The Women Between

Chapter 22: Apologies

The Head Omegas office is on the first floor through the fifth door on the left of the White Foyer. And it is the third door on the right of the brown hall.

Cassandra repeated the directions Maggie had given her a few times as she made her way to Janet’s office. She was nervous about starting her first day as Luna and unsure if she was going in the right direction while walking down this dark hallway. It looked a little spooky, which made her wish more fervently that she could remember every office and room that was shown to her yesterday. Its creepiness seemed to seep into her body, sending small shivers through it. The circular lighting has no coverings, which should have made everything brighter than it was, but it did not. There are thick blots of darkness lingering here and there near the many brown wooden doors. Some have light shining through the bottom cracks while others have none. It did not make her feel good as she neared the omega’s office. It was starting to look like she was in a horror flick with the murderer just around the corner somewhere. Her heart was thumping heavily in her chest and her skin was pricking with sweat. She is glad that she is not profusely sweating or the dampness of her skin would make her very uncomfortable and sticky.

There are just too many rooms in the packhouse for her to memorize, except this one she should have remembered. There were one thousand plus rooms, where only a portion of that would be used and remembered by her, she is sure. It will be the ones that she frequents the most, which should be the Heads of the Hierarchy's offices. Those she does not want to forget their location, since they are important to a pack. It would make it easier to remember where everything is, if her nerves did not make her mind drum up inside her.

She wished to be calm and collected when meeting with the Head Omega, but that is not happening today. It almost felt like something was against her between her mates fighting and then this darkened hallway. She needed their support and care that would keep the pack on her side and not against her. She had even thought long and hard about what kind of Luna and Queen she would like to look like to the wolves. It may help her win the hearts of the omegas and some warriors. The alphas and lunas may not be happy with her, if they are one of the bad packs, and the betas, surely, will be running around tearing their hair. Then again, they are the ones in charge of appeasing them, so they may sweep it under the rug. The only problem she foresees is that she does not know the extent of her powers. She may not be able to commit to her ideas.

Cassandra knows that she must articulate and maneuver carefully with any pack or risk upsetting them. It would put pressure on her mates, which could mean a fight, but she feels this overwhelming sense of trespass, too. It was like she had no right to be in this position. That made her insecurities flare to life. She took it out on her clothing as she chose many different outfits and hairstyles this morning after her bath. Her mind was buzzing with the need to put a good foot forward, hoping that nothing would go wrong. She had to shake it off quite a few times to put on a regal air for herself to do as she said last night- fake it.

This pack, though, does not seem to like anything that she has done so far. Every "no" she had spoken, so far, made omegas give frowns, like doing her hair and dressing her. The Gammas are no better. They had concealed their disgruntled looks too. She cannot help her independent nature, but she has decided to let them tend to her needs on special occasions like last night. It made their smiles brighten more than she had seen them all that day, while she ignored the irritation of their fussing over her.

Then, there was doing the little things on her own, like getting into a fridge or picking up her clothes. Those were little things compared to the bigger things she would need help on, like the meet and greet of the surrounding packs. She needed someone to help her through all those names and allergies, so she could make them feel welcome. That was one part of the Luna’s responsibilities- greeting wanted or unwanted guests.

She breathed in deeply as she stopped at the door where Maggie told her Janet’s office would be. She raised her fist and knocked quickly before she could change her mind. At the same time, she released a breath that she did not realize she was holding the entire time. Then, a sharp pain entered her heart that made her rub her chest quickly and her face scrunch at it. It was the umpteenth time that she had felt this, even after having a nice bubble bath that smelled delicious. There should not be pain after having a relaxing soak, especially since her mates had calmed down. She has a clue as to what is causing this, since she is too young to have a heart attack.

A forced smile pushed up her lips in anticipation of Janet answering her door soon. She did not want anyone to know that she was in pain from the unspoken rejection. It would encourage them to persuade her from committing to her ultimatum to the kings. They have to learn that she is no push over. They also have to learn to share hers and she has to learn to accept it. That is the wolf's way of life, in these circumstances.

