Chapter 77: Chapter 77
**Cassie’s POV**
His question is not something that I can easily answer. Because I also asked that myself.
What is holding me back from love again? Or is this love? Should I forget him to open another chapter in my life? Is that how it works? I don't know; I am also confused.
But all of my worries turned into bubbles and disappeared immediately as Derek suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.
"Don't mind my question; I am not forcing you, and I don't want to pressure you. I want you to know that I can be content with you being on my side rather than not being with you. I just wanted to tell you that the darkest day of my life was when you left me, and I thought I would never see you again. So don't mind my question; I will wait as long as you are by my side. After all, I am not planning to give up, but to show you how much I love you," Derek said to me in the most sincere way I could ever ask for.
When he said those words to me, I felt like I could finally breathe again. I hope he will not interrogate me with the same question again any sooner, because I still don't have any time to think about such a matter. There are bigger things for which I should prepare.
Additionally, as much as I hate the thought of it if everything turns chaotic, even though I tried so hard to escape and leave my past behind, it seems too impossible as Xander and the rest of his evil crew will never stop chasing us down.
You might be asking, If Xander intends to kill me, then why did he let us go in the first place, and how did we manage to escape?
This is just a hunch, but I think it is a mistake on his part when he underestimates my and my family's ability to get away from him. We manage to get off his radar and escape his eyes.
But no matter how far we are now from Clayland and the pack territory, he will not be satisfied until he can cut our throats.
And if the danger comes here and the situation gets worse, I will be left with no choice but to ask Derek and Art to get away and take my son with them.
After that, Derek still stayed here, and eventually, we went outside to take our meal. My work was done, so I managed to go straight to the school, and Derek insisted that he would drive me there instead; he is an angel in disguise since I didn't bring my brother's car.
Mom!" Charlie ran towards me and kissed me. He looks better now.
"Wow, my boy looks taller," Derek said in awe. Maybe they are shocked since my son is supposedly an 8-year-old boy, but his height doesn't match his age.
"Yeah, I am surprised too," said Dax, who was looking at me with a smile.
I thought they would start to fight, but I saw these two guys' handshakes. I love the way they are now—much better than before when they almost killed each other because of me. I am so surprised that they can be this close, as they are twins.
"My son took all of his genes from his father, who is adulting," I said as an excuse. When it is impossible for my son to grow this tall overnight, I hope they will stop being suspicious.
Getting them involved in my problem as a werewolf is the last thing that I wish to happen. I would rather sacrifice my life than lose someone so important to me. I am ready to lose everything for them.
While we were walking toward the parking lot, a lot of people were leaning toward us. It looks weird because it looks like the three of us—Derek, Dax, and I—are in a polyfidelity type of relationship.
To be honest, I am open to the possibility. But it is just my opinion! Besides, I am not certain about my feelings. But my point here is that I am open to that possibility. In the culture and history of werewolves, it is the case that both have multiple mates.
There is a simple and quick explanation for that. Because if soul mates are all about two people, then why are men's and women's populations not equal at all?
It is the same logic used to explain why men can fall in love with women and vice versa. Because love does not work with a single standard. It is much more complicated than how other people think about love, like it is some sort of very shallow matter.
"Do you want to grab some pizza? Movie night sounds good," suggested Dax, who is much more sociable than before.
"Sounds like a plan!" Derek agreed with Dax’s suggestions as if they were two best friends.
We are now entering a pizza house, and I felt a presence. It is not an ordinary presence. I can smell it, but I have no idea if he or she is an enemy or not.
"Get inside; I forgot to take something in the car. I will be back. Take a mushroom and cheese flavor for me, okay?" They might look confused, but they agreed. My son looks worried; Charlie knows it.
I should face it alone, and I will never let them put themselves in a very dangerous position. So I went back to the parking lot; it is almost empty, and it is already dark in some corners.
It is getting darker now, and he is moving so fast, but I manage to capture him. I am so surprised that I realized who he was.
"What are we doing here?" I asked Damon, a guy who is a close friend of my friend.
"I finally found you! Quick, runaway; Xander knows you and your family are here. They cannot attack as quickly and easily as they want, but they are planning to end you," he said, almost breathless. I knew we would be in trouble any sooner.
