The Viking Alpha

Danger

(Cassi POV)

After James left her the guards escorted her down to the kitchen. Women were climbing in a cellar of some sort under a heavy wooden case. As soon as everyone was in the trap door closed behind them. She heard the heavy case slide over it. While she went to the safe room with the women and children she tried to calm them all. Her, Natalie, and Madga helped soothe the children and mothers by making rounds around the room. Cakes and tea were served with everyone's help. The mothers soon joined in. Their fake smiles and inauthentic upbeat attitude made Cassi try all the more. Seeing a woman clutching a wailing baby to her chest while walking and bouncing with her knees in a manic way. The poor woman looked tired and stressed. Young too.
'May I help?' Cassi asked.
'Thank you, your majesty.' The girl bowed and handed the crying baby over. It was a girl. She looked about maybe ten months old if she had to take a guess. She was beautiful. Big round hazel eyes. Long dark lashes sweeping her eyes. A shock of curly black hair covered her head.
'Hi, pretty.' Cassi cooed. The baby continued to cry as Cassi held her to her shoulder.
'I assume your her mother? What are your names? ' Cassi asked the woman. Hoping to distract her from the worry clearly written on her face.
She bowed again while answering.
'Oh no, my queen. My name is Julietta. Her name is Lana. The cub is not mine. I take care of her for my neighbor. His mate died during birth. They only have each other, I'm afraid.'
'That's too bad. Well, please. Why don't you take a break? Please try some warm tea. I'll see to Lana.'
'Are you sure, your highness?'
'Please. Call me Cassi. Yes I'm positive.'
'Thank you.'
While Julietta left Cassi gently walked with the baby in her arms. Soon her cries stopped and she looked at Cassi. Smiling, she stroked her hair back from her damp face
'Hi, sweetheart.’
The baby tugged Cassi’s finger and began to gum it.
‘Teething, huh?’
Lana ignored her and continued to chew harmlessly on her fingers.Looking around she found a clean folded cloth napkin. Flicking it open she soaked it in cold water. Lifting it to the baby’s mouth she latched to it quickly. Sitting back down she scanned the room again. Women were crying and holding their children close. She wished she could offer them more. Maybe in the future she could ask about training techniques. The men seemed to train. But not the women. It seemed medieval. Maybe if they had a sense of self defense there would be less women beaten by their partners. More sense of security. Of value. Looking at the defenseless baby in her arms. she thought about what her future would entail. All she had was her father. What might happen if she was left alone? Without his protection, what would happen to her? She’d most likely always depend on a man.
In a second it seemed like the room froze for a few moments. Everyone stopped talking, crying, eating, drinking. Then as if someone pressed a button everyone began to move. Some gathered their things while others gathered around her.
‘Your majesty? What shall we do?’
‘The fighting has stopped.’
‘Oh! We’ve lost a few.’
Voices in all directions came at her.
She had to remain calm.
‘Everyone. Please!’ Everyone hushed at her exclamation.
‘Now, one at a time. What do you hear?’
Natalie, who was on her right, spoke up. ‘The fighting has stopped. We’ve lost a few of our own. Several rouges are dead and being taken prisoner. My mate is one of the guards. He says, the king says it’s safe now.’
‘Well, then, we shall leave in a single file order. I’ll go first.’ Scanning the room for Julietta but not seeing her she turned back to Natalie. ‘Nat, hold Lana please. I'll be right back.’ Making her way to the stone step she climbed and she tried to push the door but it wouldn't budge. Turning to the women huddled together behind her she looked at them. They were all shifters. All of them had supernatural strength, right?
‘I need a few volunteers, please.’
Natalie, Madga and three other women stepped forward.
‘Thank you. Now we all push on three.’
They all got under the door and braced their hands on the door above them.
‘One, two, three!’
They all pushed and then the door gave away a few inches.
‘Good. Again. One, Two, Three.’
They pushed again and then they all heard the case fall to the floor.
‘Back up.’ She ordered them
Peeking out, it was deserted. No guards. The kitchen was completely empty. Shouldn’t somebody have come and got them?
