Unwanted Marriage

7. Cassie

"You are all need to be faster! Alpha Andro's guests have arrived!" the butler called out to the kitchen staff. They had to get everything ready for the welcoming party, and time was of the essence. Everyone was busy.

"Cassie, hurry up, why are you so slow?!" A chef yelled at her.

That girl, nodded, she had been kneading the dough since early morning, now her hands were numb, and she was sweating profusely. She feel her very body was trembling, as she hadn't eaten anything since morning. But, the butler wouldn't let her eat until everything was finished, which was typical of how an omega treated in this pack. They weren't considered servants but slaves.

Cassie's situation was unfortunate. Following her father's death and her mother's abandonment, she was stripped of her status as an honorable Beta's daughter to omega slave and deemed useless.

"Let's get moving! Take all the cooked food to the dinner hall!"

"Cassie!" The butler's deep voice startled her.

"Yes, you, Cassie, come with me!" He said, a little impatiently.

Cassie wasn't sure why she was being called and why the butler was asking her to come with him.

"But I'm not finished yet..." Cassie explained.

"Please, someone else take over and finish Cassie's work!!" He commanded.

"Come on!" the butler grabbed Cassie's hand and pulled her along. He led her to the bathroom at the back of the kitchen and pushed her inside.

"Hurry, clean up and change your clothes!" he ordered, not giving Cassie a chance to ask.

The butler shouted at Cassie again, getting angry at her confusion and slow pace. He asked her to hurry up.

"Fast!"

After cleaning changing, Cassie followed the butler at a brisk pace. He took her to the main pack house, which she could only visit on certain days. Otherwise, she spent her time in the kitchen and food storage.

The butler stopped at a room and pushed open the large double doors.

"Good evening, Alpha..." The butler bowed in greeting to the alphas in the room.

Cassie was numb where she stood, scrutinizing the faces that were there. Until her gaze fell on someone whose face had always stuck in her memory.

There's woman in fancy maroon dress, with a high elegant bun, she approached her, smile awkwardly.

"Cassie, you're all grown up now...my daughter..." Debbie said in flat tone.

"Mo..mom..." She said in a hoarse voice.

"What brings you here, after all this time?" Cassie furrowed her brows.

"I understand, you must be a shocked and confused," her mother began, smile gently.

"Come sit and I will explain to you," her mother said, giving Cassie's shoulder a little stroke.

For sixteen years, Debbie had abandoned Cassie in Cassie's late father's pack, she still can remember how her mother tell her not to follow her to the her new husband's pack. And since then, Debbie had never once visited, and didn't care whether Cassie was alive or dead. And now so suddenly Debbie came, which naturally raised a million questions in Cassie's mind.

Cassie sat down awkwardly, as she stared at everyone there.

"Explain it to me, mom," Cassie pleaded, feeling prepared, even for the worst. Since she didn't believe that someone who hadn't come in decades would usually only come to deliver bad news.

"Me and my husband, will take you to the Grey Leander Pack, Cassie." Debbie explained briefly.

"Didn't I hear wrong?"

Debbie shook her head and said, "I came to take you, my daughter..." She then stroked the back of Cassie's hand. With overflowing happiness Cassie jumped up and hugged her mother.

"Don't hug me, hmmm...I mean your clothes are dirty and smelly... honey, you need to clean up." Her mother whispered which instantly stunned her.

Cassie’s face got hot, and her happiness quickly faded to a cold feeling. Her eyes went from sparkly to watery, and her throat felt all tight, like she had a huge lump of cotton candy stuck there that just wouldn’t go away.

"We'll leave after dinner, so pack your bags," her mother commanded.

***

Right after dinner, the butler called her back, asking her to hurry up because her stepfather and mother were waiting.

"Time to go little mouse, be careful over there." The butler chuckled with a suspicious smile. Cassie didn't want to talk much and hurriedly dragged her bag to the front yard, where Alpha Andro was releasing Alpha Jaden.

They seemed to be talking and laughing, Cassie heard them talking about arranged marriages and weddings. But when Cassie came towards them quickly everyone shut their mouths and acted as if they weren't talking about anything.

Debbie turned to Cassie, "are you ready, my daughter?"

Cassie nodded.

"Alright, say goodbye to Alpha Andro and Luna Darcy."

After several hours of traveling, Cassie finally arrived at Grey Leander Pack. This was a large and powerful pack. And was among the top five richest packs in their region.

Debbie asked Cassie to get off and followed her, entering the grand pack building and being greeted by several servants and a girl Cassie thought was around her age. Cassie can notice she was grinning at her.

"Oh my dear, I've missed you. How are you feeling? Are you feeling better? Have you taken the medicine I gave you?" ." Debbie hugged that girl, while placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Mom, no worries, I'm all better now," She replied in a pampered tone.

At that sight, Cassie felt like a needle had been thrust into her heart. It was obvious that her mother greatly favored her stepdaughter.

"So...Cassie, she is your stepsister, Meredith..." Debbie said while while embracing her step daughter.

"Hey, I'm Cassie..." Cassie introduced herself politely.

"Sorry, I can't shake hands with someone dirty, my skin is very sensitive. But, welcome my step sister. Thank you for taking my place." She smiled slyly.

"Taking your place?" Cassie did not take her words well.

"Mom, have you told her yet?" Meredith whined.

"Mom, what is this?" Cassie raised her voice.

"Well, I guess it's about time you knew why I brought you here."