African Wolf

Chapter 8

Andre

My heart broke as I heard her crying in her room.  Hettie had come to speak to me and tell me that Cassie had turned down her invitation to join us for dinner.  I was furious, why would she turn us down, was she seeing someone else?  That’s all I could think of, I had had enough, I was going to go to her room and claim her, my wolf, Thane, surfacing, agreeing with the claiming.  I knew I was being unreasonable but I didn’t care.  I barged past Hettie who  pleaded with me to leave Cassie alone, to give her time.  I was about to march towards her room when I saw someone else knocking on the door, he looked like her brother.  I managed to calm myself enough to wait out of sight, he left the door open by accident and with my wolf hearing and could hear the entire conversation.  My heart broke as I heard her weep, she was hard working, kind and loving, but who was Jonathan?  I hear her finally agree to come to dinner so I sneak away before Josh could see me.  It took all my strength not to run into her room, pull her into my arms and promise her anything she wanted.  I decided to go find Jacob and tell him about the conversation.  We both just sat in silence once I had finished.  Our mates sounded amazing, we needed to learn about their background and who this Jonathan was.  This dinner was going to reveal many secrets, not just ours.  

I went back to my room, showered and changed into something casual.  I didn’t want her to think that we dressed up for dinner, I let everyone know to do the same thing.  I opened my door to the most magnificent sight. Cassie was just closing her door and looked straight at me, immediately our eyes locked, both mesmerized by each other, I knew she was feeling the pull too.  I finally managed to get myself together.  “Hi, I am Andre, Peter’s brother.” our eyes stayed connected as I walked towards her with my hand outstretched.’

“Cassie, I’m Cassie,” she replied quietly, she took my hand and instantly there were small shocks running through our hands, she jumped slightly, surprised by the sensation.  

“What was that?” Her face shocked but placing her hand on mine again.  

“You feel it too?” she nods in response to my question.  

With great restraint I let go of her hand, placed my hand on her lower back, “Come let’s have dinner and then we can discuss things.”

“Will you answer all my questions?” I looked her straight in the eye as she finished.  

“I promise!”  She allowed me to guide her down the stairs towards the dining room.  By the time we got there everyone was seated.  Josh had been placed next to Jacob, leaving two seats open near the end.  Hettie must’ve known that Cassie would want to be near her brother leaving the last place for me.  Somehow the rest of the chairs had been moved to the other part of the table. I must remember to thank Hettie at some point.  

As expected Cassie immediately took the place next to Josh, Josh however barely acknowledged her as he was so caught up with Jacob.  Watching them sheepishly look at each other, trying to make small talk while their hormones were raging.  It was quite entertaining.  If I didn’t have Cassie to look at, I might have focused on them some more.  She turned to face me, our eyes locked, they were the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen, they held so much in them, sparkling, yet sad. I took the time to look at the rest of her, she was wearing a baggy jacket but I could tell that a beautiful body hid underneath, her long brown locks combed neatly down to her waist, I was desperate to pull my fingers through them.  She smiled at me, not the fake kind of teasing smile I see on many of the girls, a genuine smile that ended in her eyes, making them light up. 

“What are you staring at? You look like someone who has been shocked,” she giggled.

“You, only you.” The blush began from her neck and worked its way up to her cheeks, it was so endearing.  

“Aahem…” Peter clearing his throat made me turn around.  Plates of soup were being placed in front of us as I watched Cassie pick up her spoon.  

“Josh, Cassie, thank you so much for joining us tonight.” Hettie started.  “I know you must have heaps of questions for us, I think we have some for you to.” Hettie smiled, that warm inviting smile that made both Cassie and Josh relax.  

“While we are eating, Peter, Jacob and Andre are going to share a story with you.  It might sound strange, but every word they say is true.  All I ask is that you wait until the end before you do or say anything.”  Hettie finished off. 

“PPPPllleease lllisten to them, ddo you promise to?” Chris looked like he had tears in his eyes. 

“I promise,” the melodious voice of my mate. 

“Me too,” responded Josh, while he stared in Jacob’s eyes.  

I hear Peter begin to speak “As my two brothers seem completely enamored with our guests, I guess I will be left to fill in the story.” I turned around to face my brother but could not help placing my arm around Cassie’s chair, she looked up but didn’t seem to mind.  

“Have either one of you ever heard about werewolves?” Peter began.

“Only in the movies,” Josh responds, a small smile on his face.  

