Chapter Sixteen
Cassy froze in her seat for a while but when he was a few steps away from her she quickly stood up and tried to leave but she ended up slipping and fell into his arms immediately.
“Where did you think you were going?” Kai’s voice brought her out of her thoughts.
“I– I–” she could not think of what to say.
What was wrong with her? she didn’t know if it was because of their close proximity or because she was staring into his eyes.
She quickly realized that she was still laying in his arms and stood up immediately.
“I– I apologize for that,” she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, trying hard not to meet his eyes.
Kai only replied with a hum and nodded his head. They became quiet for a while before he spoke.
“I was going to discuss something with you before you left. We came to this pack for my aunt’s birthday luncheon and we are going to leave immediately after,” he began and she nodded. “I have explained our relationship to her and she understands but we are aware that my uncle does not support situations like this so we have to act,”
Cassy’s face scrunched up as she looked up at him. “I fail to understand what you mean by acting,”
She understood what he meant but she wanted him to just clarify.
Kai exhaled. He wanted to call her dumb for not being able to understand but it was him who needed this.
“We have to pretend that we are together,”
Cassy nodded. “I see. When do we see him and when does this act come to play?”
“The luncheon would be held tomorrow but we have to meet him for dinner tonight,” he explained and she nodded.
As much as it sounded so easy, she knew it was hard to act like a normal couple especially when it was with someone like Kai.
“If there is nothing else I would take my leave now,” she told him and started walking away.
She had not gone far when she was suddenly hoisted up on Kai’s arms catching her by surprise.
“W–what are you doing!?” she asked, surprised by his actions.
“What does it look like I am doing?” he replied without looking at her.
“Put me down!” she yelled but he paid deaf ears and kept moving.
She began to kick in the air when he did not listen but still he did not budge as he made a trip to their room.
“Put me down or I would scream!”
Kai stopped and stared into her eyes.
“Scream? And you think anyone would come to rescue you? Who would rescue a woman from her mate?” he told her in his husky voice.
She swallowed nothing. Kai knew that was enough to shut her up as she became quiet till they reached.
He placed her on the couch. “The maids would inform you when dinner is set. Do not wander around if you still find your foot useful,” he scolded and sauntered out before she could even process his words.
She sighed and face palmed herself. He was just so unpredictable.
•
Cassy busied herself with reading all through the day and when she was done with the books she got ready the dress she was going to put on for dinner that evening before finally falling asleep.
“My lady,” she felt someone tap her on her shoulder.
Cassy hummed and stirred before fluttering her eyes open. She found a young servant towering over her.
“Dinner is set and her highness requested your presence,” she informed her.
Cassy nodded and sat up.
“Help me prepare the bath,”
The lass nodded and went into the bathroom. She returned a few minutes later and told her it was ready.
Cynthia, as she came to know was the lass’s name, helped her in bathing and getting dressed.
“I love your hair, my lady,” Cynthia complimented as she placed pins on Cassy’s hair.
“Thank you,” she smiled.
After she got ready, Cassy was led to the dining hall.
“Here,” Cynthia pointed at the door they were standing in front of.
“Thank you,” she nodded before leaving.
~
Cassy sucked in a deep breath and took one last look at herself before pushing the door open.
Her presence was announced and Cassy tried her best to walk with poise but to her surprise, there was only one person seated at the table and that was Gabriel.
A smile appeared on Gabriel’s face as soon as he saw her.
“Quit the poise thing, sister I am the only one here,” he laughed and stood up to draw out a seat for her but she was already sitting opposite him.
He smiled and went to sit beside her.
“I am glad you came earlier too. I thought I was going to be alone here for a while,”
Cassy chuckled. “And I thought that I was late,”
Gabriel laughed and shook his head. “You don’t have to be so cautious, we are family now,” he pointed out.
The smile on Cassy’s face slowly disappeared as the event of earlier played in her head.
Gabriel seemed to have noticed as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat and cleared his throat.
