The Viking Alpha

A promise

(James POV)

James and Jonathan were running to the dungeons. He was looking forward to enjoying his breakfast and watching Cassandra when one of the guards spoke in his mind.
'Sir. You may want to come quickly. The prisoner. He hurt himself, badly. He may die.'
They were now In the dungeons in the tower. The prisoner he left yesterday, was now slumped against a wall. Blood poured from his mouth. One of his arms looked dislocated from when he was suspended from the ropes.
One of the guards that was posted outside the door started to babble quickly.
'Your highness. I was keeping watch when I heard him. He sounded like he was choking. I came in. He bit out his own tongue!'
James glared at the man in question.
'You think because you don't have a tongue, you can't talk?'
Squatting in front of him he put his face level with his.
'Rest assured. I believe before I'm done with you you'll get creative.'
The prisoner just stayed there. His eyes drooped. Looking up with weak eyes his gaze went past James and he started to grunt in a panicked way. He scrambled back from the wall into the corner. Shielding his face with his arms.
James looked behind him but just saw Johnathan and the guard.
'Get the pack doctor. Have her heal him. Then when he's stable we begin.'
'James,' Johnathan broke in. 'I don't think he can-'
'Enough!' James barked.
Pointing at the prisoner he spoke again.
'This man is against your queen. My mate! Never mind me. Cassandra is human. She wouldn't stand a chance if there was a siege. It's better to squash them all now before an infestation happens.'
Now Johnathan pointed at the prisoner. 'Look at him James! Look at what he's done to himself? Good luck keeping him alive.'
James sneered at the man now prostrate on the floor. Cowering.
'Don't worry. He isn't going anywhere until I'm through. Chain him up for now. Have the pack doctor sedate him.' With that, James stormed out of the tower.
He needed Cassandra. She would calm him. She was still in the dining room. But she wasn't at her seat. She was sitting across from Rexton at one of the long tables. Her hand on his forearm. Smiling and laughing. His wolf growled.
Leave her alone for more than five minutes and the males start to strategize. Rushing over there the room became deadly silent. Cassandra or Rexton didn't even notice him coming until James picked up Rexton by the front of his shirt and punched him in the face.
'What the hell are you doing?!' He heard Cassandra shriek. But he continued to punch Rexton. His wolf not wanting him to be able to even walk away without limping.
He felt someone tug hard at his arm. His wolf starting to rip through, he whipped his head to whoever it was and snarled. Teeth bared and eyes flashing. Cassandra backed up quickly. Terror in her wide eyes. The small whimper that came from her made him freeze. Looking back at Rexton who was now on the floor with a bloody nose, James lifted him closer to him.
'Watch it.' He gritted before dropping him. He turned quickly and grabbed Cassandra's wrist. Dragging her from the room he took her to the library. She jerked out of his hold and stepped back. She was shaking in fear.
'What the hell was that?' He demanded.
Despite the fear he saw in her eyes she still managed to answer him.
'I could ask you the same thing.'
'Answer me! What were you doing touching another male?!'
She moved to where the couch was between them. His eyes followed her every move.
'I can't have friends now?'
'Rexton is your friend now?' Sarcasm dripped from his words.
'Yes. He is.'
'And tell me. When did this happen?'
'Yesterday when you were gone.'
'What happened?'
What looked like genuine confusion on her face almost had him thinking maybe he did overreact.
'We talked.'
'About what?' James now stalked toward her. She moved around the room. Trying to keep distance.
'None of your business!'
That had him in front of her in a blur. Gasping, she tried to run but he had her pinned against the wall. His hands holding both her wrists over her head.
'You are my business!'
She turned her head away from his face with a frightened sob.
He heard her heartbeat speed up in fear. Her face turned and eyes closed tightly.
'Tell me!'
'I can't.' She managed to whisper.
'Why not?'
'Because I promised.'
'What did you promise, Cassandra?'
When she didn't answer he let her go.
To calm himself he went across the room. He turned away from her, trying to Compose himself.
When he felt calmer he turned back. What he saw crushed him. She was on the floor crumpled holding her wrist. Sobbing softly to herself.
'Cassandra.' He whispered. Slowly he went to her. His heart broke when she flinched back.
'I'm not going to hurt you. I'm sorry.'
She continued to sob and stay curled away from him.
He saw his hand prints on her small wrists. There could very well be bruises later. How could he forget that she was human? Fragile. He was just lecturing his brother about this.
Trying to take her in his arms he was met with her stiffening, moving back again.
'Please, love. Let me look. I won't touch you. Just let me look at your wrists.'
After some time when she didn't move he was just starting to worry if he had really screwed up for good. To his relief she held out her wrists. Seeing up close the damage he had done he felt more disgusted with himself
'It's a secret.' She whispered.
He looked at her face.
'What is?'
She bit her lip as tears were still falling from her eyes.
'We bonded over a secret. It's not my secret to tell. So I won't.'
Understanding better now he also saw that she had more traits of a queen. Loyalty. To one of her subjects. Compassion too. Any other time he'd be happy to discover this. But now he was hurt and angry that she couldn't trust him to tell. But looking at her wrists, could he blame her?
'Love…I didn't mean-'
She got up slowly. Looking him in the eye.
'I want to go back to my room now.' Without waiting for an answer from him she quickly moved past him and left the room. He stayed where he was. Feeling like the monster she saw. His wolf had its tail down and whimpered for his mate.
Everything they shared last night and this morning was now dust.
