Surviving My Fate

Chapter Twenty- Four Tell me the Truth

Cassie’s POV

It’s been hours since Carter left, the sun is starting to set and the chilly winter breeze blows across the field where I stand training with Mel.

I am fierce, fast, and accurate in my attacks using my anger to fuel each strike.

“Calm down there Tiger” Mel jokes falling onto her back as I knock her to the ground. The she wolf pauses to catch her breath and I extend a hand to my friend.

“Sorry, Mel.” She really shouldn’t take the brunt of my feelings.

“Something bothering you?” Her face comes into view hovering right before mine when I pull her to her feet. Her look is full of concern.

“Carter keeps leaving me in the dark. He’s hiding things. I don’t like it. My whole relationship with Ian was consumed with lies and betrayals.” I rant letting it flow out instead of biting my tongue.

“I’m sorry Cassie. Mates shouldn’t hide things from one another. You’re the future Luna you should be informed of all pack matters.” Mel voices the same words I had been thinking these past several days.

If Carter couldn’t trust me with these now how could he in the future?

Would I ever really be his Luna?

Mel’s fingers snap again breaking me from my thoughts “Earth to Cassie.”

“Can we end training for the day?” I ask hopeful that she’ll agree.

“Yeah, you’ve done enough. Go clear your head.” She urges shrugging her slim shoulders.

I grab my water bottle waving a hasty goodbye while I jog off toward the pack house.

***

My mind wanders to dark places as I shower and I know it’s the inklings of depression rearing its ugly head once again.

I have been trying to take control over my mind, and find power and peace in my own decisions. Had I allowed this man, this so-called mate so much of me that his decisions could pull me down to that dark place again?

The place Ian had created when his abuse began.

No, I won’t allow that.

I have a home.

I have my son.

That is all I need.

I need time away from this pack.

Slipping out of the hot embrace the water offers I dry and throw on the clean jeans and tee I placed on the counter.

Alex isn’t hard to find the sound of one of his power wheels leading me to the playroom. He’s on his Spider-Man four-wheeler driving in dizzying circles. He’s on his third round since I entered when he finally notices me, in his hurry, he speeds right over my foot as he comes to a stop.

The pain subsides with the same quickness it came on with and I lift Alex into my arms.

“Want to go on an adventure?” I whisper into his ear.

“Yes, Mommy!”

We walk out of the pack house without so much as a glance in our direction. Carter is gone, Levi and Marcus with him so no one cares to stop us. My beat-down car sits outside the garage and I make fast work of buckling Alex into his car seat. I’m shutting the door when the sound of paws erupts from the woods. I hurriedly hop in the driver's seat in case it’s one of them and speed off.

I don’t stop until I reach town pulling into the diner Alex and I visited on our first day here. I have wanted to come back on many occasions, it seemed as if time wouldn’t afford it though. Today is a good day to stop in for dinner.

The dinner rush is almost over with a few patrons exiting as we enter. An older gentleman holds the door and I squeeze past coming face to face with Charlene. “Hey, there stranger, just you and the little one?” She greets her smile warm like the last time.

“Yes Ma’am” I nod following her to a far booth.

“What can I get y’all to drink?” Her pen comes out along with her notepad and menus land on the table.

“Two cokes please.” Alex nods along beside me a big smile on his face.

“Alrighty, I’ll be back in a minute to take your order.” The woman wades off her apron ties swaying behind her.

“What do you want to eat baby?” I turn to Alex looking at the kid's menu with him.

He points to the picture of a burger and fries, my stomach rumbles at the sight and I turn to the adult menu finding a variety of burgers listed. The big bacon double cheeseburger topped with onion rings leaves my mouth open.

“Y’all ready to order?” Charlene walks up placing our drinks on the table.

“I think we’re both going to do burgers. Alex wants the kid's meal and I’ll have the bacon double with onion rings.” I carefully fold the menu as she takes down the last of the order, passing them to her when she raises her hand.

“I’ll get that put right in for you.”

Alex watches cars passing by outside their lights shining through the window. The sun had completely vanished over the horizon now. It feels as if the days are getting shorter and shorter. The far-apart street lights flicker on leaving shadows cast down the long roads long after the cars are gone.

“Here’s your food,” Charlene says pulling our attention to her.

“Thank you,” I reply staring greedily at the food.

We finish eating our bellies stuffed to the brim with the delicious burgers. Alex licks ketchup off his middle finger, his heavy eyelids fluttering softly as he tries to stay awake.

Charlene slips the bill to me collecting our plates. I pay placing two twenties into the faux leather check holder. The extra twenty was a tip for the waitress. Hugging Alex close to my body I slide out of the booth.

“Y’all have a good night!” Charlene calls out.

“You too.”

Alex is asleep when I put him in his car seat shifting slightly once he’s buckled.

My phone is silent and I click the screen on to reveal what I already knew. I have no new messages.

No one has realized we’re gone.

It’s hard turning in the opposite direction of the pack house knowing that’s where my life has been since Ian’s return. The drive is longer than I remember, my exhaustion seeping in like the darkness surrounding us.

