Tears of the Fallen Ch. 19

"You have made us so proud, Cassia," Rafe said, a burst of love and pride flowing down his Alpha bond with the blond wolf, bringing happy tears to her eyes.

"It was a group effort," she answered and felt another burst of deep pride, this time from both the Alphas.

Lacey extricated herself from Rafe's arms, gathering the younger woman close. "You are an amazing young woman, Cassia Romanov, and we are so blessed to have you in our pack. You have given up much to help, not only the vampires, but also to protect your pack. It is time you now did something for yourself. Go and claim your mate, honey. Don't take No for an answer either. It's your time now. We can handle everything else."

"I agree." Rafe smiled down at her, reaching out a hand to ruffle her curls affectionately. "If you need any pointers, I suggest you ask your Aunt Loretta. She had the most difficult time convincing your Uncle Andrei that he was her mate."

Now that she had finally done what she'd set out to do, Cassia could now look to her own future. Getting through to Pietro probably wasn't going to be that easy, but she had the blessing of her Alphas as well as her parents.

"That might be a good idea," she answered with a half-smile tugging at her lips.

Heading back out into the compound, Cassia turned in the direction of her own house first. She wanted to pack a light travelling bag before she had a chat with Loretta. Her aunt had said she could talk to her if she needed to, and this seemed like as good a time as ever. Pietro de la Rios was about to be in for a big shock if he thought he could get rid of her that easily. Cassia wasn't coming back to the pack until she had her vampire in tow.

Her parents were out when she got home and there was no sign of her sister. Cassia threw some clothes into a backpack, as she waited for her call to her mother to connect.

"Hi, sweetheart, is everything okay?"

She smiled at the distracted quality in her mother's voice. Whatever she was doing, it had most of her attention.

"We found an antidote, Mom. We can cure any more vampires who are infected as long as we get to them in time."

"Cassia, that's fantastic! Oh honey, your father and I are so proud of you. I presume Rafe knows?"

There was so much love and pride in her mother's voice that it brought happy tears to her eyes. "Yes, I'm just back from speaking to him and Lacey. I wanted to let you know not to worry when you came home and find me out. I'm going to go see Pietro and I may stay with him for a little while."

There was a long pause before her mother exhaled softly. "I'll let your father know and I will make sure he stays out of your hair until you and Pietro have had time to sort things out. Cass...there won't be a repeat of the last time, will there?"

Although she tried to hide her worry, Cassia could hear it in every word her mother said. She wished she were with her mom so she could give her a reassuring hug. "Mom, I will be fine, really I will. I was just caught off-guard the last time. Now I know how difficult it will be to convince Pietro he's my mate, I'm prepared for him to put up a bit of a fight."

"If you need us, you know where we are, honey. We will always be here for you, no matter what. Now, go get that mate of yours and shake some sense into him. You should stop by your Aunt Loretta's before you head over there. She could give you some helpful tips on how to get through Pietro's thick skull."

Cassia burst out laughing, shaking her head. "You're the second person to suggest that. I was intending to anyway. Okay, I'd better get going so I'll give you a call later tonight, Mom."

"Take care, honey."

She was still smiling as she threw her backpack over her shoulder and headed downstairs, locking up behind her, and heading over to her aunt's house...

*****

"Are you sure?" Cassia stared at Loretta with a doubtful expression, trying not to smile at the pure devilment shining in her aunt's eyes.

"Believe me, honey, Pietro was way too helpful back then when I had the same problem with your uncle. Oh, he feigned innocence and stuck to it, but I have no doubt whatsoever that he was completely aware of what he was doing at the time. The phrase poetic justice comes to mind."

"What mischief are you getting up to now, woman?" Andrei entered the kitchen and swooped down for a quick kiss from his mate before turning to his bemused-looking niece.

"I was just giving Cass some advice on how to get Pietro's attention."

He turned to look back at Loretta before throwing his head back and laughing. "Yes, that would be poetic justice," he echoed his mate's statement that he'd walked in on. "You have my wholehearted approval, niece."

Cassia wasn't so sure she liked how eager her aunt and uncle were for her to publicly humiliate her mate. One part of her could see the humorous side of possibly doing so, but the other part was concerned that Pietro had been through more than enough already. His ego may not be able to withstand any more humiliation.

