Flashback

Cassie and Cayden stepped through a portal after finishing up their mission. We’d actually ended up taking two together instead of just one. Cayden had wanted to take the second mission, but knew we’d have been cutting it close for Alexander, EJ, and my birthday. I told him we should do it. He wouldn’t have taken it if we weren’t together, but we were. I confided to him that I liked our little bubble of just us.

We’d ended up missing the party my parents threw for me and my twin brothers, but Cayden and I celebrated alone. I’d also conjured my brother’s presents to them on our actual birthday. Cayden squeezed my hand saying, “There’s no reason for you to be nervous, My Duchess.”

I replied, “It’s the first time I’ll be seeing the Hackura as not just their Duchess but the future Commander’s mate.”

Cayden kissed me, “They will love you because they already do.”

We walked around the corner staring into each other’s eyes. Cayden glanced sharply in front of us sensing someone there. I smiled at my mate’s best friend.

Hendrix smiled greeting, “Welcome home, man.”

He pulled Cayden into a hug then greeted me, “Duchess Cassie, it is a pleasure to see you again.”

I smiled saying, “It’s just Cassie to you, Hendrix. You are Cayden’s best friend.”

A woman came running up to us with her eyes stuck solely on my mate. Cayden sighed and I felt his annoyance in the bond. I raised an eyebrow and studied her. She smiled at him, not seeing me at all. She handed Cayden a cup of coffee. I raised an eyebrow knowing my mate didn’t like or drink coffee.

She all but cooed, “Hey, C.”

Rain growled, “I hate her.”

Yeah, I was getting there quickly myself. She continued, “I got you coffee, black, just how you like it.”

Rain growled in my head. I commented, “He doesn’t like coffee.”

She finally looked at me and frowned.

She greeted, “Duchess Cassie, I didn’t see you there.”

I commented, “I noticed.”

She asked, “What are you doing here?”

She looked between Cayden and me with a confused look. Rain scoffed, “There is literally no possible way she doesn’t know he’s our mate.”

My wolf had a point. I knew the whole realm would be talking about it by now.

Cayden frowned answering, “Cora, Cassie is my mate. Even if she wasn’t, she doesn’t need a reason to be here. She’s the Duchess of this realm.”

Cora dropped her coffee, gasping as tears filled her eyes. My light was fighting me to shoot her with sunlight. Rain growled, “Or I could and RIP HER THROAT OUT!”

I calmly said, “I’m not saying yes or no at the moment.”

My wolf accepted the solid maybe I gave her.

Hendrix sighed, “Cora, we told you that last week when you came home Cayden was mated.”

Cora shot him a look practically shrieking, “You hate me. Of course you’d say that in the hopes I’d give up on us!”

Rain snarled, “US?!”

Yeah, I didn’t like that word choice. I sent my confusion to Cayden, and he sent his back. So, he didn’t see this as an us situation.

I asked Cora, “Why would Hendrix hate you? I’ve met him on several occasions and found him to be a fair man.”

Hendrix smiled at me. Cora glared at Hendrix and didn’t answer my question. Rain growled, “She’s disrespectful. She has to answer us, and she knows that.”

I knew that because I was her Duchess.

I cleared my throat, “Cora, I’m asking you a question.”

She turned and snarked, “Then I have to answer it, don’t I?”

I cut in, “Yes, you do. By law and everything. I’d change your tone. Quickly if I were you.”

She ground her teeth, “Cayden and I dated. He’s my ex-boyfriend and I’m his ONLY ex-girlfriend.”

This was the girl that cheated on Cayden? Rain growled.

I questioned, “Do we have a problem here? Because Cayden is my mate. You two dated a long time ago. It’s not like he broke up with you when he found me either. Besides, we just got home. I want to go see my family and Cayden wants to see his. He also doesn’t drink coffee.”

I took it from him and handed it back to her .

She smirked at me, “Not with you he doesn’t, it was our thing.”

Hendrix coughed, “Fiery redhead.”

Cayden put his hand on my back. He said, “Cora, I haven’t drank coffee in a long time.”

Cora smiled as if she won something. I realized what she thought and Rain snarled in my mind.

I told Cora, “It’s because he cut out caffeine. He doesn’t want to be jittery. It’s not because it was ‘your thing.’ From what I heard from him and others after you broke up he wasn’t even that broken hearted when you cheated on him. On an on period. I actually heard you outed yourself chasing him into the street screaming at him. At the time I said that anyone who tried to publicly humiliate someone the way you did deserved to punished. Guess how much stronger I feel about that sentiment now that I know he’s mine?”

Rain snarled, “She did it on purpose! We’ve read some of mom’s textbooks. She was trying to hurt him and make everyone else think he was weak. Then he’d have no one but her. She’s a gaslighting narcissist.”

I agreed with that assessment.

