The Viking Alpha

Hell hath no fury

(James POV)

He just stood there. He felt like a starved man who now was offered food. She was even more beautiful then his mind's image. She had lost weight. Anger rolled through him at the dead witches and himself just thinking about her captivity. But her body had changed in other ways too. He could see her breasts were fuller. Even though she was paler then he remembered she had a glow that he had seen in other women before. His mate was radiating with it. Her scent was even a bit different. Sweeter. Tilting his head he concentrated.
Whomp. Whomp. Whomp. He smiled slightly.
Their cubs' heartbeat sounded strong and healthy. His wolf was scratching and tearing at the walls of his mind to get out to her. James was nearly begging for him to stay put for a little longer.
She just stood there still as stone in the middle of the room. Her eyes wide and terrified.
He hated seeing her looking at him like he was a monster.
The witches ash Ezri scattered around the room sealed her in. A witch could not pass the threshold if the room was spelled with the ash as a barrier. She couldn't get out. Now he had her right where he wanted her. Home and in a position she could flee from him.
Bracing himself he took a deep breath and struggled to begin.
‘Cassandra. Love, please listen to me? You have every right to be angry with me.’ He took a step slowly over the threshold toward her. She still stood frozen.
‘I just wanted to know you were safe. These last months have been a true hell without you.I made a mistake. I monumental one. I never would have thought my brother could be so deceitful.’
He moved very slowly toward her. Gauging her expression and body language. Everything was so tense.
‘Love, i’m so sorry-’
'But you believed I could be.'
Her barely audible words was the sweetest sound to his ears.
‘Do you know what they did to me?’ She continued. Her face now devoid of all emotions. Her eyes empty.
He now stopped. A big gap was still between them.
‘I…saw the room. I can only imagine-’
‘YOU HAVE NO IDEA!’ Her voice now was shouting loud enough to make his wolf whimper. Her eyes were starting to glow faintly ice blue.
He tried to reach for her when she grabbed a vase that was on the table next to her. She hurled it at his head. It whipped past him and shattered on the wall. It then was like she was possessed. Everything she could grab ahold of she threw while she continued to scream.
‘NO IDEA!'
'Cassandra. Calm down please. It's not good for you or-'
'Now you're concerned about my well being? You son of a bitch!'
She threw next a thick heavy book. It actually clipped him in the shoulder slightly before he could dodge it.
'They tortured me for days! Strapped me to a chair and made me suffer excruciating pain over and over again. They starved me and the worst part, I nearly saw my best friend die in front of my eyes. Do you know what that's like?! To see someone you care about slowly die? Day by day and you're trapped in a cage helpless?'
As she screamed she kept throwing everything she got her hands on. A lamp, more books, even a letter opener. He dodged everything and was trying to get closer to her to restrain her if possible. He was afraid she'd accidentally hurt herself. The stress couldn't be good for her or the cub. Clearly they both had been through quite enough already. He was desperate to get her to calm down. He had her against the wall next to the fireplace when she picked up the fire poker and started swinging wildly.
'Two months!'
She hit him on the upper left arm. He felt the gash she left with the hook end as it ripped out. Stumbling back she kept swinging it in front of him in the air.
'What more do you want from me?! What more can you take?'
He caught the poker with his hand as it nearly collided with the other arm.
'Cassandra!'
'No! You rot in hell you bastard!' She quickly let go of the poker and delivered a right hook. Perfectly catching his jaw.
He caught the tears form in her eyes before she turned away. Gripping her hair in frustration she moved across the room past him. As he steadied himself after the impressive blow he turned and saw her leaning against the front of the desk with her back to him. Her hands braced on the surface. He saw her shoulders shake up and down slightly. The sob he heard nearly tore him completely.
Sinking to his knees he waited for her to turn around. When she did her face was wet with tears. Her eyes blotchy.
She stared at him.
'Do what you need to do. I deserve whatever you give me and more. Give me your worst Cassandra. Kill me if that's what you need.'
He lowered his head as his eyes went to the floor.
He stared blankly waiting for her attack. It seemed forever until she spoke. Her voice sounded cracked and dry.
'Do you remember that day after you attacked Rexton in the dining hall? Later you promised me. You promised to never hurt me.'
Tears swam in his vision at the heartbreak in her voice.
'Yes. I failed you. Words can not express how badly I regret that last day...I saw you. I failed you again and again. For that I am so so sorry.'
'I loved you. You made me love you.' A shaking breath choked from her lips. 'I trusted you. Why couldn't you do the same for me?'
He kept his eyes down. So afraid to see the look of anguish that was clear in her voice.
But he deserved it. He needed to see it. Every bit of pain he felt he deserved.
Raising his head he saw her face now so tortured and full of sorrow. Her hand over her belly. Over their child.
'Yes. I not only took you and then gave you pain in so many ways. But I also placed our child in mortal danger as well.'
Shock briefly came over her features but soon was replaced by satire.
'I see now.'
She stood to her full height as she walked to him. Bending down she gripped his chin and looked him in the eye.
'Understand me well right now, James. You will not take my baby from me. If you want it you'll have to kill me.'
He shook his head as he climbed to his feet. Capturing her hands he held them to him.
'I want you both. I want to right what is wrong. Protect you both. Please believe me.'
She scoffed as she snatched her hands away. She turned and walked across. Turning her head lightly over her shoulder, her voice was hard as steel.
'It's obvious you're not a man or beast that can be trusted by your word. Release me and Lucas. If you don't, mark my words. There will be hell to pay.'
With that she sat on the sofa with her back to him. Nothing else was spoken from either of them. Sighing in defeat he turned and left the room. His arm and jaw already almost healed. He didn't deserve any kind of relief. He wanted to feel more pain. Particularly from her. Anything to make amends.
He had some proving to do. If it nearly killed him he'd make her believe again. He didn't have an exact plan on how to achieve that. But he did have an idea on how to calm her. Perhaps two familiar friendly faces could help?