I was not surprised at her reaction when I told her that she was going to be acting as a wolf. This was one thing I hated about humans: they tend to see every other creature that is not exactly like them as a beast, and she even mentioned that word at the hospital.
"Do you have a problem with that?" I asked her, my gaze locked in hers as I waited to hear what she was going to say.
"Mr Donald, it is hard enough for me that I have to live under the same roof with you; only God knows how many of your kind will be around here, but you asking me to pretend like I am one of you is not going to happen. I mean, how do I even pretend to be a wolf when this is my very first encounter with one and I hate that it is so complicated?"
Her response sounded rather funny to me. First, I was not expecting her to speak so calmly, and with the way she was carefully picking her words, I knew that she was gradually learning to be careful.
"Unfortunately, that is the only way I can help you. You cannot be around here acting like a human because you will not be safe. "If you want to really maintain your space and have peace living here, you need to make them believe that you are not different," I said to her, trying to sound as brief as possible because the mere sight of her upset me within.
"I don't get it; this is supposed to be your house. Why do I need to pretend when this is supposed to be like a personal space?" She asked me, and at that moment I knew she had a point, but what she did not understand was that I was an alpha and also a big business owner. I had so many important guests visiting the mansion sometimes, and matters about the pack could be discussed inside that building.
"Just do as you're told, lady. I did not have the time to start explaining things bit by bit unless you want to explore the mansion yourself and find out what it would feel like to be hurt by a wolf."
"I don't want that," she instantly confessed.
"Good, then follow the rules." I responded, walking towards the window there at the mini living room in her own part of the mansion.
"Is that the only rule, or is there some other weird thing that I have to do to stay here?" she asked me.
"There are others, one of which is that you must not leave this quarter without my permission. You are not allowed to go out; nobody must know that you stay here, not even your family, which you do not seem to have anymore.
You have to obey anything I say, and if you have a concern, you should call me directly. You do not have to speak to anyone about the deal between us; nobody must know." I said all of these to her, looking out of the window without facing her, but I could almost hear her chuckle.
"Do you really think I would keep to all of those rules?" She asked me as I slowly turned around to face her.
"I beg your pardon?" I asked.
"Donald, you do not get to boss me around because I am being your surrogate mate or whatever you call it. You cannot confine me in here and tell me that I have to do everything you say; that's practical slavery," she said to me, taking about three steps forward, and I somehow found her guts rather interesting.
"Then maybe we should talk about the punishments you would get whenever you fail to stick to those rules. I was going to skip that part, but it seems like it would come in handy. I mean so that you would have knowledge of what would happen to you when you disobey me," I said to her, taking a few steps towards her, and instantly, I saw the fear on her face worsen.
She gulped down saliva; I could see the movement on her throat as she wiped her forehead with her palm.
"So what does that make me? Your hostage?" She asked in a calm voice.
"No, if only you would let yourself see how I am doing all of these to keep you safe. Not many wolves know how to control their anger when they see a human, and if you do not stick to these rules, you might end up as a meal for one of the wolves around this mansion, and I really would not mind, but you are carrying my pup," I said to her.
"Wow, just wow. You mean to say that, in other words, I am not safe here?" She asked again, looking terrified.
"You're very much safe when you follow the rules," I assured her.
"Forgive me if I do not believe you because this is too weird for me to accept and..."
"Cassandra! Do you have somewhere better to stay?" I asked, not waiting for her to complete her statement as I called her name loudly in interruption.
The room suddenly fell into silence; she was staring at me as if she was going to attack me even though we both knew that it was never possible. I saw her fist fold tightly as her bright eyes stared piercingly at me.
After a few seconds of silence, she gulped down saliva again and said, "No, Donald, I do not have anywhere else to stay, so...I'll manage. And, my name is Cassie."
"Good choice. Now I wish that was all the rules, but there is the most important one, and that's why it's reserved for the last. Believe me, even I would lose my temper if you fail at it," I said to her.
"Seriously? And what is this last and most important rule of all that I have to obey?" She asked loudly, obviously losing it.