Chapter 4

*2 Years Later*

It felt like every bone in my body was breaking over and over again. I tried to hold in my screams but it didn't work. I knew that Derrick was there with me but I couldn't hear what he was saying, the pain making me temporarily deaf. I screamed as another wave of pain hit me. Nick was so right about puberty being a bitch. Every movement made my skin feel like it was being rubbed with sandpaper because of my clothes but anytime I tried to take them off Derrick stopped me.

"PLEASE! TAKE THEM OFF!" My scream was guttural and pain filled.

I just wanted them off. The pain seemed to never end and continued for what seemed like a lifetime before I felt the worse part pass. I still felt soreness and tingling throughout my body but it was bearable.

"Are you back?"

I looked up at Derrick and smiled a weak smile before he lifted me up bridal style and placed me in the bed.

"Rest. I'll be back in a few hours."

I didn't have the energy to even mumble, instead falling into a deep sleep.

When I woke I struggled to make it to my bathroom across the room. I started to take off my clothes before I stopped and screamed.

Soon there was knocking on my door. "What's wrong?!"

I cleared my throat trying to get my voice to come out right so I didn't worry anyone.

"No-Nothing. I just..."

I didn't have to explain more because they seemed to understand I wasn't used to seeing my body like this. Where was the small 4'10" girl who was as skinny as a twig? I was pulled from my thoughts by a knock on the door.

"Cassie. It's Aria. Can I come in?"

I wrapped myself in a towel as I walked over to the door and opened it to see Aria there smiling at me. Aria was Derrick's mate. She was small and petite like a fairy with striking Emerald eyes and golden blonde hair.

I moved away from the door letting her in and realizing that I was at least 4 inches taller than her now making me 5'6". I grew 8 inches!

"I just came to get your measurements so we can get you new...things."

She looked down at my bust and I blushed in embarrassment. They grew as much as everything else seemed to.

"Don't be shy. You're becoming a woman."

I cleared my throat before I shifted uncomfortably between my left and right foot. "So what do you need to do?"

She quickly measured me before leaving me to take a shower. When Nick went through his change he only got taller. I got taller and a lot more curves as well. Wasn't that supposed to come after I fully matured in 3 years?

Turning off the shower I stepped out and looked at myself in the mirror. I had to admit that I looked more like a woman than before. It's like I went from 10 to 21 overnight. I quickly turned away from the mirror and went out into my room seeing a bag with a note.

I got you something for today so we could go shopping later. –Aria

God bless her for not buying me a whole wardrobe. I pulled out a pair of dark washed skinny jeans and a form fitting tank top. All of that was fine until I reached the lacy undergarments she got me.

"Aria, why?" I groaned as I fell onto my bed from embarrassment.

After I got dressed I walked to Derrick and Aria's office barefoot and knocked.

"Yes princess?" I rolled my eyes as I entered the room and hugged my uncle Darrius.

"I'm not a princess."

I looked over at Aria who was staring at my feet. I snapped my fingers and brought her vison up to me before she laughed.

"Sorry I must have left your shoes in the car. Also we need to go out for a pedicure while shopping. Your toes are way too cute not to have polish."

Okay. Aria could be insane sometimes. No one saw my feet and I wasn't supposed to be cute. I'm the daughter of an alpha and future beta to my pack. I had no time to worry about my toes.

"So when are we going shopping?" She looked down at a file on her desk before she closed it and got up.

"We can go now. Let me go get your shoes."

She left leaving me with my uncle and cousin. They both kept staring which was making me self-conscious.

"Would you stop?"

"Sorry. You just look beautiful princess." My uncle came and kissed me on the forehead before walking out of the room.

Derrick leaned back in his chair, placing his hands behind his head and crossing his feet on top of his desk.

"Now that you're gorgeous, I need you to call me if boys try to get out of hand. Understand?"

Oh God. Do I have fragile written on my forehead? Every guy I knows seems to be out to protect me. I'm pretty sure I can handle myself. I was ranked 1st in combat as a human, thank you very much.

"Okay. Here you are." I looked at the shoes in her hands and couldn't believe it. I've never worn heels a day in my life.

"Really?" She nodded at me with the biggest smile. As the Luna she had this power of making you do what she wanted without yelling.

Taking them from her I put them on and stood up, a little scared to take my first step. She motioned for me to come like you would a toddler trying to walk from the first time. I took my step and was shocked to find that it was just as easy as walking without them.

"See. Every woman has a natural ability to wear heels. It's how we drive our mates wild." She winked at me and I looked away blushing.

I really wish I had Raven to talk to about mates and things. It's weird discussing it with someone who's happily mated and trying for a baby.

"Anyways. Let's go, let's go, let's go."

I followed her to the car a little worried for the shopping spree we would go on.

After we finished, Aria had to call out 3 of the warriors to get the bags for us. One of them stopped when he saw me and I blushed like crazy. A guy never stopped just to look at me before.

"Russell. Keep moving or Derrick will have your head."

He quickly moved to the back of the car while we went into the house. When I made it to my room I was shocked to see my uncle and cousin there.

"Uncle Darrius, Derrick. What are you doing here?"

"Come to tell you the news."

"What news?" They looked at each other before they looked back at me, a flood of emotions in them.

"You're going home tomorrow. Your dad called an hour ago." I stared at my uncle blankly not knowing how to process what I was just told.

