Mate ...s ?!?!
Chapter Twenty-Two

[Cassie’s POV]

I bolted from my house the moment the alarm sounded, shifting as I leapt from my window. I could hear the others saying there were Rouges inside the territory and that a group of them were headed to the cells. Their target unclear but they were clearly trying to open the entire thing. They had explosives of some kind.

Oh, hell no!!!

Cilla is not getting away. Not after everything she put Orion through. I will kill that bitch with my own two hands if I have to. Damn the rules!!

I ran for the cells and got there just in time to see her and Justin escaping from the cells. I growled and ran for them. I was not going to let them escape their punishment!!

They were not going to live another moment in this world without some type of consequence from me. I was Orion’s mother not Cilla!! Damn my age and lack of blood tie!! I ran after them and chased them through the trees as they tried to escape.

I caught up to Cilla just before hey crossed the border and leapt onto her back taking her down before she crossed into Rouge territory. “You are not escaping me!!” I screamed at her, as I gripped her leg with my teeth and began to drag her back through the trees.

She kicked out trying to escape me and it almost worked until I reached back to snap her leg, Cilla let out a agonizing howl seconds before I was blind sided by Justin. He bull-dozed right into me, snapping a few of my ribs in the process but I was not going to go down that easily anymore. I was not going to let these two monsters get away.

“You are the one that protected that piece of filth from me!” Cilla screamed at me as she tried to stand, Justin helping her to her three legs.

“You damn right!! And I will save my Orion from your filthy paws EVERY FUCKING TIME!!” I screamed before charging right at the both of them. Damn the consequences. I was pissed. They had no right!! Orion was an angel and a GIFT from the Goddess herself that they had treated like filth!!!

I could feel the years of pent-up anger and rage at Orion’s situation build up in me as I attacked the two trained Beta Wolves in front of me. They were better fighters than I was, but I had far more heart than they could ever replace and I was fighting for something far more precious than they could ever hope to have!!!

[Jace’s POV]

It has taken me some time to get Orion calmed back down. He had been sobbing and shaking so hard that I thought he was going to make himself sick. He was so scared Jax was not going to come back and that everything was his fault for some reason. That Cilla was going to come for him. It had me so worried for him but soon he settled down and was reduced to sniffles and a few whimpers.

A hiccup escaped him every so often and I smiled at him. He was so adorable. I hated that our relationship had started out so rough but I was happy that we had gotten past that.

“Jace …” he began his voice soft as he reached for me.

“Yes, my star?” I asked as I gathered him closer to me.

He was about to say something to me when then door to the bedroom burst open and a strange man came in. He stood in the doorway with a crazed look in his eyes as he snarled at us. He was angry for some reason and it was not like I was going to start asking him personal questions. How in the HELL did a Rouge get into the ALPHA HOUSE!!! I jumped to my feet keeping Orion behind me, as I faced the intruder. This should not be happening right now. This should be one of the safest places in the entire compound.

“What are you doing here!!!” Orion shouted from behind me, his voice breaking from nonuse as he tried to step around me. I could feel a wave of pure anger coming from him that shocked me.

“I came for Cilla’s life.” the Rouge growled out as he advanced. A curious look coming to his face.

“Who are you!!” I demanded harshly as I glared at the intruder, as his eyes now taking me in.

He had been staring at Orion with too much intent that he had not even noticed me at first. “You hold no power over me young Alpha.” he laughed as he faced us both fully. “You are not in the position to tell me what to do.” he growled out, still looking at Orion with interested eyes. I was getting pissed at how much this Rouge was eyeing my Mate and it was about to end because I was about to attack. Guren was edging closer to the edge of my mind so we could shift and rip this guy apart for even daring to get this fucking close to Orion.

I growled again as I stepped closer to my Mate. Orion touched my arm, a pleading in his touch, he wanted answers from this man for some reason. Fine, I would protect him regardless. There was nothing this Rouge could do to get to him. “Orion, who is this man?” I asked still watching him intently. Making sure he didn’t get too close to Orion. I was watching them closely but I was making damn sure this Rouge made no move to get closer to my Mate.

