Chapter Seven

Cassie

“Cathy.” Kicking off my shoes I called for the old Omega who ran the house that I was now living in.

Alone.

I lived in a big sprawling mansion, full of the most beautiful things, alone. Hell, the place was so big that I was sure I hadn’t even seen all the rooms yet.

It was just me and Cathy, the housekeeper even though she didn’t like being called that because yet again my new husband hadn’t actually turned up yet.

It had been days and he hadn’t even shown his face.

Which told me all I needed to know about him.

Padding through the house on my bare aching feet I pushed my way into the kitchen. Where I knew the old lady would be.

I couldn’t blame her for spending her time in the kitchen though, it was the nicest room in the entire house. Full of light thanks to the fact that one wall was entirely windows that were pushed back to let in the late evening sunshine and the scent of pine trees that surrounded the gardens and marched up the hills behind us.

Sighing happily I slipped onto one of the stools. “Sorry, I’m late. I hope I haven’t ruined dinner.” Reaching down I began to rub the soles of my feet. Trying to ease away the ache in them. “It was a shift from hell, last minute intake from an accident.” I screwed my face up at the memories. “Bad car crash.” My eyebrows pinched together. “All of them were human. They are so fragile. I wish they would look after themselves more.”

The sights would haunt me for a long time but helping people was one of the reasons I had become a doctor.

“And then I went home.” I carried on. It was strange because I didn’t usually talk too much but I liked Cathy and she always listened to me. Since I had arrived we had eaten together every evening. Until tonight anyway. I was late and I wasn’t sure she had eaten without me.

Her eyes snapped up. A line appeared between her eyebrows as she stared at me.

“I mean my other home.” I rushed to say. “And then I sat there and cried because I don’t live there anymore. I live here.” I motioned around me. “And here is beautiful but it’s not home.”

Deep lines appeared around her eyes as they softened. “You will come to think of it as home.”

I shrugged self consciously. I seriously doubted that but I couldn’t say that out loud. She was very proud of this place and it would hurt her. That was the last thing I wanted to do.

“Anyway,” I said in a rush. “Then I hit rush hour traffic trying to get back across town and I missed dinner and I’m so sorry. I know you would have made something delicious and-

Reaching across the marble island she patted my hand. “You are so unhappy, Cassie.”

“I’m not. Honest.” I lied.

“You’re a lousy liar Cassie!” She chuckled. “I would like to play poker with you.”

I couldn’t help it, I smiled.

“Why are you so unhappy here? I hear you crying sometimes at night and I just don’t understand it. You are young and beautiful, you have a great job. I know your family life isn’t all it could be but life is what you make of it and from where I’m sat you could have a great life.”

Turning my hand over in hers I squeezed her fingers. “You’re right Cathy. Sometimes I just forget how fortunate I am.” Smiling, I settled back against the stool back. “At least it’s just us girls, hey.” I joked. “No men. I think I could get used to that and be happy. I like living with you.”

A look of panic swept across her face. One that I didn’t understand until a deep booming voice chuckled. “It sounds like I am not welcome in my own home. That my presence isn’t needed?”

Whirling I came face to face with my husband for the first time. Except it wasn’t the first time I realised. I had seen him before, at a ball many years ago. I just hadn’t known it was him.

He was staring at me now. His face is open and hostile. Sat on one of the chairs on the patio outside he had a table full of food spread out before him and a glass of wine half drunk next to his elbow.

I blushed. How had I not sensed him at all because now I could see him he was all I could feel. The power coming off of him was like nothing I had ever felt before.

Deep inside of my wolf whined pitifully and the sound escaped my human lips. Making me blush even harder.

“I’m sorry I didn’t realise you were “

He motioned towards the chair opposite him and I frowned. What was it with people demanding I sit opposite them recently?

“That I would come to my own home? Why not? I live here. Now sit. We have things to discuss.”

I wanted to remind him that he hadn’t been living here at all when I moved in. I had looked and there were no man's belongings here at all. Just mine.

“Yes Julian, I didn’t mean.” I began to say and trailed off as he tapped his fingers on a stack of neatly printed papers.

My stomach did a flip flop. I knew what they were.

“Please -“I began to say and stopped myself.

“I want you to sign these papers Cassie.” His voice was harsh but his eyes were almost soft as they roved across my face and down my body. “Neither of us wanted this union. Hell, I didn’t even know what you looked like, not until after anyway.” A small smile twitched up the corners of his mouth. “But I can’t stay married to a stranger and I know you feel the same. So sign the termination papers and the contract will be voided.” He sipped at his wine. Watching me from the rim of the crystal glass. “Sign and set us both free.”