Chapter 41
Braden
Cassie left the Bloodstones as soon as she had been discharged from the hospital. She had fallen into an abyss of sadness so deep, she wanted to be away from where the incident had taken place. Braden checked her into the only inn located within the village. He remained next to her around the clock making sure to take care of her when she would forget to care for herself.
On the third night in the village, Cassie, Andrei and he had come to realize the broken heart belonged to Eva; Cassie was affected as a bystander of circumstance. The loss of their pup still hurt, however, Braden realized it had been a noble sacrifice that had to happen. If Cassie's instincts hadn't been called to action, the pack would have lost a full generation of Bloodstones. This loss would have been insurmountable to the pack.
They had spoken openly about the loss of the pup and agreed to try again after they had all recovered, both physically and emotionally. During the next few nights, they slept in each other's arms, appreciating the existence of one another in their lives and didn't take for granted that this horrible experience managed to bring them closer.
He was able to value the intimacy when it was just him and his mate, even if all they did was stare into each other's eyes. In silencing the chaos that always surrounded them, Braden was able to open his heart more to her and he felt the same come from her.
As luck would have it, no sooner he saw the merit in this, Cassie decided it was time to go back to Los Angeles to visit her aunt, Marie. She told him Eva had always been fond of her aunt, even if Marie had no idea the wolf within Cassie existed. She hoped Marie's warmth would lure Eva out on a more permanent basis since these days, Eva just moped and sighed at the loss of her pup.
On the morning of the eighth day, Braden handed Cassie the keys to his SUV and kissed her goodbye, admittedly with doubts she would return to him.
Over the next month, his doubts were mostly relieved. They spoke over video chat often throughout the days, and every night. The only night they didn't speak was the night before when Cassie had broken her phone. She texted him via Marie's phone, letting him know what happened and promised she would reach out to him as soon as she had the new phone.
That night was one of the loneliest nights he ever lived. It felt even lonelier than when he had been newly orphaned and was left homeless.
He was just about to go to a training session with the Bloodstone warrior wolves when she finally called him. He sat down on the bed, held his phone up towards him and answered. She was driving, her long hair was flowing wild and free and she wore sunglasses, covering her beautiful eyes. Damn it, he missed her so much it hurt.
"It's time we marked each other," he announced as soon as she answered.
He saw her frown through the screen. "Ummm... hi," she laughed nervously.
He held his phone up to his face. "I was up all night tossing and turning because I fucking miss you, Cassie. And then I realized, how obsolete this phone technology would be for us if we abide by our ways and finally mark each other," he told her earnestly. "The mind-link would be limitless."
She brought a hand against her neck and started to rub the area. "Braden," she paused, looking towards the screen for a moment before her face returned to the road straight ahead. "I'm not very comfortable with the thought of fangs tearing into my jugular vein or carotid artery and having my blood sucked out."
He openly laughed at her. "We're not vampires, love."
Although he couldn't see her eyes, he had the distinct feeling she rolled her eyes at him. "As obsolete as you think a phone may be, you have to admit being able to see each other while communicating is very nice." She looked towards the screen for a moment. "I don't think mind-link can compete with this."
"Come on," he argued. "At least say you'll think about it."
She stayed quiet for a moment and finally sighed. "I have to admit this fucked-up-fairytale-way-of-the-wolf relationship has by far and away been the most grown-up relationship I've ever had."
"That's because you were always only mine," he said at once. "When I mark you, the world will know you belong to me."
She smiled. "Well, we'll see if you still want me when I get back up there. Eva still hasn't come out of the funk, I've had to resort to healthy meals and human exercise to somewhat stay in the shape you last saw me in," she looked at the screen for another moment. "It's awful. So much work, so much effort, so much sweat-and the results are so minimal. I hope you like a little junk in the trunk."
He smiled at the screen. "I already know I'll love it."
"I miss you too," she finally told him. "And I would be honored to bear your mark."