As far as I knew, she’d never met me. I filed that away wondering if it was true or not. Maybe she had met me. My eyes narrowed because that made me wonder if she knew the cookie wench… or helped them get to me until she died.
I took a deep breath, forcing the lid on my rage box to stay shut because I didn’t know that… it felt right though. I said, “I came because I have things to say… to you. Plus… you’re technically wrong. My name is Melanie McAlister Conners. Which feels important… because you made people stand on being correct… and I married your grandson.”
Arion snorted, “This is going to be so good.” Cassandra asked, “Why would it be good, Arion?” I snarled, “Because you hurt my mate.” Cassandra said, “I love Alexander.” I growled, “I didn’tsay which of your grandsons I married. One would have to wonder how you know.”
Cassandra faltered. The rage box rattled and Freya started to snarl. Arion asked, “Are you shaking all of limbo somehow?” I answered, “Maybe… probably.” She’d known… it was her… all this time. Cassandra was involved in what happened to me.
Cassandra shouted, “I love my family.” What did that have to do with anything. I managed to shut my rage and open my eyes. I scoffed, “Don’t use words you don’t know the meaning of.” Cassandra tried to argue, “I do lo…”
I cut her off, “By treating Cassie poorly you hurt Xander. By treating his mother poorly, you hurt him, and by resenting his Fairy side you crushed him. I disagree wholeheartedly that you love him. One, because you don’t know what that word means.”
“Nor are you capable… of loving anyone. Because I truly believe… you are a psychopath… and I think you did something so no one would recognize that. I know you used Haley’s desire for a family against her.”
“You had inside information from Alania… and you used my mother in law’s childhood against her. You had to do something else. Or you’d have died a long time ago. The fact remains, if you truly love someone you do not hurt them the way you did.”
“You crushed Xander and Haley by not letting them use their light, and I know you knew that. I’m here because I think it bothers your pups and grandpups… well some… most don’t like you, really… not that your pups like you… they don’t…. but they feel guilty that you are still stuck here.”
“You need to move on. Maybe you should realize your version of love is conditional…. which doesn't make it real love in the first place… because you’re a psychopath… with a desperate need for control… that doesn’t yet make sense to me… but I’ll figure it all out.”
Cassandra shrugged, “I don’t need to move on. I can still check in on my family since I’m here.” She had a glint in her eyes for a second that seemed evil or angry. I frowned and studied the heinous woman. So did Arion. Whatever she wanted to check in on them for didn’t seem to be good.
I asked, “What are you waiting for? Because… it’s something.” Cassandra shrugged. I growled, “I can clearly tell… that you know what it is.” Cassandra retorted, “I died for a reason. I wanted to know what it was, so I kept a close watch over things.”
I looked at Arion. I said, “I thought there was nothing strange about her death… other than she clearly pissed off her wolf… and Death.” Cassandra gasped, “How dare you say that about my wolf.” I hummed, “You do realize your wolf… could’ve saved you… right? It’s obvious. Our reflexes are on point.”
I added, “Death himself clearly doesn’t like because you… got run through… by SILVER rebar… do you know the odds of that? Because they are… astronomically… well low,. Rebar is statistically made up of steel. So… the fact someone used silver says… Death was plotting your ending… pretty hard… and he doesn’t like you.” It was obvious.
Arion said, “There wasn’t anything odd outside those facts regarding her death. Not that Cassandra deserved it, but my sister had it thoroughly investigated even after she knew there was nothing magical about it.”
I asked, “So what is it then, Cassandra? What are you waiting for?” Cassandra shrugged. I frowned, “You’re not a goddess…. So… I know… that you could tell me.” Cassandra growled, “I won’t tell you. It will come out or it won’t and I'll be watching.”
Freya snarled at the woman and she cowered. I surmised, “You don’t want it to come out. Why?” Cassandra ignored my comment adding, “Plus, I run things down here. People look up to me.” I argued, “Looking up to you and fearing you… are different. Looking up to you and tolerating you are different.Looking up to you and putting up with you are different. You don’t belong here. All you have to do is admit you were wrong.”
Then she’d go to Hell. How did I know that? Freya said, “You know why all wolves are here, and Cassandra was brought here by my sister. She’s supposed to be in Hell. It’s a power of ours to know how to get people to move to their rightful place.”
Arion said, “Then Cassandra will never leave, and I’ll be able to torment her forever. How nice for me. She will never admit my sister is the perfect match for her son.” I growled, “WHAT?! You didn’t want Eric and Haley together? You didn’t want my mate to be born?” Freya said, “You knew that.” Yeah, but hearing it said so casually pissed me off.
Cassandra said, “I gave Haley a chance in the beginning. I kept my thoughts about her to myself and watched her. I gave advice that she took it at first, and everything was fine. Then she made my son weak. Which changed everything, and…”
I snorted and interrupted her, “That’s not possible. I’ve read a lot about the promised siblings. Haley made Eric more powerful…. from the very moment they met. I’ve heard stories about how he was when she was kidnapped.”
“Thor wasn’t even remotely weak… nor was Eric. My father in law was out there killing people when other Alphas would’ve been shielded by their packs. The longer Haley… was gone, he should’ve fallen weaker and weaker by the day.”
“Instead, he was the opposite. Eric was strong without her by his side. That would not have been possible if his mate was anyone else. It’s actually fascinating it was possible… at all. It has to be because Haley brought more of his power to the surface because she loves him.”
Cassandra looked nervous and that meant I needed to dig into that situation more when I had some time. Arion did a slow clap. Cassandra argued, “Haley wasn’t then and isn’t now right for my son.” I asked, “Then who was?”
Arion snorted, “She had a list. All the women were truly awful and caused problems. Tara was the worst.” I didn’t know who that was so she must have died long before I was born. I said, “The sad thing is Cassandra…. Haley keeps your memory alive with her pups. They all know who you are, even the ones born after you died.”
Cassandra smirked. I told her, “I know you were only around Black Mountain because of her. The forgotten packs talked…. about you…. a lot. You treated Haley horribly, and she might not have been a peach to you; however, she made sure you were in her pups lives.”
“Then you hurt those pups behind her back. Heck… you still hurt them. It’s pathetic. You need to do better. Tell me what you are watching for. Whatever it is… it can redeem you to them if you help us. It’s something that will affect them. Isn’t it?”
Cassandra snorted, “Yes, it will. I’m not telling you anything about it though. Why should I? I have no reason to help them.” I gaped at her. I shouted, “You have no reason? They are your family! They are your sons, grandpups, and most importantly your mate.”
I sneered, “Don’t you remember the man who stood by you when he didn’t have to? I’ve heard stories about how much Nathan Conners loves you. It’s been seventeen years since your death and he’s still guilt ridden about you.”
“The man knows he has a second chance mate out there… who… let’s be honest… will be better than you… but he doesn’t go looking. He’s still getting over the guilt and abuse you put the poor man though. If nothing, you should do it to help him!”
