Blood Floweret

« Chapter Nine »

Cassius was pulling her along the halls. 

It was late at night but Cassius insisted that he had something special planned for her. She had never really liked surprises but she didn't figure it could be too horrible. She wasn't going to catch a wink of sleep tonight anyway, so why not let her mate take her on late night adventure? At least that would distract her mind and emotions. 

She frowned when Cassius pushed open the doors of Alpha Leroy's office. 

"Why are we here?" She found herself asking. 

"I call Reeve every Thursday night, at the exact same time," Her mate briefly explained, shuffling behind the desk to grab the phone, "I was wondering if you'd like to talk to her?" 

"Alpha Reeve?" She suddenly felt small. 

Cassius gave her a look, "Well, duh, who else? Don't worry, she's really nice. She's not as scary as she used to be back in the day." He dialed the number that he had memorized by heart and then wiggled his eyebrows at her while he waited. 

She gulped. She was going to talk with the First Alpha Female? The famous Alpha Reeve. She had only ever heard stories of this strong woman and her stomach was churning with nerves. She was most definitely insignificant in comparison and why would someone so great want to talk to her? She figured Cassius had done some convincing, he was good at that. Still, it didn't help. She wanted to run and hide. 

Cassius grinned brightly and said into the phone, "Reeve! My favorite sister in the whole wide world--" He paused, listening, his green eyes glowing with amusement, "Awe come on, I'm your favorite and you know it!" His grin only widened, "Oh, is she? That's interesting. How's she been? You know I was just thinking about her and how she's all grown up---" 

She zoned out of their friendly conversation. It was wholesome and heartwarming, especially watching the admiration and affection reflecting in his eyes, but she felt misplaced. There must be a great deal of history between him and Alpha Reeve, she felt like she was intruding on their relationship. Suddenly, the phone was thrust into her hand. She blinked back to reality and stared in horror. 

She looked up at Cassius, gulping, but he only nodded encouragingly. Slowly, she placed the phone to her ear, and squeaked a quick "Hi?" 

"Hello, Valencia," Alpha Reeve's smooth voice answered, "Cassius has told me a little bit about you and I realize we have similar stories, so he thought I could help. What's troubling you?" 

She gulped. What did she say? Did she spill her entire story? Did she only tell little bits? She nervously twirled the phone cord, her words stuck in her throat. Cassius rose an eyebrow at her when she didn't speak and she sunk into the chair, wishing it would swallow her whole.

Alpha Reeve sighed and then said in a gentler tone, "I get it. It's hard to talk about, painful even, and you think I'll judge you for it. You think you'll lose everyone all over again. Am I right?" 

She froze. That was exactly right. How?

"I promise, my past is more judge worthy," Reeve took her silence as affirmation and continued, "I went to physical extents with my anger and I killed a lot of people. It was wrong but I was so tied up holding onto my pain, it would have been my demise. I felt like I couldn't get out of the dark place I had fallen into, I was fighting every day just to end up in the same pit of despair," Reeve paused, letting her process the words, and then asked, "Does this sound familiar?" 

"Y-yes." She stuttered. Every word Reeve spoke, she felt. She had the same feelings, the same thoughts, and she was baffled that Reeve had spoken them so precisely. Maybe they really did have more in common than she had believed.