Her thoughts and smile vanished quickly as Janet opened the door, looking like she was evaluating her. The Head Omega was bearing a smile that looked like a shark with her eyes gleaming at her. Then, she roved her eyes over her outfit and dropped the smile, showing a disappointing frown. She chose to dress in jeans and a t-shirt, again, but this time, she put on tennis shoes for today. That made this woman stiffen with an arched brow that made Cassandra's arms cross over her chest, daring her to say something.

“You said that we are going to be getting desks from the attic, today,” Cassandra clipped. She was not budging from her stand to go against this woman's unspoken dress code. “I’m not risking dirtying one of my dresses for that kind of work. And two, if there is anything else that requires me to get dirty, then this is the outfit needed.”

“Of course,” Janet miffed as she struggled to put a smile on her face.

She wanted to scoff at how stiff and fake it was, but she was not going to say more. This woman was really trying to push her patience about her clothes. No one’s coming today, that she knows of, but if they do, she had prepared another outfit for just that reason. She knows how cunning some of these wolves can be when they want power, especially she-wolves. Janet pretty much silently screamed that she liked her position, which was why she gave her the opportunity to do the Luna Ceremonial Dinner. It would ease her from the power that she had already drunk while without a Luna.

“Are we going now, or do we need to discuss something?” Cassandra questioned with a curious look on her face.

“It’s about this morning,” Janet said quickly as she widened the door for her to come in.

“Of course,” she said unsurely.

She walked inside the office a little unnerved by this woman's sudden sincerity. It fled her the minute she noticed that it was small. Her smile froze in place seeing the three file cabinets on the right corner and a desk in the left corner. Two small, grey chairs were placed in front of it, and there was no window to give light. A gold lamp was in the corner behind the chairs, where a green plant sat absorbing its rays. It was basic and bland, making her wish that she could help make it more inviting instead of like coming into the Room of Doom. She even suppressed a slight shiver that made her wish she could walk out of here.

“Please sit, Your Majesty,” Janet said, waving to the chairs as her tone softened. I did so with curiosity plaguing my mind. Did she want to talk about her proclamation? This woman took her seat across from her and clasped her hands on top of her desk looking resigned to say whatever it was that was on her mind. “This is about how I sounded this morning when Maggie did not show up for her chores. I know that I am not the most pleasant sounding woman here with my gruff voice. The words, though, that came out of my mouth should have been better articulated in front of my subordinates, too. I should not have let my temper get out of hand like that. I am sorry.”

“I understand anger and frustration,” Cassandra responded kindly, giving her a tight smile. She wanted to say something other than that, but she knew that she needed to set an example. “I also understand that you have had it hard, since Their Majesty’s mother died, the former Luna Queen.”

“May the Moon Goddess recycle her soul,” Janet said reverently with a small bow of her head.

“Yes,” she agreed softly, giving reverence to the previous Luna with a bow of her head. “You shouldered most of the Luna’s responsibilities plus your own. Now, I am here becoming the Luna Queen, and I hope that you will walk me through each situation that may come up like parties or political affairs. However, I want you to begin reflecting on how to become a better Head Omega. Don’t let your emotions get ahead of you, is what I mean.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Janet said solemnly, giving a nod.

“Now, since we are taking a moment to sit and talk,” Cassandra said firmly as she straightened her posture more. “I want all the wolfless’ files and those that are considered weaker than the rest. I want them on my desk by the time I get back from visiting Gregory at the Council Chambers, and yes, I will be dressed appropriately.”

“I will have Haven look through the files for me while I help you,” Janet said firmly, sounding more like her usual self. “She is usually the one who substitutes me when I am asked to play Luna.”

“We all need assistance in troubling times,” she chuckled, giving her a genuine smile. “There is also the matter of Maggie’s schedule, which you will remove her starting tomorrow. Also, I want her to sit with me at dinner tonight in front of the pack.”

Janet looked at her for a long moment before saying, “May I know why?”

