Chapter Thirteen

Cassius' P.O.V

Just as I finish hearing the qualms and worries of my people I feel her presence approaching like an omen unable to escape it. She rounds the corner and enters the room causing my eyes to fall before meeting her light green ones that sparkle with so much life.

Grimm begins to make his timely approach to her but I call him off. I'm going to speak to her sooner or later. I want to get this over with. "Leave us. Grimm. Stevens." I say making sure they leave as well. They both give me a low bow before leaving out the same door she came in from.

I close my eyes as I feel her approaching even closer. Once I open them again she is only an arms length away from me making my wolf more than livid. ". . .I don't know what name is appropriate to call you by-"

"Cassius is fine." I say with an emotionless voice causing her to sigh and look at me again.

"Cassius. . .I know you're displeased with our. . .arrangements and let me assure you I am not too fond of it either. To be sold off like cattle because of the blood I have in my body is demeaning. But yet, neither of us can change the situation we are in. It is best if we. . .do the best with what we have." My eyebrow raises at this.

"You and I have nothing." I state not caring about the emotions I would stir.

"We do share one common thing and that's the reluctance we have to marry." My lips purse as I eye her with some suspicion looming in my mind. What is she up to? Westerners are known to be cunning and sly little things.

"Once we marry, we don't have to see one another. You can have other women if it so pleases you." I let out a puff of air before getting up and closing in the little space separating us. "It may work like that over in your territory but here, mates are sacred. Fornication is worse than sin. It's worthy of death."

Her eyes falter from mine as she clasps her hands together almost as if she is about to pray. She tries strengthening her resolve which only causes me to smile a little. "I. . .I have no interest in you as you have no interest me. It would be a rather cold, distant, and lonely marriage indeed." I nod my head while removing some of her loose blonde strands of hair from out of her face.

She has plump, kissable lips and thinly arched eyebrows ,which makes her all the more gorgeous to look upon. Her hair is soft and flowy giving her an ethereal feel. Even the open skin showing through her shirt makes her skin look smooth and inviting, but I direct my gaze elsewhere.

"You love someone else. . .is that it?" I ask straight to the point. Usually that is always how it works. Some secret lover somewhere. Her body tightens as her eyes slowly come to meet mine. "No. . ." It comes out as nothing more than a soft mumble causing me to tilt my head unconvinced. "Since we're being so open I'll tell you I have no interest in . . ." My mouth opens at this but no words come out as I feel the word she wants to say hanging thickly in the air.

"Well, thank the Heavens for that, for I have no interest in having any intimate relations with you either." Her eyes widen and a small smile begins to cover my lips. I believe we will be able to get along just fine.

She lets go of the breath she had been holding and lets out a shaky laugh. "Thank the heavens indeed. " Her smile is as bright as day taking me aback. She is a beautiful woman, that she is.

"I'm not fond of dresses and formal attire. I hate formal events and I even more so dislike my father for selling me like some kind of cheap whore." I can't help but laugh at her pure honesty and nod my head. "Wear whatever you like. I don't care. Your father will be gone by tomorrow." I let my hand rest on her chin before taking it away.

"For what it is worth, you are beautiful. Whether in a dress or pants I'm sure my opinion would not falter. You're wise to hold such begrudgement as well."  I feel her hands wrap around mine. In one swift move she brings me a little closer to her face until we are literal breaths apart.

"You are quite handsome as well. You have the most gorgeous eyes I've ever seen. Despite what I first heard about you, you seem to be down-to-earth and friendly." My eyes widen slightly and soon a slow, small smile appears on my lips. "Let's become fast friends then shall we?"

The door swings open and soon I see a blonde haired man coming at us at full speed and pulls us a part like children at play. He glares at me with so much hate in his eyes I thought for a moment I did something dreadful. "Stay away from my sister." He growls at me causing me to look at him with so much amusement. He must a part of the guard that's going to be left here. Well, if that isn't my luck.

He towers a good three or four inches over me and he has those same emerald, green eyes as her as well as. . .haah. "Brother it's ok. We're. . .we're on the same page." She says while keeping her head down causing his to snap up at me.

I shrug and show him a small smile. "What are the odds?"

