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.
Maybe she was concerned that the tension that had been growing between him and Ty would finally turn violent today. And who the fuck knew—maybe it would.
When Samson had dragged Cassidy to Evander's, he'd only wanted her to face reality. But it was possible that he had gone too far. He'd shown some of the pups that he wouldn't stand for disrespect, but he'd also deepened the rift between himself and Ty.
And, apparently, formed a brand new one with Cassidy.
Samson hadn't been expecting that. But then again, he had never had to worry about how his temper impacted anyone else before.
Shit, he'd never had to worry about anyone else…period.
That was why he'd consented to this visit after Mia had harangued him. He hoped that being around the omegas might pull Cassidy out of her funk. It had better work, because he was running out of ideas.
All he knew was that he wasn't going to live his life in exile just because some of his brothers were close-minded bigots…and neither was Cassidy.
Mia was right. His woman deserved to be in the company of other women. Other mates. She deserved the chance to make friends and be a part of a community. And Samson didn't care how many jaws he had to break in order to give her that.
Ty steeled himself as he pulled out of the dense copse of trees and into the circular drive in front of Randall and Gail's house. There were three alphas already waiting on the porch for them—Randall, Kian, and Ty.
Cassidy tensed beside him at the less than friendly looking welcoming committee. "You sure we can't spend the day at home?" she asked as he cut the engine.
Samson didn't answer. Anything he said from this distance would be picked up by alpha ears, and the last thing he needed was to give his brothers any more ammunition. So instead, he simply opened his door and stepped out, knowing that
