Cassandra

By Crystal Dawn

White wolves rock! Nothing proves it more than this series where older women come back and give their bad circumstances a kick in the ass. Cassandra is a widow, her husband was a wounded soldier who came home to die. Now she takes her life back by helping other wounded soldiers find a way to go on and find their future. The first soldier sent to her is handsome and a werewolf. Will she help him discover more than either of them thought possible?

Note: For mature readers only. Graphic and descriptive sex.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crystal Dawn
• Release date: Feb 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311652775

Crystal Dawn

When she's not out hunting rogue vampires and werewolves, you can find Crystal Dawn out exploring the galaxy. She can do it all without ever leaving her computer. She kicks ass, takes names, and puts it all down for the enjoyment of her readers. At least that's what I think she told me. Writing came as a natural outlet for her overly creative mind. She has always told stories and even written some but publishing books didn't start until 2012 with The Rebirth, was the first of the Planet Amazon books. Crystal has also been lucky to have some wonderful beta readers who keep her on track and help inspire her. Secretly, she crushes on all her sexy heroes because all her stories end happily. That is one of the things that makes writing such a joy. Knowing that it makes her reader's day a little brighter. Not that she doesn't read sad books sometimes. While still in school, she read Where the Red Fern Grows and cried like a baby. It was a wonderful book and sometimes a bit of sadness has to be put in books because that's part of life. While she reads all kinds of books at some time or another, PNR and SFR, which she writes is what she reads the most for pleasure. When she started writing, she decided on going Indie after the first two books because an author has more control. She believes Indie will compete well and continues to grow. The need to give pleasure to her readers keeps her going and she sees a long career ahead. Growing up mostly in the NW Arkansas area, it has given her a good place to set some stories and many of her characters come from there or nearby SW Missouri. The start of her stories is the easy part. Finishing them is a little harder when all the stories are in there trying to get out. She loves reading, chocolate, fine sweet wine, and traveling among a large list of pursuits. Her favorite people, after her family and close friends, are her readers who she says are some of the most wonderful people in this galaxy and the next.

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White Wolf Matriarchs Trilogy

Book 2

Cassandra

By Crystal Dawn

Copyright 2015 by Crystal Dawn

Cover by Cyntillating Graphics and Design

Edited by Eagle Editing

Dedicated to the men and women of our military. Thank

you for your service.

This book is a work of fiction. All contents, including

names, places, and events are the product of the

author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any

resemblance to persons, living or deceased, businesses,

locations or events are completely coincidental.

None of this work may be used, reproduced, exchanged

or transmitted by anyone but the person the book was

purchased for. Any reproductions of this book in any

part or any form must be done with the express written

permission of the author or not at all.

Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

Dedicated to those injured in the line of duty.

Prologue

It wasn’t like he’d just left. This wasn’t even like she hadn’t seen him slowly slipping away from her no matter what she did. He’d been gone two years now and things were getting rough. She had no purpose in life and her savings were almost gone. At least the house and the small piece of land were paid for. She had a truck and her little SUV that was also completely hers. The bills weren’t high, she lived simply but she had to get back to doing more instead of drowning in the grief that did nothing but continue to tear her apart.

She thought about the project again. That would give her purpose and it would help someone. Someone who truly needed help. Her other choice was to go back to teaching but she wasn’t fit to be around anyone in a good frame of mind, especially kids. If she did it now, she could still afford it and she had been assured they would find someone for her. Her life had been about putting some good in the world, this would fulfill that purpose and give her enough money to get by on.

Now was the time to move on, she didn’t have a choice anyway. She would make the calls in the morning and get the ball rolling. This was the time to enlist Ariel’s help because she didn’t have the strength to stay on track without it. Once she let Ariel know what she’d decided, there would be no turning back. Cassie had a plan, the resources to see it through, and she would soon have support from someone who never backed down. What could possibly go wrong?

Chapter 1

Getting Started

The alarm went off and the sound grated on her nerves, but she knew she’d better get up. It was that day, the day she met her new boarder and she’d been warned he wasn’t the easiest man to get along with. He’d been through hell and being less than perfect was a hard thing for a wolf. It wasn’t an easy road ahead for either of them, but she was committed, and she would help him, despite the fact that she’d been told he’d fight her every step of the way.

As she rolled out of bed, she felt all those aches and pains that had started when she’d hit forty. They made her realize she was a survivor, and her only regret was that Mike wasn’t at her side to grow old with her. Sometimes, the best skill a person could have was to know their limitations. Had Mike retired when they’d planned, he’d be with her now. Cassie knew that he’d been running, running from her, the fact that they’d never been able to have children, and the fact that he thought he’d let her down. He’d volunteered to go into a war zone and now they’d never be able to travel and do all the things they’d talked and dreamed about.

Dragging her ass out of bed reluctantly, she took a shower to wake up. It didn’t work, not fully. Now that her plan was being implemented, she was having second thoughts and wanting to back out. Going downstairs, she grabbed a cup of coffee. This was wonderful to be able to program the coffee maker the night before when she wasn’t as tired as she felt now. The aroma of the coffee in her mug was helping. She took a sip, mm, this was so good. Her head was beginning to clear, and she realized the man would be here soon. Throwing together a scramble- eggs, bacon and potatoes, all tossed together in the pan and mixed up good, she sat down to eat and give herself something that would sustain her for the hardest day she’d had since her husband, Mike, had died.