“Uhm– I apologize for earlier. I did not mean to,” he apologized, rubbing the nape of his neck nervously. “Kai and I do not really have a good relationship so I– I apologized for using you as bait,”
Cassy tried to smile as she nodded her head. “I understand,”
They chatted for a while before Marlene came in with her husband, Zachary.
Cassy and Gabriel stood up when they walked in.
“Good evening, your grace,” they greeted in unison, bowing slightly.
Marlene smiled as she and her husband sat down. “You may rise,” she told them and they both sat down. “Let’s dig in,”
“Here,” Gabriel placed a piece of meat on Cassy’s plate.Property © NôvelDrama.Org.
“Thanks,” she muttered and took a bite from it.
Cassy could feel eyes on her making her wonder what she did wrong.
Marlene cleared her throat. “I forgot to introduce my husband to you. Zach meet Cassy, Kai’s mate and Cassy meet my mate and husband, Zachary,”
“A pleasure to meet you, your highness,” Cassy bowed slightly.
“And you too,” he nodded. “Why is Kai not here? Is he not going to join us?”
“He informed me he was going to look around, I have no idea where he is now but I assure you that he is going to come,” Marlene replied and took a sip from her cup of wine.
“I shall get someone to find-”
“No need,” Kai spoke, walking into the room.
Zachary stood up and pulled Kai into a hug.
“I thought you might have decided to run away again,” Zachary said, releasing Kai.
Kai chuckled. “No. I just went to look around the pack,”
Zachary nodded and gestured to the dining table. “Join us, we just began,”
Looking around the table as he took his seat, Kai found Cassy sitting beside Gabriel.
They seemed to be so engrossed in their conversation that she had not even acknowledged his presence. Gabriel had even whispered words into her ear making her smile.
Kai drew out a chair beside her noisily to get their attention which was successful.
“Here,” Gabriel scooped some vegetables into Cassy’s plate. “Eat enough vegetables to aid your foot in healing properly,”
Kai watched her give him a megawatt smile which angered his wolf. Why was she smiling like that just because of a vegetable?
He angrily hit his spoon on his plate severally to gain her attention but Gabriel always had a way of stealing it back.
Just what does this lad want? Why does he always want whatever he has?
Marlene could not help but feel the tension between them. She could sense Kai’s anger and she had no idea how she could divert his attention.
“Ah Kai, how was your trip around the palace? Did you notice anything that you would like to report?” she blurted out before she could even think properly. She wanted to facepalm herself but those were the only words she could think of at the moment.
Zachary glanced at her as if to ask her silently what she was saying but she only smiled at him. He would never understand.
“No. Everything was perfectly okay,” he replied through gritted teeth as he scooped a large amount of food into his mouth.
“Do something,” Marlene mouthed to him.
Kai stared at her confused. What could he do?
He tried to tell himself that he did not care about them but hearing their little whispers made his wolf angry.
“Uncle, I had a look around the pack today and I thought I should ship some goods to you,” he declared loudly.
Marlene could not help but facepalm herself. She had asked him to do something to gain their attention not to say something about the pack.
Kai glanced at her and she interpreted it as a ‘what did I do wrong look’. She could only reply by shaking her head.
Her nephew knew nothing.
“That’s so thoughtful of you. Thank you so much. Shall we discuss more about it after dinner?” Zachary uttered and took a swig from his cup of water.
Kai nodded in reply.
“Ah, brother, I had not realized your return. How was your walk?” Gabriel asked with a grin on his face.
A grin that Kai badly wanted to wipe off with a punch that would leave him bleeding.
Kai ignored him, acting as if he had not heard him as he continued eating.
The room became silent except for the sound of cutleries clicking against the plates until Kai spoke, breaking the silence.
“Sweet, how is your foot?” he suddenly asked, making Cassy spit out the drink in her mouth.
Kai and Gabriel’s hands reached for a napkin and Kai swatted his hand away before handing it to her and patting her back.
Cassy wanted to shift away from this new Kai. She knew they were supposed to act in front of Zachary but did he just use an endearment for her?
No. There had to be a mistake.
“I am sorry, love” he repeated patting her back and this made her cough even more.
A/N: Thanks for reading
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