Cassie.I felt a jolt run through me as I stumbled backward, blinking to clear my vision. The man I’d just bumped into stood before me, gazing down with striking blue eyes that seemed to pierce right through me. His blond hair was perfectly slicked back, though two rogue strands had slipped loose, hanging over his forehead effortlessly carelessly. I stared, momentarily frozen, my mind too sluggish to process what was happening. I opened my mouth to speak, to stammer out an apology, but the words died. It wasn’t just the man’s intense gaze; it was also the unmistakable aura rolling off him. He was an Alpha. Cy, stirred, cautious but curious.The man tilted his head slightly, a strange intensity in his gaze like he was looking straight into me. I swallowed, forcing myself to snap out of it and remember where I was—and who I was. If this man was an Alpha, there was no way I could risk him figuring out I was a rogue.“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice deep and calm, though a hi
Cassie.Mate?The word reverberated through me, filling every inch of my being with a feeling I couldn’t even name. My pulse raced as my gaze locked with Axel’s, and the world seemed to shrink, narrowing down to just the two of us. No. This had to be a mistake.I had left him. I had run, stolen his money, and sworn never to see, and forgive him. I had tried so hard to escape everything he’d put me through, the pain, the betrayal—and now, here he was, standing right in front of me… as my mate?I stumbled back, a cold chill running through me, but Axel’s hand darted out, gripping my arm before I could pull away. The familiar, unyielding strength in his grip twisted my stomach. He pulled me closer, and his scent—earthy, woodsy, with a hint of pine—filled my lungs, stirring something buried deep inside me, something I didn’t want to acknowledge.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look up at him. Axel had changed, and yet he hadn’t. He looked older, somehow sharper, with a thin line of
Cassie.“Over my dead body,” I hissed, my voice shaking but unyielding as I stared up at Axel.For a split second, a flicker of surprise crossed his face, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a hard, unreadable expression. This was Axel—the alpha who had once held my world together, then shattered it beyond repair. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t imagined this moment a thousand times, meeting Axel. What I’d say to him, what he’d say to me. But never in my wildest dreams had I thought we’d meet like this: outside my workplace, him in a black crisp, three-piece suit, looking as if he hadn’t lost a single night of sleep in the years since I’d left. And worst of all, as my mate.He studied me, those storm-gray eyes piercing through me like he could strip away every wall I’d built to protect myself since I left the Red Hollow pack. I wanted to flinch, to look away, but I held my ground.“You don’t belong here, Cassie,” he said finally, his voice low but firm. “You’r
Cassie.I wiped a hand across my forehead, grateful for the distraction work at the restaurant provided. My body felt heavy, my legs dragging with exhaustion as I moved around, and worse, I was now on a night shift at the restaurant.I hadn’t slept a wink. Last night had been nothing short of chaos in my mind. Axel—my mate. The revelation still weighed on me, a sharp, biting truth I couldn’t seem to escape. Even when I had left my apartment in the morning, deciding to spend time helping the old couple at the cafe, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.Why did it have to be him?A sigh escaped my lips before I could stop it, long and heavy like the weight of the world rested on my shoulders. My thoughts raced as I leaned against my locker in the locker room. “Okay, that’s it,” a voice said from behind me, startling me enough that I nearly dropped the plate in my hands. “One more sigh like that and you’re going to bring this entire place down.”I turned to find Eric standing there. I bl
Cassie.I didn’t dare look away from the man in front of me.He took a step forward, and I instinctively took one back. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to create some distance, but it was futile.He kept coming closer.There was a strange ease to his movements, as though he wasn’t in a hurry. Like a predator taking his time with cornered prey. A lazy, almost amused smile played on his lips, making my stomach churn.My back hit the edge of a curb. I froze, my breath hitching as he reached into the pocket of his coat.“Relax,” he said smoothly, pulling out a cigarette. He placed it between his lips, lighting it with a flick of his lighter. The small flame illuminated his sharp features, the cold glint in his eyes.He took a slow drag, inhaling deeply before exhaling a cloud of smoke into the crisp night air. Then, he smiled again.“Damon,” he said simply, his voice low and casual. “And you are?”I hesitated, my lips pressing together as unease crawled over my skin.When I didn’
Cassie.Shock filled me, rooting me to the ground. My heart raced so fast I thought it might explode. Damon and Axel stood locked in a battle of stares, each exuding dominance, the tension between them sharp enough to cut through steel.Damon’s fury was evident in his clenched jaw, but Axel’s face was calm—a dangerous kind of calm. It wasn’t the absence of emotion but a silent warning that made the air between them feel heavy and suffocating.“Mate!” Cy’s voice roared in my mind, snapping me out of my shock.“Come here, Cassie.” Axel’s deep, commanding voice sent shivers down my spine.My feet moved instinctively toward him, even as my mind screamed in protest. Every cell in my body knew it was safer to be with Axel than to remain in Damon’s grasp. But before I could close the distance, Damon shifted in front of me, blocking my path.“I saw her first, Axel,” Damon growled, his voice sharp with defiance. “I’m not letting you take my kill even if you’re the one who proposed the bill.”
