The Viking Alpha

Reason

(Cassi POV)

Her hand still stung after the slap she just delivered the man who just claimed to be her father.
His head whipped to the side. Now he stared at her in surprise.
'Bullshit!'
It seemed to take him a moment to gather himself.
'No, Cassandra. It's true. I swear it.'
He reached for her but she backed up.
'And you expect me to just believe you?'
'Why would I lie?'
She scoffed. 'In my experience with witches, they seemed to have an ulterior motive.'
His expression turned from desperate to calm.
'How can I prove myself to you?'
She gave it a quick thought before replying,
'Okay. If you were my father then you wouldn't mind answering some questions?'
'Ask.'
'When was I born?'
'October 14th, 2000.'
She was taken back but continued.
'What was my mother's full name?'
'Deborah Alicia Stone.'
Where did I live as a child?
'Texas, in a trailer park.'
'Where does my maternal grandmother live?'
He sighed. 'Trick question. She passed away with your grandfather before you were born.'
She stared at him in silence. A mixture of emotions engulfing her.
'Where were you? Where were you when my mother and I needed you? Why did you leave her?!' She brought her fist up and punched him in the face.
'How could you?!' Another punch.
He brought his hands up and captured her wrists.
'Let me explain, please?'
She jerked away from him. She started to turn and walk away from him when he stopped her again.
'Please, Cassandra. Please.'
Pulling away she faced him. Anger, sadness, confusion, and disbelief all running amok inside her.
He waited to make sure she was listening before speaking again.
'Let's sit.' He sat down against the tree again. When she continued to stand he sighed and began.
'Over twenty years ago I met a woman. She didn't seem that special to me at first. I was in the human world, looking for something I needed to bring back here. I hated going to that world. I hated humans. They all seemed foolish, impulsive, and weak.'
He stopped when he saw Cassis' hands ball up at her side.
'But the woman changed that perspective. Will you listen?'
When she didn't move or say anything he went on.

(Flashback: December 14, 1999)