Today, was the day she would start living again. In a few minutes, her boarder or patient or whatever he was to her, would arrive and she would put someone else’s problems before her own. Hopefully, this would work out well for both of them and life would start to mean something again. Cassie cleaned up her mess and looked around the house. It was spotless although she hoped he wouldn’t expect it to be this clean all the time. Neither a neatnik nor a slob, she had cleaned to get everything perfect for the man’s arrival.

Cade, he had a manly name and since he had been on some kind of Special Forces team, she figured that’s exactly what he was. Mike had been manly enough, but he hadn’t been a man’s man. He’d been a master sergeant when he’d been injured and this guy was an officer, even though he was in his early thirties, or so she’d been told. He wouldn’t be the kind of man she was used to being around, but she was used to loss and pain, so she’d adjust.

There was a knock on the door, and she went to answer it. Will, one of her female cousins who’d been an incredible support for her, stood there with a man behind her. Cassie opened the door inviting them in. I wasn’t expecting you, she said. Cassie had thought the guest would be brought by someone who worked at the facility he’d been recovering at.

I know. This is one of the projects I’m working on. I’m really glad you’re involved. We need to do more for our wounded warriors and this program could make all the difference. This is Cade. He’s an asshole, but I think you can help him settle down. He’s a wolf, Cassie. I don’t know if you knew, Will explained.

Hello Cade. I’m glad to meet you and I hope I can help you get back into life. My husband was wounded in Afghanistan, and he died after several months of fighting to survive. Maybe we’ll help each other find purpose and get back to living.

Whatever, Cade said. Show me my room.

Alrighty then, she said and led the way. He was on crutches, and she’d given him a downstair’s bedroom. It had originally been the master, but she’d moved upstairs. It had taken nearly two years to get her widow’s pension and the back pay, but she’d finally told Will and she’d helped. When it came through, she’d used it for remodeling and made the house accessible for those with disabilities. Each bedroom had its own bath and she’d built a building out back for therapy and workouts.

Opening the door, she let him go in first. That’s the bathroom, this is the closet. I’ll clean your room once a week and change the sheets. Tell me if you need it more often. There’s a clothes hamper for laundry in the bottom of the closet. It collapses when not needed. There’s also a trashcan in the bathroom and one by the desk. Do you have any questions?

No, I can figure things out.

Breakfast is at eight and our first therapy session will be right afterwards. You’re my only guest right now, but I may have up to four more people eventually. My room is upstairs, but if you need me, call me on my cell. If anything else comes up, just call me or find me. I spend some time outside, there are animals to take care of and a garden, but I usually take my cell phone with me. Will says you’re a wolf and I know you guys are social. Blake’s pack isn’t far and I’m sure they would be glad to meet you. If you want to catch a ride, I’ll take you there.

I’ll be fine. When will you get more people?

They want to give me a chance to get you settled in so whenever I tell them I’m ready, they’ll see if someone else has a need.

He gave her a curt nod that she read as him being tired and wanting to be alone. Lunch is at two, just for today since you got here when you did, so I’ll see you then. She turned and left figuring she’d outstayed her welcome. It would take time for him to want to be around people again. Cassie understood. Her feelings about having to carry on a conversation with strangers weren’t far from his, but she wanted this to work.

Will was waiting when she got back to the kitchen. I have some pie to go with that coffee, if you’d like some.

I never turn down home cooking, Will said with a big smile.

It’s cherry, Cassie added. Will’s smile got bigger, it was her favorite. So, can you tell me any of his story? Cassie got her a plate and put an extra big piece of pie on it. Sliding it to her, Will grabbed it and ate between sentences.

He stepped on an IED, Will explained. At Cassie’s blank look, she added, Improvised Explosive Device is what that stands for. Normally wolves recover even from serious shit like that, but the angle of the blast, the way it hit, hell, no one can figure it out, but it removed his leg from below the knee with almost surgical precision and the part that was removed was shredded. His leg, what was left of it healed quickly but his mind, well he refuses to adapt, and he’s still caught in the mindset where he wishes he’d died. You’re gonna have a fight ahead of you, but if it gets too bad, call me. I’ll come and smack him upside his hard head.

I’ll do my best, Will, you know that.

I do and that’s why I pushed for this. It’s hard for our wounded soldiers to get back into society and deal with their terrible sense of loss. Shifters and magical beings seem to have a harder time. They feel like their other half let them down by not fixing things. You’ve got one bitter, angry male to deal with, but Cade has always been a good man and that’s going to show through, I’m sure of it. One more piece of pie and I have to go.

Cassie got her another one and they talked a bit about family and her plans here. Do you think they’ll find me another guest once he’s settled in?

