Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
After dinner, Dayson met with Maya and Jaeden in his office.
They normally do this status meeting once a week, but since they were away for a few days, they decided to have one before calling it a day.
They discussed ongoing issues and made decisions when needed, they finalized their story about Talia’s presence in the pack, and of course, there were a few random topics at the end.
“How is Talia doing?”, Maya asked Dayson.
“She is resting.”, Dayson responded. He was not sure if Talia was still sleeping, but she was when he left her room, and he assumed that she would come down after she wakes up.
“What are we going to do about Cassie?”, Jaeden brought up the topic. “You told her to leave, but she is still here. Based on disobedience, we can escort her out of our pack’s territory.”
Dayson puffed his cheeks while thinking about the best solution. “Let’s ignore her. In a day or two, she will get bored and leave. I believe that she understood I’m not going to put up with her antics and that’s why she was quiet over dinner.”
Jaeden and Maya both frowned at this.
“I think that Cassie was quiet because she is up to something.”, Maya said.
Dayson didn’t disagree with this, but… “I would love to kick Cassie out. Unfortunately, I can’t do it without her committing a serious offense because I need to think about the pack. Based on Cassie’s behavior so far, she is only after me, and saying that she is annoying is not a good reason to risk straining the relationship with the Steelbite pack. After Cassie leaves, we will send a memo to the Steelbite pack and any other in the area, that outsiders can’t come and go as they please. Let’s come up with a story that due to increased attacks, we raised our vigilance, and non-members can’t come without previous approval. That will allow us to stop Cassie at the border next time.” Dayson spread his arms toward Jaeden and Maya. “If you have a better idea, I’m all ears.”
There were no better ideas. They all knew that Dayson was right.
They were in charge of a pack, and they had to put their personal feelings aside, even if they are backed up by facts. Unless there is firm evidence against Cassie, they can’t just kick her out.
But this was progress.
Dayson never considered preventing Cassie from coming to the Shadow Fang pack and the fact that she could come and go freely, emboldened her.
Maya would love to be there when Cassie finds out that she can’t come again because she doesn’t have approval from Dayson, Jaeden, or Maya. And Cassie will never get approval, unless it’s official business and Alpha Richard (aka Cassie’s father), sends her as pack’s delegation.
Of course, they all knew that Cassie is not coming here without someone supporting her, and that is probably her father.
A girl with self-respect wouldn’t allow repeatedly to be used by Dayson when he feels like it. She definitely has an agenda.
After the meeting, Jaeden and Maya left for their room and Dayson went to get himself a drink; a glass of water or maybe orange juice, the same one Talia drank that morning.
Dayson planned that after having a drink, he will go and check if Talia is awake.
“Alpha Dayson?”, Cassie called when he passed by the living room, and his steps halted.
“Can I help you, Miss Cassie?”
Cassie waited for Dayson the whole afternoon, and she even looked in the common areas, but he was nowhere to be found.
Over dinner, Dayson acted like Cassie was not in attendance, but he didn’t chase her away either, so Cassie was confident that whatever made him upset earlier that morning, passed.
This was her chance to get closer to him.
She bit her lower lip and gave him a coy look.
“Alpha Dayson, I apologize for my behavior this morning. I was not sensible of what’s going on, and I acted recklessly.”
Dayson cocked an eyebrow. “And what do you think is going on?”
“You were stressed and instead of being mindful of your needs, I acted on mine. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful. I was only excited to see you again.”
Dayson didn’t buy it, but he was curious what she was up to and if he just calls her a liar, there was no way she would admit it.
“Apology accepted.”, Dayson said and made a step to the side.
“Where are you going?”
“To get a drink.”, he responded.
“Can I join you?”
‘Why are you considering it?’, Dayson’s wolf grumbled.
‘This is a good chance to be with another woman.’, Dayson said, and when his wolf started growling, he quickly added, ‘It’s to protect our mate. This will be a test to see how far I can go without exposing myself and mate. It’s better to check these things without an audience, and no one is around now.’
His wolf didn’t respond, but Dayson sensed the resistance fading.
Cassie’s expression lit up when Dayson told her that she can accompany him, and she was quick to latch herself onto his arm.
Dayson gritted his teeth and forced himself not to push Cassie away. He is a mighty warrior, and he can endure this.
He was so focused on examining his emotions and containing his impulse to shake Cassie off, that he didn’t notice another presence in the kitchen.
Cassie turned on the lights and Talia froze with an apple in one hand and a broken chunk of bread in another.
Looking at Talia’s clothes and bruised unknown appearance, Cassie assumed that she is looking at an Omega. After all, if Talia has any standing, Cassie would remember her.
Cassie frowned at Talia. “Are you stealing food?”
Talia’s eyes widened and her heart thundered in her chest at the unpleasant memories that resurfaced due to Cassie’s expression and way of speaking.
On instinct, Talia swiftly placed the bread and the apple on the kitchen counter like they burned her hands.
Talia saw Dayson glaring at her like she shouldn’t be here, and her heart cracked a little.
Talia lowered her head and closed her eyes while trying to suppress the swelling of negative emotions.
Why did she think that this place will be any different?
Seeing that Talia was not responding and that Dayson didn’t react, Cassie was emboldened.
“Answer me!”, Cassie hissed at Talia and spoke to Dayson without removing her gaze from Talia. “Is this how your Omegas are acting? You really need a Luna to teach them some manners. Sneaking in the dark and stealing food, and then they even refuse to respond…”
“That’s enough, Cassie!”, Maya said sternly from the door.
Maya’s heart cracked when she saw Talia’s submissive stance. It’s not that Cassie had any aura, but Talia was a broken soul who needed supportive environment.
Maya walked to Talia and asked softly, “Are you OK?”
Talia nodded faintly, but Maya knew that Talia was lying.
Maya narrowed her eyes at Dayson and spoke through the mind-link. ‘Is this why you brought her here? I thought you promised her protection and not another type of hell.’
“Come, let’s get out of here…”, Maya said to Talia while wrapping her arm around Talia’s shoulders.
“We are not done here”, Cassie said stiffly, hoping that Dayson will back her up.
“What do you want, Cassie?”, Maya snapped. “Do I need to remind you that you are a guest? You have no right to boss around or bully members of our pack. If they did something you don’t approve of, you can report it. Do not act like a judge and executioner. If you have any problems with this, you are welcome to challenge me to a match. In case you win, I will gladly give you my position as the Beta of the Shadow Fang pack. And if you don’t have the guts to face me, then stay out of my way.”
Dayson watched as Maya led Talia out and rage bubbled inside him that was immediately extinguished by the feeling of guilt because he was angry at himself. This was his fault.
Dayson was surprised to see Talia in the kitchen, and he told himself to stay out of it because he shouldn’t expose that Talia is important. After all, Cassie can flap her mouth, but Dayson would never let her really harm Talia.
Talia’s defeated expression created an agonizing hole in his chest.
He could see her disappointment and the moment when that little trust she had in him vanished.
The pain was unbearable.
‘Talia is upset because of me.’, Dayson said to his wolf.
‘You stood and did nothing while that she-wolf disparaged our mate, and you broke the promise of giving her food because our mate left without eating anything. Again. And let’s not forget that the same nasty she-wolf is attached to your left.’, his wolf said with disapproval before retracting to the back of Dayson’s mind.