“I have ideas from some of the books I have read in my former alpha’s office,” Cassandra answered obliquely. She does not want to give away anything of what she has planned in her head for the omegas. She does not wholly trust this woman to not interfere with her goals and intentions. “He used to let me read up on werewolves, mates, and those that are wolfless. I found it all fascinating in the beginning, when I was told about supernaturals except that there are kings.”

She could not help the blush that formed on her cheeks when thinking of them. Everything up until today had made her feel special and even awakened her sexuality. However, the pain struck her heart, again, making her wish it would stop. She struggled not to let it show. She decided to take a deep, hoping to ease its sharpness that seemed to radiate down to her stomach and through her chest.

“I wanted to be a good pack member," she forged on through the pain, "so I started out at the bottom, since I am not wolf born. And that was before everything went wrong. Now, I am here hoping to get the chance to use some of the ideas that I have come up with to help the weakest ones in the pack.”

“You have been thinking about this for a long time,” Janet mumbled with an astonished smirk on her face. “I can see that it is going to be an interesting year after all. So, I will get down to the other part of the reason I asked you in here. Are you alright and have you made a decision about the rejection? I have omegas coming to me left and right about it.”

She chuckled at the way the woman looked worried and insistent about the answer. Her heart was even warmed at the thought of the pack concerned for her that they would trouble the Head Omega about it. The taint in her, though, decided that they only want their alphas happy and her happiness is subjective. She ignored it, knowing that the omega's priority was to ease the pack's daily burdens and strive to make them happy through their work. They are servants more or less, but she sees them as the backbone that helps run a pack well.

“My decision is based upon the alphas,” Cassandra answered quickly before taking in a deep breath. Another pang hit her chest. She refrained from rubbing it, though, so no one knows about it. “As for how I feel… I will let you know later.”

“Understood,” Janet nodded, standing up and grabbing her keys from her side drawer. “Come! Let’s get your desks for your office and the alpha’s office.”

“Why do I need one there, too?” Cassandra asked as she stood up and walked to the door.

“Judgement and or political affairs that come to our door,” Janet answered as they left the office. “Sometimes, on Their Majesty’s day off, the councilman or the chief investigator comes to the packhouse. Then, there are the surrounding packs that you will meet in three days for the luncheon that is going to be held by you. Yes, you.

“It is tradition that you hold it so that way you can get to know the Lunas, Alphas, and their offspring- all of them. Alpha Caleb and Luna Kelly are ones that cannot keep their hands off each other. So, they have seven children- three singles and two sets of twins. I will have their files ready for you, too, so you can be familiar with their background and faces. And you will need to look old-fashioned in dress and makeup."

“Thank you,” Cassandra said breathily. She followed this woman down the hall feeling overwhelmed by everything she was told so far. “I will need to know what to throw for a luncheon, like their favorite foods and décor if it is not over the top.”

“Of course,” Janet chuckled as she opened the door to the White Foyer. “You’ll have a lot to do to prepare for their arrival, including sending an email to the Lunas, not the Alphas…”

Cassandra scanned the foyer feeling her heart starting to ache, again. Everything was clean of blood with only cracks in the walls that showed any evidence of the brothers fighting. She balled her hands into fists, wanting the pain to stop as the scene played in her head. She knows that it was the first sign of rejection. It would come in waves, making it difficult for her and them throughout the day. She had to make sure that they would not fight over her, again, before she would accept them, especially with this pain hurting her. Today will be a trying day, but she knows that she has the strength to get through it without buckling under the pressure.

However, what she did not expect was Thomas walking towards them as they went into another hallway just three doors down in the foyer. Her eyes glued to his, becoming lost in them, almost missing that trillion-dollar smile. He has always given her them, since they first met. The thought of tasting them, again, and feeling their softness on her like last night sent her mind into a tailspin. It may not have been like Gregory's teasing lips, but his was just as good. She could have kissed them longer than a few seconds or minutes. She was not sure how long they had kissed, but it was incredibly good. Then, he licked them, pushing away her memories to focus on him.

