Cassandra's POV

Okay, let's put it out there, the heat shit hurt. Will I go through it again? Probably not. Would I use inspiration from it as future torture technique? Definitely yes, but that's not the point.I wanted Alec to mark, I did. But not while I was in heat and due to its influence on both of us, rather when we both were ready for it. When we went downstairs for breakfast, (even though Alec said we should eat in the room and sleep in) I was stunned to say the least.

Sophie and Damon were sitting in the living room, with Sophie on Damon's lap. Her head on his shoulder, his arms around her both watching some show playing on the Tv in-front of them. A surprised gasp escaped me and when they both turned around to see me, with her eyes wide open and jaw probably on the ground, quickly standing them they faced me with smiles on their faces. Well, Damon was grinning and Sophie had a shy smile but same thing.

"Well, looks like your advice worked Cass. All it took was the heat process to make Sophie accept me. Even though it hurt like a bitch, it was worth it in the end," Damon intertwined his hands with Sophie and placed a kiss on the side of her bead while she blushed. I almost cooed at the sight before me.

This ship has sailed.

"You guys! I'm so happy for you-" I ran forward engulfing both of them in a big bear hug. "I'll be very happy to be the godmother of your child," I whispered, which earned a groan from Damon and light laugh from Sophie. Pulling away I looked back at my mate to see him shaking his head at me with a smile on his face.

"My heartiest congratulations to you both. Commander, we'll have to go through the transfer papers-" I groaned which stopped Alec mid sentence and he looked at me with his eye-brow raised in question. I gave him a pointed look and turned to the couple.

"Seeing all my mate can think about right now is work, I'll have to take away Sophie for details. You boys can continue with the legal stuff. Bye!" Pulling Sophie away before she can react, I moved towards the kitchen with her trailing behind me. Once we settle on the kitchen chairs and I had requested for my daily dose of pancakes, I turned towards Sophie unable to keep my excitement at bay.

"Well? What happened? When did Damon arrive at the palace? Spill the tea, sister." I joined my hands in anticipation turning my full attention towards her. Wait, this is their personal matter. What if she isn't comfortable sharing it with me?

" I'm sorry, IF you're comfortable in sharing it with me of course. I didn't stop to think about your feelings, I'm so sorry. I'm not forcing you or anything, it's perfectly fine if you don't want to spill the tea, I–" Sophie's arms coming around me stopped my rambling. Patting my back she pulled away and smiled at me.

"Relax. We're friends, right?" I nodded at her question before she continued, " When you screamed I was in my office, your scream got me up running towards you when the heat hit me. I fell on my knees because of the sudden impact to my abdomen. I was already away from my mate and not having him with me increased the extent of the pain. Alexander was running towards your office when he saw me on the ground barely holding myself together, he mind-linked Damon to come and in matter of seconds called mated female guards to help me. They took me to my room, locking the door. They moved towards the bathroom placed me in the tub, filled with ice cold water to cool down my temperature. It took Damon almost an hour to reach here. Just when he entered my room his scent hit with full force and on instinct I got up and pulled him to me. I felt complete you know? like–"

"You were meant to stay in his arms forever. Like you found your missing puzzle piece." I completed her sentence, remembering the same feeling I felt when I was in Alec's arms.

"–Yeah, exactly. It was then that I realized how foolish I've been. Torturing both of us just because of my insecurities. We found each other and we're meant for each other. Going fast be damned. Also, when I realized he was experiencing the heat himself I knew he was perfect for me. Then he asked me if he can mark me and I said yes. So, yeah. The tea, as you so graciously put it, has been spilled." She finished with a large smile on her face. I put my fork down, after swallowing the last piece of my pancake that I was eating while she told me her story, and congratulated her again. We talked for some time after that but then she said we should go to Alec's office and sort things out. Quickly grabbing the breakfast tray I had asked William to make for Alec, we went onward to my mate's office.

As we entered the office, Alec was sitting in his chair while Jack and Damon sat infront of him, seeing us they turned towards us. Alec's face visibly lit up seeing me and I felt all giddy inside. Sophie went to stand beside Damon's chair but he got up and made her sit on the chair while he stood near her. I walked towards my mate, placing the tray on the desk, in an instant he pulled me towards him making me sit on his lap. I squealed at his actions, my face instantly heating up.