The cabin comes into view and I pull into the driveway parking the car. I turn on the overhead light digging through my purse for the key before shutting off the engine. Alex stirs when I pull him out laying his head on my shoulder, his full weight resting on my arms and chest. I have to readjust him to be able to unlock the door and hear the new locks unbolting one by one. Once inside I make certain to lock each of them back. They wouldn’t stop a wolf, I knew that but they would stop anyone else, plus, the barrier gave me a small bit of comfort.

***

“Cassie.” My eyes fly open as the sound of my name vibrates through me. Ian had just been saying it in my dream while he tortured me.

“Cassie are you here?” Carter's voice calls out again and I climb out of Alex’s bed detangling myself from my son.

“Carter?” What time is it the sun still isn’t up and his eyes are wild when they meet mine.

“Cassie.” He breathes gathering me in his embrace. I stand still unwilling to fall to his charm. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He asks pulling away to look me over.

“I’m fine Carter. What are you doing here?” I take a step away crossing my arms over my chest.

“Melody linked Marcus saying you weren’t there for training this morning and when she went to look for you, you were gone. I raced back but your scent was old so I ran straight here." It’s then I notice that he is naked. Rays of light begin to spill in the front windows and down the hall illuminating his body in golden light.

“Raced back from where Carter?” I ignore his nakedness and concern, I'm determined to know what he’s hiding.

“I was on patrol.” He lies smoothly. While that could have been true he wouldn’t have left in such a hurry and I know he’s lying about the rogues already.

“And I went home with my son, you’re free to leave now Carter.” I turn away exasperated flipping my hand in the air while stomping to the door and motioning him out.

He looks confused. Pissed even. His body goes rigid, the muscles taut and straining beneath his skin but he doesn’t budge from the hallway.

“You’re coming home with me Cassie. You’re safer there.” He grits out.

“I’m perfectly safe here since you’re patrolling Alpha,” I argue.

“It’s not safe.”

“Safe from what? Ian hasn’t been near the borders in weeks. Ashley hasn’t been heard from. I need time Carter.” I’m yelling at this point he can’t he just be honest?

“They could come back at any time.” He growls.

“WHATEVER CARTER JUST LEAVE,” I demand.

“No Cassandra.”

“Until you can see me as an equal you need to leave.” I level my voice focusing my steely gaze on the man the Moon Goddess fated to be mine.

“Is that what this is about Cassandra?” He says it like an insult, the remark a slap to the face. “You’re mad I haven’t made you the Luna yet?”

“Get the f**k out of my house Carter.” How could he even think that? I didn’t even know wolves existed before him, before all of this. And he was accusing me of being exactly like Ashley.

“In case you’ve forgotten, this “house” belongs to me.”

“Fine, then you keep it Carter. I don’t want anything to do with you. Not after this.” I push past him picking up Alex who had made it into his doorway. I don’t bother to grab any belongings, what good would they do me? Most of my stuff is at the pack house now anyways. Snagging my purse off the counter I walk out the door. I’m in the car reversing out of the driveway when Cain appears his silver wolf blocking the only escape.

I throw the car in park.

I'm tired of this constant toxic masculinity, tired of these constant toxic relationships, could wolves only be toxic?

I climb out leaving the door agape and face the wolf who claimed to be my mate, my protector.

“Move or I will run you over. I’m so done with wolves controlling me. I control my life.” My voice is strong and powerful, my lips curling in a snarl.

He shifts the golden flecks revealing Cain to be in control of Carter’s human form. “Mate, please, do not do this.”

“Maybe you should’ve stepped in sooner then Cain, because, Carter, he already did this." I motion to the situation a laugh bubbling out of me at the situation I’ve found myself in.

“He’s trying to protect you as am I mate.”

“Protect me by lying to me I assume.”

“We have not lied.” The lie falls easily from his lips. He’s no better than Carter.

“Right so just accuse me of being another Ashley then?”

“He is stupid you are already my Luna, my equal.”

“Funny, you don’t trust me enough to tell me about things relevant to the pack, huh?” This is getting old.

“It’s what’s for the best, to keep you safe.”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s all you keep saying but let’s be honest here, I’d be safer if I knew what I was up against. I would be safer if my ‘so-called’” I throw up quotation marks with my fingers “mate wasn’t running off and leaving me for days without a word Cain.” His Alpha aura keeps getting stronger, I can feel him pushing to dominate me the way he does his pack. He doesn’t like me standing up to him.

“You are our Mate” he roars “we’re only trying to do what is best.”

“That should be my decision too.”

“You are not part of our world. You’re not capable of giving informed decisions.” Carter answers.

“Ding ding ding, give the man a prize he finally speaks his mind. If that’s how you feel then you should reject me and let me go. I don’t see why you’re fighting it.” I knew that’s what he believed.

He’s been getting closer and closer one more step and he would be upon me.

“Why are you so stubborn? Can’t you see I’m in love with you?” All the anger leaves his body as he takes that final step.

Did he just say he loves me?

“If you love me you will be honest with me.”

“Let’s go back to the pack house and I will.” He’s bargaining.

I will not go back.

Not without answers.

“You can tell me here and I will decide if I want to go with you afterward.”

“Let’s at least go inside then. I will get clothes and then I will get Alex.” He runs off before I can respond.

I take the key out of the car shutting the engine off and pull Alex out of his seat. I don’t need him to get my son.