26. Cassian

CASSIAN

Fucking Fairbourne.

Fucking Addi.

My fucking father.

My brain can't deal with any of it. I was hoping to start the morning off strong, giving my wolf a moment to stretch and enjoy a calm and peaceful environment before the day began, but all that seemed to do was bring more drama.

I should have stayed inside. Instead, I'm marching across campus toward Bozzelli's office to face my father, who has been incessantly calling and messaging. I was hoping he would take the hint that I didn't want to talk with him, but I should have known it would only push him to pursue more drastic measures.

Hindsight is a bitch.

So is Fairbourne.

Who the fuck disappears for a week when one of his origin members needed him? He's lucky I didn't slam my fist into his face; professor or not. Maybe if he had been present, he could have prevented the amethyst from being lodged into Addi's back. Not that it matters to me. Or it shouldn't, at least.

Warning me away from Addi only makes my distaste for him grow. I don't take orders from anyone, not even her, so why would I take his? Fool.

The her in question, the thorn in my fucking side that I can't shake, needs some sense knocked into her… and fast. What the hell was she thinking running across campus alone when so many people are gunning for her? Is she that delusional? Surely not.

Maybe she is. Maybe she thinks she's so invincible that she can't be knocked off her feet. I know I haven't seen it happen every time she fights off a wolf, or Vallie for that matter, but that doesn't mean life is smooth sailing like that. Fuck, my father can get on campus. Imagine if it had been him she bumped into. His wolf wouldn't brush against her in a friendly, heart-warming way.

He'd slaughter her.

Dead.

It'd be too late to regret the lack of safety then.

She's lucky he only sliced her ears the last time she met him. Now, I can imagine him being even more ruthless.

My gut clenches, an indescribable ache that settles inside of me every time I think about the fact that it was indeed my father who harmed her like that. I don't want to admit it to myself, but I'm fairly certain that's the reason why I can't bring myself to see him.

I want to kill him with my bare hands for laying a single finger on her, and whatever he did to her sister… the pain I saw in her eyes at the mention of it makes me want to double down my efforts so she never gets that look again.

Entering the main academy building, I shut down my thoughts and focus on clearing everything from my mind until the only thing I'm focused on is my father's presence. Bozzelli's office comes into view far too quickly. The door is ajar, and just as Fairbourne mentioned, my father awaits me inside.

At least he wasn't just saying it to get me away from Addi.

Stepping into the office, my father's gaze shifts from the large, arched window behind him to me.

"You took your time," he grunts, and I shrug.

"Did I?"

"I watched you. You could have used your speed."

He's right, I could have, but I wasn't ready to hurry this along. I'm not ready to deal with him now, either.

Taking the seat across the desk from him, I get comfortable, slumping back a little as my knees spread and my foot starts tapping. Quickly halting the action, I ball my hands into fists, purposely digging my nails into my palms to keep myself in check.

"Why are you here?" I ask when he doesn't proceed.

His gaze narrows on me as he leans against the desk. "Because you've been ignoring me."

No shit.

"You were supposed to take that as me not wanting to speak with you. You're not supposed to show up here and force it just to suit your needs," I grumble, and he smirks.

"If I want to speak with you, I will."

"Of course you will," I say with a sigh, and his eyes darken.

"Watch your tone with me," he warns, wagging his finger at me.

"What do you want?" I ask, trying to get to the point of all of this.

"I'll get to that when I'm ready," he snaps, making my nails dig deeper into my flesh.

It's all mind games with this man. I knew it when I was under his control, but now, from the outside looking in, it's even clearer.

The first time Raiden called upon me to help get control over some frenzied vampires, I went, did what was needed, and went back to the compound drenched in blood. The four of us had made a pact to have each other's backs and always support one another no matter what, and I was sticking to it.

My father didn't like that. That was the first time I knew my core values and ethics didn't align with his. Which meant I didn't align with the pack.

The questioning I got was off the scales. I didn't have anything to hide, though. I told him where I'd been, what I'd done, and why I'd done it. The fury that brought out in him was one I'd rarely had the opportunity to experience. He trashed my room, destroyed everything I valued, including a picture of my mother, and tried to make me swear that I'd never aid the vampires again.

I refused.

It was the beginning of our demise.

The second I was no longer a puppet dancing to the will of his fingertips, his mind games went up a notch. I'm certain there are wolves here under his order, watching me and reporting back. I wouldn't be surprised if the girl who challenged Addi to a duel yesterday did so because he ordered it, but I'll never have proof.

This man is too good at covering his tracks.

