Cassie’s POV"You are our goddess, and yet you did not save our lives! You are just a selfish goddess who is safe there! You did not do anything to protect us!" I shouted, my voice filled with hatred."Everything has a purpose, indeed." That voice.I looked towards the shadows in the woods. "Show yourself!"Xander walked out of the forest with a smug expression. I wanted to punch him, rip his head off, and feed it to wild animals. I wanted to make him suffer. He did everything for the sake of his goal, sacrificing hundreds of lives for his ambition."You heartless bastard! How can you do this to your brother? You fucker!" I tried to charge at him, to fight him.But I was stopped by a sharp pain in my back. I slowly kneeled on the ground, blood dripping from my mouth."You have not recovered yet, and fighting me will not gain you anything. You will not bring back my brother’s life by fighting me with your fists and claws."Perhaps I am truly heartless, but I am still merciful for lettin
Cassie’s POVThe next morning, even though the sun had not yet risen and it was still dark outside, I managed to wake my son from his sleep, and we prepared to leave. I wanted to get away from this place as soon as possible for many reasons. The first was for the safety of my son and my family. The second was that I wanted to forget, even though I knew it was impossible.No matter how much I denied it, I couldn't forget him, and I never would. Kaiden had always been my first and last love. Maybe I would stay alive for my son and strive to fulfill my purpose as a mother, but love would never be on the list again."Let's go," I said to my son. Charlie was a smart kid. I knew he understood the situation well."Do we have to leave, Mom?""We need to, or else I will..." I stopped midway through saying those words. "Let's go, son; there is still hope for us."I looked back at this place for the last time, hoping it would never be a nightmare again.It felt nostalgic to ride in this car. I co
Cassie’s POVI yawned and saw Charlie waking up beside me, looking at nothingness. I couldn't help but cackle. My son was so cute and looked exactly like his dad. At least I could still remember Kaiden's face because of my son.I smiled sadly, but quickly changed my expression. I didn't want him to see me sad. "What do you want for breakfast, my little young man?" I asked. He smiled and asked for crispy fried bacon and ham.I accompanied him to the bathroom and let him do his morning routine. After freshening up, we were good to go. The apartment had plenty of appliances and things, provided by Uncle Mason. We had a fridge and gas stove, so cooking breakfast wasn't a problem.I sighed, thinking about how it had only been a few weeks since Kaiden was gone. It felt off—not just off, but empty inside our hearts."Mom?" Charlie walked toward me and wiped my tears. He smiled and nodded. "We can make it through, Mom. Don’t be sad, because I won’t be sad anymore. I love you, Mom. Don’t leave
Cassie’s POVAngel offered her hands to help me organize everything in this new pad. To be perfectly honest, if we talk about strength, I can finish arranging this apartment alone, but since I am emotionally unstable and still dealing with mental health, I can't let go of her offer. She is cleaning the kitchen while I am arranging the single bedroom. I am a bit embarrassed because this is our first meeting, and she has to deal with all of this. But I can see that she is also happy and nice about all of this.For some refreshments, I began pouring a cup of lemonade into a glass. I hand it to her after she cleans the floor. "I am sorry if you have to put off your day with this," I said to her.She cocks her head. "I offered, so there is nothing to say sorry for. You know, my mother is also a single mom. I do not want to ask because your privacy matters, but I am not wrong, right? I hope I am not offending you," she said, biting her lips. I can see that she does not want to offend me, and
Cassie’s POVI've been through a lot of stress lately, but that doesn't mean I will stay this way. No matter how devastated I am, it's still a fact that someone needs me. I have my son, and Kaiden would be sad if I couldn't handle our child. I'm not alone in this battle. I may be sad and in grief, but one day, we will make it. My son and I will make it.While reading the news and printing the documents needed, I was grateful that Angel let me borrow her printer. I was busy getting everything in order, knowing I had to earn money to survive in this expensive place.As I got back to work, someone knocked on the door. When I peeked through the peephole, I saw my brothers and my father waiting there. I opened the door and hugged them tightly. It felt so much better because they were here. Being with my family made everything feel different. At least I had people I could lean on.Ben and Tom would be staying in different apartments with their mates, which made sense. Marcus, on the other ha
Derek’s POVI still couldn’t forget that day. I knew I was drinking that night and got into a couple of fights with some random guys because the girls who tried to share a bed with me already had their boyfriends. I ended up getting ganged up on by men, but I was thankful I survived the fight.But little did I know that night, the brakes of my car failed, and I got into a car accident. When I woke up, my only relative, my cousin Ally, was the only one waiting for me. He said I almost died; my heartbeat stopped for almost an hour, and it was a miracle I survived the crash. They thought I was as good as dead when they saw me.But like a real miracle, I recovered fast, almost like a vampire or werewolf from cliché books or movies. It had been a week and a day since I was discharged from the hospital, and I only had a few bruises and scratches. They tried to ask me if they could assess me further because it was impossible to see me recovering at a monster speed.But, of course, I rejected
Cassie’s POVWhen I received a call from Angel, she told me to come to the office immediately on Monday because I was already hired due to a lack of manpower. I had never been so excited in a long time. However, I was a bit worried about my son. Ever since I gave birth to Charlie, I had always been a hands-on mother, taking care of him and never being away for long. I was afraid of the changes this new job would bring.In the living room, I explained to Charlie that I would be away for a while. "I’m sorry," I said to him in a broken voice.This wasn’t a wild forest where we could hunt our food and survive with what little we had. This was the human world. We couldn’t survive without money for food, expenses, and bills."It’s okay, Mom. Don’t be sad; I will be a good boy. I understand," he said to me, resembling his father so much that my loneliness wasn’t as difficult. Thanks to my son."Thank you, son. And no matter what, always remember that Mom loves you. You are my last treasure."