Her reservations were being tested to do nothing while wanting to do something. Her heart was thumping heavily at the tension filling her body. This delicious feeling wrapping around her body made it warm with the urgent need to fling herself into his arms to latch onto his lips. She could feel others standing around peeking at the scene that was about to happen as she struggled to drag her eyes to his eyes. She was trying not to think so many naughty thoughts, but when their eyes connected, everything went out the door.

It was like they were on an ocean. She feels safe from danger and lulled by the waves that sparkle in the sunlight almost like there is nothing else in the world. It was just them hand in hand with smiles on their faces as they basked in each other. She could not help her smile widening with a thrill filling her full of happiness. Her teeth nipped at her lips, too, with the thoughts of them feeling her bashful side blush at her lustful thoughts.

Then, her eyes darted over him quickly to soak in his look, trying not to let those images affect her. It was like he walked out of a full-service salon that catered to his every need. It drove something warm in her all the way to her heart and between her legs that made both pound hard. She knew it was telling her something, except she was a little busy appreciating his body dressed in a light blue suit. Those muscles and the firmness of his body... She swears she purred at the way he looked.

His hands were first on her list to appreciate as she remembered the fitting room. Her blush darkened her face, nearly turning it red with the memory of how close his face was between her thighs. It made her eyes jerk back to his, seeing the mischievousness in them. He knows, she thought with a wave of embarrassment that added to her flaming cheek’s color. She had to turn them away, but they went right to his arms that had held her during her nightmare. He may be muscle bound, but it felt like a firm pillow had encased her. She had felt protected from the monsters hunting her in her dreams.

She could not linger there long either or she would surely mate him here and now! It was like everywhere she looked on him it was a stimulation to go to him and finish their mating. She tried not to stare too much at him, but she kept coming back to those eyes. Her heart thudded hard at the way his smell suddenly invaded her nose before he even got a foot near her. She loved the spices of his cologne, while it had a hint of a cookie smell. Then, there is the languid movement of his arms that is being cautious about something in his hand.

“Thomas,” Cassandra breathed as he got closer to her.

“My Love,” he whispered as he lifted the flowers he had in his left hand. She wanted to smack her head for being too stunned by his perfection to notice the gift. “I’m sorry my brother and I hurt you this morning. We promise that it will never happen again.”

“I forgive you,” she breathed as she took them.

His arm slid around her waist and pulled her into his body quickly. And like that, she feels better. Her tears wanted to surface, too, but she could not let that happen. She had already cried enough today, and she hated it when they streamed down her face to show her weakness. She held them back, knowing that this is where she wanted to be. It was her home, her life, and her safe haven from all that wanted to hurt her. She breathed in deeply, letting his scent calm her down from the pain that they had caused me. She needed to quell all that was wrong today. Her shoulders were even relaxing from her straightened posture that made him chuckle when she sighed heavily.

“You really feel that bad about us fighting over you?” Thomas murmured in her hair as he nuzzled it.

“Yes,” Cassandra whispered as she pulled back from him to look into his eyes. It was a mistake. She felt like she was becoming lost, again, but it helped her to speak what was in her heart. “I cannot be with you both if I rip you apart. It hurt when I felt it through the mark that you were angry with each other for something that was in reference to me. I don’t even know how I knew that it was. I only know that the men that are my mates need me to glue them together more so than pry them apart.”

“Goddess… that is what you are,” Thomas breathed raggedly, feeling her words swell his heart with love.

He took her lips with his and pushed her against the wall, ignoring Janet’s presence. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she closed her eyes as she fell deeper into the kiss. It was like she was drowning in him, where their passion began to intertwine. She could not tell if she was feeling his or her needs at this point, and nor did she care. His soft lips are rough on hers, drawing a moan from her. He was not close enough for her to feel every inch of his muscles, but that is what happens with a tall man. It made her wrap her legs around his waist, so she could feel him better.