“Someone who should have killed himself long ago!!” Orion shouted out as he growled again toward the Rouge in our rooms. He made a move to step around me but I was holding him in his place. I needed him to stay behind me where I knew he was safest.

The Rouge sighed and shook his head, “Your mother should have taught you better pup.” he said a sort of sadness in his strained voice. His eyes were still looking at Orion for something that I was unsure if I wanted to really know about.

I felt like this situation was reversed in the oddest of ways. I felt like I was the one holding Orion back when he should be the one holding me back. I quickly called for Jax, getting his reply as he told me he had been looking for Cassie. I told him that was no longer the most important thing, to grab pop and hurry to the Alpha house. A Rouge had gotten past everyone and was now staring at me. That something was going on with Orion and I was very concerned that our little Omega was on the verge of actually setting the Rouge on fire.

Jax growled in my mind as I saw him rush for us. I had my hold on Orion tightly, feeling that if I didn’t, he would have attacked the Rouge. I had to at least distract them both long enough for Jax to get here. I needed Orion calm and the Rouge focused on me long enough for my Twin to get here with our dad.

“What made you come here if you are after Cilla? She was never here.” I demanded as the Rouge took another step forward. He was pushing his limits with me and Guren. I had no problem ripping him apart, the only reason I had not was I was supposed to keep an eye on Orion. I didn’t need him to see me kill another. It was not the sight I wanted him to watch.

His Mates were meant to protect him but we needed to keep in mind he had been hurt a lot and the sight of killing might do more harm than good for him. Especially if he saw either of his Mates killing someone right in front of him out of anger or rage.

“I came for Cilla but found something much more interesting. I had been convinced that she would come back to me. However, I see that will never happen so I came for her life.” the Rouge growled out as he took another step for Orion. His gaze was very interested in him as he looked my little Mate over.

I snarled and met his step with one of my own. “She has whored herself for the last time.” Orion snapped as he went to leap for the Rouge. My only mistake had been letting go of my little Omega. I had been so focused on the Rouge and not letting him get to Orion that I had let my guard down letting my hands drop from around my little Mate.

I caught his little body in my arms, getting a deranged laughter from the Rouge. I growled at them both to settle down and Orion only growled back at me. I was actually shocked at him; he had never done something like that before. He was intent on getting to this man for some reason. This was not making any sense whatsoever and I was relieved when Jax and pop came running into the room. This Rouge had information we might need in the future.

Jax wasted no time and pinned the Rouge to the floor, “Keep him locked up Jax. He has information we may need.” I said when my twin looked up to glare at me for not disposing of the Rouge myself. He had gotten too close to us and Jax was more than pissed off. I should have gotten rid of this Rouge myself and I hadn’t.

Jax wanted blood and I could see it in his eyes. His Mates were threatened and he was not the one to just let it go. A threat had gotten too close to the ones he had sworn to protect. He growled at me and I sighed. “Please, baby.” I called to him. I needed him to listen to me on this and just do as I needed him to do.

Jax growled again and nodded before letting pop grab the Rouge and take him out of the room. When they were both gone. Jax shut the door, locking it as he flashed to Orion and I. He gathered us both into his arms and started breathing us in. His anger disappeared as he breathed our scents in together. Jax needed to breathe us in to let Lysander calm down from the fighting and then the threat to his Mates. Orion even relaxed into our hold, ’cause I had to wrap my arms around him when Jax bear hugged the two of us. I was happy they were both safe and I was more that relieved that Jax had come home to just us. He had not gone out for a run, or out searching for something that was already right here with us.

“How is it out there?” I asked wanting some kind of answer as to what was going on now. I was still the future Alpha too. I needed to know what was going on with my Pack.

“The Rouges just decided to turn tail and run. We had taken down a decent amount of them but the cells had been broken into. I was on my way to keep the prisoners in their cells when I was waylaid by Rouges fighting pop. He needed my help and I wasn’t going to leave him to die.” Jax replied getting a growl to erupt from my chest. Cilla had probably escaped the moment she could.

Orion was not safe with her still breathing. “Have you found Cassie?” Orion asked softly as Jax lifted us into his arms and carried us to the bed. Orion was giggling at his antics but when we were on the bed, I could see the fear in Orion’s eyes.

