She was hiding something and Karliah knew it. But she didn't want to ruin the moment by starting an argument about it... Her mate was curled around her hand, snoozing on the bed with that sweet little pout back on her lips. For now... She would let it go.

It was almost the end of the school day when Cassie had awoken but Karliah didn't have the heart to force her up. She told herself she would wait until the crowds had calmed down to carry her to her car. But if she was honest with herself - if Cassie kept using that adorable pout on her they would never leave that room and she wouldn't even complain . She settled into the uncomfortable hard, plastic seat with the soft, relaxing feel of her mate's heart beating against her hand.

~

"Please... I'm sorry" Sam sobbed, his hands covering his face as he backed away from the fury of his Alpha.

"This place is filthy - What the hell are you doing with all that free time?" He barked, following him back.

"I don't have free time!" Sam yelled in anger, he didn't mean to let it out but it just slipped straight from his lips. Free time? He spent all his time cleaning or at the academy or sucking his dick! It wasn't fair.

"Was that back-talk?" Markus' voice was cold and unbending, "Who the fuck do you think you're talking to?" His voice was so powerful it almost knocked the omega clean over - He was using his alpha voice now. And it affects omegas far worse than others, it made him cringe and whine in fear.

"I'm sorry!... I'm so sorry!" Sam's tears began to flow free, he was trembling from head to toe.

"Come here!" Markus reached for him but missed when the omega jerked back in shock.

"No!" He cried, tears running down his cheek at full force now. His back hit the wall and Markus slammed his fists either side of his small, lithe body, growling in his face threateningly. "P-please" He whimpered, his bottom lip trembling.

"There are piles of dishes in the sink, the floors are sticky and my sheets aren't even changed - These are all your jobs" He pressed his forehead to the omega's, growling out his words, "As your alpha, don't you think it's my responsibility to punish you?" Sam slid down the wall, bringing himself to his knees on the floor.

"I-I know" He whispered; Markus stepped back as Sam slipped himself down into a full body bow, pushing his back out across the wooden floor to show his pure submission. His dark hair covering his face and his small shirt sliding up his back to show a teasing glimpse of the faint freckles that splattered from his shoulder blades, down his spine and following to his tailbone. The alpha sighed in frustration - His wolf struggled to stay angry when he saw his mate spreading himself out in such open and unabashed submission, but he had to assert his dominance. His pack would never take him seriously if he didn't have the power keep everyone in line. He huffed,

"Take your clothes off" He barked. The omega followed his orders, hurriedly pulling off his plain blue top, jeans and finally his underwear, folding them all in a small pile on the floor. "Go to the corner" He pointed to the left corner by the large book cases in his office, Sam walked nervously to the corner, knowing what punishment was coming. "Now kneel" His alpha ordered, and of course he complied, his knees spread slightly on the hard wood floor. Sam pulled his hands behind his head, interlocking his fingers like he had done many times before. "You will stay there until I feel you finally understand your place in this pack house" Markus stalked back to his desk to get on with the pile of work his father had assigned him - To start getting him prepared for when he took over as the official alpha of Scarlet Moon.

~

"C'mon baby..." Karliah murmured, "It's time to wake up..." She stroked Cassie's face with her free hand and watched the little sub's forest green eyes fluttering open and rolling around, trying to make sense of where she was and why she was there. Their eyes met and for a moment she looked so serene before shooting up in the hard sterile cot, grabbing hold of the metal side bars and glancing around but all she could see was blue curtains and Karliah watching her carefully. "Are you okay, Cassie?"

"Hmm?" She blinked slowly, feeling sluggish and stupid as her brain was still grappling with how to form words again after her long and well-needed doze.

"How're you feeling?" She reiterated, squeezing the smaller girl's thigh gently.

"O-Okay, I guess..." Cassie couldn't hold eye contact with her, worried she would ask about her tiredness or her bruises. "What time is it?"

"It's four"

"Oh god..." She sighed, putting her head in her hands. So much wasted time!

"It's okay, I'll drive you home and explain everything to your alpha"

"Thanks..." She gave a small smile, "I don't suppose you have notes on the lessons I missed too though?"

"Ah... No, sorry - I don't even have notes for my own classes" She laughed awkwardly, "I'm sure I can convince one of my betas to give me theirs though and I'll make you a copy" She offered with a wink. Caddie blinked for a few moments, taking in this new cute Karliah. She had always seemed so stern, mature and scary... It was strange to Cassie to see her looking cheeky and child-like. She finally managed to get hold of her voice again - and a grip on her simpering wolf.

