Cassidy’s POVI paced back and forth in my room, my mind spinning with a whirlwind of endless possibilities. I just woke up when I found out that Zarion and two of his Betas were out in the Misty Forest, facing danger and uncertainty in the wilderness just to pay Hestia for what she did to me.I couldn't help but worry for them. The weight of their lives rested heavily on my shoulders, and every passing moment seemed to drag on forever. Why is everything always about me?!My fingers clenched and unclenched, my heart thudding in my chest like a relentless drumbeat. I knew that Zarion is a skilled warrior, together with Caleb and Achilles. They are strong and loyal, but the dangers they faced were not to be underestimated. Anything could happen out there in the unknown, and the fear of the unknown gnawed at me like a persistent ache.What if Alpha Brandon will come for them?It might be a trap. Also, I might be wrong. I’m overthinking so much that I sometimes forget to put trust in my
“Cassidy…” He stroked my cheeks as if he never touched them before.“I do trust you, Zarion. But... it's just that. I still feel so insecure. She's your mate. Hestia is your sacred mate. Why would Hestia, the reputable Hestia, announce and do that to the whole world? She doesn't have control, of course, because it's the mating bond. No one has control over that treacherous thing—”Zarion's strong hand gently covered my mouth, silencing my worried ramblings. His eyes bore into mine with unwavering intensity, and I could see the sincerity in his gaze. “Hush, babe. We don't know her ulterior motive. She's not my fucking mate. She will never be. She will never be you, Cassidy.”His vehement denial surprised me, and I couldn't help but question further, still trying to grasp the truth. “But...why would she say that she's your mate? Why would she kneel in front of you and do those things that clearly signal that she is mated with you?” I asked, my thoughts still clouded with confusion.“She
It was done in a heartbeat. The pain it caused didn’t even linger for long. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it in front of the mirror—the mark of the Alpha. On my neck.It was surreal. I touched my neck and there it was, a shimmering testament to the bond that had formed between Alpha Zarion and me.My heart swelled with joy, this pure emotion washing over me. I remember every bit of the memories we shared this night.“You are the only person whom I will spend the rest of my life with, Cassidy. I couldn't wait for that to happen. We have so much time in the world. I will give you everything that you want and need. Just please fucking stay by my side because I can't live without you. Damn. I don't even know what I'll do if you leave me…” His words still ring in my ear even when he’s already snoring beside me. He had made it clear that I was the only one, and that meant everything to me.“I will never leave you, Zarion.” I kissed his temple as I buried myself under the blanket,
It was quick, yet not so painful. I think so.Alpha Brandon took a step forward, his eyes filled with remorse. I don’t know if it’s real. It seems it's not. “I have seen the error of my ways, Zarion.” He turned to me. Where Zarion did not notice that I was already beside him, Brandon did. “Cassidy, my former mate…” I swallowed a lump in my throat to what he just called me. “Please forgive me.”Zarion did not utter a single word. Instead, he just glares at Brandon.His brother sighed heavily as he looked at me. “Cassidy, I am truly sorry for how I treated you. I let my ambition blinded me, my hatred consumed me and it cost me dearly. I regret my actions, and I have come to make amends.”I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The once cocky and arrogant Alpha Brandon was now standing before us, admitting his mistakes and seeking forgiveness. It was a surprising revelation, one that left me uncertain about how to feel.I still have my doubts obviously. Zarion regarded him carefully, stud
It was an intense moment. Zarion promised me peace. And yet…”He allowed himself to be persuaded by Brandon’s offer of war.” I felt betrayed, my legs felt weak from running.As I ran away from Zarion and Brandon, I found myself in the foggy embrace of the Misty Forest. Rage consumed me like wildfire. It was my reason to take a backseat to the fury burning in my veins.Someone graced through the thick fog like a Queen walking the red carpet to her palace. The sight of Hestia now leading a group of Rogues as if they are her pack and they are their Alpha and showing signs of madness was enough to push me over the edge. No blood flowed from her. No wounds marred her skin. She was as clean as one just went for a quick bath, still sane and smiling.Except this bitch is a psycho too like Brandon.Was she driven mad or had she turned against Brandon of her own volition? Beta Bridgette, who was immediately beside me even before I could draw my next breath, grabbed my wrist when I t
“Cassidy…” Zarion's voice softened. Seeing the distress in my eyes, he held me gently, his concern evident. “Bridgette will be okay. She’s stronger than you think.”I didn’t budge. Zarion placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “Who did this to you? To Bridgette?”I took a nice deep breath. Told myself to be steady enough to share the horrifying encounter. Truth. “Zarion, my Grandmama…” I managed to say, my voice trembling with grief. His face contorted with shock and anger as he urged me to continue. Sensing the gravity of the situation, he kissed my hand. A sign for me to take everything slowly. “What about your grandmother?”Struggling to hold back my tears that just let its presence known in front of Zarion, I whispered, “My grandmother's dead. They killed her. Valerie and Aneliesse Cavitt confirmed it. Hestia confirmed it.” As the words escaped my lips, a single tear rolled down my cheek. Zarion's anger seemed to escalate, reflecting my own feelings. He cursed under his breath, t
“You’re a thief, Cassidy!”“I’m a what?” I snorted.Hestia's hands clutched the cold metal railing of the cell, her eyes burning with anger as she snarled at me. “You're a fucking stealer. You stole Zarion away from me!” She pointed accusingly at my boyfriend, who remained composed, unaffected by her outburst.‘She’s just a whining child,’ he mind-linked me.I shrugged, and couldn't help but chuckle at her accusation. “I'm a... what? A stealer? A thief? Aren't you talking about yourself?” I shot back, finding amusement in her desperate attempts to provoke me.Her snarls only intensified. Pounding her fists against the railing in frustration.“Not that I want your husband anyway,” I continued, not allowing her to get a word inside my heart again. Their trickery about my Mamita being dead is enough. “Now that he finds you useless, you're trying to leech off my husband by pulling some stunt? You're a fucking whore, Hestia!”“Fuck you!” she shrieked, her eyes narrowed into slits.My grin
I was dumbfounded, my breath catching in my throat as I stood before the Moon Goddess Temple.Its ancient stones seemed to hold the weight of centuries of whispered prayers and quiet hopes. The air around me felt charged, as if the temple itself held some mystical power. I could feel the rapid, erratic beating of my heart. Its rhythm echoed in my ears, a testament to the mixture of anticipation and anxiety that churned within my soul.I knew what I was here to do.I want to know if Hestia's really Zarion's mate. But now, faced with the reality of it all, a flurry of doubt swept over me. Could this truly work? Was it possible that it could hold the key to knowing one's true mate?Probably not. Probably I’m just being crazy. But then…all is just a maybe until we’ve proven it as true.I had not painstakingly prepared for this moment. No one is. While I meticulously followed the instructions I had discovered in the dusty tomes of our family library, a single tear began to crawl its way fr