“So, do we walk to talk about it?” I looked over at Cassie, but she was staring straight ahead. “Cas?”

“Can we pretend like it never happened?” Her voice was small when I pulled her over to the side of the mall and leaned in.

“Talk to me.”

“What do you want me to say?” She threw up her hands. “It’s miserable being this weak. Every she wolf with more power out of the ranking demands we do their work, or their chores, or if we get nice stuff, they take it.” Cas looked at me and I could feel her pain. “We have no alpha female that protects us here. The beta and gamma try, but they have their own duties.” Cas wiped her face. “We have learned to deal with it, and when it really gets bad, then you dad gets involved.”

“Cas…”

“You aren’t here, and neither is your mom. If you get too involved, then we just suffer when you leave.” She looked at me and then shook herself. “C’mon, let’s go pick out jewelry for your dress. Which one are you going to wear?”

“Don’t worry about it. You are going to come over and get ready with me, right? So I can do your makeup and hair?”

“I don’t have anything to wear.” Cassie looked to the side.

“Nonsense, you will just borrow something of mine. Let’s go pick out some jewelry.” I wrap my arm in hers and pull her to the store.

“I can wear something of yours?” Cas smiled up at me as we walked into the store.

“Of course you can. You are my best friend.” I bumped her hip and walked up to the counter. A set with onyx stones caught my eye. It was stunning. And then a soft golden number with diamonds. “Excuse me?”

“Yes?” The sales woman walked over and I pointed to the two sets. “You have a good eye.” She pulled out the sets, and I was amazed.

“I’ll take them.” I smiled.

“I’ll just wrap them up.”

“Hold on a moment.” A new she wolf I had never seen before walked in with Amanda in tow. “I want that golden number for my niece.”

I turned and smiled at the group of women. “Sorry. I already decided to buy it.”

The new she wolf puffed out her chest and raised her eyebrow. “Are you the one that bought the dress before my niece?”

“There must be a misunderstanding. You see, we had the dress first.” I smiled over at the new wolf, but she just lifted her lip and pushed out her aura. She was strong for sure, but she didn’t even reach the gamma level.

“You don’t speak to me that way, little girl.”

“Auntie…” Amanda started, but I cut my eyes to her.

“If I were you. I would be very particular about who you speak to like that.” I smiled at her and cut my eyes to Amanda.

Nix, speak to Amanda’s wolf and forbid them from speaking who I am to her aunt.

Smart.