"Damn, that's how you do it Damon." Jack says shaking his head him, Sophie nodded in agreement and Damon rolled his eyes.

"Well, excuse me for trying to maintain a serious work environment," huffing he pulled Sophie to him then sat down while placing her on his lap. Instead of reciprocating my act of blushing, she made herself comfortable and smirked sending a grateful look towards Jack.

"You guys do realize there's plenty of space of all of us to sit in our own chairs right?" I rose my eyebrow which resulted in three people hushing me. Rolling my eyes, I grabbed the tray motioning Alec to start eating.

"Cassie! How could you?" Jack gasped and looked at me with pure sadness in his eyes. I frowned and looked at him clearly confused.

"You.. you didn't bring me any food tray. Am I not important to you?Do you not love me anymore?Does our relationship mean nothing to you?" Jack placed his hand on his heart and turned his head away from me. Behind me I hear Alec grumbling, annoyed at him and I almost laugh.

"I'm so sorry, my best friend in the whole wide world. I'll order one for you right away." I say trying to stop my smile while he continues to shake his head at me.

"Nope, nope. The damage is done. We're over-" before Jack can continue a flying stapler hit him in the stomach earning a groan out of him. Damon and Sophie both tried stifling their laughter covering their faces with their hands.

"Shut up. Get your own mate, leave mine alone."Alec glared at him, turning to look at him I elbowed his stomach to which he gave me a hurt expression.

"Okay, okay, guys. As much as I'm loving this we need to discuss about Sophie's transfer or how things will move forward. Also, I believe our King has to announce something as well."Damon adjusted Sophie on his lap and said in a serious tone. In an instant the playful environment took a whole 360 degree turn.

"Damon's right. As much as I would love for Sophie to go back with you right now Damon, I'm sorry she won't. With the rouge attacks and me leaving almost immediately after this meeting with the warriors to the pack's that need help, we don't have time to appoint a new beta. All this will have to be discussed when I come back,"Tightening his arms around me to stop me from shaking Alec looked ahead to gauge the reaction of the remaining people in the room.

He's leaving now? Well of course it's not like we have time. Somehow we never have enough time. My hands grip Alec's arms that were around me. It's okay, he'll be fine. He's here. He'll come back. I keep chanting the words again and again.

He's going to be okay.

Sophie and Damon were saying something, but I couldn't focus. They were probably agreeing to Alec's decision. Then Jackson said something that me still,

"I'm going with you," With finality in his voice he looked at Alec, leaving no room for argument. Alec sighed and drew small circles on my stomach to calm me down.

"Seeing you have made up your mind, yes Jackie, you're coming with me." With this he placed a kiss on the side of my face and got up from the chair with me.

I'm so pathetic.

 Even now he has to console me rather than being the other way around. The others took their leave, which left only me and Alec alone in the office. In an instant I turned around and hugged him as if my life was depending on it. He wrapped his arms around me whispering, he'll be okay in my ear. I nodded and stepped back.

"I've asked the army to assemble outside the castle, we'll transform and go towards the west. After fighting the rogue group settled in there, I have to make sure there aren't any other groups settled elsewhere. So, we'll travel to south then east. Take care of yourself while I'm gone, my love. And remember I'll come back to you, I'll always come back." Placing a kiss on my lips, then on my forehead Alec pulled away. Alec said he met with his parents before already. Explained everything to him. His father was going with the army.

I stood outside the castle with Damon, Sophie and Alec's mother beside me. The army of warriors gathered here, most of them were in wolf form. Those who were not, they were wearing backpacks with all the necessary equipment. After Jack's encouraging speech to raise the morale, he looked at me. Sending me a confident smile, he shifted as well. I turned my attention towards my mate. He was looking at me, his eyes relaying me the same message he said earlier. I knew I had to be strong, not for myself but for my mate and my people.

'Go get 'em tiger.' I mind-linked him, to which he smirked. Turning into his majestic black wolf, he let out a loud growl which shook the ground. The power radiating off him in waves making everyone bow down, bearing their necks to him. With confident strides he lead the army towards the battlefield.

Please, be safe.

Heyy guys! Any thoughts on the chapter? Damn, it's so much work to write a longer chapter. This is isn't edited, so kindly ignore any mistakes. Don't forget to vote, comment and share. Your feedback means alot to me🤍

With love, Izzy.