He was in Texas at a dig site. Looking for a long lost talisman from one of his ancestors. Somehow it was left in the human world. After finally finding the site he ordered the human men to dig. Not that they had much choice. They were under his spell. Feeling hungry he went to a diner close by off the main highway. It was quiet, small, not to busy. Seating himself in a booth he waited impatiently.
A woman wearing an ugly yellow uniform approached him. But it did well for her slender figure.
'Hey, hon. What can I get ya?'
He rolled his eyes at humans and their pet names.
'Steak and baked potato.'
'Anything to drink?'
'Water.'
'Alright.' She wrote it down on her little pad and smiled. 'Be right back.'
While he sat he withdrew the map he made from his coat pocket. The spell he cast led him here, of all places. This backwater hell hole.
It should be close. Not long. The talisman was old and had power he could harness. Power that could make his coven bend to his will. They were all getting out of control. The feud between factions still existed and the witches were not helping matters. As the coven leader they obeyed him to his face. But as soon as his back was turned they did something malevolent. Sylvia was the instigator. That was obvious. No evidence of course. But he knew. Under coven law no witch could be put to death by another witch unless there was solid proof of treachery.
The woman came back with a glass of water and utensils.
'Your food will be up shortly.'
'Fine.' He waved his hand.
Leaving him he continued to scan the map. He should only be gone a few days at most. He peeked into his world through his mind every chance he got. It was quiet. Which meant Sylvia was up to something.
His look was interrupted by the damned woman again.
'Alright. Here you are.' She placed the food in front of him. 'Anything else?'
'No. Nothing.' He grunted.
'Okay. Here is your check. Pay up front when you're ready.'
Leaving him again he just thought while he ate his food. He hated being here. Humans were so low in his eyes. They were worse than children. No restraint with food, greed, lust, or emotions. He'd give anything to just be home.
Finishing, he payed the bill and left. The next day he made the humans dig twice as hard. He saw their weak bodies give out but yet still they couldn't stop due to the spell. Eventually when their bodies did completely give out from exhaustion he'd have to do something with them. Maybe take them back and sell them as pets in the fae world? They were strong men. They'd make excellent slaves. by the end of the day nothing was recovered. Frustrated he ordered them to work even faster.
Going back to the diner he was pissed off. Running his hand through his short dark hair for the millionth time in irritation.
Then the damned woman came back. Deborah. Her name tag read.
'Back again I see. What will it be tonight?'
'Steak and potatoes.'
'Creature of habit, huh? I don't blame you. They are good here.'
Writing it down she looked at him.
'Water?'
'Yes.'
'Sounds good.' Turning she left.
He sat there and stewed. Maybe he could get more humans to dig? More ground could be covered. The three men he selected were obviously lacking in quantity now.
While he thought she brought his food and water.
An hour passed as he ate. Maybe he could cast another spell to double the efforts? But still he had to be careful that the human faction would like this. Some matters they look the other way. But with witchcraft there was a limit. Too many questions, they said. What if he didn't find the talisman? What if the coven decided to overrule him and start a siege? What if-
A small plate with a slice of something flaky and gooey slid in front of him.
'What is this?' Looking up he saw the waitress with a smile on her face.
'Chocolate pie.'
'But I didn't order this.' He snapped.
The woman just shrugged.
'You look like you're troubled with something. Chocolate can make a moment happy. But when it's in pie the world is better. Enjoy. It's my treat tonight.' Taking his empty dinner plates she walked away.
Staring at the pie he was baffled.
Why would she give him this? As if this disgusting looking goo could just solve his problems. The woman was clearly mad. She said it was her treat? What made her think this was a treat? Did she do something to it? A prank, what the human called it.
She came back around and saw it still sitting there.
Laughing she said, 'The look on your face is too comical. It's the pie that you eat, not one you solve.'
She disappeared in the back of the diner and came back with another slice of pie and a fork. She sat in his booth across from him
'What do you think you're doing?'
She shrugged again.
'Want to know what's worse than a bad day? Enduring the end of it alone.'
'Your point, madam?' He huffed impatiently.
'You clearly are grumpy and maybe it's because you had a rough day. So here I am on my break going to enjoy a sweet slice of pie and try and talk to you. You don't have to talk if you don't want to. I can talk enough for both of us. Hi, I'm Deborah but people call me Debbie. Maybe I can help you with what you're clearly thinking so hard about?'
He sat back in his booth and studied her. She was pretty. Blonde and hazel eyes. Medium height. Slender but had curves. She looked young. Too young for his usual choice of play things. Barely on the edge of twenty two. Sure he didn't respect humans but that didn't mean he didnt sample the women from time to time in bed. But his women were more sophisticated and wearing only the latest designer fashion. Meeting them in art gallas, upper class clubs, or in social parties thrown in mansions.
This one was far from any of those. But still…
'How could you help me?'
She cut a small piece of her pie with the edge of her fork and put it in her mouth.
'Mmmm. Well.' She explained after she chewed and swallowed. 'Maybe if you tell me about what's got you so bent out of shape, maybe I can help.'
Smirking he leaned forward on his elbows.
'Fine. I'm looking for something. Something I need desperately. You could say I'm like an archeologist. Trying to dig and find something but efforts so far are inconclusive.'
She thought for a moment.
'Well, have you tried talking with another expert? Someone who knows the land? Maybe consult a professor at the nearby colleges. I'm studying to be a veterinarian. Maybe I could ask one of the professors there for you?'
He narrowed his gaze.
'Why would you do that?'
She ate another small bite.
'Why not? It won't hurt to ask right?'
Who was this woman? What was in it for her?
'Well. Maybe I will.'
'Great. Do you feel at least a little better now?'
'I will once you take this goo away.'
She dropped her fork on her plate. A look of hurt and offence on her face.
'Goo?! I'll have you know I made that pie. It's delicious!'
'Maybe to someone with no taste for the finer things.'
Her face became pink in anger.
'Did you even try it?'
'No.'
'Then how do you know you wont like it? How can you judge?'
'Easily. I know goo when I see it.'
'Try it.'
'Don't tell me what to do, woman.'
'My name is Debbie, sir!'
'Well, Debbie I don't want your damned pie!'
She exhaled and gave a small shrug.
'Fine. You overgrown child.' She went to leave when his hand snapped on her wrist.
'What did you just say.'
'I said you're an overgrown child' She said it slowly while looking him in the eyes.
'How am I a child?'
'A child usually doesn't like to try new foods. But I guess in this case that's an insult to children. Even they would have the sense to know good food when they see it.'
'Are you saying I'm no smarter then a child?'
She pretended to consider it.
'Ummmm. No. Actually a child seems smarter then you right about now.'
Letting her wrist go he picked up the fork and aggressively took a bite.
He was shocked as it sat in his mouth. It was delicious.
'Well.' She smiled knowingly.
'Its...its fine.'
'Uh huh. Liar.'
He reached for another piece when she dragged the plate away.
'Second bite will cost you.'
'How much?' He asked.
'What's your name? Or should I refer to you as grumpy?' She giggled.
He found himself slowly smiling back.
'I'm Lucas.'