Cassie’s POVMy jaw dropped to the floor. I had never had a proper job like this, but I was sure that no one treated their boss this way."Angel, you should at least show me some respect in front of my new secretary," Mr. Ross said with a smirk."After your funeral, maybe. But since you survived the car accident, no. And of course, Cassie will see how I mess with my boss, so I might as well show her I can be the office's resident bitch," Angel teased.My heart raced. This was all so overwhelming.Mr. Ross stood up from his chair and faced us. There was something oddly familiar about him, and it was strangely calming to look at his face.He smiled and extended his hand. I shook it, and he almost seemed reluctant to let go."You better not harm my friend!" Angel interjected, giving Mr. Ross a playful smack on the hand."Aw!" Mr. Ross winced."Stop being overdramatic. I’m going to show Cassie around and get her settled. Don’t invite anyone into your office, or I’ll dump more paperwork on
Cassie’s POVThe day Derek and Dax accepted their new roles as both humans and werewolves marked a significant turning point. My father, my brothers, and I took it upon ourselves to teach them about our culture—what is right and wrong, the taboos, and the essence of being a werewolf: our love for the moon, our bond with the forest, and our partnership with nature.Recently, the attacks have become more frequent, and it’s clear that we need to relocate for real. Xander and his supporters are sending threats and unleashing dangerous creatures with one goal in mind: to kill me and those I care about. This is something I will never allow. I love my family, especially my only son and the two men who have taught me a new definition of love. I refuse to repeat the mistakes of the past.Xander should brace himself because he won’t know what’s coming. I plan to personally see to it that he pays for his actions. A man like him deserves no mercy. Driven by jealousy, he murdered his own brother, w
Cassie’s POV"What! But you should assist me!" the vampire shouted, clearly agitated. At that moment, I could barely tolerate his presence."If I hear you spreading unnecessary information about me to Dax, Derek, or anyone else, I swear it’ll be the last thing you do. I’m not joking," I warned him."What?! I didn’t say anything," he protested, though I could see through his feigned innocence. I knew Dax wouldn’t lie to me; he had no reason to."Huh, so you’re the one who mentioned that my life is in danger and that they should protect me?" I asked. "They don’t need to be involved in this. This is my battle, not theirs. But since you’ve already spoken out, I have to address it.""I think it’s better for them to be aware. The more they know, the harder it will be for them to lower their guard. This isn’t just about your past or your personal conflict. Once they start caring about you, they’re already involved," he said. He made a good point, even if it annoyed me."But I don’t want to i
Cassie’s POV"Let’s take a break, son," I suggested, noticing we had been practicing for almost three hours. It was time for some rest."Mom," Charlie said, his smile brightening as he looked out at the expansive woodland. "You’re growing up, and I feel like I’m not doing a great job as your mother," I admitted honestly. I felt I wasn’t fulfilling my role as a mother to my beloved son, Charlie.My son wiped away my tears, kissed them, and gave me a reassuring grin. "Mom, you don’t have to apologize. There’s nothing to apologize for. I love you, and I appreciate everything you do for me. If I have a mom in my next life, I’d choose you over and over again," he said, causing me to cry even more."Please stop crying, Mom. I promised Dad I’d protect you and make sure you’re happy no matter what," he continued. It amazed me how mature he had become so quickly. I felt my age more keenly at that moment."You promised that to your father, but I promise to protect you no matter what as well. So
Cassie’s POVMy eyes were tired from crying and staying up too late. I wasn’t feeling well and decided it was the right time to request a leave of absence. Despite werewolves typically having excellent stamina and health, we’re not invincible. Like all creatures, we have our weaknesses. For werewolves, a fragile heart can be our downfall, and right now, mine felt incredibly delicate.I was struggling with emotional sickness again, feeling so heavy and weak that I couldn’t get out of bed. The cold was a result of my forgetting to close the window last night. I asked Angel to cover my schedule for the time being, promising to return the favor. I was grateful she agreed, but my severe headache was making me extremely lethargic."Mom," Charlie knocked gently on the door. I told him to come in."Are you sick, Mom?" he asked, brushing his hand against my forehead. His concern touched me deeply, but I didn’t want him to worry too much. I had to remind myself that I was strong."I’m fine, swee