They already have someone lined up. She’ll work out perfectly, but she’s still in the hospital. Zee was a supply sergeant. It was a case of the wrong place at the wrong time. The camp came under fire, and she had her arm taken off. They tried to reconnect it, but even though she’s a wolf, it wouldn’t take. No one knows why.

Are all my guests going to be supernaturals?

You would be amazed by the number of them we have in the military, especially in Special Forces. Some of the ones with bad injuries don’t make it. They can’t kill themselves, few supernaturals can do that, it goes against their instincts, but they put themselves in a dangerous situation that they can’t survive. We need programs like yours desperately and we need to give our people support when they return, whether their wounds are obvious or not. I’m proud of you for trying this and I hope like hell it works out. Maybe that bone head will come to realize this is about more than just him.

Cassie knew what Will meant. Her success with Cade would help the military try the program with others. She could do something that really helped change lives. It was the reason she’d become a teacher when she was younger, it was a reason to keep on going on now that she was alone. Even when Mike was deployed, she always known he’d return, and he always did. Even injured, he’d returned to fight for months and die at home. At least she’d been able to say goodbye, it was more than many other soldier’s wives got. Will had to go and that was no surprise. It had been nice just to see her at all.

Looking at the time, she saw it was late enough to start cooking something for lunch. Not knowing what Cade might like, she decided on meatloaf with au gratin potatoes, green bean casserole, garden salad, and a blueberry dump cake. She’d make enough to be sure of leftovers so she wouldn’t have to cook tomorrow. Cassie decided to start supper too. That way the oven would be full and save on utilities.

She didn’t mind cooking, it was a mindless task when she made things that she cooked often, and it left her mind free to work on other things. The oven was heating up and she fixed the meatloaf in a big dish. The green bean casserole was next, followed by two chickens to bake. She had an extra-large oven, so she fixed the dump cake too. Putting all that in the oven, she pulled out her slow cooker, put the potatoes in it, and then set it on high. It was a good time to go feed the animals, then run by the garden to grab some things.

Sliding her phone in her back pocket, after she checked the time, she put on some gloves and headed out. Starting with the chickens, she moved around the barn one stall at a time, finally ending up at the old sow’s stall. There were ten piglets, a large number, but not record setting or anything like that. She would come back and take care of her once she saw what scraps she had to feed her. Once she had several guests, she would have a lot more to feed her.

Now she grabbed a large bucket and went to the garden. Weeding wasn’t any fun, but that’s not what she was doing. It was time to harvest some produce so she could make a garden salad. It would be one in the truest sense of the word, containing only what came right out of her garden. She picked cherry tomatoes, they were the little round ones and she preferred them for salads. Green onions, radishes, leaf lettuce, spinach leaves, and finally she added parsley and dill. After lunch she would return with her bucket for there was squash, peppers, beans and a few other things ready to be picked and it didn’t pay to leave them hanging. Weeding also needed to be done, especially since tomorrow she’d be working with Cade.

Grabbing her haul, she carried it back to the kitchen which was filled with the delicious smell of cooking food. Emptying the bucket into the sink, she washed up, then cleaned and prepared the produce for the salad. The scraps were tossed in the bucket which she would take back out and dump to the sow. She had that done in no time and it was a colorful and fresh looking salad. Cassie made some vinaigrette, there was some ranch available in case he didn’t like that and the alarm on the oven was about to go off. The green beans came out first and they looked and smelled wonderful.

Draining off the fat from the meatloaf, she put it back in after she put barbeque sauce over the top. Cassie thought it tasted better than ketchup and so far, no one had disagreed. It wouldn’t be long before everything was ready, so she made a pitcher of sweet tea and set it on the table. Plates, glasses, and silverware were also placed on the table. A roll of paper towels on a holder would do for napkins. It was a short cut and eventually when the house was full, she would be glad for all the short cuts she could find.

The alarm went off again and the meatloaf was done. Setting it on top the stove, she pulled out the dump cake too. Grabbing a thermometer, she checked the chickens. They were done too, and she pulled them out and turned off the oven. It was time to find Cade and hopefully start getting to know him in an informal atmosphere. Her deepest hope was that Will was wrong and he wouldn’t give her such a hard time. Unfortunately, Will was rarely wrong, especially when it came to men or much of anything else.

Standing in front of his door now, she knocked lightly so as not to disturb him. What do you want? he called out.

It’s lunch time and the food is ready.

I’ll be out in a few minutes, he replied, his voice gravelly. He was no happy camper, but she’d already known that.

Alright, we’ll eat in the kitchen. She preferred it because it was easier. The small table set up for two would work just fine for now.

When she got back to the kitchen, she got a knife and sliced the meatloaf into more easily handled pieces. She went ahead and fixed her own plate and set it in her usual spot. Pouring her tea, she looked around to see what to do next. There was some bread she’d baked yesterday, she pulled that out next and popped it on a baking sheet to let it heat in the still warm oven. No Cade, it made her wonder if he needed help or if he even intended on coming out to eat. Impatience wouldn’t help her with that man, so even though she wanted to go check on him, she refused to allow herself to.

The chicken had cooled enough that she put it up. One would be for supper and the other for lunch tomorrow.