"Northerners are wretched liars Cecilia! He could have you imprisoned. . .killed even. Why disclose such information like that to him?" I look at them completely amused at this show of love. I'm still here. Has he forgotten?

"Cecil, he is trustworthy. . . I could not spend another day wondering when he would wander into my bedchambers and ask for favors. . .of marriage. I had to tell him."

Twins. Well, this is just quaint. He turns and looks at me which only causes me to go back and sit on my chair waiting for my advisors to come back inside. "If any harm comes to my sister. . . I will kill you." I give him an apathetic gaze.

"There's a penalty of death to threaten the King of the Northern Lands. I will pardon you this time. However, don't speak of such threats so lightly. I am not known to be the most forgiving of Alphas." His eyes still hold a massive amount of distrust, but I just ignore it. I'm not going to waste my time or breath convincing someone of my character I don't even know or even care to know.

"The Easterners are here and now you're surrounded by the likes of Northerners I-" I tune him out after being reminded of the meeting I have with Pierce today. My body lunges forward as I hurriedly make my way pass them and down the room out the door. I'm beyond late!

The door crashes behind me, but I make no attempt to explain myself to my onlooking advisors. I've spent more than enough time with them and their idle talk of love and war. An arranged marriage and forced politics isn't going to solve anything, only make things worse.

I quicken my steps down the hall ignoring the bows and slight confusion on the faces of my people. It matters little to me if they see me a little jumbled. Anyone would react this way if they were given my situation.

My feet takes me up the stairs and down another long hallway until I am at the front of my door. I walk inside and start to undress out of my gaudy attire into something a little more casual like a simple dress shirt and slacks. Obviously I can't look too ordinary, he'll catch on that something's amiss.

Ah, what does it matter now? I have to tell him. . .everything. I have no reason to be in such a rush to my utter demise, but the thought of seeing his face is overpowering my reluctance. I want to see him, even if it means confessing my hidden truths.

Just as I am about to take off my tie I stop myself and look at myself in the mirror. I look good like this right? Some strands of my hair land in my face before I push it back and eye myself again, but this time with a smirk. Of course I do.

I decide to leave my tie hanging loosely from my shirt and continue to take off my pants and put on much more casual ones. As I pass over my reflection again I stop giving one more glance and shake my head. Why am I beginning to doubt my looks? I always look good. . .more than good. It's just Pierce. I try to reason with myself which only causes my face to warm.

Just Pierce huh. . . I stand in the mirror one more time fixing up my hair this way and that, until I let out a puff of air getting  completely frustrated with myself. I'm already late. Honestly, how I look shouldn't matter. I should be more worried about what I'm about to say to him than this.

After some fast walking and slow jogging I make it to the room I told him to meet me at. I reach for the door handle and take my hand back with shaky resolve. My hands are clammy and my heart is beating overly fast. I'm nervous.

No, nervous isn't the word for it. I'm absolutely terrified of how he going to react and what he's going to say. I know he will be shocked. . .but will he be angry? Will he not want to speak to me for a while? My hands begin to tremble as I turn the handle and walk inside.

I look to my left then to my right finding the room full of regal furniture, sheer curtains, and portraits of my predecessors but lacking my mate's presence. My eyes cut to the plush sofa and back to the door. Soon they begin to narrow and fill with nothing but concern.

Where is he if not here?

___________________________________________________

Pierce's P.O.V

"Another drink!" Isaac's voice booms across the lavish dining room table which some servants displeasure.  They listen nonetheless. I bite my tongue as I see him drinking himself into a stupor again. There are no words for me to say anymore.

This is the kind of impression he would like to make with the Northern Lands. A drunkard? I scoff as I hear his hearty laugh and slurred words.

I look at Kenzie who seems to be enjoying herself with the large amount of food in front of her face. Tristan is nothing but quiet and lacking of life since we left. Everyone is drunk or getting close to drunk besides Tristan and I. Each of us, having our own personal reasons I suppose.

For an hour and a half I watch the time tick by. I watched him fondle women and make lewd comments at them. I watched him drink and drink and drink. I watched him and now I believe I had enough. I'm already late.

"Pierce. Pierce. Piiiiiierce. Have a drink with me!" He says as a flagon of wine is sat on the table. One of the servants siting on his lap pours some wine in each of our cups causing me to look at him like he has lost his mind.