He had to talk to Rexton. Maybe if he apologized, Rexton could maybe put in a good word for him. Also he could maybe find out what exactly was going on between the two. If the good word did nothing he'd do something he never did before. Grovel.
Satisfied with the plan he went to talk with Rexton.
'Rexton. Meet me in the library, please.'
Silence before a reluctant answer.
'Yes, sire.'
While James waited, he straightened his clothes and combed his fingers through his hair. It didn't take Rexton long. He looked nervous. Understandably so after what he just did to his face. Rexton's face was almost completely healed. But he knew the other man's pride took a beating too. Being publicly beaten in front of other pack members was an old punishment. It was meant to install shame. But seeing his longtime closest guard looking so uneasy sent a feeling through him. Guilt. One emotion he was not accustomed to often.
'Is there anything you wish to tell me?'
Rexton looked up then quickly back down.
'I don't know what you mean, sir.'
Frustration gnawed at him. Right along with jealousy.
'What secret do you share with my mate? She refuses to tell me. I suspect out of loyalty to you. Her new friend, as she puts it.'
James saw the tiniest smile appear on Rextons face before disappearing.
'With all due respect sir. It is not just my secret. It belongs to another too. Telling would put that person in possible harm's way.'
'How?'
He watched Rexton fidget and shift his weight nervously.
'I believe I found my mate. But we can't be together due to circumstances.'
Shocked, James pressed further.
'Is the woman already taken?'
It wasn't unheard of for shifters to settle with another if they gave up on finding their mate.
Rexton hesitated. 'No, sire.'
Mulling this over, James moved on.
'Well...let me apologize for this morning.'
Rexton looked up shocked.
'N-no need your highness. Now finding my mate...if another man sniffed around I'd react the same way, I'm sure.'
Smiling in understanding, James held out his hand to Rexton.
They both shook hands.
'You may go now.'
Turning, Rexton went to leave the room before pausing.
'Sire?'
'Yes?'
'The queen. She's asked me to address her by her name.'
Smiling softly at the idea. James could see her insisting.
'Yes. If that is what she wishes you may.'
Rexton nodded before adding.
'The people here, are starting to adore her. She is very sweet. But, if I may, it might be a good idea, sir, to introduce her to the other humans here. I believe there are only a few. They are slaves. She may frown on that but still, being with her own kind might help her.'
Considering the idea he jerked his head at Rexton in dismissal.
'Sir.'
With that James was left alone in the room. Pondering over everything he sat down on one of the chairs. After a while he made plans to inquire about the humans in the village. Then he went up to the room for Cassandra.
When he opened the door he found her on the bed. Holding her necklace in her hand and flipping through what looked like a photo album. That's what had been brought yesterday. He meant to give it to her this morning but they were distracted. Quiet sniffles came from her. Moving quietly he looked over her shoulder. A picture of a woman with blonde hair wearing a waitress uniform was holding a toddler on her hip. She looked young. A lot like Cassandra. They were both smiling at the camera. The little girl had chocolate smeared on her face and fingers. Her short blonde hair is in ribbons. In the background it looked like it was a party at a diner. A birthday party. Unaware of him behind her, she wiped her tears. He watched her stroke the woman's face in the photo.
'I miss you, Mama.' She sobbed.
He couldn't stand her pain anymore. He moved on the bed. Startling her. She went to scoot away when he grabbed her gently around the waist. She fought but he held her firmly against his chest. Resting his chin on the top of her head.
'Shhh, love. I'm sorry.'
His apology for more then his outburst this morning. She relaxed against him and sobbed. He let her cry until she was done. When she was finished, he left to go into the bathroom. He ran a cloth under cold water in the sink before wringing it out. Handing it to her, she wiped her face and blew her nose. Taking the cloth from her he placed it on the side table. He resumed his position on the bed and held her.
'I spoke to Rexton. I..apologized. He explained in a way. He also had an idea. One maybe we can discuss later.'
She remained quiet.
Wanting to hear her voice he changed the subject.
'Tell me, please, what's happening in these photos?'
When she remained still he began to worry.
But she took the album and softly touched the plastic covering the photo.
'It was my second birthday. We didn't have a lot of money. But we would have my birthday every year at this diner she worked at. Her friends who worked with her would chip in. Even her boss. The regular truckers that would drift in and out would give me little presents. It wasn't a grand party but it was enough. She made it fun.'
'She sounds like a wonderful mother and woman.'
'The best.'
'Your father?'
He felt her shrug. 'I never knew him. From what I gather he bailed before I was born. I think my mother never truly let him go.'
She turned to him.
'You can't act like that again, James. I've had enough men in my life disappoint me. I won't live like that.'
Nodding, he agreed.
Inspecting her wrists he saw the bruises already forming. Guilt lanced through him again.
'Come. Let me fix it, please. First your wrists, then we can go for a little shopping trip. Maybe I can show you more of the forest. Would you still like to do that?'
'Are you trying to bribe me?'
He hesitated. Was there a right answer?
'Is it working, if I was?'
'Maybe.' She followed him to the couch. He went back into the bathroom to get a vial. It's what he used on her neck the first day she was here, to heal it faster.
While he fixed her, he spoke.
'I promise Cassandra. I never wanted to intentionally hurt you. I promised to never do it again.'
Looking him in the eye. Her voice is now determined.
'Remember that James. Because I will.'