Chapter twelve

(Matthew's POV)

We drove in silence and I would occasionally glance over at my mate; trying to figure out what was going through her head from her facial expression but she was looking out the window.

Michael is going to get his ass whooped when this is all over. I wanted to court Cassandra for a while before she meets my mother, knowing how mom would get. But no, the idiot had to tell her that I'd found my mate and now we're going to meet everyone else. I wasn't stupid enough to go against my mother; that's the most suicidal thing anyone could do.

My eye caught the rearview mirror and I noticed the forgotten flowers I had bought. Well so much for being romantic.

Our first date! Our first date was ruined. Mom didn't understand or maybe she didn't want to. She and dad felt the mate bond and immediately knew that they were made for each other but my mate is a human, so I'd have to get her to like me; not force it on her. Michael is very lucky I guess, his mate already likes him and they're dating.

I take a deep breath, "Cassandra, are you okay?" I ask. I was also worried that the things those brats said would make her rethink this whole thing. Uuuurrgghhhh, this is all so messed up.

She didn't answer so I tapped her arm causing her to jolt as if she was sleeping. "Mmm did you say something?" She asks. She only glances at me before looking forward.

"I asked if you were okay," I asked again.

"Your mom appears out of nowhere and now wants me to meet your whole family, what do you think?" She replies in a sarcastic tone.

Okay, I deserve that, it was a stupid question. I should have been more specific.

"I'm sorry about that. My mom can be really......intense. But I'm asking about earlier, before mom's arrival," I say and I see her stiffen for a second before forcing herself to relax.

"It's fine. I've already gotten used to hearing those things since kindergarten so don't sweat it," She says and looks out the window again.

"Do you want to talk about it? They were saying something about your mother," I say tentatively.

"I said don't sweat it," she snaps at me.

I am surprised at her tone, I'll just let her be for now.

After a few minutes, she sighs and turns to face me with sad eyes, "I'm sorry for snapping at you, it's a sore topic for me, please understand," she says and my heart melts immediately.

She didn't even have to ask; I'm so gullible with her. "It's okay, I understand," I say with a smile and she smiles back.

"Thanks. Now what did you tell your mom about me that's got her in my case," she asks with a smirk.

"Well...." Oh damn, I need to think of something quickly, "yes, I told her that there is a girl I like and I wanted to take her out on a date today," I half-lie and it left a sick feeling in my heart.

Her eyes widened and her cheeks turned a beguiling pink, "Oh, and who is this girl you're talking about?" she asks.

"She is beautiful, tall, smart, bold, she turns an adorable pink when I compliment her, and she's the woman of my dreams," I say as I look straight into her eyes and her face turns a darker shade.

"Th..the road," she says breathlessly and I chuckle and focus back on the road in front although I didn't need to since my other senses could guide me just fine.

I drove past the park, swerved to the right, and down a dirt road with trees everywhere. Usually, only werewolves and, on some occasions, hunters use this road. I packed the car under a tree and got out. The warrior wolves on patrol would see it and well... They know what to do.

"Why are we getting out here?" Cassandra asks as she alighted from the car.

"We'll have to walk since there's no road here," I said and started walking.

She caught up to me and we walked side by side. "Why do you live in the woods? You're a rich businessman who can afford almost anything," she asks.

"Well we like our peace and it's much easier to look out for each other if we all live close together, don't you think," I say and smile at her.

She smiles back before looking around; seemingly fascinated with the leaves and branches of the trees. A squirrel runs past us causing her to yelp in surprise and we laugh.

After a few minutes of walking in comfortable silence, Cassandra sighs and holds my arm, silently asking me to slow down.

"My mother fell in love with a rich man and..." She stops and takes a deep breath.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want Cassandra," I say but she shook her head and continued.

"She said that he was a good man and he loved her dearly. He was her employer and they had an office romance that led to her getting pregnant. Contrary to what people think, he accepted the pregnancy and she moved in with him. He took care of her, of me after I was born. Mom said that he was a doting father. Everything was perfect, so very perfect, but I guess good things never last. One day, mom and dad fought and he hurt her. The next day she took me and left him. But that's not even the most painful part, the worst part is that he didn't even come looking for us as if he was glad to be rid of us. He just abandoned me Matthew and I loved him so much," she says as tears gather in her eyes but they never fall.

(Cassandra's POV)

I don't know why I started telling him about my parents but it felt a little freeing when I was done. Even though I feel like crying my eyes out, I didn't want to burden Matthew with my tears nor do I want to look weak in front of him.

"I'm sorry baby, you can cry if you want. Like my dad used to say ' a strong person isn't one who does not cry. A strong person is the one who cries and sheds tears for a moment then gets up and fights to go on ' so it's okay to cry," he says in a soft tone and hugs me to himself.

We took comfort in each other as I finally let go and cried into his shoulder. It still felt so fresh and painful like the day it all went down.

I stood there for a few minutes, soaking up his warmth like a sponge.

Matt was the first to pull away but he didn't let me go completely, leaving his hands on my shoulders.

"It'll be okay, now let's get going before mom comes through with her threat," he says softly and that's when I notice that we had stopped walking.

I chuckle, "okay."

We walk for a few minutes, hand in hand. This place is peaceful, birds chirping and I could hear the sound of a stream but I don't see any.

Finally, we break out into a clearing and I stop walking as I let out a gasp of surprise.

To think that there was a beautiful civilization in the middle of the woods. The buildings were modern and classy but homey as well. Then there is a five-story building in the middle and I can see it from down here at the edge.

"Wow, it's beautiful."