Axel.Cassie stared up at me, the expression in her doe, brown eyes, unreadable, though I could sense the war raging inside her. Her hand hovered over the car door handle, trembling ever so slightly before falling back into her lap, the long extension of her braids moving with her.She parted her lips, ready to argue, but I didn’t give her the chance. “There’s no debate here, Cassie,” I said firmly. “You’re coming with me.”Her lips pressed together, her gaze narrowing slightly as if she were weighing her options. After what felt like an eternity, she shook her head, her voice soft but firm. “I appreciate you saving me back there, Axel, but I can’t return to Red Hollow. I won’t.”Her words ignited a flicker of anger inside me. Did she even understand how close she’d come to death?“Do you have any idea what just happened to you?” My voice was sharp, cutting through the tense silence between us. “If I’d been a second late, Damon would’ve dragged you off and killed you. Right now, y
Cassie.The suitcase felt heavier in my hand than it should have, but I knew the real weight wasn’t in my suitcase. It was in the decision I’d just made—or, rather, the decision that had been made for me.I hated it.I hated that I had no choice but to follow him. I hated that even as I considered running, my own mind betrayed me with the reality that Axel would find me. Running would only make it worse.When I reached the car, the sight of Axel froze me in place. He was leaning against the sleek black SUV, arms folded across his broad chest, one boot crossed over the other. His head was tilted down, a strand of dark hair falling into his face as if he didn’t have a single care in the world.Even from here, I could see how the black tee clung to his shoulders, outlining every sharp, defined muscle. My throat went dry, and I cursed myself for noticing.“This is the same man who destroyed you, Cassie,” I had to remind myself under a muffled breath.Axel looked up then, and the intensity
Cassie.The man carried me up several flights of stairs, his strong arms steady and unyielding as I sagged against him. Each step sent jolts of pain through my battered body, but I bit my lip and stayed silent. When we stopped in front of a polished wooden door, he shifted me slightly in his arms and pushed it open.The office was spacious, with bookshelves lining one wall, a sleek desk on the other, and a plush, three-seater couch near the window. He strode over to the couch and gently laid me down. My whole body felt heavy, the weight of the attack sinking in now that I wasn’t in immediate danger.He took a step back, adjusting his sleeves before placing a hand on his chest in a formal gesture.“I’m Jon Pierson, but you can call me Jon. I’m a lecturer in the Psychology department,” he said, his tone professional but tinged with concern. “I’m sorry about what happened to you. It’s unacceptable.”I blinked at him, still trying to process everything. My throat felt dry, so I simply n
Cassie.I cried harder as the punches landed on my ribs, my back, my shoulders—every part of me that could be reached. Even though they were human, their blows hurt. Maybe it was the sheer number of them or the fact that I hadn’t seen it coming, but I couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down my face as I lay there.The floor beneath me felt cold, but the burning pain coursing through my ribs, arms, and face distracted me from everything else. My vision blurred with tears as I curled into myself, trying to shield my head from their attacks.Why me? What had I done to deserve this?Cy was quiet in the back of my mind, an unusual stillness from her, because usually when something like this happened, she’d try to comfort me with soft words, but there was nothing. I knew, deep down, that her reason for remaining quiet had to do with the fact that we were dealing with humans, but it still hurt nonetheless. Just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, a loud, heavy bang echoed through
Cassie.I walked into school with my head held high, determined to carve out a life of my own. It was the first day of college which was supposed to be the start of something new—a fresh beginning, far from the life I lived in the past, away from Axel's dominating presence, the events of this morning long forgotten.The smell of humans hit me before I even stepped inside the large lecture room.Their scents were layered-sweet, earthy, musky-but underneath it all, there was something familiar. A faint trace of wolf lingered in the air, subtle but undeniable.It didn't surprise me because Truman Spell College had a mix of humans and werewolves, though most humans were blissfully unaware of the supernatural world they lived alongside.I found an empty seat toward the middle of the class and settled in. No one paid me any attention. Students chatted in small clusters, laughing and exchanging stories as if they'd known each other forever, while I sat alone, invisible.It stung more than I
