titus he's actually been in one." Came Xander’s clipped reply. 

Cassian didn't want to ask Titus but the man replied without prompt. 

"It's a big building where many different clothing stores are all next to each other. There will be a ton of humans milling about. You need to stay quiet and hold my hand so we don't get separated." Titus explained. 

"I don't think we should go then," Cassian said suddenly stopping in his tracks. 

Titus turned to the boy surprised by his response. "Why ever not? You heard Xander, you need new clothes." 

"I haven't even held Master's hand... Won't he get angry if I hold yours?" 

Titus smiled at the boy's worry. Xander couldn't help but be pleased with Cassian's loyalty. 

"I have been given permission to touch you if it's for your own safety," Titus explained. If he hadn't he was sure the alpha wouldn't be pleased for sure. 

"Oh... Master?" The small boy turned his oddly colored eyes up to his master inquiringly. 

"Yes?" Xander's brow rose. 

Cassian tentatively moved his hands from their clasped position. Now he held one out to his master. He was uncertain his master would grant his wish but he hoped so. 

"Can I hold your hand?" 

Xander looked down at the offending object. The only time he had touched a human since the incident was to hit them. 

Hold. His. Hand. Xander's wolf growled. 

Without any control from Xander, his hand shot out and grasped the boys smaller one. It was so soft and tiny in his large hand. Touching Cassian this way for the first time it made Xander realize how fragile his mate was. Xander's heart softened a bit at the thought and looked up at the boy's still bruised face. Humans were scary but how could this small, delicate boy be a danger to him? 

If Cassian could be any happier he would explode. It was clearly written on his face. Xander's hand was big and warm and just so comforting Cassian felt safer than ever before. 

Xander realized he was staring down at his mate almost lovingly. He quickly snapped his eyes away and snatched his hand from Cassians. 

Titus wanted to rub it in his alphas face but he didn't want Xander turning on the boy. "Let's get going. Cassian go get dressed." 

Xander handed over the black t-shirt and jeans Emily had loaned them. Cassian was about to pull his master's dress shirt off and change when Xander let out a throat-ripping growl. 

"In. The. Bathroom!" Xander shouted trying his hardest not to throw Cassian over his shoulder and swat Titus away. 

"S-sorry!" Cassian ran to the bathroom and quickly shut the door. 

When Cassian once again removed his shirt he ran into a dilemma. Holding up the shirt he saw it was simple enough to put on, just a shorter version of the slave dress. He slipped on the black T and then held up the pants. He had never worn pants. In his first attempt to put them on, he ended up flat on his face. The commotion from his fall drawing Xander's attention immediately. 

The alpha walked into the bathroom and instantly saw what had happened. 

"Get up." He orders trying to suppress a laugh. 

"Sorry, they are hard to put on...I don't think I like them, can't I just wear your shirt?" Cassian asked glaring at the evil piece of clothing. 

"No, you can't. Walking around with a bruised up face is bad enough. People would freak if they saw you in an oversized shirt as well. Let me show you how to do it." Xander knelt at his mate's feet to pick up the blue jeans. Cassian blushed at his Master's proximity to his privates but Xander didn't seem to care as he nudged Cassian's foot in silent signal to lift it. One leg went in then the other. There was a small trip but this time Xander kept him balanced. 

If Cassian hated the pants before it was now complete loathing. The material was itchy as hell to skin that never before had been encased in the rough fabric. 

"Please master! Do I have to wear them?" Cassian begged once more as his legs chafed 

"Whats wrong? They are only a bit long..." From where Xander knelt he began rolling them up a couple inches to fit the boy better. 

"They itch and my legs feel trapped," Cassian whined. When his words finally registered he felt ashamed of himself. He had no right to complain! God, he was so stupid. He looked up at the now standing Xander expecting anger and annoyance but Xander only laughed. 

"You'll get used to it. I'm still laughing at how you fell flat on your face trying to put them on. Let's go now, I want to get this over 

with." Xander's mirth at his mate's predicament evaporated quickly when he remembered his trip to human central. 

They left the pack house and as promised two cars waited. Cassian and Xander in one while Titus drove the other. The ride there was mostly silent, it actually worried Xander. Cassian was usually more talkative. Xander gave the boy a side glance and saw the reason for the silence. Cassian looked sick and terrified at the same time. 

"Are you ok...?" Xander wasn't sure what to do in this situation. 

"Can y-you slow down?" Cassian asked taking large breaths in through his mouth to fight the nausea. It was official, cars were worse than jeans. Cassian was nervous about the car at first but now his nervousness was pure fear. He was caught between throwing up and crying. 

"Here I'll roll the window down. It will make it much better, watch." Xander rolled down the window. Cassian instantly stuck his head outside trying to get as much air as possible. Between the car and jeans, he felt completely claustrophobic. 

"Better?" 

Cassian only nodded in response as the fresh air eased his nausea. 

As the drive drew closer to the city the rolled down window was heaven for Cassian but torture for Xander. 

That disgusting smell. The disgusting smell of those sickly sweat humans. Xander was about to throw up. He quickly rolled up the window barely missing Cassian who freaked out and jumped back after almost getting his head stuck. 

"Now I'm the one who's gonna be sick," Xander grumbled by way of explanation. 

Cassian didn't want to make Xander uncomfortable so he held back his own nausea for his master. Cassian decided to distract himself by taking in the sight of where his parents had come from. The place was alive with people milling about with no rhyme or reason. Old, young, male, female, all so obviously human. 

"Are you ok Master?" Cassian was worried about him. His white- knuckled hold on the wheel and his intense glare out the window was a bit scary. 

"I'll be fine. You guys just need to hurry back as fast as you can. Don't linger over stupid stuff." Xander ordered. 

"Yes, Master." Cassian nodded. 

"And hold Titus' hand the whole time." Xander continued as he finally turned into the giant mall. 

Once parked Titus pulled up beside them and hopped out of the car. "Ready to go?" 

"Y-yeah... Sorry, I'm kind of nervous." Cassian admitted as he exited the car closing the door much too softly. Titus reached around to open and close it properly. 

"It will be fine. Stay with me and hold my hand at all times." Titus reassured. 

"Ok." Cassian felt a bit better at Titus' words but looked back sadly at his master. He still wished Xander would be with him but judging by his spaced-out glare Xander wasn't in any condition to be any closer to humans. 

"It will be ok one day. I'll tell you all about me and my Emily when we get to the mall." Titus promised as he took his luna’s hand in his. As promised his story began when they reached the doors of the intimidating building bustling with humans. 

"Emily hated me at first. We've only been together a little less than two years now. She was scared of everything. She's such a quiet sweet little thing I wanted her to feel safe and love me just as much as I loved her. I didn't believe in all that 'human mates can't be trusted' crap so I never caged her. She's been free since day one. I didn't want to give her any reasons to hate me. It was rocky at first but I think she's getting used to me. She even laughed the other day. She seems to not understand the whole 'unconditional love' thing. I think that's whats going to draw her in the most. She was cheated on a couple of times by other..." Titus shivered in anger. "'Boyfriends'. I want to kill them just thinking about it. Anyways, once she see's how devoted I am she'll come around." 

Titus seemed very confident in his plan. Cassian hoped it worked. The older man seemed like a nice guy he deserved a loving mate.