In a couple of hours, we are supposed to meet with the Northerners and introduce ourselves, but that is completely out of the window. No way am I going to present such a. . .a mess to the Northern leadership. We would be seen as nothing more than a joke.

"Isaac, I rather not. One of us must be capable of walking tonight." I say with a tight, forced smile.

"One cup won't make you drunk!" His breathe hits my nose causing me to blink a couple times before I nod in respite of the situation. I am beginning to need a drink. My eyes fall to Tristan's sad, grayish- green ones making me swallow the wine in one gulp. I get up and walk to the other side of him where a free seat is available and sit down.

He looks up at me and tries to give me a smile but he can barely do that. The one who needs a drink is Tristan. I know he finally realized the massive amount of people here. Even some of the high birth Northerners are here drinking and eating with us without it having to be forced. Everyone loves to have a good time.

"Pierce I'm-"

I grab his cup and fill it with something a little stronger than wine. "I think you need it." His eyes begin to water before he picks it up and throws it back. "I feel like my heart it is being crushed by a ton of water and rocks. I feel like I can hardly breathe without it hurting Pierce." He grabs my hand before putting it to his heart. "It hurts right here. So much. . ."

My eyes fall as I see the tears forming in his eyes. He has become an emotional mess since Gabriel and him spoke. He hasn't been the same and I'm starting to worry about him. I fill his glass up again with the strong alcoholic smell of vodka causing him to take it in one shot. "I know this is not what an Enforcer should look like but I can't help it Pierce. Forgive me. . ."

"No need to be asking for reprieve. It's already been given. Enjoy your time here. Don't worry about anything else. I'll have Kenzie look after Isaac when I'm gone." I pat his shoulder causing him to nod and pour another shot.

I have to leave and find my little mate. He must be more than livid with me because I'm so late.

I get up and walk over to Kenzie whose just a ball of fun laughing and giggling along with some Northerners causing my eyes to narrow. "Watch Isaac for me."

"I will. I will. I will. Go find your loverboy~" She pushes me before laughing again. "That means be able to count to ten and walk in a straight line Kenzie." I growl in her ear causing her to snap her head up at me.

"I know. Don't spend too much time away. Oh. Oh. Oh! Have a drink with me!" She wraps her arm around my neck causing the people around her to laugh and shake their heads.

"Yeah! Have a drink!" A brown haired man says.

"Play the game with us!" A darker haired Northern woman says causing my eyes to narrow. Before I can object Kenzie shoves a cup in my face. "If you answer wrong you have to take twice as much as you agreed to and it multiplies from there."

"Kenzie." I say with a low growl but she ignores me.

I ended up drinking six cups. Six cups. Because I couldn't guess the names of the two instigators. Like how the hell was I supposed to know that? On top of that Kenzie asked me the name of the person who I was going to go see and of course I couldn't actually tell her in front of them. Cassius and I, decided to keep what we have as private as possible. I told Kenzie that but it seemed like she was out for sabotage. She just would not drop it.

My hand rubs my forehead absent-mindedly until I reach the door I was supposed to meet Cassius at almost an hour ago. Once I open it, I can  smell his scent filling up this overly elegant room. One look at the sofa and I notice my mate's eyes widen then narrow. He get ups and walks over to me in less than a second.

"Where were- have you been drinking?" He asks with a scowl set on his face. Goddess, he's gorgeous.

"It's not like I wanted to. I was trying to get to you." I walk a little closer to him until I can put my hand on his cheek and feel those sparks that come with every touch, big or small. "You smell of wine. . .and musky weres." I stifle a laugh causing him to hit me.

". . .I'm not drunk. I'm completely in my right mind." He eyes me with those beautiful amber eyes of his and I swear he does this on purpose. He goes on to remove my hand from his face and lower his eyes before looking back up at me.

I let mine roam down a little further and notice some of his buttons are undone at the top of his collared, white, dress shirt. His black tie is hanging loosely from his neck, revealing some of his sun-kissed colored skin causing me to become  distracted.

A smirk covers his face before leaving back towards the stuffed sofa and I follow not long after trying to keep a comfortable distance. He sits on one side and I sit on the other unable to peel my eyes away from the opening of his shirt that just seems to grow more revealing by the second.

