The Viking Alpha

History

(James POV)

She was pregnant! Joy swept through him at that news. His son was growing inside her. That joy soon turned to frantic. She was pregnant! Out there. Vulnerable. The witches did God knows what to her for months. Was she okay? Physically and mentally he hadn't the slightest idea. The cub? How was their unborn son? Ezri just said she saw a future preparing for the birth. That had to have been a good sign, right?
'Ezri. Please. Can you see anything else?'
She sipped her tea slowly. Cassandra's ring was on Ezri's finger. She rubbed it with her thumb and closed her eyes.
'It's still very murky. Her father's powers are still weak. Her power is strong but new for her. Rexton has just returned with Vincent. They have caught a fresh kill. They plan to cook it over a fire. Cassandra is walking to...a stream? Yes. She's taking off her shirt. About to bathe herself.'
Ezri suddenly slumped back in her chair with an exhalation.
'It's difficult to see. It takes a lot of energy and focus.'
James scooted closer.
'That's alright. Can you tell me anything particular that you saw? Besides the stream was there anything else? A landmark? Anything that can give away their location?'
She thought for a moment.
'No. Nothing. Except I did see honeysuckle. Plenty of it.'
Now he slumped in his chair. That could be anywhere. But…
He stood suddenly.
'I'll be back. Thank you Ezri. May I have the ring back, please?'
'Where are you going?' She handed him the ring.
'Bear shifters are known to have an abundance of honeysuckle on their territory. It's a small chance but a possibility.'
He strode to the door and left. Looking at his guards still waiting outside.
'We move to bear shifter territory. Call the men in. Have them meet us at that border.'
They all shifted and headed north. He'd have to ask permission from their leader before entering. He could possibly find her. Bring her and their unborn cub home.
His wolf perked at the idea.
It was only twenty miles away. They should reach it in less then an hour. Once they all arrived James howled to signal the leader of the bear tribe.
He heard the heavy thudding of paws running through the trees. Three bears came on the other side of the line. The big brown grizzly bear stood in front. The black bear and a smaller grizzly bear flanked on each side.
James shifted so he could communicate and show he was no threat.
'Please. My name is James Villr. Alpha of the viking pack. My mate might be in your territory. She was taken a few months ago. She escaped her captors. She is human...sort of. She doesn't know about all the rules of the fae lands yet.'
The grizzly bear shifted. Standing now was a man with brown shaggy hair. Same height and build as James.
'I am Alcides. Leader of the bear shifters. What makes you think she is on this land?'
'I just came from a witch. She said she saw honeysuckle in her vision. Close to a stream. You have a lot of that growing on your land.'
Alcides shrugged. 'That grows everywhere.'
'Yes but I thought your land would be my best option to check first since it has the most. Please? I'll bargain for it.'
Alcides consider this.
'We get to cross your land before the next full moon. We need to replenish supplies. Can you give us access and the supplies we need?'
'Yes. You have my word.'
Alcides nodded.
'We will accompany you to make sure no harm comes your way. There are two streams. One, further north. The other on the west. We will check north first then west on the way back. Deal?'
'Fine.'
They shifted back and went through. They all sped through the trees. James and Alcides ran side by side with the rest behind them. The north stream had honeysuckle close by but no one was there. Ezri said they were blocked. She could be standing right there and he wouldn't be able to see her. Shifting back he stood there. Naked and vulnerable. Scanning for any sign.
'Cassandra...if you're here...please come out. I've come to beg you for your forgiveness. I'm...I'm so sorry for what I did to you. Sorry I didn't believe you. So, so sorry. Please, love…' His voice became choked up. 'Please forgive me.' He whispered.
The trees slightly swayed in the breeze. All he heard was the sound of the stream. He stood there for what seemed like hours. Just waiting to hear her voice. See her face. But nothing happened. Turning slowly he walked back to where the small group waited. Shifting back in his wolf form, his wolf's ears were down in disappointment. He walked slowly. Stopping to look back every few steps until the stream was out of sight. They raced to the west end. After he shifted he called for her in desperation. Hoping for her to appear. He stood there longer. She had to be here! By the time he left the sky was turning pink with the promise of the rising sun.
His wolf howled in sadness. Running he sped back to the castle. What now? What could he do now? Where should he look? She could be anywhere. Scared, lost, and confused. At least he could take comfort to know she wasn't alone. Rexton, Vincent, and her father were with her.
Her father.
He shook his head in still shock at that bombshell Ezri dropped. From what Cassandra told him, she never met him. But if he was here he had to have been of fae blood. A witch obviously if Cassandra herself had powers. Willow's words again haunted him.
"She will grow powerful once she meets him. He will teach her how. She will be like a child learning. When she gets angry she will lash out. She will not know any better because she will not have control yet."
Was she really safe with him? Was he just using her for his own personal gain? Ezri said he was weak but a witch could get stronger just like a human would get better after being sick.
Cassandra had learned a lot since she was here. But she was still like a child in many ways. He wondered if she even knew that she was pregnant. How would she take the news? He tried to picture how it would have been if she was still here. If his brother hadn't fooled him. He would have coddled her even more. Made sure she ate and slept well. Pampered her until she inevitably scolded him.
His smile was weak and sad at the scenes playing in his head. He dragged himself up the stairs. Shifting to human he went to their room. He never slept in this room since she was gone. It was too painful. The maids were not allowed to touch this room. He could still smell her scent faintly. He looked at the bed and remembered their last love making. It was rough and angry. He hated himself even more for that. She should have never experienced that. Yes, she enjoyed it as well as he did. But she should have never received his anger over anything. Guilt burned him from the inside out after all she had endured. All because of him.
He turned to her night stand on her side of the bed. The photo album was there. Picking it up gently he flipped through it. He smiled tenderly at the images. Cassandra as an infant. Then a small child holding a small stuffed bear. Then a little older now, smiling with front teeth missing. The most recent made his heart stop. It had to have been captured recently before he took her. She was in that cafe he first saw her at. Standing next to her friend, Amy. She was dressed in denim shorts, a white tank top, and sandals. Her beautiful long hair in a messy ponytail. Her face smiling into the camera. His wolf whined and curled up in on himself. Despair coursing through them both at the sight of her beautiful face. What if she slipped through his fingers? Never to see her again? Ezri mentioned all of them preparing for the birth. But not him. The thought alone, of never seeing her again or hearing her voice cut him raw. Worse then that was never to meet his child. But surely Cassandra would never do that? To let their child think he was fatherless? Like she thought when she was a child. He just hoped history didn't repeat itself.