“Ok, well let’s not start with that,” Peter smiled and continued.  “Werewolves have existed for thousands of years, in days gone by, werewolves and humans lived side by side, in a peaceful existence.   Werewolves traits are only passed onto males, all females born are human.  Due to this werewolves used to live in the open, finding their mates in the human towns.  Human men started to become nervous, stating that the werewolves were stealing their woman, hurting them and forcing them to produce their pups.  Although these accusations were false, the Alphas of all the main packs decided to separate themselves, disappearing with the help of spells from some powerful witches, the werewolves and their mates began to live separately, keeping their identities hidden.  The spells were strong and soon the humans began to forget that werewolves actually existed, instead they became myths, legends, spoken about only in children’s stories.  Werewolves only share their secret when telling a human about themselves is a necessity or when they find their mate.” My brother paused, allowing Cassie and Josh to process what was being said.  

“Mate, what’s a mate?” Josh asked.  

“Werewolves believe that the Moon Goddess blesses each one of them with a chosen mate, this is a human female or male, who has been gifted to the wolf.  A werewolf needs a mate to feel whole.  They are more powerful, more focused when they have their gifted person next to them.  There is no one more important to a werewolf than their mate, well...maybe their pup’s.” Peter looked over at Chris and ruffled his hair.  Chris looked back at him, so much love between a father and a son.  I couldn’t wait for that to be me.  

“In our pack we do not date or even look at anyone who is not our gifted mate, we would rather be alone than be with the wrong person.  Not all the females understand this, but it is law in our pack, and all the male werewolves follow this. If they do not, they are welcome to leave and join another pack or live as a rogue.” Peter finished off

“A rogue?” Cassie asked.  

“A wolf that belongs to no pack, generally they live in the human towns, they don’t really cause too much trouble.”

There was silence for a bit then Cassie spoke.  “So why are you sharing this with us, is it because we will be working here?  Or has it got to do with the incident that happened today?”

I could hear her breathing changing, she was nervous, unsure of everything being told to her.  Jacob continued while keeping eye contact with Josh, “You, Josh, are my mate, my gift from the Moon Goddess, can you feel this, the tingles and shocks running through us when we touch?” Josh was nodding, not knowing what words to say.  

“Cassie, you are Andre’s, I know you feel the pull, mates do.” Jacob continued.  Cassie turned around and stared at me while I nodded.  She reached out her hand and touched mine, rubbing the palm of her hand on mine.  

“How else can you tell?” She looked at me while asking.  

“Today in the restaurant, I could smell you and Jacob could smell Josh, each mate releases an intoxicating scent that only his or her mate can smell.  You smell like fresh dew drops with a hint of honey.  I could smell it all day.” I finished off bringing her hand to my lips.  The sensation of her skin was amazing, I could sit like this all night.  

“I know I can feel it, but can we see it?” Cassie asked sheepishly, “Can we see your wolves?” I could feel Thane stirring inside, desperately wanting to show our mate who he is.  I stood up a bit away from the chair and began taking off my clothes.  Cassie began to blush and turn away.  I couldn’t help but chuckle, I loved the fact that she was so innocent. 

“Sorry,” I said gently, “I have to take off my clothes or I will rip them when I change.” She nodded her head but kept looking in the other direction, I noticed Josh did the same thing as Jacob began to undress too.  Hettie and Peter took Chris and decided to give us some space.  Crack! The sounds of bones cracking filled the room.  I moved towards where Cassie was sitting and nuzzled into her hand, I was large for a werewolf, being an Alpha you were automatically bigger.  My fur was pitch black with a patch of white over my one eye.  Cassie looked a bit surprised but then began to stroke my face, the tingles running through us created the most amazing sensations.  We stayed like that for a while, her trailing her fingers through my fur.  Until that moment, staring at her through my wolfs eyes, I had not realised how lonely I had actually been, longing for this moment, longing for my mate, and what a mate the Moon Goddess had gifted me with.  I changed back into my human form and threw on some clothes.  I noticed that Josh and Jacob had disappeared too, I am sure that Jacob wanted some alone time too with Josh. He really believed that being gay, he would never find a mate.  

“Can we spend some time together, we can sit on the balcony in one of our rooms and just chat, I will make us some coffee?” My eyes and voice pleading, I didn’t want her to go to bed, I desperately wanted to spend time together, to ask her questions and find out specifically who Jonathan was.  

“I promise I won’t do anything, just talk?” Wow, when did I become so needy?

Cassie nodded her head, “Yes, I would like that very much.” Her smile could light up a room, it made her eyes sparkle even more.  I made us some coffee and headed upstairs to her room, as we sat on the balcony nothing could have prepared me for the emotions I felt at that point.