"I'll bear it in mind," she sighed giving them a quick hug. "I'm going to head over to the Dive just now to try to speak to him."

"Do you want me to go with you?" Andrei asked, his earlier amusement vanishing in an instant, and his expression turning serious.

"No offence, Andrei, but that would be like taking my dad with me. Actually, now I come to think about it, it would probably be worse." Cassia hugged him again to take any perceived insult from her comment. Not that her uncle was the least insulted. Instead, he gave her one of his warm smiles that he reserved for those family members that he treasured.

"You have a point, sweetheart," he conceded.

"You shouldn't look so damned proud of that fact," his mate interjected, though she was laughing as she said it.

"Thanks for the advice," Cassia called over her shoulder as she headed out of the house. Now that she had made up her mind that she was going to beard the lion in his den, she wanted to get over to the Dive before her courage failed her. Her wolf was anxious to be with their mate and so was the woman. Climbing into one of the pack Jeeps, Cassia fired up the engine and headed into town.

*****

Fox hit the disconnect button on his phone and slid it into his back pocket. His Alpha wanted him home on the next flight available, and he wasn't best pleased about that. His wolf had been antsy for days now, ever since he had bumped into the blonde wolf and her vampire companion.

Cassia; yes that was her name. Cassia what? Who was she and why had his wolf sat up and been so interested in the woman? He didn't think it was the mating instinct kicking in though he could be wrong. What he'd learned about the wolves here was that their mating instinct was an instantaneous thing as opposed to a more gradual thing among his kind in Europe. Surely if it was the mating pull Cassia would have known instantly and tried to claim him?

It was disconcerting how he couldn't get her off his mind though, and he didn't like it. He had been sent over here by his Alpha to track down the non-aligned Weres that had been crossing the Atlantic Ocean. His mission was to try to determine what they were up to, and what, if anything, their actions may mean for the European packs.

There was far too much uncertainty among the supernatural races in Europe at the moment. The vampires were up to something. This was evident in the way their attention had turned away from trying to exterminate the Were population there. Something was focusing them stateside, and there were rumours of Ancient vampires being on European soil for the first time in centuries. Add in the strange behaviour of the lone wolves crossing the Ocean, and there was enough strangeness happening to concern most of the covens as well as the few integrated packs that still managed to reside as a unit.

He didn't have time to be diverted by a wolf, no matter how beautiful she was. He didn't have any of the answers that he'd hoped to find either, so he wasn't happy about being summoned home. He couldn't refuse his Alpha though. If she said they had to come home then they had to. Muttering a curse, he spun on his heel and threaded his way back towards the motel they taken up residence at.

He'd barely taken a handful of steps when a scent wafted towards him on the breeze and he froze on the spot. He had only scented it once before, but his wolf new instantly who it was. His head turned to the left, catching a glimpse of blonde curls vanishing into one of the nearby nightclubs - Cassia. His feet were moving before he could register what he was doing, moving towards a place called The Dive and the woman that he couldn't get out of his head...

*****

"We're closed!" Pietro barked out, as the front door opened, not deigning to turn from stocking the shelves with bottles of alcohol.

"I said we're closed!" He roared again, spinning around when it became apparent whoever it was wasn't leaving. His mouth dropped open, and he blinked in surprise when he saw who his visitor was. How the hell could he not have scented her? It was only as he thought it that he realised that she must have masked her scent as she entered.

Closing his mouth and swallowing hard, he greedy gaze roamed over Cassia's exquisite face, drinking in each feature like a starving man. Had it really only been a day or so since he had last seen her? It felt like a lifetime, and he didn't like the way his hands felt so clammy and his heart raced just at the sight of her. She looked good...better than good. She looked perfect. There were some tell-tale signs of strain around her mouth, but apart from that she looked well.

"What are you doing here, Cassia?" The words barked out more aggressively than he intended, and he had to force himself not to cross over to her when she flinched noticeably. He truly didn't want to hurt her, not even when he couldn't shake the feelings of betrayal seeing her brought back to the surface.

"We found an antidote to the poison. I wanted to let you know that, so you wouldn't be worried about being infected again."