(Present)

'I visited the college she attended. Asked around. I got the help I needed. Then I came back to that diner. We did that every night. It took a little over a month until that talisman was found. Meanwhile I kept going back and forth between worlds. Everytime I came back and saw your mother, things began to change. The way I felt, saw, or even did where humans were concerned changed completely. I released the humans under my spell. Restored their strength. Wiped their memories.'
Cassi was now sitting on her knees across from him listening to his tale. Everything he said she believed. Too many details about what her mother had said to him, her mother had also told Cassi. About chocolate, pie, and enduring a bad day alone.
'But still that leaves the question why you left?'
He sighed.
'After I found the talisman I was going to leave. But I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye to her. Couldn't leave her. So I cloaked myself when I'd go to the human worlds.
When I harnessed the power of the talisman the witches knew I was more powerful. Which made me a bigger target to them. I knew keeping her a secret was for her safety. We ended up in a relationship obviously. Cassandra, please know I loved your mother so much.' His. voice started to sound tight. Like a wire growing taught.
'When she told me she was pregnant I made a decision. To leave the fae world and coven behind. Start a life with you both. But when a fae creature is born out of the fae world they won't survive. Being born in the fae world the infant is nurtured by the magic around it. So I put the magic I harnessed and put it back in the talisman. That ring.'
He pointed to the ring dangling on her chest. Once I got back to the human world I took the power out of the ring and placed my hand on your mothers womb. Transferring it to you. To make you stronger. But I wasn't sure that would be enough. So I planned to take four elements from the fae world and bring it to the human world. Earth, air, fire, and water.
For when you were born you could be surrounded by the elements. I was planning on telling your mother everything once I got back. Before I left I gave her the ring and asked her to marry me. I told her I'd be back. But once back in the fae world I was taken by the witches and held there ever since.'
Cassandra thought about everything he just told her. More questions were raised.
'Then if you were trapped, how did you know about my birthday? Where I lived? All of it?'
He rubbed his eyes. Exhaustion clear on his face.
'While they were taking my magic bit by bit I still had enough to see you and your mother in the human world.
I saw Deborah waiting for me. It pained me to see her so hurt. Seeing her cry herself to sleep every night. To think I abandoned her. I saw her struggling and dropping out of school. I saw you being born. I was terrified you wouldn't make it. But you did. I saw your mother try and move on.
As the years went by I lost my sight as I got weaker. I still have magic but I'm not nearly as powerful as I was.'
A tear came from his eye and he cleared his throat before wiping it away.
'I felt her die. Your mother.' He added quietly.
Silence fell between them.
'What will happen to you now?'
He smiled weakly. 'I'll recharge with time. Slowly gain it back. But I wouldn't worry so much about me, dear daughter. It appears you got your own little one to worry about.'
'My own what?'
His brow furrowed. 'I thought you'd know by now. I can sense the magic coming not just from you. But your baby too.'
'My-what?'
'Your pregnant Cassandra.'