"Pierce I. . ." I love the way my name sounds coming from his voice. It sounds so much more. . .meaningful and endearing. After a couple seconds I look up at see him fumbling with his hands and nibbling on his lip, which is driving me insane with the need to capture his lips into mine. He pauses for a minute staring at nothing but the floor causing me to eye him.

"Cassius." He looks up. I  still see him nibbling away at his pink, lips which is messing with my self-control. "I know me being here with other members of my pack is a little discomforting. However, I won't allow for any of them, not even my Alpha to know of this or you. . ."

"No, it's-it's a little more than just that. You see I. . ."

He trails off again causing me to smile at him because he is acting cute right now. When he's at a loss for words there's no amount of words that can describe his cuteness level. Who knew he had this kind of side to him.

I get up once I know he's not going to say anything else and walk over to the other side of the couch plopping right down beside him. "Don't sit so close to me." He manages to mumble out but I just scoot a little closer causing him to scoff. "You never listen to me."

"I  don't," I admit as I lean my head against his shoulder unable to resist not touching him any longer. His heart is beating so hard I can hear it by just having my ear pressed against his upper body.

"I have to be near you." A yawn comes out of me and soon my eyes begin to blur with water from the reaction.

"Pierce don't fall asleep on me. . ." He nudges me but it does very little.

"I can't help it. . .I'm tired. Let's continue whatever you had to say to me tomorrow. Since I'm compromised and you're tongue-tied, it seems like the best option," I state with sleep heavy in my voice, only raising my head so I can look at him.

He nods reluctantly. With that I begin to rise and look towards the door then back at him. I just came in here I'd hate to leave him so soon. . .however I'm exhausted and tomorrow seems like it's going to be a long day. "Wait. I. . .umm. . .why don't you. . .sleep in my room tonight?"

I blink a couple times at this. Soon I see a growing blush on his face making me blush a little in return. "I just- I just. . .want to be near you as well." He manages to say in a low voice which only makes his blush worsen. I couldn't say no to that even if I wanted to. Goddess, why would I ever want to?

"Of course, who can ever say no to a gorgeous face like yours?" I say with a sly smile spreading across my own causing him to look at me with wide eyes. He moves away from me and opens the door checking around for anyone walking the halls.

"Everyone is either drunk or sleep." I drape my arm around his neck and walk outside the room. It feels so good to touch him in public even though no one is around. It's like I'm saying he's mine and no one else can touch him and I love it. My arm soon falls away from his neck and down to his waist bringing him closer to me. He body melts into mine with ease taking in my natural scent along with him.

". . .You can barely even walk straight." He wraps his arm around my waist and words cannot describe how happy that made me and my wolf.The sparks comes running up in waves, As big as I am, I'm a light drinker and that's why I hate doing it in the first place. I get sleepy and I pass out.

As soon as we enter his room he walks me over to his lavish bed filled with pillows and thick duvet covers. He pulls some of the covers back and lays me down over it with a soft thump. I see his eyes fall down to my abs where my shirt was slightly lifted making me smirk and him frown. He turns away but I grab his arm and pull him down into the bed. Before he can even think about getting up, I roll us over until I'm slightly on top of him causing him to laugh.

"Pierce honestly."

I take this time to fully inhale the scent of him. This entire room smells of Cassius. But the direct fragrance coming from him is the most infatuating smell I ever had the pleasure of knowing. He breathes out lowly as his heart rate finally begins to steady. Soon I feel him shifting slightly away from me until all I can see is his bare neck and his face facing away from me.

My lips trail lightly down his skin around his throat causing him to sigh out loud this time. "I thought you said you were tired." He murmurs still reluctant to push me away. I press my lips around the other side of his neck laying sweet little kisses here and there until I move up to the side of his cheek.

I'm staying clear of touching his body and any lower regions. My wolf will instinctively want to mark him and I hate to admit that I won't be able to control it. Last time, I had barely regained control missing his neck only by a couple of inches.

"Other than us being mates. . .why do you like me?" I blink at his question. There is still a noticeable blush lingering on his face making me all the needier to cover his lips with my own. "You hated me so much before. . .would you still hate me if you never knew we were?" He breathes out finally asking the question he's been leading up to till this point.

