Chapter 8 Cassie

Alec's POV

I want to curse Dad for assigning me to such a stupid task this summer. I want to curse Kyson for getting me in trouble in the first place. If it wasn’t for him getting caught, I wouldn’t be here on the edge of our land, ensuring campers don’t wander too far.

The pond is busy today, which is shocking considering it is only the second day of this camp. Half the pond sits on our land while the other half sits on the camp's land. Which means every summer, at least two people get put on watch duty. All they expect us to do is stand around, watching and listening, to ensure no one goes beyond the pond. But it is the most boring job ever. Normally, there are only about five kids who either come onto our land by accident or on purpose. We allow them to use the full pond. But not after the pond.

I pace back and forth in the grass. We don’t have sand on our side of the pond; it’s too much of a mess. The wind is blowing softly, wafting in scent after scent. Another reason it’s better to pace most of the smells are tolerable but not enjoyable.

The scents of this camp are mainly made up of sweat and deodorant, but every now and then I’ll get a waft of a girl's perfume and be greatly for the break. But this time, a different smell hits me. It smells of musk, dirt, and a putrid smell I cannot place. My body registers the familiar smell before my mind does. My feet stop moving, my back straightens as a board, and my whole body tenses.

This smell… I breathe it in again, trying to resist the urge to gag. This is the smell that I could never forget. This is the smell from when Garrett died. Primal wolf instinct takes over as I look around the pond for the source.

My eyes stop on a girl.

She’s standing on the beach, already looking at me. Her dark brown hair pulled up messily, her eyebrows furrowed at me. It’s her. She is the smell, but that doesn’t make sense.

It has to be a coincidence; something she did must have made that smell on her. But I can’t be sure. I have to find out. I keep watching as she quickly takes off her clothes to reveal a black bikini that flatters her slender body. I don’t stare long as she gets into the water.

I need to contact Cassie. She has to help with this. I need to know whether she’s involved before I tell Dad. She doesn’t answer the phone until the final ring, and I know it’s on purpose.

“What?” Her tone is snarky.

“Cassie, I need you to help me with something.”

I can practically hear her rolling her eyes, “Why would I help you?”

“Because I’m the Alpha’s son? Or maybe because this is a matter of life or death?”

“Maybe you should tell the Alpha about this then.”

“Cassie, this isn’t the time for jokes. I need you to help me with this.” She sighs loudly into the phone.

I look back at the pond, and the girl is swimming with the other girl she arrived with, who I assume is her friend.

“Fine, I’ll help. What is it?”

I knew she’d help; she can never resist a chance to ‘be involved’. “I need you to befriend a girl at the camp. You need to earn her trust, and in a few days, you’ll need to ensure she shows up to the party at the clearing.”

“What? I have to go deep into that stupid camp for some girl. Why don’t you just go flirt a little and gain her trust? Or-”

I zone out the rest of her, offering multiple ideas on how to do this better. She’s splashing water with the other girl happily. The other girl yelled her name when the water almost drowned her, Anna. That’s her name. It feels weird, although she may be involved in Garrett’s death, I suddenly feel as though I need to know more about her.

“Are you even listening, Alec!?” Cassie’s yell pulls me from my daze.

I try to shake the nerves from my wolf.

“Yes, but this will be the best plan. Meet her today, the party is in two days, you need to bring her to meet me there.” My voice leaves no room for argument.

“Yeah, fine, what’s her name?”

“Anna,” Her name from my mouth leaves a tingle down my spine, only making my nerves come back stronger.

“The most basic name ever, but I’ll make it work. I’ll text you once I meet her.”

I speak before I can stop. “Send a picture so I can confirm you’ve got the right girl.”

“I won’t fuck this up, Alec. I know what I’m doing, but whatever you say, your majesty.” She hangs up the phone, allowing my full attention to turn back to Anna.

Deep inside, I feel the pull of my wolf side, and I can feel it attempting to take over. It all comes back to her, watching her swim around, her laugh, her skin, her eyes, even her horrific smell. I feel drawn. But it isn’t like the soulbond. That’s not how they describe it to feel. Maybe this is all some awful effect of the smell overwhelming my wolf. I huff, sitting on the grass, my attention stuck on her. 

Anna’s POV

“It’s not as cold as I thought it’d be,” Beth says as we stand around the fire.

The majority of the camp is gathered around the large fire pit right now. It’s the first one of the summer, so we all had to come. Beth and I stand shoulder to shoulder, trying to stand close enough to the fire to stay warm in our shorts and t-shirts.

“Yeah, it probably helps we’re shoved in here like sardines.”

She laughs. Some counselors are telling stories to one group while another is strumming a guitar. We have enough of standing and watching, deciding to move out of the crowd, preferring to meander in an area where we aren’t on top of each other.

“We need to make more friends here.”

“What about your other friends? You know the ones you arrived with?” I ask.

“Yeah, but they’ve been too bitchy here lately, and I’ve got my new bestie here.”

“But…” I add.

“But we need more friends; this two-man circus is sad.” She continues.

“Whatever you say, Bethy.” I tease.

She pushes me aside playfully, making me stumble into a body, and it’s like deja vu with Kai all over again, but this body is much shorter.

“I’m sorry.” I laugh with Beth.

It’s a girl, she looks our age as well. Maybe Beth’s new friend just stumbled into us.

“You’re good. I was actually looking for someone to hang out with, and here you two are.”

“That’s perfect, hang with us! I’m Beth, and this is Anna.”

The pretty girl’s smile gives me an unnerving feeling.

“That’s wonderful, my name is Cassie.”