She inched further up while looking around the room. It was all quiet except the fireplace crackling. Turning she asked them all to stay put for a moment.
Closing the door she made her way around the room and out the door. Looking up and down the hallways it was just as deserted. Maybe everything was ok. But still, something in the pit of her stomach told her something wasn't right. Maybe she was overreacting. She turned to go back and get them when she was suddenly knocked to the ground. A wolf stood over her on all fours. She reached by her and her hand wrapped around a skillet that fell off the case. In a flash she knocked it across its face. With a whimper it stumbled back. She got up quickly and hit it a couple more times. Right before her eyes now what looked like a teenage boy was curled in the corner. Naked, dirty, and holding his hands up to cover his face.
‘Who ae you?’
The boy just continued to cover and keep his eyes closed tightly.
‘Answer me, damn it!’ She raised the skillet again as if she was going to strike again.
‘Cole! My name is Cole. Please…’
He looked positively scared shitless. She could see him shaking. If she had to guess he looked about fourteen or fifteen.
‘Get up.’ She commanded firmly.
He slowly got up. Bracing his back against the wall.
‘What are you doing here?’
He kept looking down at the floor.
‘Do not make me repeat myself.’ She held up the skillet.
‘I…was faster then the others. I slipped through….I thought I could get you. My father said, we had to get you and bring you back.’
‘Why?’
‘T-to negotiate. We're starving. We thought if we got you we could make a deal. My father made a deal with….someone else.’
Keeping an eye on the kid, she lowered the skillet slowly but stayed alert.
‘Why didn’t you just ask for help?’
He rubbed his arm and kept his eyes down. ‘We have. But your mate doesn't like my father. We are enemy packs. Rouges.’
They both heard more than one set of footsteps coming from down the hallway. Cole looked petrified.
She looked at him then at the back door behind her.
‘I’ll let you go. Under one condition, so think fast.'
‘What?’
‘Go home. I will talk to…my mate.’
Cole looked shocked.
‘You would help us? A human? But you are the king's mate. Why would you do that?’
She sighed and set the skillet down. ‘Like you said, I'm human. Also I know what it’s like to be hungry and desperate. Now, do you agree?’
‘My father will be angry that I didn't take you. He’ll beat me. He already thinks i'm weak.’
‘What he does not know will not kill him. So keep your mouth shut. Agreed?’
The guards were now turning the corner and almost here.
‘Yes.’ Cole said quickly.
Stepping aside she grabbed an apron and a coat left on a hook on the wall and tossed it to him.
‘Run.’ She saw him bolt past her and out the door. Pausing he said, quickly. ‘Miss? Don't trust anyone. You're in danger.’ He ran in a blur just before the guards came through.
‘Your majesty.’ the guard stepped in the room. Seeing her in the middle of the room with the case on its front on the floor clearly surprised them.
‘Yes, please help the women out of the cellar.'
They immediately jumped to the task. How exactly was she in danger? For a human it seemed here in this world danger was too easy to obtain. I guess the more important question was who exactly was she in the most danger from? Jonathan? Sirens? Rouges? Her train of thought was interrupted when Natalie placed a crying Lana back in Cassi’s arms.
‘Wait. She came with a woman. Julietta. Where is she?’
‘I saw her. She ran ahead to find her mate. She said Lana’s father is dead. He died defending the borders of the village.’ She paused to stroke Lana’s hair. ‘Poor babe. That's why she is upset.’
‘What?’
‘Cubs can feel the loss.’
‘Oh.’ She cuddled Lana closer and let her cry in her neck.
‘Would you like me to take her?’ She was about to agree when little Jeremy tugged impatiently on Natalie’s hand and whined.
‘No. I’ll take care of her for now. Go home and be with your mate. Thank you Nat.’
‘You are welcome. Good night.’
After everyone left she left for the library. It was quiet and warm in there. She could maybe soothe the baby and think more clearly.
She paced the room and then she finally sat and rocked Lana. Her face buried in her hair and just moved back and forth.
'Cassandra?' Lifting her head she saw James was there.