I took a step forward as she paled. I told her, “He doesn’t associate coffee with you like you seem to do with him. You need to leave because you’re REALLY beginning to piss me off, and that can be quite hazardous to one’s health. Cayden is MINE, not yours.”

Her lip was actually trembling. She could not be serious with this right now.

I added, “In fact, he was never yours. Which you knew. You messed up and cheated. That’s on you. You don’t get to rewrite history here. Now, if you’ll excuse us. We have to go.”

I grabbed Cayden’s hand. Cora whispered, “Cayden, wait.”

I rolled my eyes.

I’d seen this exact woman a million times with my parents. My mom always had to deal with these situations. I studied Cayden and our bond. Just like my dad, he didn’t see it. He was also talking to her out of obligation according to the bond. He wanted to leave.

Cayden answered, “Yes, Cora?”

Cora sighed, “Could we catch up sometime? Just you and me.”

I shot a beam of sunlight at her feet. Hendrix laughed while Cayden was amused but didn’t show it. I was decidedly not ready to laugh or be amused. Rain growled, “Let me shift and bite her.”

I warned, “Cora, if you disrespect me one more time, just one, I’ll actually HIT YOU with my sunlight.”

Cora frowned pouting, “How was that disrespectful?”

I tilted my head stating, “This entire interaction has been disrespectful from the beginning. You’ve practically announced you want my mate, and now you want to meet with him in private. Do I look like an idiot to you?”

She pursed her lips. Rain growled, “Please let me shift.”

I probably would here in a second.

Cayden squeezed my hand. He told Cora, “If you have something to discuss you can make an appointment with Hendrix and myself. The personal relationship between you and I ended a long time ago. We have not been friends for quite some time. I understand you might want to catch up, but I don’t. I’m quite happy with my life. I’ve found my mate and wish the same happiness for you.”

Cora burst into tears and reached for him. I let Rain’s growl come out. Hendrix blew out a breath. She sobbed, “Cayden, please. I’m so sorry and it’s in the past. Can’t you just get over the cheating?”

I replied, “He was then, and he definitely is now.”

She screamed, “I AM NOT TALKING TO YOU! I’M TALKING TO C! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS CONVERSATION! SO JUST STOP TALKING!”

I let Rain take over. Cayden and Hendrix yelled, “SHIT!”

Rain growled at her, and she screamed bloody murder. Cayden called, “Rain, can Cassie come back?”

She growled in reply. He asked, “Please.”

I answered over link, “No, I can’t. I let her take over anyway.”

I’d asked mom to bring dad after my concupiscence ended to have him join the pack. Rain said, “At least we can feel his frustration with Cora for ruining our first moments back home.” True.

Rain took a protective stance in front of Cayden and bared her teeth at Cora. She sobbed, “C, help me!”

I told Rain, “Bite her ass.”

Rain jumped and took her down biting down hard on her bicep. She screamed and I got off. I took back over and snapped myself clothes.

I told her, “There’s your warning. I can kick your ass three different ways. I have a wolf, who loves Cayden. He is OURS. My Fairy side could own you, not to mention my Hackura side. My fighting skills outdo yours any day. As my MATE said, your personal relationship ended long ago. Leave here before I let my wolf RIP your throat out.”

Rain grumbled, “I like that plan best.”

I was giving Cora a chance though. My wolf was annoyed that she got up and ran off.

Cayden sighed. I warned him, “If you take ONE step in her direction…”

Cayden laughed interrupting me, “It didn’t cross my mind. I’ll text he brother, Jed, that she’s upset. He will calm her down. You shifting into Rain to defend our mating and bond is hot.”

He ground into me and kissed me hard.

Hendrix laughed, “Her family and yours are waiting. Which is annoying otherwise I could pull Milana and be on the ground floor of your first orgy together.”

Cayden pulled back groaning. He threaded our fingers together and walked towards the Castle.

Cayden pulled me behind a tree and pinned me to it. Hendrix yelled, “Come on! They know you are here. Prince Alpha Eric gave me explicit instructions on getting Cassie in his direct line of sight after I saw her.”

Cayden replied, “Just a minute.”

Hendrix groaned, “I’ll just text the Princess we will be longer. She can reason with Prince Alpha Eric.”

She easily could.

I linked my mom, “So, bitches are already being bitches.”

She asked, “What the fuck? Who? I’ll cunt punt a bitch.”

I told her, “I handled it, but things might go to a claiming place.”

She laughed, “Gosh, I’d hope so. Claim the fuck out of your mate. It’s what’s natural to us and bitches need to hear it. Clearly.”

Rain purred, “I love her.” So did I.

I linked Tory, “We hate a Hackura Bitch named Cora. Get me everything you can on her.”

She replied, “Hello Beta of mine I didn’t link IMMEDIATELY about my mate. I need more information on a bitch because they stalk me.”