“Not yet my star, but she was heading for the cells last I heard.” Jax replied softly as he rubbed his nose along Orion’s collarbone. “Momma Scar has been watching out for her the past few days, little one. You have nothing to worry about. I promise.” Jax added softly.

“That’s right, momma Cassie is strong. She will make sure they stay put.” I said with a smile, trying to get him to let go with us. Cassie had told us how to get him feel safer with us and how to push him to feel like a child. The different names and phrases to say to him to get him to fall into his ‘headspace’ but he would flat out refuse and shift, letting Rain take over.

Orion whimpered and nodded before burying his face into Jax’s chest. We could feel his emotions leaking from him, and we were both a little worried about the way his emotions were heading. They were dark and very dismal. He was thinking of horrible things and it was just not good for him.

“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” Jax questioned curiously, as we leaned up to look at Orion a little better. We needed to calm his turbulent mind and trying to hold him down was probably not the best of ways at the moment.

Orion shook his head and pulled himself away from us. I sat up fully, Jax with me, as we watched him slowly walk around the room. His face was torn and he looked so close to crying it broke my heart. He was struggling with whatever he was thinking about and he didn’t know how to ask for help. It was hard to help him if he had no idea what was going on with his own thoughts. Even Rain was at a loss for words. That Rouge had sent them into a spiral of hatred and anger that had sent them into a thought pattern of things best left for another. Our little Omega should never think of such harsh things for anyone, but here we sat feeling his hatred seethe from his tiny little body as he paced back and forth across the floor.

“Orion, please baby, tell us what’s going on.” Jax pleaded with our Omega as he jumped to still Orion’s movements. Pulling him into his wide chest to try and calm him. Orion’s pacing had been driving us insane because we had no idea how to stop him.

Orion shook his head a little, pulling away from Jax a little. “That Rouge, the one that had been in here, is Justin’s brother, he’s supposed to be my uncle.” he whispered out, his eyes searching for something in Jax’s eyes before looking into mine for the same thing.

He sighed heavily and pulled out of Jax’s arms again, going to the window of our room. I hated to see him struggle like this. “Please tell us.” I called softly, trying to persuade him into telling us. I wanted to go to him but I didn’t need him to pull away from me like he just had from Jax. That action might actually break me fully. I don’t think I could actually take him doing that to me.

Orion turned to us, tears in his eyes as he looked at us, “I learned early on that I am not Justin’s son. The day that man showed up was the day I just knew. It was in the way he looked at Cilla. As if he had been betrayed.” Orion sniffled as he came back to sit on the bed again. He looked so defeated by his words.

His words weren’t making much sense and then I got what he had been saying. Cilla had been with another Wolf, one not her Mate. He had already said that at one time he had smelled another Wolf on Cilla but he had never paid much attention to it. He had bigger worries. Cilla had spent his life using him as a punching bag. Her whoring herself to another was not much for him to care about.

“D-do you think that Rouge is your real dad?” I asked curiously as Jax looked up at me in shock as we both moved to get closer to him. I don’t think we were prepared for that answer. If that was the case then Cilla had broken more than just one law. The Council was going to show up and there was nothing we could do to stop our dad from calling them down on us.

Orion looked up at me with a half-hearted smile in his eyes. “I know he is my father. At least biologically.” he replied simply getting my twin and I to look at him in total shock. “It’s the only thing that made sense to me after a few encounters with the man. He is Julius and Gabrial’s real dad too. Justin is only Kinder’s dad. I think that’s why he was so fucking twisted. My eldest brothers have some sense, Cilla would have turned on them in a heartbeat. She beat them when they were children until they shifted and proved they were Betas. That had been the only thing that had saved them from her wrath.” he added softly, a shiver running down his spine.

This was not something we had been expecting to replace out. Let alone from someone else. Yes, Orion told us but he had to be put on the spot for him to do so and that worried me. What else was he hiding from us? I thought we had showed each other everything there had to be shown in our lives? How could he hide something like this from us?

His father being not only Justin’s own brother but a Rouge was more than enough for me to handle and I don’t think Jax was taking it very well either. He looked close to killing someone. I had to figure something out to get them both to just chill the fuck out.