Cage

Chapter 18: Livid

Chapter 18: Livid

             I placed my slightly trembling hands in my lap just as Alpha Christopher walked around his desk and went to sit on the leather sofa in his office. Oddly, he placed his forearms atop of his knees and let his head hang resignedly between his shoulders. The last time I had stepped into this office our meeting had been chillingly professional but now… Alpha Christopher seemed different. I realized after a moment of staring at him that he was much more similar to the man I had met when I had been hospitalized. If I had to, I would’ve guessed that in the presence of his pack he was forced to put up a strong, dignified front. Though when the two of us were alone, he wasn’t as guarded. Now looking at him, I couldn’t bring myself to feel nervous any longer but more… concerned.

            “Alpha, are you alright?” I whispered, turning slightly in my chair. Christopher sighed and rubbed his hands down his face before straightening in his seat.

            “There’s no need for formalities between us. Please call me Christopher,” Christopher smiled sadly as he raised his head to meet my gaze.

            “Okay,” I nodded and allowed my shoulders to shake out their stiffness.

            “There’s something we need to talk about,” Christopher began, filling up the calm silence between us. My attention was sidetracked for a moment as I looked out at the window behind him, and caught the sight of raindrops beginning to slide down the glass. “Cassidy?” Christopher called me back. I flushed, turning my gaze back toward him and nodding attentively. “Is… there any way to contact your mother? Do you have some sort of emergency contact or connection online of some sort?”

            I felt my stomach twist with unease and sadness as I absorbed what he had said. The answer to that question had always haunted the small, little girl inside of me. I couldn’t tell you how many times I had wished for a way to contact my mother without fail. She was constantly switching numbers, phones, and emails that it was almost mind-boggling. Each time, she had a new excuse; whether it was a faulty connection line, misplaced device, or some sort of workplace movement, which required her to switch around her contacts. However, now it was easy to see how her unreliable contact information was just another precaution she took in order to evade Alpha Alaric and prevent compromising my safety. Sadly enough, she was cunningly irretraceable.

            “No,” I shook my head and froze, remembering the reason I was here in the first place. “S-She was in the city? In our home?” I breathed.

            Christopher closed his eyes for a moment and nodded before turning his attention back toward me. “Nothing is certain but… the wolves there had caught her scent. Also, her arrival was incredibly difficult to trace. It seemed as if she had literally walked through the house and straight back out. Of course, it’s not difficult to imagine what her sole intention was – or more so, who she was searching for,” Christopher nodded seriously. “For a human, she’s unbelievably resourceful,” Christopher tried to smile but only looked miserably heart-broken for a second. He missed her.

            “What does this mean?” I swallowed hard and felt my heart beginning to beat feverishly in my chest.

            “I don’t want to get your hopes up Cassidy but… I think there is a very real possibility that Lynn has already begun to piece together what has happened in the city. If my assumptions are correct then… it won’t be long until she starts searching for you. Either she’ll turn to the city Alpha or just maybe… she’ll contact me,” Christopher’s jaw clenched and his fingertips curled up in a bone-breaking grip on his knees. I couldn’t really put a finger on the emotion crossing his face. Relief? Fear? Hope? Or… Greif? I was perplexed by his lack of composure.