I laughed, “Come on, girl. I linked you after I stopped having sex on the mission.”

She replied, “Fine. Cora is bitch that we desperate hate. I’ll get Gia going all my momma is a southerner and I claim to be one. She’ll be all well bless her heart about it.”

I nearly laughed out loud. I loved those girls.

Cayden ran his finger down my cheek saying, “You’re upset, My Duchess.”

I sighed, “I’m HIGHLY annoyed your ex-girlfriend still wants you and you don’t see it.”

Cayden frowned, “I think she’s just lonely and wants a friend.”

I snorted, “Oh come on!”

Cayden shrugged, “When she cheated on me, she lost a lot of friends. She’s got two girlfriends, but the rest were my friends. They never liked her and only hung out with her because of me. I’ve always felt bad about that. It wasn’t my intent that she’d lose friends.”

I pointed out, “You can’t lose something you never had. If they weren’t her friends in the first place, she didn’t actually lose friends. Plus, her actions caused her to lose that friendship group. Actions have consequences.”

I added, “Not to mention being friends with you is the last thing on her mind, and you ARE MINE!”

I slammed my lips on his and snapped his pants off. He smirked against my lips. I smelled Cora coming back. I snarled, “MINE!”

Cayden ripped off my skirt and slammed into me. He yelled, “YOURS!”

He wasn’t quiet about it and I could hear Cora’s sobs. I felt his surprise because he could too. She was that loud. I would be watching her from now on.

I knew deep in my bones she was GOING to be a problem. I’d handle her how my mom handles her problems. Nicely at first, then if she didn’t stop this I’d get her. Cayden was mine, and I’d prove that if that’s what Cora needed. I pushed her from my mind to enjoy this moment with Cayden.

I licked his mark enjoying his moan. I pushed all my lust at him and he actually growled back. Rain purred, “That’s hot.”

I agreed. He turned me around and put his broad arm across my chest. He squeezed one of my breasts. I moaned, “Cayden.”

He nipped my ear, “Do you want the realm to hear us? Do you want them to know how well their Duchess pleases their Future Commander?”

I could hear those nearby getting into the mood. Someone yelled, “WE DO!”

Cayden ignored them and kissed my neck. I loved that he knew I wasn’t ready to have an orgie out in the open. They could hear us, but not see it. I answered, “Please, My Commander.”

He warned, “You said that knowing full well what it does to me.”

His other hand went between my legs.

I felt his smirk on my neck. He whispered, “You’re so wet for me, My Duchess.”

I moaned as his fingers slid over my clit. I rested my head back on his shoulder. He worked his fingers on me knowing just how I liked it. He ordered, “Come yelling my name. Let the realm know who brings their Duchess pleasure.”

My body responded and I screamed, “CAYDEN!”

I felt him thrust inside me, fully sheathing himself. I scratched at his arm begging, “More, please. I need more, My Commander.”

He grunted, “Your wish is my command.”

I screamed when he bent me over thrusting into me from behind, hitting me deep inside. He came with a deafening war cry, “GOD FUCKING DAMN CASSIE! I LOVE YOU!”

I think he thought we were done.

Rain snickered, “How could we be? We didn’t claim him yet.”

I knew that, but I didn’t think he did. He pulled out of me and I turned, tackling him to the ground. He laughed, “Cass?”

I let Rain’s growl come out, “You’re MINE!”

He grinned, “So I am.”

He was already hard again so I slid down on him. I pulled him up by his shirt. I asked, “Why are you even wearing this?”

He chuckled, “We were in the human realm.”

I ripped it off and slammed my lips on his as I slid up and down him. Then slid my tongue into his mouth. His hand came up to my jaw as he took over the kiss as I worked us both towards a climax. I moaned into his mouth when I came. He pulled back to groan, “Fuck, Cass!”

as he shot his load into me.

We both caught out breath. He chuckled, “I guess we need to grab some clothes.”

I giggled and slid off him. I snapped him into new jeans and myself into a new outfit. He grinned, “Or that.”

He threaded our hands together and looking into my eyes.

He sent me his sincerity as he told me, “I love you, Cassie Veronica Shayla Conners.”

I grinned, “I love you too Cayden Aaron Crawford.”

He kissed me gently and started to lead me up to where our families were waiting.

Ends

Rain agreed wholeheartedly with my tournament plan. Normally, I was more subtle. But I’d been nicer than anyone else would’ve been in this realm. Cayden and I were not quiet about our love, but she still couldn’t take a hint. She’d started her whispers about me not having a child yet. That ended quickly and didn’t gain much traction.

No one said a single thing about the words ‘lying bitch’ that was tattooed across her chest the next day either. As my mother would say, ‘You mess with the Fairy, you get the hijinks.’ I’d taken Cayden to the locker room that day and we’d had sex. Loudly. She apparently left crying.