And Then There Were Four

Tears brimmed my eyes at his words. I hated disappointing them, but at the same time, I hated Pollux treated me the way he did. "I'm sorry, but Pollux treats me like shit, so I give it right back to him. I can't let them see me weak." "Weak? Cassie, you're not weak."

Talon wasn't pleased with my reference to being weak. He was one of the strongest men in the pack, and being a warrior and protector was everything to him. He had trained me himself, and so me being seen as weak was a reflection on him. "Everyone seems to think that I am. Either that or they are terrified of me. They always have been, and now, with Pollux flipping his wig on me about some bullshit, they think I'm a whore too."

Anger flashed through both of my father's eyes as low growls of disapproval echoed from their throats. "What are you talking about?" Hale asked.

"James didn't tell you?" A scoff left my throat as I cast my eyes down. "Pollux' stupid girlfriend told him I supposedly was messing around with Lucas Vega, which isn't true and so he confronted me in the hallway at school and called me a whore, accusing me of sleeping around. That's what started the whole fight."

I wasn't seeking pity from my dads, but what I did want was for Pollux to receive punishment if I was going to get it. He was just as much at fault as I was, and snitches get stitches, be damned... I wasn't going to be the only one serving punishment a week before school ends.

Talon stood to his feet, pacing the room as he rubbed the back of his neck. He was who I was really worried about, because anytime some boy had approached me in the past, he was quick to make them forget I even existed.

"Cassie, I know that you're going to be eighteen this weekend and with you getting older you're going to be interested in boys and... Stuff..."

Was he really going to try and do the talk?

"Oh my god, dad, please, no. We don't have to have this conversation."

"Look, Cassie, it's just as bad for us as it is for you" Hale's laughter cut Talon off as he stared between Hale and I, absolutely confused. "What's so funny?"

"Talon..." Hale said, taking a moment to catch his breath. "You're like two years too late."

A shocked and horrified expression crossed Talon's face as it paled, his mouth dropping open. It hurt because had known for so long he had seen me as his little princess and he didn't want that to change.

"Is this true, Cassie?" Talon whispered. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Dad, none of that matters, and it isn't important right now. Look, school is almost over and I only have a week left and then I will be out of here and headed off to college."

Talon and Hale looked at each other in confusion at my response. I know the old tale about us having to go to the land of the gods, but that was just a silly story. There was no way my parents would subject me to something like that.

"Cassie, you're not going off to college. You know what's happening this weekend."

Hale gave me a concerned glance as the study door opened, and my mother walked in with a glass of wine in hand. "Oh, you guys are still talking?"

"Yeah, Cassie seems to think she is leaving for college..." Hale replied to my mother, who didn't look surprised by his statement and instead sipped on her wine.

"Ivy, why does Cassie think she is okay to go to college?" It was Talon's turn to ask my mother the question and as he did, she looked between them both and sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, Jesus Christ, you two. She is

intelligent and has her whole life ahead of her. The only thing Cassie wants is to have a normal life. We all know this, and if that's what she wants, then she can have it. Stop acting like it's a big deal." NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.