Penance of Honor | BOOK 2 ✔️

Chapter: Twelve

Cassius' P.O.V

As the hours pass, I notice my body growing cold, something I'm quite used to. I can see my own breath and, with time, my hands begin to shake. 

Stevens had warned me about my growing condition. He told me I would not be all as I once was because of the mark laying on my neck. I cannot care less about it though. Nothing in this world will keep me away from him.

He knows that.

Four suns went down, the last I counted, so I know it's been days and it feels like am still no where near my territory. Still, I can smell it. It brings on nothing but very bitter memories of how everything came to be.

I never should have fell for his stupid, little trick. He knows I am weak for his kisses and I was in need of him and many of them. Despite the promise he made me, he still left me, and it hurt...so much. Why would he ever do such a thing? He left me with nothing but a broken heart and bitter guilt. His father only made me feel worse.

Goddess Pierce, please be all right. Please be safe...

As soon as the smell of the humans comes into my senses, an aching sense of anger and resentment goes through me, but I push it down. Not now wolf, not now. All we must focus on is finding our mate, territory reigns will come next. A growl and whine comes as a response, but she listened, nonetheless. 

"...sius!..."

"...Cassius!" My eyes close as soon as I make out whose voice that belongs to. There is no way of escaping him. Not in the state that I am. However, I am his Alpha and he must listen to me. 

"Cassius!" I hear him burst through the trees and grab my arm before I yank it back.

"No, Stevens."

"You must come back. Your health-"

"No, I won't. Not until I am holding Pierce in my arms. He is alive and I will not wait any longer."

His grip only tightens causing me to hiss out in pain. "You are weak!"

"I do not care!"

"Cassius, you are being rash!"

"I can't go back. You don't understand...I can't."

"The humans will have silver weapons."

"I am well aware, Stevens." I look around at Tarynne and the others as they keep their heads lowered. "Let go of me."

"I-"

"That is a command," I growl.

He lets go in an instance and steps away from me with nothing but reluctance. 

"I'm going to find him and when I do...when I have him safely back into my arms...I will kill every single last one of them like the little vermin that they are. I will show none of them no mercy for what they had done."

"...Then allow for me to at least accompany you there. You cannot go alone."

"Do you not have someone to go back to?" His eyes widen before a light blush goes over his face. "Go back to him. Do not bother with me," I murmur.

He raises his hand signaling them to disperse and head back, but he stays.

"You are my Alpha...he knows...you come first." I purse my lips at his confession and shake my head. No, I could not have it. To come second to someone else, no matter who it is. I know his lover of the year must feel that way as well. Stevens, why must you so dense? 

"If you must, come. But do not interfere."

"I just want to  insure your safety...do what you must." The reluctance is very clear in his voice, but he continues his walk alongside me.