Pietro inhaled deeply, a shiver of relief coursing through his body. She had done it? His beautiful wolf had finally found a cure toAmort? Pride as well as relief threatened to overwhelm him, and it was all he could do to remain standing where he was. He wanted to hold her close, to tell her how proud he was of her, and yet, he couldn't bring himself to take that first step.

"Congratulations, Cassia. I know how hard you worked to find the cure. I didn't lose faith that you would succeed eventually." He swallowed again, turning away because he couldn't bear to see the uncertainty in her eyes. "You didn't have to come all the way out here to tell me. Andrei or Alexei could have let me know."

"I wanted to see you." Cassia hesitated, took a deep breath and continued." Ineeded to see you, Pietro...I know you're angry with me. I understand why you feel betrayed that I sided with the pack against you. It wasn't like that, not the way you think it was."

"It doesn't matter..."

"It does and you know it." The vehemence in her voice was surprising considering she had barely been speaking above a loud whisper before.

He could feel Cassia moving towards him, and he kept his back to her, continuing to restock the bar. He didn't want her to be here. He didn't want to see the evidence of what his rejection was doing to her. Why couldn't she just leave? Then she wouldn't hurt so much and neither would he.

Pietro held himself tense, afraid she would touch him, and he would lose all control. To do so now would only hurt them both all the more later. He couldn't forgive Thereasa. He couldn't return to the pack, and Cassia couldn't be apart from her people. That day had proven that more than anything else ever could.

"Hurting Thereasa...knowing that you had hurt Liam and all those you love in the pack, that would have killed you, Pietro. You say you don't understand what a pack is and yet you run with your own. Alexei, Andrei, Demetri, Caleb, Mac...Annie, Mara, Loretta, Cedar...the list goes on and on.They are your pack. You may not be a wolf, but what you feel for them is just as intense as what I feel for my pack. Can't you see that?"

Spinning around, he pinned her with his mismatched gaze, denial blazing from their depths. "It's different and you know it. Cassia...don't do this. I cannot be part of your world any longer. I have only hatred in my heart and the desire for revenge. That won't change, not until Thereasa is dead. This is who I am.This is what I am. You have to see that and understand that there is nothing but heartache for you if you continue down this path."

His words brought tears to Cassia's eyes, which poured down her cheeks. Inhaling sharply Pietro wanted to scream at the universe. It wasn't fair that he'd been placed in such a position. He should never have touched Cassia. He had known at the time that it was wrong, and yet, he had taken what he wanted. Now he was hurting the one person who had done the most to help him since the fiasco of Europe.

"I'm sorry, Niña. I never meant for you to be hurt by our time together. One day you will find your mate and what we shared will be but a distant memory...hold onto that fact."

Was he listening to what he was saying? Trying to hold back sobs, Cassia stared at her vampire as if he'd just grown two heads. The idiot had no idea! He had no inkling that the reason she was fighting so hard for him was because he was her mate. Of all the stubborn, idiotic males she could have fallen for she had to pick the one with a skull as thick as a brick wall. She opened her mouth to tell him when a new scent suddenly appeared, causing both their heads to turn in the direction of the doorway.

Fox's wolf growled the instant Cassia turned around to face them. Her cheeks were wet with tears, her expression so full of anguish his beast reared up, glaring at the vampire behind her. What had he done to her? Why was she crying?

"Fox?"

"Who the fuck are you?"

They both spoke at the same time, Cassia clearly remembering him from before, the vampire adopting an aggressive stance.

"What did you do to her?" His response came out directed at the vampire, his body automatically adopting a fighting stance. Where he was from vampires had only one use for wolves, and that was to see them dead on the spot. They were only two wolves and this vampire was older than most he'd come across, but that didn't mean they couldn't go down fighting. It didn't cross his mind to wonder at why he was willing to die to defend Cassia. It was purely instinctual. It was his job to protect his people and he would do so against this vampire no matter what the cost.

Cassia saw the other wolf about to spring a split second before he did. Her shocked brain couldn't understand what was happening, but she moved as Fox did, placing herself in front of Pietro.

"Stop!"

"Get out of the way, Cassia!" She was suddenly spinning away in the opposite direction, picked up and thrown over the bar by Pietro as his talons came out and he surged forward towards the threat.

