"I woke up this morning with my old life in tatters. Everything I'd ever worked for, everything thing I ever dreamed about accomplishing, gone. Just like that," she said, snapping her fingers. "Yes, I have you now, and that's great, but…"
"But what?"
"But now I have to find my place in this new life."
Samson crossed his arms. "And being by my side isn't enough? You want to parade the intimate details of our life in front of the beta world for what—a sense of validation?"
Frustration surged inside Cassidy. How could someone be so wonderful and so maddening at the same time?
"I don't want to parade anything," she shouted. "I want to share. Don't you see what a huge deal this is? No one has ever documented an alpha/beta relationship. We might be the first."
"I don't give a shit about that." His voice rose, shaking the stack of cups at his side.
"Well, I do," she said, undeterred by his show of anger. "This is who I am, Samson. You got to leave the cabin this morning and go about your normal routine. You got to be you. I love you like nothing else in this world, but I can't stop being myself just so I can sleep in your bed."
Samson growled. The rumble shook the air between them—deeper and lower than any Cassidy had ever heard before. Without thinking, she stumbled back a step and held herself up against the kitchen counter.
A part of her waited for the worst. For Samson to rage and tear the house apart. Hell, maybe tear her apart.
But he didn't. Instead, he pushed away from the sink and stormed out the front door without another word, leaving Cassidy shocked and trembling.
And wondering if she'd finally gone too far this time.
* * *
She loved him.
She'd said the words. Unbidden. Without hesitation or shame. More importantly, she'd meant them. He could sense the depth of her feelings, and they were every bit as strong as her passion.
He shouldn't have been surprised. They'd been growing closer with every visit. Even behind her defensive wall, he could feel the strength of their connection.
So, why didn't Cassidy see how precious their relationship was? How sacred? How private?
Samson felt like he had found his mate—but Cassidy had found a science experiment.
Why wasn't what they had enough for her? Did she think she was the only one paying the price for this bond?
The questions flew through Samson's head as he stormed away from the cabin. He needed some space to think. Some distance between himself and Cassidy's intoxicating scent to figure it all out.
He kept a brutal pace, hiking over the hills and past redwood groves and hollows of dense ferns until all the sweat he'd washed away was back.
It only took him a few minutes to reach the highest point on his land. Looking out over the sea of green, Samson sat down on a fallen log and drew in a deep breath.
Fuck.
He could still pick up traces of her in the wind.
And he always would, he realized. From now on, Cassidy would always be there. On his land. In his house. In his bed.
The thought both thrilled and maddened him.
Leave it to him to bond with a beta as stubborn as she was smart. With all her books and papers, Cassidy knew damn well what alpha life was like. What his life was like.
She'd been there when Ty had all but called them outcasts. Had she forgotten the disgust shining in his friend's eyes? The scorn?
Maybe she had.
Samson dusted his hands off on his thighs before rising back to his feet.
That was fine. He would just have to show her.
Chapter Eleven
Cassidy stared at the blank page of her notebook, trying to concentrate. It had been a little over an hour since Samson had stormed away.
At least, she figured that's how long it had been. Without a clock, it was hard to tell. In her heart, it felt like forever, but the slowly moving shadows outside the window indicated otherwise.
She didn't know why she was worried. It wasn't as if Samson was going to run away and never come back. This was his home. His property.
And now it was hers too.
Maybe that was why she wasn't freaking out even though he'd left in anger. Even though she had no idea where he was or when he'd return.
If Cassidy were an omega, she would have been climbing the walls because he'd been gone so long. The hormonal need to be near enough to draw in a constant stream of his pheromones would drive her crazy. If the separation went on days or weeks, her entire endocrine system would shut down, killing her.
But only if she were an omega.
Which she wasn't.
So instead, Cassidy sat at the kitchen table, staring at a blank page and desperately wishing that she could focus long enough to document even a few details about the last twenty-four hours.
But she couldn't.
Every time she touched the tip of her pencil to paper, the image of Samson's hurt and angry face flashed in her mind. The pain in his voice echoed in her ears.
Because it's our life. Yours and mine. It's no one's business.
He was right, of course.
She thought that she'd be able to persuade him with the promise of anonymity, but it was clear now that wasn't enough.
Beyond that, there were the ethical concerns. While some of her colleagues had no problem publishing without the consent of the subjects they studied, Cassidy would never dream of doing so. No matter how important a discovery she had on her hands, if she couldn't get Samson to come around, she would never submit the paper for publication.
Cassidy let out a slow breath. She closed her notebook just as Samson walked through the door.
"Get up," he said by way of a greeting. "We're going out."
"Going where?" Cassidy sputtered, rising from the chair.
He didn't answer. He simply grabbed his keys from a hook by the door and headed out again.
By the time Cassidy scrambled to find her shoes and bag, Samson had already climbed in the truck and started the engine. The second she was inside, he started down the drive.
"Do I get to know where you're taking me?" she asked when he made the turn onto the Central Road.
Samson's jaw tightened. So did his grip around the steering wheel. "Where do you think?" he said.
