Chapter 3 Kael In The Flesh?

Liora

No one had a missing cat anywhere in… wherever this was.

Which was a good thing, because thanks to that, Alpha Zane decided to keep me. I was allowed to sleep in his bedroom after he ordered some women – Echo called them Omegas – to wash me properly and make sure I was disease-free.

Seriously.

That took more time than I would have liked. Time I could have used putting in actual work and finding who wanted to kill our beloved Alpha Zane. But I couldn’t complain, and so we spent the next three days with these Omegas until they decided I was disease-free.

“I told you to be patient,” Echo said.

“Patient? I have four weeks to stop an assassination – as a cat –in case you’ve forgotten. I don’t have time for a spa and beauty makeover.”

I could almost feel her rolling her eyes. “They were just checking to make sure you don’t spread anything to anyone. It’s standard procedure. You’re lucky they didn’t just throw you out.”

I wanted to argue, but she had a point.

By the time the Omegas finished with me, I was clean, fluffy, and thoroughly annoyed. The women cooed over me like I was a toy, brushing my fur while gossiping amongst themselves. Thanks to them, I learned a few things about this place.

It was called Silvercrest, and it was where the pack house of the Alpha King was located. The two Betas were Dax and Cassius. I’d met Dax but not Cassius. According to the women, Cassius was out on a mission but would be returning today, and the whole pack – especially these women were preparing for his return.

The Omega women were beside themselves with excitement, which somehow seeped into me too, because now I was even anxious to see Cassius. Was he all that? Was he worth all the hype? I wasn’t sure anyone could beat Alpha Zane in beauty, but these women made it sound like he could.

I was anxious to see what he looked like, and I didn’t have to wait for long.

While touring the pack house – the freedom I had as a cat was exhilarating – I found Beta Dax in the main hall. He was one of the easiest people to watch, I realized. He had a warm energy about him, one that pulled people in and made them feel comfortable.

He moved through the pack house like he belonged – which he did – and he seemed to know everyone by name. People loved him.

Could it be him?

“Maybe. We can’t rule that out.” Echo replied, uninterested. I was yet to ask her what her mission was. Honestly, I wanted her to tell me herself, but I guess that was never going to happen.

“If we want to know, we have to keep a close eye on him. Men like him are the ones who taste for power more. Follow him, he’s getting out of sight.”

I rushed after him, watching as he greeted everyone he met and asked about their families. He was everywhere, involved in everything. If anyone wanted to hurt Zane, he had the access. He had love and trust.

But so did everyone in Zane’s inner circle.

“Don’t focus too much on him,” Echo advised. “We don’t want to make the mistake of missing anything important. If he isn’t the one, we might miss the real culprit.”

I nodded, forcing myself to take in everyone else. The information I picked up on was overwhelming but worth it, at least. I kept learning more and more as the day went by, but I still didn’t see anyone who had enough motive to want to hurt the Alpha King.

Or maybe I was looking at it the wrong way.

“Dax!” Both Dax and I stopped as a voice called out from behind us. He turned, his eyes taking me in with mild surprise before looking up to find whoever it was that called his name. “Glad to see you here.”

Dax smiled warmly. “Cassius! I didn’t think you’d be back so soon. Have you seen Zane? He sent escorts for you.”

Cassius? I turned as well, and my heart stopped.

What? This was – 

This was a cruel game the swindling woman was putting me through. How could she – how could Kael be here? Yes, the man standing in front of me was unmistakably Kael, my best friend. The man who held my heart. The man I was fighting to return to.

Kael?

No. This Kael was older. His eyes were colder, but the exact shade of grey-green eyes that Kael had.

My breath caught in my throat.

I shivered as Kael’s – no, Cassius’s – eyes landed on my small, grey body. I didn’t think I could ever detest cats as much as I did in that moment. The disgust on his face was barely masked. His lips curled slightly.

“And what is that doing in here?” he asked, his voice flat and hostile. Nothing like Kael’s warm and teasing tone. My heart shattered, and I had to remind myself that this wasn’t Kael, but that didn’t help.

Dax glanced down at me, then back at Cassius. “Just a stray. Alpha Zane is keeping her till her owners come.”

Cassius’s expression hardened. “It’s a cat. They’re vermin, and if it has no owner, it’s all the more reason to throw it away. A cat has no place in a pack house.” He took a step back, like being near me physically repulsed him. “Get it out of here.”

Whatever was left of my heart vanished.

“Relax, Cassius. It’s just a cat.”

“I don’t care.” Cassius hissed. “Just keep that thing away from me, or you’ll find it in a ditch somewhere.”

“He must really hate cats,” Echo muttered.

I stared at Cassius, searching for something – any trace of Kael in there, some hint of the man I loved. But there was nothing. It was the same face, but that was where the resemblance ended. As if sensing my gaze, Cassius’s eyes snapped to me.

“Why is it staring at me?”

Dax shrugged. “It’s a cat. Cats stare. Plus, I don’t think she likes you much.”

“Don’t care. Just make sure it keeps its distance.” He turned to Dax and sneered. “I mean it. If I see that thing near me, I’ll get rid of it myself. I don’t care what the Alpha says.”

He walked away without another word, but I’d heard enough. I didn’t know which was worse – seeing Kael again, or having him look and talk to me like that. My fragile heart couldn’t take it.

Little did I know that this was just the beginning. The next thing I would see in this world would either shred my poor heart apart, or kill me.

“What was that about?” Alpha Zane’s bored voice came from somewhere behind us, and I froze. How long had he been there? “I had no idea Cassius hates cats.” He smiled, scratching his head as he walked toward us. His eyes landed on me, and his very odd smile deepened.

“I never intended to keep you before, but now ...” He glanced up at Dax, who had a sour expression on his face. “I think I have a brilliant idea!”