I look at him now, contemplating everything he's ever said to me. Was it all a lie? Was there any ounce of truth to a single word?

Did my mother truly die in a freak accident, or was it at the hands of this man? Is she even dead? Deep down, I hope she isn't. I hope she's as far away from him as possible, living some serene life like she deserves.

Feeling my mental fortitude tumble, I take a deep breath and focus back on the conversation. I can't get distracted when he's so intent on asserting his dominance.

"I have classes to get to, you know," I grumble, relaxing my hands and bracing them on the arms of the chair instead. The wood serves as a stronger element against my tight grip, but the depth of my hold doesn't make the pain any less.

"I'm aware," he bites, running his tongue over his teeth as he glares at me. "I've been informed that your little princess defeated someone else in a duel."

Like fuck.

"She did."

"Hmm. I don't think waiting until next month for someone else to attempt it is going to work for the good of the pack." He leans back, eyebrow raised, as he waits for my response.

What the fuck does that mean?

"I'm not a part of any pack," I remind him, and he sneers, pupils turning black as his glare deepens.

"You're a part of mine."

"You exiled me, remember?"

He's so quick to forget. It probably doesn't help that I keep giving in to him.

"You need to see the error of your ways," he states, and it takes everything in me to bite back the scoff threatening my tongue.

"The only errors I see are sitting across from me."

It's the truth, but that doesn't make him appreciate my assessment.

"I made you, son. I can take it all away just as quickly."

I'm sure that's what he thinks, but I have connections and power, too. Legitimate ones. There's only so long this man can creep around in the shadows, causing mayhem, before it catches up with him.

"What's the point of your visit, Kenner?" I ask with a sigh, ignoring his warning.

"It's Alpha to you," he corrects, and I shrug.

"I said what I said."

His hands ball into fists, slamming down on the desk between us with rage as his wild eyes meet mine. "I want you and your little fae princess to make an appearance at the compound."

"I can't imagine why we would do that," I answer, hating the mention of Addi on his tongue, but I can't show it. That will only serve to work in his favor.

"Because I fucking said so," he snaps.

I shake my head. "That's not enough, especially after the last visit. Wouldn't you agree?" I give him a pointed look, but it goes right over his head as he smirks, his gaze drifting, clearly remembering the performance he put on last time. I bet he got off on the power trip that gave him for sure.

"You will be there," he repeats, nostrils flaring, and I'm certain he's going to slam his fists again, but to my surprise, he manages to keep it under control. For now.

"For what purpose?" I ask, still not seeing how he thinks this is going to go his way.

"I want you to bring that little bitch, and I want her to fight a selection of wolves who I believe would serve you better."

I'm on the verge of splitting the arms of the chair in half as I try to contain my rage. He's calling her everything but her name to degrade her and get a reaction out of me.

Fucker. He won't get it. Especially not when he wants us there so she can take on an army of fucking wolves.

"That will be a no."

"Why? Because Bozzelli used one of my amethysts to contain the little whore?" he asks, a grin spreading across his face.

Anger bubbles inside me. It takes every fiber of my strength to keep my heart rate even and my claws hidden. Of course he had something to do with that too.

"You're still not selling it to me," I mutter, trying to act bored, but it's too fucking hard.

"If she wins, I'll leave you be. If she loses, you never go near her again. It's as simple as that."

My brows knit in confusion. "Why?"

"Because some half-breed like her doesn't belong in power," he snarls, fists hitting the desk once more.

"Half-breed?"

What the fuck does that mean?

"She has no ears, she's no true fae, she's no true anything. She'll never take the place as heir of the kingdom." It's not a thought or an opinion. It's a promise.

He forgets the part where he was the one to mark her like that, which pisses me off even more, but I refrain from offering even a single ounce of acknowledgement that he's getting to me.

Sighing, I lean forward, bracing my elbows on my knees as I stare at him. "I still don't see her fighting these people for you to leave me alone. There's no incentive for her," I point out, even though I know there's nothing that would make her fall under his spell like this. She can be foolish, but she's not that foolish.

"Her incentive? She can have the ultimate prize if she defeats the five wolves I've selected."

Five? That's not as high as I expected, but he doesn't specify if they're all women or not, which means they're definitely men because he loves to play games like that. But it's the mention of an incentive that he believes she will fight for that has me intrigued.

"Which is what?" I ask, watching as his smile spreads from ear to ear.

His eyes shimmer like he thinks he's doing me a favor, and his entire demeanor relaxes as though I'm right where he wants me.

"The queen, of course."