". . .I don't think I could ever truly hate you. I admit, I treated you bad in the beginning, but it was not just because you were a Northerner. You decided to spare my life but not my comrades. They died because of me. I've never once harbored ill-feelings for you." I go on to lay small, light kisses on the other side of his cheek. "I like you. . .because you're you. You're something new to me and I was curious. I still am curious about you."

". . ."

I stare at him in his eyes for a moment taking in the beauty of them before continuing on. "I like your smile. . .your lips. . .the feel and color of your hair. . .Goddess your eyes. I love it when you get flustered. . .when you laugh. . .even your commands I never follow, yet still love to hear. Everything about you is appealing and it's hard to find something I don't like. I don't think that exists. It couldn't possibly exist." I cup his face into my hand and smile down on him trying not to be completely embarrassed at what I just said.

I expected him to be elated and hugging me to the point of breathlessness like any other person, but I'm wrong. All that happened was the exact opposite of what I thought would happen. His dark, honeyed eyes begin to fill with water. He turns his head away from me as he notices how upset he is becoming in front of me.

"Did I say something. . .wrong?" I ask with a soft tone. He shakes his head still not bothering to look at me. ". . .Cassius talk to me."

He practically bursts into tears at my suggestion causing me to quickly get from over him and let him muffle his sobs into the pillow.  I blink a few times before confusion fills its place. I'm the one that's drunk. My emotions should be everywhere, not his.

If he were any louder I'm sure guards would have come and asked what was wrong. That wouldn't be good for the either of us.

Instead of talking to him, I wrap my arms around him until my stomach is pressed against his back. I feel him relax losing the tension that was starting to build up. After a minute or so all I begin to hear are the sounds of him reeling himself in. I still feel him trembling trying his best not to shed anymore tears.

If he  does not want to speak to me about it, I won't pester him. It'll only make him more upset. However. . ."It's fine if you don't want to tell me. I apologize for even asking. Just know. . .I'll always be here, maybe not in the most literal sense, but here if you ever need me." I press my lips to his ear which seemed to calm him down completely.

"You're important to me." And I want you to be happy. I manage to mumble close to his skin. My breath hitting it only causes goosebumps to appear all over his neck and down every inch of his body as well. I can feel his slight shudder from my simple touches.

I feel my eyes beginning to become droopy as I notice his slow rising and lowering chest like a rhythmic pendulum. His heart beat slows to a steady thump making me all the more relaxed and sleepy. It's ridiculous how comforting his presence is to me.

Even though I'm having a rough time with Isaac and the rest of my pack members, all my worries seem to melt away when I'm with him. It's like all I crave for is him. I want nothing else but him. Or at least that's what my wolf feels. He always ignores our responsibilities and pines for our mate at every chance he can get. It's troubling.

I bend a little over and see his eyes fluttering open at my little advances. He was almost on his way to sleep as well. It makes me feel a little better that this doesn't just effect me like this.

Before he can move or even say anything I capture his pink lips into mine instantly being filled with the taste of mint and honey. I let my tongue run along the roof of his mouth until it slowly begins to dance around his tongue. His body soon turns around until his stomach is pressed against mine warming up to my embrace.

What was once supposed to be an innocent, light kiss turned into something much more than I could  imagine. I feel his tongue lace around mine as his hands found their way into my hair and down my back. They snack their way inside and fill me with so much sparks I moan inwardly before separating from him. The little self-control I do have needs to be reigned in.

I touch the side of my cheek where the little remnants of his tears stained. Soon as I look at him I notice the swelling from his lips and flush covering his left and right side cheeks. His hand still lingers on my side making me well aware of how much power he can have over me. He makes me weak in the knees for lust.

My teeth begin to  bite down on my lower lip. I'm trying to fight the incessant desire to devour his gorgeous self right her and now. His barely audible breathing is making it even harder. Goddess, what this man does to me!

Cassius' hands wrap around my back taking me by complete surprise. It wasn't the fact that he hugged me. . .it's the way that he is. . .His arms tighten by the second causing me to just hold him in mine. It's as if. . .He lets out a shaky sigh before burying his head into my chest muffling a low sob.

It's as if. . .he would never see me again.

_________________________________________________________