"Are you serious?" They both nodded and I ran into their arms.

I was so excited to see Nick but I was sad to leave everyone I met here behind.

"Well you should get packed."

I nodded and pulled away before I grabbed my luggage that I came with 2 years ago and started packing. Soon Aria came to my room with red eyes that showed she had been crying.

"Don't tell me you're crying because I'm leaving." She tried to laugh at what I said but it only made more tears fall.

I quickly went over to comfort her and we stayed like that for a while.

"I'm sorry. I know you miss your family and I'm probably not making it easier."

"Don't worry Aria. I'll visit, even if my family doesn't."

She hugged me again and left me to sleep before I left the next day.

The plane ride was just as bad as I remembered it. I tried to stretch as I finally made it off the plane. Customs went by slower since I got stopped and checked, even at immigration before I finally walked to the baggage area. I found my luggage and walked to the arrivals gate.

When I walked through the doors the first person I saw was Nick. I quickly dropped my bags and ran to him. He picked me up like I was nothing and swung me around.

"Well hello to you too." Nick and I couldn't help laughing before I gave my dad a hug as well.

"Hi dad."

I went to my mother and gave her a hug before she burst into tears.

"Oh you're so beautiful! I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for your change."

"It's okay mom. Derrick was there for me." Nick growled and I quickly turned to face him.

"He's our cousin and happily mated."

He shifted a little before my dad grabbed my bags. "Well let's get going. It's quite a drive to get home."

We all followed after filling up the car. I looked over at Nick and realized how he has changed the last two years. My Nicky was no longer a scrawny teenager. He was bigger, much bigger which only made me wonder how big Mason got.

"Nick."

"Hmm."

"Have you seen Mason lately?" I bit my lip as Nick raised his eyebrow at me.

"Can't say I have. A lot has changed since you left and I'm not just talking about looks." He looked out the window cutting off our conversation and I could feel his worry. What was he worried about?

Coming home felt surreal. It looked exactly like it did when I left, like déjà vu. I opened the door to be scared back outside.

"SURPRISE!"

Did they have to throw a pack party for this? I put on a smile as I walked back into my house into the sea of people. Nick was right once again. Everything seemed to change. People dating, going from geek to chic, drop outs, new warriors, I could barely keep up.

I looked around for Mason but I didn't see him. I texted him to see why he wasn't at my welcome back party.

*Mason. Where are you?*

I felt as someone else touched my arm to get my attention. I was shocked to see a very different Raven looking back at me. She had gotten taller as well but she still was shorter than I was but her body had more of a womanly figure than my athletic build.

"Cassie I can't believe you're finally back!"

We both wrapped each other into a tight embrace before she looked at me a little worried. I gave her a sideways look before she finally caved.

"I just wanted to tell you before someone else said anything."

"What?" I know my face wasn't as welcoming as it was before making her lose a little steam.

"I'm dating Nick."

I could feel my anger starting to boil but now wasn't the time to lose control. Not when I just got home. Control it. Control it.

When I thought it would slip I heard the best thing ever.

"Hey sweetheart."

My heart skipped a beat when I heard his voice for the first time in two years. I turned around to be met by his gorgeous hazel eyes. I also saw I was right about him getting bigger. I watched as he looked me over once and his eyes changed, making me feel weird under his gaze.

"So I don't get a hug?"

He held out his arms and I couldn't deny that I wanted nothing more than to be in his arms at that moment. The instant he wrapped his arms around me I forgot about everything that was bothering me.

Me and Mason slipped away from the party and went to the hill by my house. I was lying on the grass looking up at the stars when Mason's face came into my view.

"Is this something you picked up in Hungary?" I nodded and he just laughed. "Looks like you picked up your head movements as well."

I stuck my tongue out at him before I sat up next to him. He sighed before he pulled me closer to him.

"I have so much to tell you. I don't even know where to start."

"Start by telling me why you weren't at my party." He looked at me with a serious look before he looked straight again.

"I became the alpha of my pack." I looked at him blinking rapidly trying to process what he told me. He was only 17. He still hadn't matured fully yet. How was he alpha?

"But before that happened, my dad ended our treaty with your pack."

I knew exactly what that meant but he kept explaining it to me anyways.

"It means we are technically at war right now. I'm trying to come up with a new treaty with your father but he's being a little difficult." I placed my hand on his arm as a way to comfort him. If anyone knew how difficult my father could be, it was me.

His eyes quickly found mine and I couldn't breathe for a moment.

"But there is something else I have to tell you." I looked at him seeing he seemed to be worried about what he has to tell me. "You were right."

"Right about what?"

"Me and my hormones. I played the field...a lot." I felt a pang in my chest at hearing him say that he had been with other girls, a lot of them but what he told me next is what shocked me the most.

"I got a girl pregnant. Cassie. I'm going to be a father."

I pulled my hand away from his arm and ran. I ran as hard and as fast as I could. My eyes were clouded by tears and I couldn't see where I was going but I didn't care.

I somehow stumbled back into my house and ran to my room. I didn't want to celebrate coming back, I just wanted to go back home, back to Hungary, where everything made sense. Where there were no secrets and I was treated like an equal who had the right to know what was going on in my own family.

Various people came and knocked on my door but I didn't want to talk to anyone who wasn't an ocean away right now. I knew I couldn't avoid them forever since I had school tomorrow, but I damn sure would try to.