The Other Part of Me

Cassie

Cassie returned to Lake Reva in search of Caspian. She took her Jeep in hopes to make it more difficult for Braden to follow her scent. This time, there were no menacing wolves to greet her. Instead, a few of the rogues had come out with warm greetings and hugs. Many had told her they knew her father as they grew up with him.

Cassie smiled, trying hard to remember them all, as well as their names so that she could double-back and talk to them of memories of her father. First, she wanted to speak to Caspian, although he was out hunting, she was escorted to his humble dwelling by his mate, whose name was Orphea.

Despite the worn skin due to sun exposure, Cassie thought Orphea beheld natural beauty. Her long brown hair hand hints of red that were hard to see in a shelter but easy to spot under the sun. She had mossy green eyes and some of the deepest dimples she had ever seen.

Cassie sat on a bench pressed against the thin covering of the walls. She could hear the hushed whispers outside and the mention of Thaddeus Lykos' daughter returning.

Orphea prepared Cassie a cup of coffee. "Your father was a good man," Orphea echoed Caspian's sentiments. "We grew up together, he and I, he was a few years younger though." She put a tray with a steaming cup of black coffee, a rustic wooden sugar bowl and powdered creamer next to Cassie on the bench.

"Did you know him well?" Cassie grabbed the powdered creamer and poured a small amount of it into her cup. She decided to forego sugar.

Orphea grabbed a stool and placed it directly across from Cassie. She reached for Cassie's cheeks and looked into her eyes. "I'd know those eyes anywhere." Orphea sniffed. "The color of new spring grass. I had never seen those eyes on anyone else until you." She smiled despite the few tears that ran down her face. "I always wondered what became of his pup."

Cassie reached up to wipe Orphea's tears with her hands. "How exactly did you know him?"

Orphea stood. She walked a few steps to the kitchen section for a paper towel. She used it to wipe her nose.

"He and my sister Celeste were mated," she stared down at the paper towel in her hands. "Those two were very well suited. They loved each other even before Moon Goddess made it clear they were mated."

Cassie frowned in confusion. Granted, she had never heard much about her father beforehand, but to hear he had a wolf-mate was definitely enough to shock her. "But my mom-did he cheat on Celeste?"

Orphea shook her head quickly. "Oh, no. Nothing like that." She paused and took three deep breaths. "I'm sorry my dear, but I haven't thought of these things in ages and suddenly, I can't stop thinking about them." Her voice broke. "Celeste died in childbirth."

Cassie gasped. "And the baby? Where's the baby?" She stood, producing tears out of her eyes. She walked, ready to run out the door to meet her blood. "Oh, please? Is my brother or sister here?"

Orphea slowly walked to Cassie, wrapping her in her arms, pushing her back towards the bench. "You have your father's heart, my darling. I can see that."

"Orphea, please. I need to see my kin." Cassie begged but the look on Orphea's face spoke to her of looming heartbreak. "Please," she whispered.

"It was twins," she began. "Two girls," Orphea released a small sob. "All three were cremated together."

Unable to stop them, the tears pushed themselves out of Cassie's tear ducts. She didn't want to cry now in front of Orphea, whom Cassie knew had more of a right to shed tears for her family, but she couldn't help it. Her heart was shattering at the loss of the sisters she would never know, for a woman her father loved, and for the heartbreak her father must have felt with the loss of his mate. "I'm so sorry for your loss," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Now it was Orphea who wiped away Cassie's tears. "My dear Cassandra-they are all at rest, together and happy in the presence of our beloved Moon Goddess. We hurt, but we will join them one day." Cassie nodded slowly. Her words brought forth thoughts of her poor mother's soul, alone in a cold, dark corner of the afterlife all by herself. "Mom's gone too." She sniffled.

"I'm sorry to hear that, my darling." Orphea placed her hand under Cassie's chin and made eye contact. "Do you know the story of mates and how Moon Goddess and the Three Moirai reunite us with our mates?" Cassie nodded.

Orphea continue. "It is known that sometimes the Moirai will split a soul in three for only they and Moon Goddess know the course of our true path. Trust that all three souls have all joined and merged back into one."

Cassie listened to Orphea's words and strangely enough, found comfort in them. Even if her mom was not of the wolf world, it left a peace in her heart to think that she made up a part of the lives that were created as one all that time ago. "Orphea," Caspian entered the shelter, he spoke gently. "Can I have a moment alone with Cassandra, please?"

Orphea nodded. She gave Cassie a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Many of us are glad you found your way back." She patted her belly. "Congratulations. I smelled it as soon as you walked in."

The contact made Cassie freeze. For a moment, she had managed to forget.

As soon as the two had the room, Caspian began. "Aeric Hunter's son is your mate?"

Cassie nodded. "I'm sorry for not being completely honest when we first met. I thought you were going to kill me."

"I was." Caspian affirmed. "Your father's name saved you."

She looked away. "Please know everything else was the truth. Despite being able to turn into a wolf since the age of 18, I am new to these wolf customs. I grew up away from the ways of the wolves."

He gave her a soft stare. "I believe you." He sat in the seat Orphea vacated.

She reached for his hand. "You had mentioned you needed to feed your wolves. Please, let me help. Tell me what you need?"

Caspian looked at her hand and covered it with his free hand. He released a small snicker. "You're definitely your father's child." He slowly stood, making his way to an open doorway in the back of the room they were in. She heard him rustling about for a moment and returned with a worn, hardcover ledger. He handed it to her.

Cassie looked up at Caspian and accepted the book. The cover was colored in green, that blended into a brown outline, ultimately bleeding into a bright red - much like a bloodstone. She ran her hands over the surface, caressing it like it was familiar and beloved.

"Open it," he said.

Holding her breath, she reached to the top right corner of the cover, pulling the book open so that she could see the inside cover.

Property of the Bloodstone Pack

Alpha: Thaddeus Lykos

Beta: Aeric Hunter

Cassie's eyes shot to Caspian.

"Many of us were shocked to realize Moon Goddess mated you to the son of your father's murderer."