“Well, this is just depressing. Let’s go out and do something?” Cassie sat up and I just shook my head. “C’mon.”
“I have training in the morning and my dad said it was going to be brutal.”
“So you can’t go out today? Bull. Get up. We are going shopping and then I’ll parade you in front of everyone to make them jealous that my best friend is the Alpha’s daughter.”
I perked up. “Has anyone been giving you issues here?” Cassie shook her head, but I could see someone had. “Cass?”
She huffed and then nodded a little. “Just a few she-wolves that think their shit doesn’t stink and have a higher rank.” Amanda and her little posse, I could only assume.
“Do they give you a lot of trouble?”
“Only a little.” She just grabbed my arm and pulled me to the door. “Enough of them, I don’t care. I just missed you, and I want to parade around with my best friend.”
“Deal.” I couldn’t say no to her when I knew she was being bullied. Cassie was weaker than me, but then again, everyone was. But she was sweet and had been by my side since birth. Her mom and my mom used to be best friends. “But you need to point out who is bullying you.”
“No way. I can handle it.”
“I know you can, but you shouldn’t have to.” I could feel Nix coming closer to the surface. My anger was already rising.
“You aren’t here enough.” Her whisper had me pulling her to a stop. “I don’t mean to make you feel bad, but you aren’t here enough to start something with them for me. Because it will only get worse once you leave again.” She looked back at me with sad eyes. “So, can we just drop it?”
I nodded my head but swore to myself that I would figure out this situation. “Let’s go have some fun. Parade me all you want. I’m here all summer.” I smiled and pushed the Amanda bullshit to the back of my mind. I would handle her as soon as I could.
When we got to the mall, we walked into the clothing store. “I need a new dress.” Cassie pulled me to the back and started to go through the racks.
“Why do you need a new dress?” I pulled a dress off the rack and held it to my body. The form fitting dress flared out at the bottom. It was a beautiful mermaid formal dress, but white wasn’t my color.
“Your homecoming ball.” Cassie grabbed a short pink number that would look horrible with her skin tone.
“Put that down and what do you mean homecoming ball?” Cassie froze and then slowly turned back to me.
“Don’t tell your dad I told you.” She rushed back to me and grabbed my hands. “Frick, I knew I was going to mess this up. You are my best friend and I knew I would mess this up.”
“Calm down.” I laughed. “I would never tell my dad you messed up.” I wrapped my hands around her shoulders and shook. “Cassie, calm down and just tell me.”
She smiled and nodded. “I was supposed to take you dress shopping for a surprise homecoming party tonight. You know your dad.”
“I do. Which is why I shouldn’t be surprised.” I smiled and then forced the pink dress out of her hands. “But this, this needs to go back and you have to promise me you will never touch it again.” I put it back on the rack. I started to go through the dresses and pulled a pale golden sheath dress that would look absolutely amazing on her. “Here try this on.”
“I don’t know Amy.”
“Listen to your best friend.” I pushed her back toward the change rooms and then I looked through the rack for myself. I was blissfully window shopping when I heard a voice that made my hackles rise.
“Take it off now.” I could feel the thread of power in the tone and then I heard Cassie’s sweet voice waiver.
“You aren’t supposed to command another wolf. You aren’t in a position to demand anything from weaker wolves.” Cassie’s voice sounded pained.
“Well then, take off the fucking dress and I wouldn’t.” Nix was in a full rage as I rounded the wall and saw Cassie being held face first into a wall by a snarling red headed she-wolf with her cronies behind her.
“And why would she do that?” I pushed my hand outward and checked my nails as fear scented the air.
Slowly the she-wolves all turned and then finally Amanda turned with a sweet smile. “Amy, welcome back.” I lifted my lip at her.
“Why are you touching Cassie?” I smiled at her slowly. “Specifically, why are you trying to take a dress I picked out for her?”
“You picked this dress? It’s amazing.” Amanda started to smile as I nodded.
“I know. That’s why I picked it out. It matches Cassie perfectly.” I walked over and pulled Cassie away from the crowd of women. “Let me look at you.” I saw the fear in her eyes, and Nix snarled. No one touched our friend. Cassie’s wolf, Nora, was a timid brown wolf that Nix took a liking to. “You’re stunning. This is the dress.”
“Wait.” Amanda walked over next to us. “I saw this dress on Cassie and thought that it clashed with her usual style.”
“And you thought it would look better on you?” I smirked as Amanda tried to stare me in the eye and failed. I felt her aura punch up a notch, and Cassie whimpered. “Well, too bad. We had it first.” I tried to handle this without the pissing contest, but Amanda punched up her aura again.
Cassie whimpered and looked at me. “I can pick a different dress. It’s okay.” She turned to take the dress off, and I saw a flash of triumph on Amanda’s face.
“No. If you don’t want it, I’ll buy it for myself. I picked it up first. So it’s mine. Amanda, you understand, don’t you?” I smiled down at the other she-wolf and could scent her frustration.
“Okay Amy. It’s yours.” Cassie smiled at me before hustling back to the change room and taking off the dress before handing it to me. “Did you have anything you wanted to try on?”
“No, I am just going to buy these two dresses and we can go look at jewelry.” I smiled over at the huddled group of women. “I hope you guys find a dress for tonight.” Then we left.
Once we were out of earshot, I let out the snarl I was holding. The air rumbled between my lips and Cassie ducked her head. A little bit of my aura leaked, and I felt guilty, but I was livid.
“Don’t be mad, Aim.” Cassie grabbed for my arm and I watched her eyes flinch when she saw Nix’s golden eye staring back at her.
“She is not mad, little one.” Nix’s smoky voice came from my lips. She had taken over as I lost my temper. “I am, though. For such a weak wolf to think it is okay to wield her power in such a way when she is not even ranked. What has become of your pack?” What was wrong with my father’s pack?
“Without a Luna the she-wolves that are unmated all act this way. They think the more power they wield, the more likely they will be able to find a mate.” Cassie bowed her head.
“None of that, little one. You do not bow to me.” Nix pulled Cass’s head up and rubbed my cheek against hers, rubbing our combined scent on her. “You are ours. The other she-wolves should not demand things from you. It is not the way of wolves unless you are ranked. Everyone else is equal.”
“Not here.” Cassie wiped her eyes and then turned to smile at me. “Can Amy come back, Nix? We have to get set for tonight.”
“Of course.” Nix receded to the back of my mind. But she was already deep in conversation with Loki. I knew we would have an interesting conversation with my father tonight.
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