To Evander's Bar.
It had to be. It was the only destination in this direction…except for the boundary. And Cassidy knew in her bones he wasn't taking her there.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked. Ty hadn't exactly been at his friendliest when they'd left there.
"Why not?" he said, speeding down the road. "I usually go to the bar at some point. And like you said, my life hasn't changed."
So, that's what this was about.
"Come on, Samson," she said, reaching across and touching his arm. The coiled tension that radiated from his muscles gave her pause. He was pissed, sure, but his emotions ran a hell of a lot deeper than that. "I didn't mean it like that."
He took his eyes from the road just long enough to shoot her a look—hot and pointed. "Then say what you mean."
"I just meant…"
Shit.
What had she meant? That her life had been changed more drastically than his? That she was the one making all the sacrifices? That given enough time, his life would go back to normal, but hers would be forever altered?
Cassidy felt like an asshole even thinking those things. Samson might not receive any dramatic letters from university departments officially casting him out. Still, alpha society—his brothers—had their own form of punishment for breaking society's rules.
And truth be told, it was a hell of a lot harsher than anything that would be whispered about her in the beta world.
"That's what I thought," Samson said when her silence had stretched on too long.
"All right," Cassidy said, curling her fingers around his arm even tighter. "You're right. I was totally wrong. I admit it. Now, turn around."
Samson k
ept on driving, his arms straight and his jaw set.
Cassidy didn't know if he was stubborn or suicidal.
"Please, Samson," she tried again as he pulled into the gravel parking lot in front of the bar. "You don't have to do this."
"Yeah, I do." He set the brake and cut the engine. "We do."
Cassidy's stomach sank as she watched him get out of the truck. He didn't wait for her. Instead, he started for the steps.
After a long second, Cassidy drew in a deep breath and followed him.
She couldn't let him go in there alone. Her place was at his side. No matter what.
Samson kept his shoulders squared and his head high as he swung open the door to the bar and stepped inside. Cassidy stayed close behind, shielded by his massive frame.
She might not be a coward, but she wasn't an idiot either. Samson was lucky enough to be bigger and stronger than ever other alpha around, but Cassidy was as average as betas came. One flick of an alpha's finger would send her flying.
Fortunately, Evander's wasn't packed like it had been the night before. It wasn't empty, either. There was a pack of three alphas standing around the pool table, while a lone alpha downed a beer at the bar.
Every one of them turned and looked at her and Samson.
"I thought I smelled you out there, Samson." A light-haired alpha gave a dark smirk before laying his pool cue down on the table. He stepped forward, his chest puffed out on full display. "Someone said you'd bound yourself to a beta, but I didn't believe it. Guess it's true, though."
Cassidy's throat tightened. She knew they shouldn't have come here. This was a bad idea.
A very bad idea.
She gripped the back of Samson's arm, hoping he could sense how much they needed to get the hell out of there.
But, apparently, Samson didn't agree.
"You got a problem with that?" he said to the younger alpha.
The alpha quickly glanced back at his friends, making sure he had their backing, before raising his chin. He must have figured that though Samson was bigger, they had numbers on their side.
"Guess I do," the alpha said, edging closer. Cassidy didn't need alpha-level senses to pick up on the aggression in his tone. "Nicky's girls are one thing, but this is unnatural. It's—"
Whatever the alpha was going to say next, he never got the chance.
Samson pulled back his fist and smashed it into the man's jaw faster than Cassidy could track.
One punch, and it was done. The young alpha crumpled to the floor, unconscious. A stream of blood trickled from his mouth.
Cassidy gasped, her hands flying up to cover her mouth. She'd never seen anyone move so fast before, or hit so hard. The sudden burst of violence was both efficient and terrifying, and she wasn't quite sure how to react.
Samson turned his head, slowly scanning the bar. "Anybody else got shit to say about my woman?"
No one uttered a word.
"Good," Samson said with a nod. Reaching behind him, he grabbed Cassidy's wrist and led her to the bar. Her knees were still shaking as she lifted herself up onto one of the stools.
Ty let out a groan as they sat down. Shaking his head, he picked up a rag and started walking over.
"Two beers," Samson ordered. Without lifting his head, he glanced up at his old friend. "Assuming you'll still serve us."
"He'll serve you," a deep voice said from a few stools down.
Cassidy looked over at the big alpha sitting there alone. He turned his head, met Cassidy's gaze, and gave her a nod.
Ty glared at both the alphas with exasperation before reaching for the mugs. "Somebody gonna take care of Rowan, or are you just gonna leave him bleeding on my floor?" he asked.
Samson shrugged. "The pup will wake up soon enough. "
"Hopefully, he learned a lesson about when to keep his mouth shut," the other alpha agreed.
"Shit, Kian," Ty grumbled. "Whose side are you on?"
The alpha palmed his glass. "Didn't realize we had sides," he said before draining his beer.
So, this was Kian. Cassidy's eyes widened. She'd heard plenty about the alpha who was the first in decades to meet his omega, but she'd never met him. He didn't come into neutral territory much anymore. Especially not now that he had little ones at home.
