ChasingCassie (14 page)

“I think there’s been quite enough of that today, Cassie,
don’t you?” he spoke quietly.

She gulped. “You’re really mad, aren’t you?” she whispered
back, feeling herself pale as her stomach tied itself into knots. She detested
confrontations, hated disappointing others. Especially him.

With her brain screaming at her to run away from the big mad
wolf standing before her, it took all of her strength to stand her ground and
face him.

“We’ll talk when I’ve finished work?”

“I’ll be waiting in my usual place,” he replied before he
turned and left the kitchen.

Both women let out sighs of relief that would have been
funny in any other circumstances. As it was, Cassie had to lean against the
kitchen counter to stay upright. She felt weak with shock.

“Shit. You want to sneak out the back? You can hide out at
my place,” Ella offered.

Cassie shook her head. “Thanks, but he’d find me.”

“How the hell did he get free? Did Josh let him go?”

Cassie groaned, exhausted. “I don’t know.”

“Well, come on, we better get to work or else you’ll be
fired before you can even work out your notice.”

Confidence fully restored, Ella smoothed down her skintight
t-shirt before striding out into the bar. Moving at a much slower, far less
confident pace, Cassie followed her, and soon learned exactly how Jay had
escaped.

He’d been set free by his stern, disapproving older brother.

“Who’s the hunk?” Ella whispered.

“Jay’s older brother, Ryan.”

“What’s he doing here?”

“I don’t know.”
Why would Ryan be here when the pack is
already down three enforcers?
She had a bad feeling about this.

“Hmm, I tell you what. I’ll do you a favor and take their
table for you.” Without a backward glance, Ella strode toward the table where
Jay and Ryan sat.

Cassie couldn’t help but watch. Much as she’d like to turn
away, she couldn’t.

She looked on as Ella rocked up, all sexy allure and
confidence.

She stared as Ella leaned right over into Ryan’s face,
giving him a good view of her breasts.

She gaped as Ella rocked back on her heels, standing
straight and stiff.

Then she turned quickly to wipe at the table beside her, as
Ella turned on her heel and stormed her way across the room.

“Forget it, you take care of them.”

“Oh yay,” Cassie muttered, procrastinating. She continued to
wipe the table even though it was as clean as it was going to get. When she
noticed Jay walking toward the restroom, she breathed a sigh of relief. As soon
as he was out of sight, she stalked over to where Ryan was sitting.

“What can I get you, Ryan?” she asked.

“My brother back home where he belongs, without you,” he
replied harshly.

Air left her lungs in a huge whoosh at his cold, disdainful
tone.

“I-I’ll see what I c-can do,” she stuttered before turning
tail and practically running out the front door of the bar. Leaning against the
wall, she concentrated on breathing. She held a trembling hand over her eyes.

“What’s wrong, Cassie?”

She dropped her hand, startled to find Jay standing before her.
“Don’t sneak up on me,” she snapped. Taking a step forward, she attempted to
move around him.

But Jay merely shifted so he was standing in her way. He
continued to do this for the next thirty seconds, as she lost what dignity she
had left and attempted to dodge her way around his irritatingly quick, wide
body.

“Let me past, Jay.”

“We need to talk.”

“I have to finish my shift,” she replied as calmly as she
could.

“Don’t try to shut me out, Cassie. We’ll talk now. Ella can
handle it all for a bit.”

“Jay—”

“You’ve got a lot of explaining to do. I can’t believe you
cuffed me in silver and then took off on your own. What did you think you were
doing, Cassie? What possessed you? Was this Ella’s idea?”

“No, this was not Ella’s idea.” She glared at him. “I can think
for myself. This was all my idea and it’s all your fault.”

“My fault?” He put a hand to his chest. “It’s my fault I was
handcuffed naked to the bed? It’s my fault that I had to yell for help? Which
no one responded to until Rye arrived and picked the lock on the handcuffs. Is
it my fault that I spent three of the worst hours of my life wondering if you
were safe? You left me, Cassie. Why?”

Her anger deflated at the hurt she heard in his voice. The
very real concern she saw clouding his eyes was her undoing.

