Chapter 5

For three days Cassie avoided the alpha. Wherever he was, she made sure to avoid him. His home was so large that she'd been able to do that, and she noticed several rooms he never seemed to venture in. The first was the kitchen, which became her new best friend. Again, that was kind of weird as the kitchen was once her enemy. Her pack had banned her from using the kitchen at her old pack house. Her own parents ordered to keep her away from it, and she hadn't been allowed to fix herself a snack, let alone cook. Several of the pack members here had held their hands up, giving her the room for her to do what she liked in there.

Since she'd started cooking, she'd made friends. They had come in to greet her, and a couple of the men had sunk to their knees saying they were not worthy and asked if she could cook all the time. The bell on the alarm by the oven rang, and she pulled open the door, the scent of cinnamon raisin cookies filling the air. It had been years since she'd baked one, or tried one. Her mouth was watering so badly. She'd already made herself a cup of coffee. Placing the cookies on the countertop, she prepared the cooling trays, and after a few minutes began to transfer the cookies. Once that was all done, she placed the baking trays on the counter near the sink, took a seat, held a cookie, and tasted. She closed her eyes as the flavor exploded on her tongue, and she let out a little moan.

"I like that sound."

Cassie squeaked, coughing on the cookie in her mouth. She quickly swallowed and patted her chest as she did.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize this was a private thing," Abel said.

"You've never come to the kitchen."

"I've never smelled oatmeal raisin cookies before." He moved toward the counter where the cookies rested. He picked one up and took a bite. She watched him close his eyes and savor the bite. "They are fucking fantastic," he said.

"Thank you."

"No need to thank me. You baked these? They were not out of a package?"

"No. Carl told me they purchased all the stuff to bake, but no one ever got around to it. They kept throwing out the old baking stuff and restocking the shelves. I figured it was okay to use it up. It's kind of a waste otherwise."

He took a second one. "Can I have a cup?" He pointed toward the coffeepot, and she laughed.

"Of course. It's all yours." She sipped her coffee. Abel joined her, placing a cookie beside her. "I didn't mean to spoil your enjoyment of a cookie."

"It's fine."

"It's not, and you should stop taking crap. Accept an apology when you're due one. Even better, demand one."

His voice snapped each word at her, and she nodded, taking it.

"Thank you."

"Good. You've been avoiding me."

She didn't even try to deny it. She couldn't.

"I don't accept you trying to hide from me. You've got to learn to handle your strength, and if you can't show me your best, then this pack is not for you."

Her heart began to pound. "I don't want to leave."

"It would be difficult to get rid of you. I've heard the pack talking. Your food over the past three days has won them over. Some of the women are not happy, but don't take shit from them. I don't accept it. Learn to stick up for yourself, understood?"

"Yes."

"I've really enjoyed the food as well."

"You have?"

"Yes. I've not had good home cooking like that since my mother was alive."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

He nodded but didn't say anything.

"What if you can't control me?" she asked.

"What?

"If I go feral or if you can't control me, and I can't be brought back. What … how … I don't want to die."

He nodded. "Follow me."

When she saw that he picked up his coffee, she followed him, eating her cookie as she did. They moved toward the gym, and she'd noticed a door that she'd assumed led to a storage room. It didn't. Abel opened the door, switching on the light and allowing her to enter. The instant they were inside the room, she became aware of the warmth. Her wolf moaned against it and seemed to bask in the sudden flush of heat. He didn't say anything as they moved down a long, old-fashioned flight of stairs that led to a dungeon.

"You've got a heated dungeon?" she asked.

"A long time ago I realized that with a lot of wolves who've been hurt and struggle between packs, warmth helps to soothe them. Calming them is always a challenge, but in these rooms, it helps to relax them, to draw them out. The cold only makes them more violent, and their rage is always in full force. Heated rooms are expensive but necessary. When it comes to the pack, I don't spare any expense."

He opened one of the doors, and she stepped inside. There was no window, just walls, and as she moved toward the wall, she saw the chains. They were so thick.

She lifted them up, feeling the weight within them. "You've kept wolves here?"

"Yes. After sedating them, even when they try to change, the wolves stay shackled to the wall. If they do break free, I have reinforced doors. Everyone will be protected at all costs."

Cassie felt relief as she stared at the chains and the room. "This is amazing."

"Thank you. I will protect you, Cassie. That I can promise you."

"I believe you." She held the chains in her hand, wondering if they could hold her.

"Would you like me to try?" Abel asked.

He stepped toward her, opening one of the chains. Her heart once again was racing as he held it there. "Put your hand inside, and you'll be able to feel it." She placed her hand in the chain, and he snapped it closed, doing the same with the next. Completely chained, she stared down at her hands. The weight was there, and to most pack, that would be enough to keep them still, to not fight. In fact, if she wasn't so strong, she'd have collapsed to the floor just to take the pressure off. It wasn't even hard for her to hold the chains up.

"Try and pull free."

Taking a deep breath, she jerked forward. She kept on pulling the chains, trying to get free. Nothing budged, and she breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how hard she pulled, she wasn't going to get away. People were safe, and she wouldn't hurt anyone.

Smiling, she turned toward Abel.

"Feel good?"

"Yes. I feel a little weird that I'm really happy about that."

"Do you like to cook?" he asked.

She frowned. "Yes. It … soothes me."

"I've really enjoyed the meals you've been cooking. That's what I want you to do every single day, and to bake for me and the pack."

"Oh."

"Yes, that will be your job. From now on, I don't want you to hide from me. You've got to learn to deal with your anger, and to keep your strength under control."

"I've never lashed out in anger."

"You haven't?"

"It takes a lot for me to do that, and no one has ever been able to do so. I don't think that will be a problem." He stared at her, and she didn't like the way he did. It was as if he was assessing her, trying to find a weakness.

"You've only lost control during fear?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

He moved toward her, removing the chains that bound her to the wall.

She picked up her coffee that she'd placed on the floor as she'd looked at the room.

They left the room, and she looked around, seeing at least six rooms. There was a room beneath the stairs.

"Are all of these rooms for wolves?"

"No. There's one that is my personal room." He turned toward her. "You don't get to see that yet."

The promise in his words made her frown. Why would Abel have a room in the dungeon? And why would he be willing to show it to her?