Cassandra did not care at that moment if anyone was looking at them. The sparks and the tingles felt like a soothing blanket of warm water covering her body and heating it up. She even bowed to his experienced lips, demanding their fill of her, while igniting the flames in both of them. Warm liquid began to pool between her legs that filled the air with her arousal. Her n*****s were hardening with her needs, too, which made her jerk when he brushed them with his chest. They are sensitive now that he is igniting her lust, her need for him to fill her body.

However, this kiss was more than that. It plucked the strings of her heart and made her yearn for him. She wants to know him, be with him, and to have him at her side caring for her like he has been doing. Like when she needed help finding a dress or dressing for Gregory to apologize. He did it for her. She felt this need beating in her heart, and it screamed for her to take back the rejection and to accept him. Her pain almost evaporated as their tongues dueled together. It made her want everything that he offered her- family, love, and more. She almost feels like she cannot survive without him there, making all the bad in her world go away.

Meanwhile, Janet turned her head, placing a frown on it when she saw the smirking omegas. They are peeking out from the doorways or stopping their work in the hallway. They gawked at the lovers and almost giggled loudly, which would not have been good for their Luna. She is human after all, Janet thought, dismayed by their reaction. She shooed them away silently with a wave of her hand.

“Thomas,” Cassandra whispered as he parted from her lips, breathing as heavily as her. She took her hand and let her fingertips trace along his lips while holding his gaze, feeling memorized by it. “I…”

“I know,” Thomas said softly, cutting her off from saying whatever it was that she was about to say.

She did not know what words were going to fall off her lips. She was sure it could not be the big L word, especially this soon. They had only known each other for two days, except she knew that the mate bond and the marking made it like they had been dating for months. She knows that things are progressing quickly for them, especially if she gives in to it. This, however, disturbed her at how it made her feel like they were becoming close quickly.

“I will be with you the rest of the day to ensure that you no longer hurt,” Thomas said softly. “Gregory has yet to make his apology.”

“Okay,” she nodded, hearing someone clear his throat.

“I am glad to see that one brother has made up with you,” Matt said with a broad smile on his face. He received a growl from Thomas that made him chuckle about it and raise his hand in surrender. Cassandra only noticed that a file was in his hand. “I only brought a present for the Luna Queen. She requested a file on Maggie.”

“Oh, thank you!” she said with an excited shrill in her voice as she slipped out of Thomas' arms. She walked to the beta and took it from his hands feeling eager to see her background, so she knows where to begin. “And just so you know, Alpha and Beta, I have an interesting punishment for the Head Gamma, who did not tell Janet about my invitation to Maggie to come jogging with me. I think you’re going to like it.”

“And may I know?” her mate murmured in her ear, sounding entertained.

“You ummm are going to have to be present to sanction it, umm, my Alpha,” Cassandra mumbled, feeling overly warm.

He is like an addictive drug that once he started to get close to her, she wanted more and made her head fuzzy. She had to struggle to think about his question and how to answer it. His breath fanning the mark on her neck ignited her need, making her flush. She would have pushed him away if she had not felt unusually vulnerable.

“I will be there with bells on,” Thomas chuckled while enjoying how uncomfortable he was making her.

“Good because I also need to speak to Maggie with you present,” Cassandra said, pulling away from him. She snatched his hand before she did anything she might regret. She still needs the connection to him, though. “It is about her new schedule that I have decided to put her on and reposition her, too.”

“This ought to be an interesting day for the Luna and the Alpha,” Matt said with his arms crossed over his lean chest. It wrinkled his gray button-up shirt that is the opposite of what the omegas wear- navy blue slacks and shirts. “She gets to be in the Alpha’s office on her first day.”

He made it sound like she had gotten into trouble doing some unmentionable bad. She giggled at the many thoughts circling her mind that she could have done to make that fantasy come true. She could not help it, but then, she thought of the punishment that they would give her. Being this close to her mate, she had no thoughts of Derek’s and Jamie’s punishments. Her mates would maybe torture her sexually, except all they have to do is go without a shirt on and she feels wet between her legs. That has been torturing her ever since she woke up.

The memory of them on her bed with no shirt, but she is disappointed that they had pants on.