Chapter-28-


    Tieran burst through the front door, his mind centered on Cassandra and her tant disregard for his


    commands as Alpha, skidded to a stuttering halt as a familiar scent washed over him.


    The minute recognition hit, Serra was in his arms, sobbing her relief that he was unharmed.


    Her arms wound around his neck as she buried her nose against his chest and for a blinding second he


    was ted beyond measure to feel Serra against him again.


    But there was a false note to the joy that he might never have recognized if he hadn’t met Cassandra


    and it was this realization that caused him to gently pluck Serra’s arms from his neck.


    “Serra,” he said, plucking her arms gently from his neck. “What are you doing here?” Serra’s wounded


    expression cut at him but his first thought was of Cassandra.


    It was then he realized Serra was wounded. Blood seeped from an angryceration on her forearm. He


    gently lifted Serra’s arm. “What happened?”


    “It’s nothing. All that matters is that you’re unharmed,” Serra said, attempting to pull her arm free but


    Tieran wouldn’t let go until she’d exined.


    She shrugged with a subtle motion though she winced as she answered, “I must’ve cut it when I was


    running to get here. I found Ulster’s band encroaching on ournd and knew if I didn’te to warn


    you, the n would be in danger. I couldn’t ignore the threat to my n. Or to you,” she added quietly.


    “You are so loyal,” he said warmly, approving of her actions. “Without your warning, Cassandra and I


    might’ve easily been overrun by n Janus. Ulster brought all of his warriors and they were out for


    blood. Where is Cassandra?”


    At the mention of his woman’s name, Serra visibly bristled and her eyes shed with open resentment


    though she knew well enough to tamp it down before answering, “She mentioned needing a bath. She


    was covered in filth.”


    “She fought like a warrior,” Tieran said, proud of Cassandra. “She’s a mate worthy of an Alpha.”


    Serra sniffed with disdain but withheld furtherment. Tieran took her silence as a good sign that she


    was epting their new fates and that eased the worry in his heart.


    “Thank you,” Tieran said, giving Serra’s hand a soft squeeze. “Have Iona look at your wound before it


    festers. I will return after I’ve checked on Cassandra. We will talk then.”


    Serra started to say something but he was impatient to check on Cassandra and left Serra behind.


    Whatever else Serra had to say could wait. His mate needed him.


    Tieran took the stairs two at a time and strode into Cassandra’s room, dismissing the women tending to


    her needs and closing the door behind him.


    “You are unharmed?”


    “Of course.”


    His gaze skimmed the rounded curves barely concealed in the gauzy outfit meant to be forgiving of her


    expanding waistline and his gut tightened at the full, lush roundness of her body.


    It was as if the babies grew exponentially each day, shortening the gestational period by half of a


    regr pregnancy.


    He longed to put his hands on her belly to feel them squirm beneath the smooth silk of her skin but


    there was something in her eyes that kept him at a distance, which served to remind him that he


    needed to address her actions. “You disobeyed me,” he said.


    “You will find that I will often disobey you if you insist on giving out ridiculous orders,” she retorted, not


    the least bit apologetic. “It made more sense for me to go for help in case Ulster’s stragglers attempted


    to double back. I was better at running and you were better at fighting. Seemed the most logical


    solution.”


    Tieran paused. Put in that light, Cassandra was right but he could not abide Cassandra undermining


    his authority as Alpha.


    Yet, Cassandra also had the strength of an Alpha and she was unlike any female their species has


    ever seen. Under normal circumstances, he’d have to punish anyone who disobeyed a directmand


    from the Alpha.


    But his instincts warned him not to go there with Cassandra. “Your disobedience cannot be tolerated,”


    he bit out, growing frustration at his predicament sharpening his words. “Without a firm grasp on the


    hierarchy of the n, chaos will destroy everything we’ve built over the centuries with n Barrachius.


    You are new to our ways but you must learn them if you are to teach our pups the right way.”


    “Why is Serra here?” Cassandra asked, ignoring his firm reprimand and going straight for the jugr.


    “Did you bring her here?”


    Anger at her dismissal and her sudden subject change made him growl low in his chest. “Cassandra do


    not test me,” he warned. “Serra is not the issue here. Your tant disregard for everything we value is


    the bigger issue.”


    At that Cassandra popped from the chair and went toe-to-toe with him, surprising him with the fire in


    her eyes. “I heartily disagree. Your former me is suddenly here — someone you’re still carrying a


    torch for, by the way — and you think me using logic over your sillymand is the bigger issue?


    Forgive me, if I call bullshit. Why is she here?”


    Tieran’s nostrils red as he attempted to control his temper but the urge to throw her onto the bed and


    across his knee so that he could paddle her soft ass until she cried was a struggle.


    If he hadn’t been so pulse-pounding angry, he would’ve been fighting an erection at the thought of


    smacking those beautiful, full buttocks.


    “She came to warn the n that Ulster was closing in. It is because of Serra that we are both alive. We


    owe her our gratitude, not our suspicion.”


    Cassandra backed down subtly but there was still an edge to her as she said, “She seemed


    disappointed that I managed to return. While I’m grateful for her help, I don’t trust her motives and


    you’d be stupid to ignore what is staring at you right in the face. I think she should be asked to leave.”


    “I will attend to the needs of the n,” he said coolly. “This is Serra’s home. I will not toss her out. She


    left voluntarily. She was not forced out. If she chooses to stay, it is her choice.”


    “Oh that’s great,” Cassandra remarked bitterly, stepping away from Tieran, her eyes welling with angry


    tears. “So we get to pass each other in the halls, exchanging nasty looks with one another. The wife


    and the mistress. That works out perfectly for you, doesn’t it?”


    “I have no interest in Serra sexually any longer,” he said but there was the tiniest question in his heart


    that must’ve made itself known in the depth of his stare because Cassandra’s breath hitched in her


    throat and she turned away with orders for him to leave. Instead of arguing the point, Tieran was happy


    to take his leave.


    Seeing Serra again, raised ufortable questions and feelings that he didn’t understand. He didn’t


    want Serra. In fact, even as angry as he was with Cassandra, he longed to bury himself deep inside


    her heat and fill her with his seed.


    Yet, he had so many memories with Serra. Scorching memories.


    “I’m tired,” Cassandra murmured, plucking at his conscience for her delicate condition.


    “Do you require anything?”


    At her short bubble of sadughter, he realized his question was ill-timed. “I will bring you food at the


    dinner hour. Until then, rest.”


    Cassandra remained silent as she climbed into her bed and turned on her side with her back to him.


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Tieran was seized with the irrational desire to climb into that bed beside her and simply remind her with


    the feel of his cock that she belonged to him and him to her.


    But, in truth, he feared she might snap his cock off if he tried. In the interest of preserving his most


    precious appendage, he let himself out silently.