Cassidy watched as Samson took a gulp and stared balefully at the taps in front of him.
Well, this was fun.
After a long, silent, and painfully tense minute had passed, she reached over and pulled on his sleeve.
"You've proven your point," she whispered, knowing full well that every conscious alpha in the place could hear her crystal clear. "Can we go home now?"
Samson looked at his glass. "I think I'll have another one."
Oh, for fuck's sake. Was he trying to punish her, making her worry that another fistfight was going to break out? Was he trying to prove something to Ty? That he wouldn't be driven out or pushed around?
Whatever it was, Cassidy was sick of playing along.
She grabbed her beer and slid off her stool. "Well, you have fun in here," she said. "I'm going to get some fresh air."
Cassidy didn't look back as she pushed the side door open and stepped out onto the patio.
The second she was outside, her guard crumbled. Her hands shook, making her beer splash and froth in the mug. The stifling weight on her chest eased, but her breathing still sputtered.
If Samson had come here to show her that she'd been a jerk for telling him that his life would go on as usual, he'd proved his point.
This wasn't some frivolous game for him. For the first time, Cassidy realized just how much he was gambling—his friendships, his standing in the community, even his safety.
Maybe hers too.
Cassidy jumped at the sound of a squeaky hinge swinging open. She breathed a sigh of relief to see Mia standing in the doorway.
Cassidy couldn't help herself. She rushed over and gave the omega a hug before checking to see if it was welcome.
The tender way Mia wrapped her arms around Cassidy's shoulders let know that their friendship was still intact. Nothing had changed there.
Cassidy was so relieved at the realization that tears rolled down her cheeks. Mia pulled back and wiped them away with her thumbs.
"Well," Mia said with a wicked smile. "Sounds like you had a pretty good Friday night."
Cassidy couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of her tight throat. "I'm just so happy to see you," she said. "I was afraid you were another alpha coming out to show me my place."
Mia shook her head. "After that punch Samson threw? Trust me, once word of that gets around, no one will dare look at you sideways."
"Or at all," Cassidy sighed. "Apparently, we're outcasts."
"Not to me," Mia said. "Honestly, the only thing I'm surprised at is that it took you both this long."
Cassidy's eyes widened. "What?"
"Oh, come on," Mia laughed. "You two weren't exactly subtle around each other."
"What do you mean?" Cassidy asked. "I never touched Samson until last night."
"Touched? No. But the way you two looked at each other?" Mia arched her brows. "Between your eyelash flutters and his growls, it was pretty clear you two were meant for each other."
Eyelash flutters? Her? No way.
She'd never been that obvious--had she?
Apparently so. But at least Mia wasn't looking at her like she was a freak of nature. She wasn't showing any judgment at all.
"I'm pretty sure you're the only one who thinks so," Cassidy said.
"I'm sorry about that." Mia waved her hand and rolled her eyes. "I love Ty, but the man can be as dense as a stump. It's not his fault. Alphas hate anything that challenges them at first, but they come around."
"Really?"
"Well…eventually." Mia shrugged. Then her eyes brightened. "Us omeg—I mean mates get together at Gail's house every Tuesday for tea. You should join us."
"I'm not sure," Cassidy mumbled.
"Why
not? Got something else on your calendar?" Mia said teasingly.
"No, it's just that…" Cassidy bit her lip. She didn't want to tell Mia the truth—that she was afraid she'd pale in comparison in a room full of omegas. "I doubt Samson will be willing to take me. Or that your alpha would let me in once I got there."
"Oh, really?" One of Mia's brows shot up. She turned on her heel—her pregnant belly causing her to teeter—and waddled back toward the door.
Cassidy stared after her. "Where are you going?"
"To have a little talk with a couple of alphas," she said. "Be back in ten—make that five minutes."
Chapter Twelve
Samson hadn't been on Randall's property in years. Not since three winters ago when a wind storm had toppled a portion of the alpha's aqueduct, and Samson had offered to lend a hand repairing it.
His permission to cross the property line still stood, though.
At least, Samson hoped it did. He would find out real quick once he parked his truck in front of the other alpha's house.
He glanced over at Cassidy as he slowly pulled up the drive. She was just as quiet as when they'd left the cabin. Just as distant. Her eyes were focused out the passenger's side window, gazing somewhere past the line of deep green that stretched out for miles.
She hadn't bothered with her usual bun. Instead, her hair fell in loose, shiny waves around her shoulders.
He felt the worry pouring out of her. It had been there ever since they'd come home from Evander's, but now it was growing stronger with every turn of the tires.
"You okay?" he asked.
She nodded silently, not even bothering to look at him when she lied. She wasn't anywhere close to okay.
And what was worse, he didn't have any idea what was wrong with her. No matter how many times he asked, she refused to tell him the truth.
She'd said that she was just figuring out her emotions or acclimating to her new life, but Samson could sense that was bullshit. Whatever she was anxious about, it was something tangible and real. Something she didn't think he would be able to handle.
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