"Thank you... For all of this..." The submissive felt embarrassed saying these things to the alpha who had been toying with her for the last few weeks. Although when she thought about it, Karliah had never made her feel the way Brandon did... That sour churning in her stomach and awful burning of shame inside her chest. When Karliah touched her she was always left wanting more, her wolf pining after her attention and invading her dreams with replays of anytime the alpha caressed her in any way.

"Don't mention it" Karliah seemed just as awkward now. Cassie noted that when the taller girl blushed, the rose colouring spread over the bridge of her nose as well as her cheeks. She liked it.

~

Sam had been in the corner for what felt like hours, the hard wood floor was causing his knees to burn... And his nakedness was causing his face to burn. No one had come in so far and he didn't dare to look over at his Alpha. He wondered if having him in sight was helping his anger to subside or if it was keeping it bubbling at the surface. Usually he would have received a few hits with the crop by now... His human side was relieved while his wolf was disappointed at the lack of attention - good or bad.

~

The drive home was tense, but Cassie couldn't place why. Her heart was beating hard in her chest, not too fast but she could feel it pounding in her throat. She was trying to keep her legs and hands still but every now and then a tremble broke through. Her wolf was unusually quiet so she ruled her out. Although maybe that's what she needed... To shift and have a run... The smaller girl tried to keep her breathing even; That's it, just need a run... That's all it is.

If Karliah felt the same way she wasn't showing it; she lounged in her seat as she drove, her head tilted slightly. Cassie would allow herself small glances at the alpha, but not too often and not for too long. There was something very satisfying about her face that was soothing to look at. Like those YouTube videos of squashing watermelons or stretching goo.

She had sharp facial features, her jawline could probably give Cassie a paper cut and her nose was perfectly straight. She had a few faint scars under her left eye, maybe a millimetre above her distended cheekbones. Cassie couldn't tell what they were from, maybe small cuts or acne. They were pretty shallow but looked like they'd been there for some time.

Her thick dark blonde eyebrows pulled together and before Cassie could pretend she wasn't just analysing every inch of her bronze skin, those stormy grey eyes were connected with hers.

"Why don't you take a picture? It would last longer." Karliah teased, one side of her thin mouth pulling up into a lopsided grin. Cassie felt her face warming up and her heart jump into her throat. Words. Use your words!

It was then that she realised... They were already at the pack house - She hadn't even noticed the car stopping...

"I-" She started, "I sh-should go... " She grabbed her backpack off the floor of the car, "Thank you!" She bleated, grabbing the door handle, "Thank you for all your help!"

But when she pulled on the handle, nothing. She blushed harder, I am making such a fool of myself! It's just a door handle - you're not an imbecile just open it! She tried again and it wouldn't open, and once more before Karliah interrupted her great escape,

"It's locked" Her voice was smooth and calm.

"Wh-why?"

"Because..." She sighed, her face struggling to hold its cool expression as she looked like she was having an internal battle. "Because I wanted to ask you something..."

Oh god, it's those bloody bruises!

"Don't ask me about the bruises" She snapped, surprised at her own courage.

"Why not?" Karliah pressed.

"Because I can't tell you!"

"Are you seeing someone?!" The alpha barked. She was rising in her seat as she got more annoyed. Cassie couldn't understand why she was so angry; It's none of her business!

"No!" She replied incredulously, "Why would you think that?" She looked confused, "And why would that be any of your business?" She demanded.

"Because you are covered in bruises.... I thought someone had tried to mark you!" She growled, angry now at her mate's ignorance. She was kneeling on her seat, hulking over the smaller girl.

"And again, how is that your business?!" Cassie folded her arms across her chest, not to look serious but to keep them from shaking.

"How are you so blind?!" Karliah shouted, her voice reverberating through the car. Cassie jumped and looked up at her with those big green eyes, now filling with tears. Karliah sighed and let her body slide back down her chair to sit normally.

"I want to go home" Cassie whispered, the first tears slid down her cheeks. Karliah brought her hand up to wipe her cheeks but she flinched away.

"I'm sorry, Cassie" The alpha murmured, she put her arms out and pulled the brunette into her lap. "It's just so painful waiting for you to see what I see" Cassie didn't know what that meant but her wolf was happy to be wrapped in her arms so she didn't fight her on it. She lay there, letting out the occasional sniff and clinging to Karliah's shirt with her hands.

Karliah curled her body around the sub's, feeling guilt wash through her in harsh waves.