“I didn’t leave you, Jay. I had to have some room to
breathe. It’s just—”

“You think I smother you. You don’t want my protection, my
attention?” He started to turn away but she grabbed his arm, stalling him.
Hugging him from behind, she whispered against his back, knowing he could
easily hear her.

“No, it’s not that.” She bit at her lower lip.

“Tell me then, Cassie. What is this about?”

“I love the attention you give me. That you protect me.
Nobody has ever loved me or noticed me the way you do.”

“Then why?”

“I guess it’s like being freezing cold and then stifling
hot. Going from one extreme to the other is hard for me to deal with. I didn’t
quite expect it. I mean, I’ve seen Cooper with Laney, I’ve seen how attentive
he is, but I didn’t think you’d act that way toward me. Look, we’ve been
together for such a short time. It’s going to take us a while to get used to
each other, to iron out all the kinks. We need to get some better communication
happening. I tried to talk to you, but you blew me off.” She tried not to make
it into an accusation.

He turned and clasped her cheeks in his hands, raising her
face up to his.

“I love you. And the thought of someone hurting you, of you
being unhappy or in pain… I want to prevent that. I’m sorry that I didn’t listen
to you.”

“I know you do. But you were growling at every customer who
even looked at me. Poor Mr. Jensen drops his gaze to his feet every time I come
near. He went to take a sip of beer yesterday and completely missed his mouth.”

Jay grinned. “Okay, point taken, maybe I could ease off a
little. But it’s mainly because I’m in unknown territory. Once we get back to
the estate, I’ll ease up and you’ll have much more freedom.”

“Are you sure the pack will accept me?” Old insecurities
were hard to let go of, and she still didn’t have his confidence about the pack
accepting her. Particularly after Ryan was so cold to her just now.

“Of course they will, why wouldn’t they? You’re wonderful.”

“Ryan doesn’t seem to think so. I don’t think you’ve thought
this through, Jay.”

Jay grabbed her arm suddenly, startling her. “What did Rye
say?”

“It doesn’t matter. I better get back to work,” she said
quickly, not wanting him to question her further. “Ella will be tearing her
hair out.”

“No great loss there,” he muttered.

“Hey,” she punched him lightly in the arm as she passed, “I
think her hair’s funky.”

“Cassie.” She stopped at the door, turning toward him.
“Look, ignore Rye. He doesn’t speak for the pack. Everything is going to be all
right. Okay?”

“Okay,” she replied, still feeling uncertain.

Leaning down, he gave her a hard, bruising kiss.

“Good, now get your butt back to work before you get fired.”

“Urgh.” She glared up at him in mock anger before turning
and walking away, smiling as she heard him chuckle behind her.

Chapter Eleven

“Ahh, the person I was looking for.”

Cassie gasped, dropping the rubbish bag she’d been carrying.

“Drat. Were you trying to sneak up on me? Couldn’t you have
made some noise or something?”

Ryan appeared mildly surprised as he peered down at her.
Then he picked up the bag of rubbish and threw it into the dumpster.

“We need to talk.”

She frowned. “Why? What about?”

He leaned back against the wall of Fat Eddy’s. “Don’t act
dense. You know what I’m talking about. You need to leave him.”

“Excuse me?”

“You need to leave Jay, break things off with him. Tell him
you don’t want to be with him, that it was all a lie, whatever. But you need to
ensure that he comes back to the pack, and that you don’t come with him.”

Pain lashed her insides but she kept her face impassive. She
was not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d wounded her.

“What gives you the right to decide Jay’s life for him?”

“Look, it’s nothing personal, I’m sure you’ll make someone a
good wife, partner, whatever, one day. But you’re not right for Jay. And seeing
as how he won’t listen to me, you’ve got to see sense or you’re both doomed.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Werewolves and humans aren’t supposed to mix. He knows
that, he’s experienced it before and he doesn’t deserve a repeat heartache. Do
you know he swore never to be with a human woman again after that bitch Lia
hurt him? I won’t let you fuck him over. You’re not his true mate, you can’t
be. What if he finds her? What do you think will happen then? I’m trying to
save you both some heartache in the long run. I’ll give you the money to set
yourself up somewhere else.”

