Chapter 6

Send this shit back. There's too much salt!"

"There's not enough sugar in these cookies?"

"Tell that woman she'd better clean that kitchen properly."

Abel didn't relent in his mission to annoy, to frustrate, to anger Cassie. She'd been so sure in the dungeon that she had everything under control, but she didn't. She'd never been pushed to the breaking point, and he was determined to make her snap, to see how much control she actually had, and if she even knew that she was holding on by a thread. His complaints were pathetic. The dinner was oversalted because of him. He'd kept sprinkling and sprinkling. The cookies were more than fine, but he'd also dunked them into his drink so that they splashed everywhere. He complained about the cleanliness of the kitchen as he'd heard she liked things to look just right.

"I don't like peanut butter. Tell her she cannot cook that crap in my house."

Each person would give him that horrible look, but he didn't give a shit. It was his job to make the bad decisions, to push his pack so that they were better. Cassie was impressive. In over a week, she hadn't snapped. On Sunday, he'd demanded lunch, and that his pack was to visit so there were more people to see. The scent of chicken was amazing. From the orders he'd been sent, there were ten chickens being roasted for the pack to enjoy a nice, long Sunday lunch. His mouth was watering, and it hadn't stopped since Cassie went into the kitchen.

His morning toast wasn't even burned.

Sitting at the table, he watched as, one by one, his pack joined him. They sensed something was going to happen today. He hadn't told them what he was doing, and they didn't understand his sudden acts of cruelty toward the new woman in the pack. He didn't give a shit what they thought right now. Cassie had been poked all of her life. She'd been hurt, and not once had she allowed that rage, that anger, to explode within her. He wanted to break her, to see her snap, and once it was done, he intended to help her, to draw her closer to him, so that he could show her he meant her no harm. All he wanted to do was to help her, to give her confidence within herself. He hated seeing this negativity or the fear. Every day he found himself drawn to her file, and he wanted to know as much about her as possible. Not a moment went by that he didn't think about her. When he went to sleep, she was there in his thoughts and the same when he woke up. There was no break. She'd even starred in many of his fantasies. His need for her was constant within him, and he couldn't turn it off, not that he wanted to. He'd taken many a cold shower, which had resulted in him taking his cock in hand and dealing with his arousal. She was the first woman to ever intrigue him like this or to capture his attention so surely.

Jessica sat at the opposite end of the table. Her gaze was on him even as three men were watching her. She still thought there was an opportunity for them to be together. He'd been mean, blunt, and if she wasn't careful, he'd be cruel to get his point across.

One by one the pack arrived at the table just as some of the volunteers came out of the kitchen. Down the plates went, and he smiled. The food looked amazing. The pile of roasted potatoes was golden, crisp, and steam rose from them.

She'd also done some leafy greens, glazed carrots, mashed potatoes, and then the chickens came out. He noticed they were all carved and displayed on the plates for everyone to enjoy. Cassie was the last one to enter the main dining room, carrying two pots of gravy. The only seat available was the one near him, and he'd done it on purpose so that he could be near, to watch her reactions to him. Not all of the pack was present today, but that was okay. She nibbled her lip as she sat down. He was the one that made everyone say grace before they started to dive in. Holding out his plate in front of her, he saw her lip twitch, but she didn't say anything as she began to put the food into his plate. Her hand shook a little.

"Is it all cooked?" he asked.

"Yes."

"What about the chicken? I know we're wolves, but even we can get stomach ache from food."

Her hand was white as she clenched her knife, and he saw that it had also bent just a little.

"Do you have a problem with my food?" she asked.

"I'm just making sure you're not serving substandard stuff to my pack."

"I would never do that."

"I don't know that, do I?" he asked. "I don't even know you, and you are a newbie here."

He saw the pain flash in her eyes, and he hated himself for his words, but it had to be done. This had to be done. Taking a bite, he wrinkled his nose even as his mouth watered. "Too much rosemary."

She didn't say or do anything, just took a bite. He was aware of the pack watching his every move. Pushing some of his food around his plate, he took a bite of carrot. "That's too sweet."

It was fucking heavenly. This woman could cook, and he felt spoiled for choice on what to eat. Again, she just took a deep breath and kept on eating. Her hands were shaking though at this point. His wolf sensed hers beneath the surface, pacing, waiting to strike. Waiting for a moment that he'd mess up just so she could pounce on him. His own wolf liked it. He wanted her to pounce and to play. Poking at his chicken, he wrinkled his nose, and this time added more pepper then more salt.

"Bland," he said.

Everything tasted amazing, but he wanted to play with her, to push her.

"Why do you keep messing with the food?" she asked. "If you don't like it then stop me from cooking."

"Someone's got to do it even if it's badly."

There was silence at the table. They all knew the food was excellent. They hadn't eaten so well since his mother's passing, and that was some time ago. In fact, there were people here who hadn't eaten his mother's cooking.

"I can't do this."

She stood up and was about to take her plate as if to move. Before she could do that, he grabbed her wrist.

"You will not move. You will sit at this table and do as you're told. That's what good little wolves do, as they're told."

"Stop it," she said.

The violence was there. Years of rage at being kept locked up with no way out. Fear keeping her in place. You don't need to be afraid, little wolf. I'm here.

"Stop what? You're lucky I'm even allowing you to eat. They didn't let you, did they? You must've cost a fortune to keep."

That unleashed the fury. He couldn't contain her arm as she pulled back, and then she threw her chair at him.

"Leave!" He yelled for everyone within the room to go as he grabbed Cassie and threw her across the room away from his pack.

She landed with ease on her feet, throwing her head back. He saw the amber of her eyes as the wolf came so close to the surface. She probably wouldn't turn, but the risk was there. The beast was close within her, and wanted out. Her wolf wanted to attack. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his pack leave the room, taking as much food as possible with them. She didn't wait for the last person to leave as she charged toward him. He had no intention of hurting her. He simply dodged her attack, making sure to keep her safe in the process. When she pulled away, she lifted up the table and threw it out of her way to come and get at him. He noticed broken plates, shattered wood, and other items that could hurt her.

Finally, catching her in his arms, he pressed her down onto the floor, knocking the wind out of her. Straddling her waist, he caught her hands and pressed them above her head, keeping her down. Cassie didn't let up easily. She kept struggling against him, convinced that she could get away, but he wouldn't let her. She was at his mercy, and now he was the one in charge. After several minutes of fighting, she finally gave in, and only when he saw the amber of her eyes retract did he know she was back in charge of her wolf once again. Tears shone in her eyes, and she stared up at him in shock.

"It's okay. I've got you."

Then she burst into tears, curling up on her side and sobbing into her hands.