Cassie’s POVAfter leaving work, I decided to do some grocery shopping. I was still a bit taken aback by Dax becoming my new boss, but I understood what Angel and Dale meant. Dax was someone kind and close to my heart, and I completely agreed with that. I actually liked the idea of him being my boss—thank goodness."Angel, I’m so shocked to learn everything," I said, while Damon pushed our cart loaded with vegetables, fruits, and various types of meat. My new condominium unit was three times as large as the previous one, and I needed to restock supplies and prepare dinner. My son was growing so fast that he needed a lot of nutrients."Yeah, Dax knows you dislike surprises, but he was worried that if you found out he’d be your new boss, you might leave or disagree," Angel murmured. I looked at her in disbelief."Why would I do that?" I asked. Dax was a great guy whom I trusted, and I knew he’d treat me well, so I couldn’t see any reason for me to be against having him as my new boss."W
Dax’s POV"So, you’re the real owner of the company, huh? All along, Dale was just your proxy. What made you decide to reveal this now?" Derek asked, his voice laden with curiosity and a hint of suspicion. We were seated in our usual café, a cozy place with a warm ambiance that had become our go-to spot for conversations about our complex lives.I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. The truth was that my main reason for taking on the position was to spend more time with Cassie. It was something I hadn't fully admitted before, but it was time to come clean. Since we had agreed to share our feelings with Cassie equally, there was no point in hiding anything from Derek anymore."Well, it’s primarily because I wanted to spend more time with Cassie. But also, I wanted the financial resources and influence to spoil Cassie and Charlie just like you do," I confessed in one breath. The words tumbled out before I could second-guess them. Derek’s reaction was immediate; he spilled his coffee
Cassie’s POVI took a cab to the company building, feeling a surge of anxiety as I arrived. I almost backed out. It was frustrating that they had kept my new boss a secret. I had already made it clear how much I disliked surprises.As I entered the elevator, I silently prayed to the goddess that my boss would be someone I could tolerate—someone friendly and serious about work, and not a creep, as that would test my patience.When I reached the top floor and stood in front of the boss's office, my nerves were on edge. I had faced many challenges in my life; this should be manageable.To my surprise, Dax was sitting in the CEO’s swivel chair. Dressed in a sharp suit, he looked dazzling and charming. I couldn’t help but blush, realizing I had been staring at him longer than I intended."Dax, what are you doing here? And I must say, you look fantastic in that suit," I remarked, genuinely admiring his appearance.Dax scratched the back of his head, looking slightly embarrassed. "The truth i
Cassie’s POV"But what about my brother and dad? I don’t want to move too far from them," I said, voicing my concern. Marcus, ever confident, chuckled."We’re moving as well, so don’t be sad. I know you’ll miss your handsome brothers," Marcus said, his arrogance shining through."Whatever, Marcus. But I can sense that Derek owns that condo building, doesn’t he?" I said, having uncovered their plan. They must have anticipated I’d be hesitant."Don’t worry, I’m not angry. Although, I do plan to give Dale a hard time for lying to me so much today," I said, glaring at the sneaky vampire hiding behind my son."I can help with that," Derek offered, raising his hand."You traitor! This was all your idea," Dale said, feigning tears.I decided to ignore the further discussion. Dale’s chatter was giving me a headache. It was time to open my gifts. The important people in my life had given me a very comfortable chair, and they lined up to present their gifts. My son’s gift was especially touching
Cassie’s POV"It’s alright, don’t be upset," I reassured Derek, trying to ease his mood. "Tonight is my birthday, and I want everyone to share in my happiness. This moment is incredibly special to me." It seemed I had managed to bring a smile to his face. Derek, with his intense and sometimes risky demeanor, also had a softer, more vulnerable side that I had come to appreciate."How about me?" Dax asked, looking as if he didn’t want to be left out. His puppy-dog eyes made me smile. I patted his head affectionately. "Good boy. Now, shall we eat? I’m starving," I said, and they guided me to our table."Mom!" Charlie’s voice cut through my thoughts. He looked incredibly handsome in his white suit. "My son looks dashing!" I exclaimed. "You may be young, but your smile can capture anyone’s heart." He blushed at my compliment."Mom, you’re beautiful too," Charlie said, handing me a small box. "I hope you like this." I was deeply touched. It reminded me of the times when Kaiden and Charlie wo