Her jaw dropped. “You’re going to pay me to leave your
brother.” This was bizarre, unbelievable.

“The pack needs Jay home. What he doesn’t need is for you to
tag along. All I’m asking is that you do the right thing. Give him a chance to
find his true mate. If you loved him, you’d do that for him.”

“Is that the only reason you came here? To convince me to
let him go?”

“Actually, I came to convince him to come home. Without you.
But he won’t listen. You should.”

With that said he turned away, leaving a spluttering Cassie
staring after him in shock.

“Are you going to let him get away with that?” The low voice
came from behind her and she turned, placing her hand against her chest.

“Why does everyone have to sneak up on me?” she gasped,
glaring up at Brynn.

“You can’t let him talk to you that way,” he commented
mildly, staring down at her. He looked completely out of place in the grubby
alley, dressed in an expensive white shirt, dark pants and blazer. “You roll
over and he’s going walk all over you. You have to get in there and tell him
what you think of his
suggestion
.”

“I can’t. I can’t go in there and make a scene.”

“Why not?”

“B-because I c-can’t,” she stuttered. “Anyway, why should I
take your advice? Who are you? How did you even hear what we were talking
about?”

He smiled. “I have my ways. It doesn’t matter why I’m giving
you advice, only that you should take it.”

“But he’s Jay’s brother, I should try to get along with
him.”

“Why? Is he trying to get along with you? No. Or is it that
you don’t think your relationship is worth fighting for? If that’s the case
then shrug off what he said, let your werewolf leave and find a relationship
you would fight to protect, to keep.”

She swallowed, feeling sick, knowing he was right. Bloody
hell.

“Do you want to be with Jay?”

“Of course I do.” She wasn’t quite sure why she was standing
here, still talking to him. He was a stranger, he was weird. Yet she needed
some advice, and for some reason he was trying to give her some.

“But you don’t care if his pack regards you as beneath him?
As inferior?”

“Of course I care. I want them to accept me.”

“Then you have to fight back. You have to earn their
respect.”

He turned away.

“Wait. Who are you?” She ran after him, reaching out to grab
his arm, confused when she found herself grasping at air. She hadn’t even seen
him move, yet now he stood two yards away.

“How did you do that?”

He grinned at her. “Oh, I’m full of hidden talents.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re not human, are you?
What are you?”

“Ahh, I’m something you’ve probably never met before. But
enough about me. Now are you going to walk inside and teach that werewolf not
to mess with you? Are you going to fight for what you want?”

“I still don’t understand why you’re trying to help me. I
don’t know you.”

“Don’t you? Don’t you recognize me?”

She tried to think. Had she met him before?

“I’m told I look a lot like my father.”

Again, nothing clicked.

“Your mother never told you what your father looked like?
No, I guess not. I’m here because of you, Cassie. I can’t tell you everything
right now, but trust me in this. If you plan on living with werewolves, you
have to take a stand. Stick up for yourself.”

“What? No. Hey wait,” she called out, moving after him as he
started walking away. “Are you saying that you know my father?”

“I knew him. Because he was my father too.”

With that he simply disappeared. Cassie chased after him,
racing around the corner of the building, certain he’d be there. But there was
no one in sight. She took a deep breath, trying to still her shaking.

“What the hell? What the hell?” she whispered to herself.

“Cassie? Cassie, where are you? Oh, there you are. What on
earth are you doing? I thought you were taking the trash out but you’ve been
gone twenty minutes.”

Cassie turned and gazed at Ella. The look of annoyance faded
from the other woman’s face as she stepped forward and grasped Cassie’s arm.

“Hey, are you all right? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Yeah, or a figment of my imagination.”

“What?”

“Nothing, umm, I’m fine.”

“Yeah? You don’t look fine, you’re pale and shaking.”

Cassie shook herself. “I, umm, had a run-in with Ryan. It
shook me up a bit.”

Ella snorted. “I’m not surprised, that guy is a jerk. I hope
you told him where to go.”

“No.” Cassie shook her head, building up her courage. She
wasn’t going to let Ryan push her away from Jay. She wasn’t going to settle for
living on the outside looking in. Jay was hers and if she had to fight for him
she would. “But I’m about to.”