Chapter Four
Talia's POV
The gravity of what Cassius had revealed felt like a massive weight crushing down on me. He claimed I was his...mate? The word tasted foreign and nonsensical rolling off my tongue.
This had to be some kind of sick joke. There was no way a feared crime lord like him could be bound to someone as inconsequential as me. A mere human, as he'd so disdainfully pointed out.
My hands twisted the coarse fabric of the dirty cot I'd been deposited on. Surrounding me were dank stone walls that made my tiny holding cell feel like it was closing in. Swallowing hard, I tried to process everything that had happened over the last 24 hours.
One minute, I was a desperate young woman willing to do anything to save my baby sister's life. The next, I'd been plunged into this mythological underworld of werewolves, alphas, and these ridiculous "mate" claims. Part of me still wondered if I was trapped in some feverish nightmare.
The metallic creak of the cell door shattered my whirlwind of thoughts. My head snapped up to face the imposing figure of Cassius striding towards me with those penetrating dark eyes. My heart kicked up a furious beat against my ribcage.
"I can see the doubts clouding your pretty little head." His deep voice reverberated through the cramped space. "You're confused, frightened...as you should be."
Cassius slowly lowered himself to one knee in front of me. With surprising gentleness, his rough hand cupped my chin, tilting my face up until our eyes locked.
"The concept of mates is sacred in our world. Meant to be coveted, celebrated..." His thumb lightly grazed my lower lip, sending an unexpected shiver down my spine. "...not looked upon with such disdain by the very woman who has been bestowed with the greatest honor."
I tried to jerk my head back, but his grip held firm. "Honor? You kidnapped me, threatened my sister. How is any of that an honor?"
Cassius' nostrils flared and his jaw clenched. In a startling move, he closed the scant distance between us, his intoxicating masculine scent invading my senses. Our faces were mere inches apart as he growled, "Because you irreverently trespassed upon what is most precious to me. You deserve far worse than the mercy I've shown."
His words seethed with a simmering venom that made me shrink back. But Cassius seemed unfazed, holding me captive with his intense glare.
"I didn't ask for this binding, nor do I want it," he rumbled lowly. "But the Fates have declared you mine. And I violently recompense any threats against what is rightfully owed to me."
With those chilling words, Cassius abruptly released me and rose to his feet in one fluid motion. I could only watch in stunned silence as his towering frame spun and strode from the cell, the metal door slamming shut with a haunting clang.
Slumping back against the wall, I finally allowed the dam to burst. Tears streamed down my face as gut-wrenching sobs wracked my body. What sort of fresh hell had I stumbled into? And how would either Ruby or I survive unscathed?
I'm not sure how long I sat there, crying and feeling utterly helpless. Time held no meaning in this grim cell. But eventually my tears ran dry, leaving me mentally and physically exhausted.
The rumbling of my empty stomach reminded me that I hadn't eaten since...I couldn't even remember the last time. Hunger pains lanced through my gut, adding a new level of discomfort on top of my emotional turmoil.
Just as I started to wonder if Cassius meant to slowly starve me to death as "violent recompense", the cell door creaked open once more. I stiffened, bracing myself for the alpha's imposing presence.
But it wasn't Cassius who entered. Instead, a slender woman with rich brown locks glided in, balancing a tray laden with food. Her feline grace was at odds with the severe, mistrustful look in her emerald eyes as they appraised me.
"Eat," she commanded flatly, setting the tray down on the rickety table beside the cot. "Can't have the alpha's...mate...withering away just yet."
She practically spat out that last word like a vile insult. Clearly, I wasn't winning over any fans in this supernatural stronghold. Not that I cared about their approval. All I wanted was to get my sister to safety, then wash my hands of these werewolf lunatics forever.
The tantalizing aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread overpowered my reservations. Scooting off the cot, I cautiously picked at the simple meal, shoveling food into my ravenous mouth with unabashed haste. If they meant to poison or drug me, well...at least I'd die with a satisfied stomach.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the woman's upper lip curling slightly at my uncivilized display. But she made no move to chastise me or take the food away. Score one for the lowly human, I inwardly smirked.
Once I'd cleaned the tray of every last crumb, I sat back with a small sigh. At least elemental needs like hunger were something familiar to cling to in this madhouse.
"Who are you?" I asked, eyeing the willowy beauty.
She regarded me with thinly-veiled distaste. "Mia. Alpha Cassius' sister."
"The one engaged to that other guy? Julian?"
A muscle feathered in her jaw, but she gave a terse nod in affirmation.
"Let me save you the trouble of trying to appeal to any sense of sisterly affection," Mia stated acidly. "I want no part in my brother's dalliance with a human. It's unnatural and shameful."
Well, she certainly didn't mince words. A small part of me appreciated her brutal candor compared to Cassius' evasive mind games. Though her obvious revulsion still stung, fueling the growing voice of self-doubt in my head.
What made me so repulsive in their eyes? Was it simply a matter of not being werewolf myself? Or did they sense some inherent flaw or weakness that made me unworthy as Cassius' "mate"?
Unconsciously, my hand drifted to rest over my abdomen as a protective gesture. Abruptly, Mia hissed and took a defensive step back, upper lip curled in a slight snarl to reveal a hint of elongated canines.
"Stay away from me, human," she spat out the slur. "My tolerance only stretches so far where you're concerned."
On that wonderfully inviting note, she spun on her heel and stormed from the cramped cell, the door clanging shut behind her. I flinched at the resounding thud, jarred by how easily my mere presence seemed to provoke such potent hostility in Cassius' kind.
Unbidden, my mind drifted to thoughts of sweet, innocent Ruby. Was she being subjected to the same prejudices and cold regards simply for being my sister? The idea made my heart clench painfully in my chest.
For a fleeting instant, a reckless part of me wondered if accepting Cassius' ludicrous offer was the only way to guarantee Ruby's safety and medical care. He'd clearly stated his pack prized their mates above all else. Maybe I could swallow my pride and submit, ensuring my sister was prioritized under that arcane werewolf tradition.
But I instantly shook my head, rejecting the notion. What was I thinking, entertaining such madness? This whole "mate" notion was insanity! I was Talia Fisher, my own woman beholden to no one. Especially not some crime boss who thought he could claim me as his possession.
Growling low in my throat, I bunched the scratchy sheet into tight fists. That arrogant, domineering alpha could go rot for all I cared. If he thought issuing vague threats and borderline sweet-talking would make me docile, he had another thing coming.
No matter how grim this situation became, I would never surrender my spirit or sense of self. Ruby was counting on me. And I'd be damned if I failed her again.