Worthy to be Cherished
Cassandra paced back and forth in the upper tower where she and Silas slept in the grand bedroom. It was a beautiful view, and she hoped that maybe she could get a glance at any of Metas' pack showing themselves in some way, but they never did.
She found the rain fitting for her mood as she watched the grey skies overcast the sun. Today was the day - she was going to tell Silas everything. It had to happen if they were going to start getting anywhere.
The beautiful female moved her hair behind her ear and listened for his footsteps to come tapping up the stairs.
As she waited, Cassandra decided to brush her hair, and keep herself busy by organizing things. As time passed, her anxiety rose and her bravery diminished. What if he didn't want to turn against her father? What if her father already knew she was having second thoughts - or had abandoned his plans?
Worry was all that encompassed her now that Silas' arrival had come. She stood and primped her hair and straightened her off-white dress that accentuated her curves - and the growing bump in her lower abdomen.
Perhaps knowing that they were expecting would lead Silas down a better path than what he was currently on - what /they/ were currently on.
The instant she saw his happy face, her hope blossomed.
"Silas," she started with a tender smile. "I'm glad you're back. I wanted to-" Cassandra didn't even get to finish.
"I'm sorry, Cassandra - I have great news, I have to tell you," Silas interrupted her with a grin and came to her so he could take both of her hands into his.
"Oh, well - I have news, too - and I bet its better," Cassandra challenged playfully.
"What? No no no - nothing could be more exciting than this. My dreams are coming true, Cass. Harbinger - he - he called me son! He said he was proud to have me as a son!" Silas' face was so happy, and so full of hope that it hurt Cassandra to know that he father had influenced him before she could.
"...Nothing? Are you sure?" Cassandra tried once more to get him to see the happiness sparkling in her beautiful yellow eyes.
"I'm pretty sure, Cass. All I've ever wanted was his approval, and he finally gave it to me. I found a way to make that pendant with Metas' blood in it work again - it was only for a little bit of time, but we were able to get some excellent tools to weed them out. It's some human stuff, too - really powerful. Dad's having them test out all of them to see how they work! Apparently some human government used the other side of this mountain for military offense," Silas said proudly, as though nothing else mattered....
....and honestly, she knew nothing else did.
Cassandra wished so badly that someone cherished her like her mother used to. That desire to see it in Silas was starting to die into a cold dream that was never going to come true.
This was it. She was going to try one last time. If he didn't care about her news - she was done. She would go out there and find Metas herself.
"Well - let's find out," she lead with a smile.
"Don't play the 'one-up' game, Cassie. Can't you just be happy for me?" Silas replied with exasperation.
"I am happy for you, but I want you to be happy for us, and-" she wasn't able to finish again.
"What, me being happy doesn't make you happy?" Silas spat towards her accusingly.
"No, I just-"
"So why are you playing these games? Come on, my father-" Silas stopped to smile with delight and joy before he continued, "-wants us to celebrate with a big dinner. He's wants to talk about holding the crowning ceremony, and then our moon ritual."
"...but why not the moon ritual first? The next full moon would be coming faster, would it not? I don't want something big, I just want to be w-" once more, her words were sliced into silence by his voice.
"We can do it after I'm crowned Alpha King. It's far more important that I secure the throne before we talk about being able to celebrate our union. There's no rush for us to have a silly moon ritual," Silas said as though marriage to her was no big deal.
"Silas - you're starting to hurt my feelings," Cassandra said warily and took her hands from his so that she could clutch them to her chest.
"Don't be foolish, Cassandra. Love is something we can celebrate later. Control and order is needed first," Silas argued gently, as though he were talking down to her.
"Ugh!" Cassandra pushed him away and threw her hands in the air as she gave up trying to talk to him. Instead, she turned her back and locked herself in their master bathroom where she could cry in peace.
"Cassandra! What's your goddess damned problem!? Why are you so upset about my news? Why are you so mad!?" Silas asked in bewilderment.
He was so caught up in his own happiness, that it was hard for him to accept anyone elses'. It was also hard to celebrate something for others when you yourself had never been celebrated before. Silas had never even had a birthday party to understand what it was like to be cheered, and then to cheer in return.
His entire life had been nothing but order, schedules, schooling, and learning to fight. That's all. He never had time for parties, or frivolous things like learning how to play an instrument. He had no real social skills whatsoever - and he was lucky werewolves had mates to rely on otherwise it would have been difficult to find a partner, and when one didn't - they had their pack to support them.
Silas had no pack, and now he had no mate. Cassandra wasn't going to say anything else to the lost little boy in that grown man's body. Now that she was expecting her own child, her priorities shifted entirely to ensuring a happy, and healthy life for the pup that would likely have no father.
"Cassie, come on - come out. My father won't stand for this. He expects you to be there - and insisted you show up," Silas tried to yell through the wooden and metal door, but it was no use. All his words were drowned out in the cured resin that kept the wood shiny and splinter-free.
Now it was his turn to throw his hands in the air and walk away with anger and frustration that once again, a female in his life just couldn't be supportive. Silas didn't have time for this. He had weapons to prepare and a big dinner to celebrate the fact he was finally worthy to be cherished. He wasn't going to ruin it now.
No, he wouldn't let a mate he just met destroy the work he put in for his entire life. The truth was, nothing - absolutely nothing was, or would be more important than having Harbinger's approval.