It should be another normal Saturday morning. I have no work right now, and Damon is here. No matter how many times he warned us already, I, my dad, and my brothers insisted on being here. We are not tired of running away from that tyrant alpha wannabe, but on the other hand, we are tired of being afraid.
If they try to attack me and my family here in Claybourne City, the human side as well as those who tried to seek a balance between humans and supernatural creatures will surely make a move. Dale also assured us that they would respond and lend a hand.
"Hey, calm down and sit on that couch; you need to breathe and stop overthinking so much, okay?" I said to Damon as I observed that he looked so frequently on the window, and he looked like he was alerted.
Damon is a great pack warrior. He is also very popular with the unmarried werewolves in our pack. He is tall, handsome, has a well-built body, and is charming. He has both looks and personality, and his reputation is incredible, so it is no surprise how well-known he is. But I can observe how drastically he has changed now. He is a bit skinny compared to before, and he looks sleepless and deprived. I am so sad, as the last Luna of the pack, to see that something like this is happening on the territory.
"I am so sorry if we have to leave you and the rest of the pack members behind," I said to him. I know that he can’t probably forgive me because, t o Luna, I should stay with them, but I know that I made the right decision for now.
Damon shook his head. "You don’t have to say sorry, our Luna. We are glad that you are safe and far from that evil tyrant. Xander even arrested and held his parents in a dungeon. Everything has changed in the place we thought of as home for a moment. Everyone felt enslaved, and even rogues are welcome in the Blue Moon pack! This is absurd; everything is getting clear as time goes by," Damon said, mad at the situation. I felt like that as well. I can’t accept how that selfish and greedy guy destroyed our home.
"Let us plan on how we will turn back everything that was destroyed by that selfish tyrant. I don’t know how; I know how difficult it will be, but there is a way to make everything go back to how it works, okay? But now, relax for a while; let us have our breakfast," I said to him, and I am less worried now that he smiled and his shoulder is less stiff.
We were in the middle of our breakfast when I heard that someone was knocking on the door. I excuse myself and tell them to eat to their heart's content. I hope they will enjoy the meal that I prepared.
Just by walking near the door, I can already smell my dear visitors. Why are these two so early? I can understand if Dax is here because we often share the same table with him at breakfast or dinner. But Derek is here? Are they still upset and sulking?
I mean, because of Damon, I decided to postpone movie night. It is very important to attend to my old friend and the comrade of my fallen mate.
I opened the door, and they are really there. Based on their expression, where they can’t even look at me straight, they are still upset. But I can see that they brought food.
"Come inside and fix your faces. I don’t want to start my day with sulking visitors," I said to them. They are mature adults, but they are acting so childish. On the positive side, they look really cute from my point of view.
At least, even though they are faking their smile, they don’t look like someone who is ready to murder my friend, and even Damon has been scared because of these two possessive guys.
They sat on the dining table; they are still in their grumpy mood; they are throwing sharp gazes at Damon; and Damon is looking at me like he is asking for help. I sighed and faked a cough to give these two visitors of mine a warning through my glare. I hope they can see that I am not happy with how they treat Damon like this.
After we ate breakfast in a much more awkward manner than I expected, my son continued playing with his uncles, Derek and Dax, while Damon excused himself and went outside. I think he went to my dad’s apartment.
"Is he really your friend?" asked Derek, who is now in the kitchen, pouring cold water on his glass.
"Do I look like someone who has all the time to take a stranger to my house?" I asked back.
He sighed. "I am sorry if I am being too annoying; maybe I am crossing the line, but I can’t help being jealous," he said in a puppy tone like I want to pinch his cheek! He should stop acting like that, or I might develop a very scary weakness.
I pat his shoulder. "Well, all you have to do is trust me," I said before leaving him in the kitchen.
And a miracle happened once more when I saw Damon and the two guys suddenly get close, so what happened? Can someone explain this to me?
I guided Damon to the kitchen. He is a bit surprised at how modern the technology here is, and I am also a bit surprised, to be honest, to learn that such things as elevators, cellphones, and other modern technology do exist in such a state of progress. Well, I have been to the small town of Clayland, and it is a very secluded town with the bare minimum of technology.
"Have a seat; the food is ready," I said to Damon. "You should start going back to track; you were not like this before; are you even ea-" I didn’t finish my words since I find them very insensitive.