The Alpha's Breeder

Chapter 4

Cassandra's POV

The next morning, I dress up quickly and pack my things to get ready to start my new life.

I'm disappointed when I head downstairs to find a stranger waiting for me instead of Mason as I had hoped. I had been looking forward to meeting my mate for the second time and maybe having a conversation with him. Sadly, it looks like that isn't going to be the case.

"I'm Israel. I'm the Beta of Black Stone Pack and I'll be the one escorting you there," the stranger informs me.

I force my disappointment down as I smile at him. "I'm Cassandra. It's nice to meet you."

He simply nods and starts heading towards the door. I wordlessly follow him as he walks towards the car packed outside the pack house. I ignore the stares and hushed whispers I get from the people who have never treated me right.

We come to a halt in front of the car and Israel turns around to face me. "Is that all that you're taking with you?" He asks with a raised brow as he stares at the bag in my hand.

I look down at the tiny bag that contains all my life's worth. "It's all I have," I whisper with my gaze fixed on the ground so that I don't see his pity or worse, his disgust.

He silently takes the bag out of my hand, opens the back seat, and throws it in. "Get in," he says as he rounds the car to get to the driver's side.

I slide into the passenger's seat and fold my hands on my lap.

As soon as Israel gets in, I ask the question that has been on my mind, "Why didn't Mason pick me up himself?"

"He's busy," he answers in a monotone.

The rest of the drive is spent in a comfortable silence as I gaze out the window.

Thirty minutes later, the car comes to a stop in front of a huge house that seems to be twice as big as my pack's. My palm turns sweaty as I watch the crowd of people outside the house.

They're divided into several groups and seem to each be doing their own thing. Some of them are kids that are playing tag and fooling around then there's an older group of teenagers that are huddled together and talking animatedly. To the side is another group of adults who pause their discussion and stare at me as I step out of the car.

I turn my gaze to the ground as Israel comes to my side with my single bag in his hand.

"I'll show you to your room," he tells me and starts walking towards the front door.

I follow him closely, afraid to get left alone in this crowd that keeps staring at me like I'm an alien from Mars.

If I thought that the crowd outside was bad then inside can alone be described as hellish. Everyone stops what they're doing and turns to stare at me as I climb the stairs with Israel.

We stop in front of a blue door and Israel pushes it open and walks in.

My mouth falls to the ground as I walk into the most beautiful room that I've ever had the fortune of entering. The walls are painted a baby blue, the linens and curtains are lilac and the queen-size bed looks like the next best thing since sliced bread.

"This is where you're going to be staying," Israel informs me and drops my bag in the center of the bed. "Mason will arrive shortly to talk with you," he says with his back already turned to me as he walks towards the door. He pauses with his hands against the doorknob and turns around to face me. "Is there anything you require before I leave?"

I shake my head. "Thank you for everything," I tell him with a soft smile.

He nods but doesn't smile back at me. Then he opens the door and exits the room.

I spin around in the room, dissolving into a fit of laughter as my head start spinning. I fall onto the bed and sigh as my body sinks into the incredibly soft bed. I can't believe that my life has turned over a new leaf overnight. Everything still seems like a dream and I keep expecting myself to wake up any second from now.

My door opens and I quickly sit up on the bed as Mason walks into my room.

I leap up from the bed and rush over to him. I press my body to him as I hug him tightly. "Thank you so much for accepting me as your mate. I thought that you were going to reject me," I rush out, my heart heavy with gratitude and taking away my self-control. Getting back control of myself, I pull away from him as my face heats up. "I'm sorry about that," I whisper and push a piece of hair behind my ear.

Mason clears his throat. "It seems as though you have some wrong ideas about why I brought you over to my Pack."

My head whips up and I stare at him in confusion. What wrong ideas is he talking about?

He crosses his arms over his wide chest. "I didn't bring you here because I want to play house or play the dutiful mate. The only reason why you're here is because I want something from you."

The smile that had been on my face wipes away with his words. "Why am I here?" I ask slowly, scared of what the answer might be.

Now that I think about it, I have never heard good things about Mason. All the rumors I've heard about him are whispered terrors about his ironclad rulership over his people. Did I just jump from the frying pan right into the fire?

"I want you to give me an heir."

My mouth drops open, something that seems to be happening a lot since I stepped foot into this pack house. "You want me to give you a baby," I specify just in case I heard him wrong.

He simply nods like it's a common occurrence for him to ask random women to push out babies for him. For all I know, it could be an everyday thing for him.

'Yes!' My wolf, Lily, squeals. 'Let's give the man our babies,' she begs.

I inwardly roll my eyes at her and completely ignore her input. She isn't a trusted partner when it comes to dealing with our mate.

"That's the only reason why you brought me over to your pack? Just to be your baby machine," I question, a bit of anger finding its way into my voice. I'm tired of the men in my life thinking that I'm nothing more than a pair of legs to sleep with.

"I wouldn't call it such a distasteful name. You will be more than a baby machine. I would even call you my business partner," he says.

Oh lucky me. I've been upgraded to a business partner. How will I ever survive this much good fortune?

I'm rolling my eyes before I can help it. "I'll pass. I don't want to be your breeding mare neither do I want to be your business partner," I tell him, standing firm on my decision even though my wolf is throwing a tantrum within me. She can't seem to understand why I'm not jumping at the opportunity that our mate has presented to us.

Mason laughs humourlessly. "Again, you have come up with the wrong ideas. You seem to think that you have a choice here."

My blood runs cold. "Y-you going to force me?" I ask, taking a step back to get away from him.

Mason's face scrunches up in disgust. "I would never force a woman to share my bed with me. Women rush into my bed of their own accord," he says smugly.

"I'm not going to be one of them," I assure him. I just managed to get away from one man who forced his way into my bed, I'm not ready to jump into another bed.

Mason sighs. "Ok, here's the deal. If you bear an heir for me, I'll let you go and you'll be free to do whatever you choose. You have been a prisoner all your life and I'm sure that you're dying to finally taste some freedom. Have my heir and freedom can be yours."

He's blackmailing me with freedom. Well, jokes on him because I have no idea of what I'll do if I'm left alone to do whatever I choose. Will I become a rogue and roam the woods aimlessly?

"Why did you choose me?" I question, finally asking the question that has been on my mind since I found out the reason why Mason brought me here. "I'm sure that there are a dozen other reliable candidates that would be perfect for this job opportunity."

A pained expression appears on his face for a split second and then it's gone. "Two years ago, I had an arranged mate that was pregnant for me. Unfortunately, she passed away along with our baby." A pause. "I never chose another Luna because I don't want to put anyone through that risk again."

"But you're willing to put me through that risk."

He shakes his head. "You're different. The Moon Goddess chose you for me. It has to mean something."

I don't tell him just how stupid that sounds. Just because the Moon Goddess chose me to be his mate doesn't mean that complications won't arrive when I get pregnant. Those sorts of things are unpredictable.

"I also don't want the hassle that comes with having a mate. All I want is a baby so you're the perfect candidate for me. You give me a baby and I give you your freedom."