(Cassi POV)
Cassi sat frozen. Her mind tried to think when her last period was but failed. Not an easy thing to keep track of when you've been tortured. On a guess she had to have been maybe Eight? Nine weeks along?
Oh God!
She put her hand on her still flat belly.
If she was pregnant, was the baby ok? Two months of torture couldn't be good for a fetus.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Rexton and Vincent came back with a big dead stag.
'Dinner is here.' Rexton announced, smiling. He looked much better. They seemed to be gone for a while. Understandable though. She even felt a little envious.
He was cleaned up and was dressed. Looking down at her hands they were sullied with dirt. Dying to get clean she stood by the stream. She knew it would be cool but she was desperate.
She first helped gather twigs and they made a fire. While Rexton and Vincent stripped the animal of flesh and cooked it over the fire she left to clean up. They gave her privacy and turned their backs away from her. Stripping off Vincent's shirt she slowly sank below the surface of the river. Scrubbing with her hands she wished she had at least a bar of soap. Getting out she put the shirt back on her wet body. The night air was not freezing but not warm enough either. Seeing her discomfort Rexton came up behind her in his wolf form. She relaxed on his stomach. Feeling the heat radiate off him. Vincent just finished roasting the meat over the fire with a stick. They passed it around and fed on it. It felt like it was the best thing Cassandra ever tasted. They had just finished when Vincent shifted and layed over her legs. She was dozing off in somewhat comfort when she heard him. She thought at first it was a hallucination. Maybe she was dreaming. But feeling both wolves tense she knew. Her eyes opened and she saw him. Standing naked six yards away. Shock was the first emotion. Then her heart broke all over again.
"The only trick here is what you did to me, you whore."
She squeezed her eyes shut at the vehemence in his face as he looked at her last.
'Cassandra...if you're here...please come out. I've come to beg you for your forgiveness. I'm...I'm so sorry for what I did to you. Sorry I didn't believe you. So, so sorry. Please, love…' His voice hitched. 'Please forgive me.'
She turned her face in Rexton's neck to muffle her cries.
'We're alright. He can't see us or hear us. Everyone just stay as still as possible.' Lucas whispered.
She stayed buried in Rexton's fur. She felt him relax and braved a look. He was gone. She breathed a sob of relief and anguish.
She still cried and poor Rexton whined in sympathy. He licked her hair and the side of her face trying to console her. It was late when her tears finally stopped. Or early morning. She scolded herself. She had to be strong now. For her baby. Rexton and Vincent still lay around her. She drew comfort from her friends. Turning her head that still was on Rexton she looked at Lucas.
'You can sense power. Can you sense if the baby is ok?' Her voice sounded robotic to her ears.
Lucas tilted his head slightly.
'Yes I can. It's alright. With power coming from him or her it's strong. I take it that that wolf shifter is the father?'
Her laugh was dry.
'Now that is a long story.'
His eyebrow arched.
'I believe we have time. More importantly Cassandra, how did you even get here? Your powers should have remained dormant in the human world. With me not there to teach you.'
Her laugh was now another sob.
She took a moment to gather herself before starting her story.
'I was in New York. Then one morning this man showed up in my life.'