"No! Stop! What are you doing?!"

Fox shifted, a huge black wolf replacing his human body as he barrelled into the feral vampire. They crashed backwards, spinning into tables with a resounding thud.

Pietro kicked out as he rolled, his feet tossing the wolf clear across the room as he sprang agilely upwards, flowing like a black shadow towards his prey.

"Pietro! Fox! Stop it this instant!" Cassia had no idea what the hell was happening. She just knew that the two males were fighting for no good reason. She had to stop it before it escalated any further, and she didn't know how to. What they hell was wrong with them? They didn't even know each other. Why the hell were they fighting?

They couldn't be fighting over her...could they? The instant the thought materialised she knew it was the truth. Fox must have seen her come inside and come to investigate. She could only guess at what he had envisioned was happening when he entered. He was a wolf and a European one at that. To him, all vampires were the enemy. He must have thought Pietro was hurting her in some way, and he was trying toprotect her.

Oh, for the love of all that was holy! How could she be surrounded by such idiotic males? Fox's wolf was circling Pietro, trying to find a weak area to attack. Her vampire was matching his movements, seeking his own best point of attack. There was so much hate and pain in Pietro's soul, Cassia wasn't sure if he would be able to see that this was just a misunderstanding. If he bit Fox...he would kill the wolf instantly.

Fox sprang; his wide jaw sinking into Pietro's left shoulder as they crashed to the ground. He howled and released the other male as sharp talons sliced into his sides. He knew he had made a fatal mistake the instant he did. His throat was now bared to the dripping incisors of the vampire. All it would take was one bite...the bite the vampire was moving forward to inflict...

Ice! Freezing cold sugared water and ice...it drenched them both, shocking them out of the feral grip they were caught up in. Fox shifted back to human form, groaning and spluttering as he rolled away from the vampire, clutching at his injured side. His infuriated gaze swung upwards to see the blonde wolf standing above them, an ice bucket in hand.

Pietro coughed and pulled himself upright, wiping the sticky substance from his face. His eyes met Cassia's and for a moment he could only stare at her in surprise. Oh no...she did not just pull Loretta's shit on him! Did she really think she would get away with her aunt's antics? His name wasn't Andrei, and this fight wasn't about a wolf claiming her mate. If she thought he was going to put up with this kind of humiliation, especially in front of a strange wolf...

"Now that I have both of your attention would one of you kindly like to explain to me why you're in the process of not only trying to wreck this bar but also kill each other?"

"Cassia..." Pietro growled, and she held up a hand to halt him.

"On second thoughts, I don't want to hear what you have to say right at this moment, Pietro de la Rios. You've caused enough trouble today." Cassia knelt down beside Fox to check his injured side.

The wolf batted at her hands, his gaze still fixated on Pietro. "I am fine."

"You're bleeding onto the floor and I'm a medic. So be quiet and let me look at your injury." She waved towards her pack, which she had left close to the door when she'd arrived earlier. "Pietro, bring me my pack. I have a medicine case in it."

The vampire opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it again, stomping over to the pack and placing it gently beside her. He was clearly still incensed, but made an effort not to break any of the delicate things tucked inside.

"Hold still...this may hurt." Cassia cleaned out Fox's wound, relieved to see that it wasn't too bad. His enhanced healing abilities would have it mending within a couple of days. She could have given him some of her blood to speed up the healing time, but she wanted him to have a reminder of what an idiot he was.

"I thought he was hurting you," Fox said through gritted teeth, as he allowed her to minister to him.

"Pietro would never hurt me," she answered intent on cleaning him up. "My dad and uncle are his two best friends. He may have a bit of a thick skull and say stupid things, but I don't hold that against him."

"Iam still here," Pietro growled.

"Oh, I know. I can feel you breathing down my neck," she replied with a weary sigh. "Why don't you start clearing up some of the mess you made? I don't need your assistance here."

"He's the wolf from before, isn't he? What's he doing here? Why the fuck did he come into my place and attack me? What the fuck is there between you two?" Pietro knew he sounded petulant, but he couldn't stand to see Cassia's hands touching the other male. Now that the cloud of rage was lifting, he was as perplexed as she was about what the hell had just happened, and why the European wolf had felt the need to protect Cassia.