'Are you ok?' He had blood and dirt smeared on his neck, face, and hands.
'Yes, I'm fine. How do you feel? Who is this little one?'
'She's only a baby, James. Apparently her father was all she had left. He was one of those that died.'
'Oh, no.' He kept patting her back.
'She came to the safe room with another woman from the village. She said she was a neighbor who watched her from time to time. What do we do now?'
She watched him pace. The thought occurred to her that she should tell him about Cole. But she quickly thought better of it. He clearly had a lot to think about. Lana was now quiet over her shoulder
'Well, in times like this we would usually give her to another family member. But she is alone from what it sounds like. So I'll have the village questioned as soon as possible in case any other family is there. If not, I will make an offer to the woman who brought her.'
'What kind of offer?'
She wouldn't want Lana to go to someone who didn't want her. The thought of her mistreated or neglected pained her.
'She will be asked to love and raise the little one as her own. In exchange a lump sum of gold will be given to help provide for her.'
Wasn’t a bad idea. Motivation to care for her. Insurance for Lana. Cassi would also be checking in from time to time.
'What about in the meantime?'
'In the meantime I will get one of the maids to watch her.'
She patted her little back. Maybe she could watch her? What Lana needed right now was someone to give her emotional support. Frankly, Cassi herself needed comfort too.
'Can I do it?'
'You?'
'Yes.' She shifted Lana in her arms and looked at her little face and smiled.
'I'm sure I can manage for a few days with the help of a nanny.'
Maybe it was because Lana was a baby so Cassi’s instinct was to remain calm for her sake but the baby was the perfect remedy. Looking at her sweet face and big hazel yes made her feel very protective of her as well.
'Alright. Then it's settled. What's her name?'
'Lana, is what the woman said.'
'Okay. I'll have a temporary nursery made for her close to our quarters.'
'No need.' Standing she bounced her knees as she walked.
'I'll see to it. I think you should check on some of those that have lost their loved ones.'
James smiled and wrapped his arms around her.
'Look at you. You're learning your new role well.'
She felt her face heat. 'Well I have fantastic tutors. Even though they're a bit stuffy. Mrs. Palmer has nothing on them. But they are good. And I watch you as well.'
'I watch you too, love. You're beautiful.' He kissed her.
She smacked him lightly on the arm. This man was incorrigible.
'Children present. Go on. Go be king. I'm going to see if I can maybe get her to take a bottle.'
He brushed Lana's hair gently with his finger tips.
'Fine.' He kissed her quickly one more before dodging her next smack. Thinking of what Cole said, worry crept up again. What if there was something James wasn’t telling her?
'James? You'll tell me what happened later? Or if I was in danger, right?'
'Yes. Of course.' He looked confused and concerned.
'Alright then. I'll see you later.'
After he was gone she found one of the mades and asked for some assistance. Within an hour an old crib was brought from the attic. Freshly cleaned and assembled. Cassi bathed Lana and fed her warmed breast milk from one of the other maids who also happened to have extra clothes that almost fit Lana. They were boys clothes and were a little bigger but they were clean and warm. Lana fell asleep just after finishing her bottle. Putting her down in the crib she began to think. Common sense would put Johnathan at the top of enemies list for her. But she felt something much bigger was at foot here.
Changing for bed she had just laid down while fiddling with her necklace. Another flash went through her head. She was inside a…tree? Yes. A hollowed tree. A man was sitting weakly next to her against the bark. The same man from her dream on her first night here. He looked over to her. He saw her necklace resting on her chest. He looked stunned. His eyes darted from the ring to her face. Then without warning he jumped and clasped her necklace in his hand.
‘Who are you?!’
She managed to push him away.
‘Don’t touch me!’
He stood again. Slowly as if it took all his strength. His voice however was strong as steel.
‘I asked you a question! Who are you? Where did you get that?’ He pointed to the necklace.
‘It’s mine! My mother gave it to me! Not that it’s any of your damn business.’
He looked stunned. Then the look on his face broke. He now had tears in his eyes.
‘Cassandra?’
The flash ended.
Lying there frozen, she breathed deep.
What the hell?!