“Do you want to sit?” I asked, motioning to the chair across from us.
She smiled at me and took one of the chairs. Caspien gave me his chair, and he stood behind me, probably because he wanted to pace; every time something was going on, he couldn’t sit down.
“I’m Rachel,” She started.
I smiled at her, “I figured that much; I’m Willa.” Caspien sighed behind me, and I closed my eyes, fighting the urge to roll them at his antics.
“I didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot. I don’t know if Caspien mentioned anything about me, but I was upset by how I found out. I didn’t mean to leave without saying anything to you yesterday. It felt like a lot, and I didn’t want you to think I left because of you. I just wasn’t ready to have that conversation.”
“And now you are?” Caspien cut her off; his voice was still ice cold.
Rachel fixed her stare on him, “Obviously,” Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“If that’s all you have to say, and if you can’t think of any other useful information you might have let slip to the enemy, then we’re done here.”
“Caspien,” I looked behind me. He started pacing.
“I need to figure out who else knows and what they know.” His face was set, and his jaw tightened.
“Why do I always have to be the rational one?” I raised an eyebrow at him, “Men and their emotions, I swear.” He swallowed but fought a smile, meeting my eyes.
He took a breath and came to stand behind me again, placing a hand on my shoulder, “Rachel, I will forgive you eventually, but right now, I am not happy.” He paused, I could still feel his hot anger radiating off of him, “And that’s putting it lightly.” “Okay,” She nodded, “That’s fair. Thank you, both.” She went stand, seeming relieved.
“I can walk you out,” I suggested, turning back to Caspien who was staring her down with an expressionless gaze.
When I got back here, it would be my turn to get angry, scared, and frustrated, but I would let it be his turn for a few more moments.
We left his office in silence. Caspien had nothing else to say to her.
“I have something to apologize for, too,” I spoke up; after a moment she paused, studying me, “I didn’t mean to interrupt you last night, well, I did,” I smiled and averted my gaze.
“It’s okay,”
“No, it’s not,” I shook my head, “I trust Caspien, I just, I was worried, and I had to see for myself.” I trailed off, swallowing.
“Willa, I would never. No matter what happened between us in the past, I would never go after someone who was mated. I could never.” She shook her head ferociously; her honey waves moved slightly with the motion.
“Thank you, It’s nice to hear that.” I gave her a tight smile, “It’s just, I had a mate before,” Her eyes widened slightly.
“I found him fucking his ex over a desk. So it just brought up unpleasant memories and irrational fears. Even though Caspien is different, the situation was similar, and I panicked. I apologize for not letting you finish your conversation.” I shrugged or tried to. She took a step back, her brows furrowed, “I- I’m sorry, I don’t-“
“I’m not looking for pity or trying to make you feel bad enough not to go after Caspien,” I gave her a genuine smile, “I just wanted to explain why I burst in.”
“Honestly, I would burst into every room I walked into if that happened,” She took her lower lip in her mouth, “I really am sorry, Willa. I can’t imagine that happening, especially with your mate.”
“Thank you. I mean, it turned out okay in the end, but it definitely changed me.” I swallowed thinking about those first few months, even years after.
“I am sorry for my part in this. I would never intentionally share anything I thought would be incriminating to Caspien, or your son.” She blinked a few times.
“I understand,” I placed my hand on her shoulder, “You don’t have to apologize anymore. I am terrified for my son. I honestly haven’t even fully begun to process what this might mean for him. But what I said back there was true. We weren’t intending to hide the fact that he potentially would be Caspien’s heir. The blessed wolf thing was bound to get out eventually. I just, I didn’t think about what that might mean for him, and it took me by surprise.”
“He will be protected always,” Rachel held my gaze. I wish I could share in her unwavering confidence.
“I know, but” I shook my head.
I never thought there would be a threat to my son; there had never been a reason for me to think that. But this wasn’t Blue Ridge; this wasn’t a small pack; Emmett was Caspien’s heir if he wanted it. I knew Caspien probably had some enemies, but I s.tupidly didn’t think about those implications when it came to myself or Emmett.
“It’s scary. I get it. Well, not exactly,” She offered a sad smile, “But I can empathize, sympathize, whichever.” She laughed once.
“I appreciate it, I honestly do. You are refreshing.” She tucked some hair behind her ear, meeting my gaze.
“Thanks, Willa. We might never be friends, but it was honestly nice meeting you.” I pressed the elevator button for her, scanning my finger.
“I can go out the other way. It’s fine,”
I raised an eyebrow, “We’re already here.”
“Willa,” She nodded her goodbye, stepping in.
“Rachel,” I offered a smile, which she returned.
As the elevator doors closed, I felt a weight lift. My worry for Emmett was still tugging at me, but knowing that Rachel wouldn’t pose a problem was huge. I assumed she would still see him as hers; they were together for Goddess knows how long, but if what she said was true, she seemed to respect the mate bond, and I respected her for that.
Things going back to normal was more than I could have dreamed of, more than I let myself hope for last week. I settled back into my routine and relished the familiarity of it.
Going to class without anxiously checking my phone for an update about Emmett, working a shift in the restaurant where I could actually focus on what I was doing. Even studying those monotonous terms reminded me just how lucky I was to be back to a level headspace and actually engaged in my daily tasks.
“I will never complain about polishing silverware ever again,” I told Cali.
“Well, in that case, you can take mine.” She gave me her wry smile.
“I’m not that desperate yet.”
“I know you’re probably fine with this, but I wanted to check,” She turned to me, “My afternoon class was canceled tomorrow, so Holden was going to come over and see my place.” “Why would I have a problem with that?”
“Emmett would be there too while you were at class. I know they know each other but want to keep you in the loop.”
“Yeah, of course; I can see if Caspien can pick him up if you want some alone time.”
“No, not at all. Loreli will be there too. He’s just coming, so we can pretend that anything about this relationship is normal.”
“He hasn’t been to your place yet?” I tried to wade through my memories of the last few weeks, but it was all muddy.
“No,” She shrugged, “I didn’t want to bring him into my s.hit stained world, I liked staying in the fairytale, that is that glass apartment above the clouds.” She gave me a half smile.
“Has he asked you to move in?” Cali seemed to spend more time at the packhouse than I did.
“Yes, and I want to. I just,” She rubbed her mark.
“That’s not coming off, hate to break it to you, but this is forever.” I tried to smile, but I was slightly worried for Holden. I didn’t want her to change her mind, to back out of something she seemed so sure of when it started.
“I do know that,” Her brows tugged together slightly, “And I know what it means, but I feel so young to be practically married. I thought I would have a string of lovers and burn out at the ripe age of forty.” I laughed at that; I could see that too, “Now I feel like some young bride being forced down the altar because I got pregnant.”
“Hate to break it to you, but some of that ship has sailed.” I nudged her, and she scowled at me, “Do you want any other lovers?”
“Oh h.ell no, what that man can do,” She shuddered, “He’s it, he’s everything. A bit dorkier than I imagined but-,” She smiled widely, “He’s it.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“Fine, you caught me. There isn’t one. I think it’s just going so well; it’s making me uneasy. It’s too easy; he’s too perfect.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.