Cassie.The morning sun peeked through my closed curtains, its warmth spilling across my face, stirring me awake. For once, I hadn’t been pulled from sleep by restless dreams or an overwhelming sense of dread. Today felt different—like a chance at freedom, however temporary.I forced myself out of bed before Mirabel arrived, determined to avoid any lingering thoughts about Axel or his suffocating rules. College was going to be a fresh start, a world far removed from pack politics and possessive Alphas no matter how much he tried to control everything.After a quick bowl of cereal, I took a long shower, letting the hot water relax my tense muscles. As steam fogged up the bathroom mirror, I stared at my reflection. My freshly done knotless braids framed my face perfectly, with loose curls softening the look. The stylist had outdone herself, and I felt more like myself than I had in ages.I carefully twisted the braids into a neat bun, leaving a few stray curls free on purpose. After ap
Cassie.The massive scowl on my face deepened as I left the house, still fuming over Axel’s ridiculous decision. How did he expect me to commute to and from school every day like I was some child who couldn’t be trusted? This arrangement would keep me tethered to the pack, to him, in ways I couldn’t escape. And with the way i was beginning to feel about him, space was what I needed, not a suffocating proximity.“Just do as he says for now,” Cy urged softly.I scoffed. Of course she’d say that. “Sometimes I can’t tell whose side you’re on. You’re everywhere.”Her voice remained calm despite my irritation. “We’re bound together, Cassie. My loyalty is yours… but he’s our mate. There’s not much I can do about that. I bet his wolf is just the same.”I sighed in frustration, opening Warren’s car door with more force than necessary and sliding into the passenger seat. He raised an eyebrow at me.“Tell me you’re not about to complain,” he muttered as he started the car.I shot him a sharp lo
Cassie.The next few days passed in a blur, leaving me with little time to dwell on my tangled thoughts about Axel. Between preparing for school, buying supplies, and enduring Warren’s reluctant company, my mind stayed occupied enough to push aside the confusing emotions lingering from our last encounter.Axel had insisted I use his card for my school shopping, a gesture that felt more like control than generosity. Worse, he’d assigned Warren to accompany me, saying I’d spent “enough time with Jake.” I’d refused at first but didn’t bother arguing. Warren clearly wasn’t thrilled about the arrangement either. His perpetual scowl and curt responses made it clear he was only there because Axel ordered him to be.The first shopping trip was unbearable — awkward silence stretching between us as we wandered from one store to another. I made a point to ignore his grumbling whenever I lingered too long over something or browsed through items that weren’t on my list. He wasn’t my friend, just
Cassie.“I wasn’t trying to run away,” I said firmly, holding Axel’s piercing gaze. “I just needed some space out of the pack because apparently, I’m still a stain in your life.” My voice trembled despite my best efforts. “So, I went to the park for a change of scenery and…”“And what?” He asked, all his attention on me, which made me uneasy.“I— I met Damon there.”Axel stiffened, his entire body locking in place. His eyes darkened, flashing with barely restrained rage. His jaw clenched so tightly I thought I heard his teeth grind.“You did what?” His voice was cracked, and his head tilted to the side with one brow raised.“I met Damon there. Well, I was lying down and he came to me,” I explained.“What did he do? Did he touch you?” His voice came out low, lethal, vibrating with the force of suppressed fury. His broad chest rose and fell rapidly, muscles coiled like a predator on the brink of attacking.I quickly shook my head. “No, he didn’t… but he told me not to brag about being
Cassie.My heart pounded in my chest like a drum in a frantic rhythm, each beat echoing in my ears. Jake’s panicked tone still played in my mind, making me wonder if he already knew I was being followed. Every second I spent just standing there felt heavier, weighed down by the growing tension in the air. My eyes darted around the street, but never reached the car parked behind meThen, from up ahead, a sleek, black car glided smoothly toward me, its dark windows concealing whoever was inside. My breath hitched, and I tensed, ready to run—until Cy stirred restlessly inside me.“It’s him,” she whispered in awe.Confusion clouded my mind for a moment until a familiar, overwhelming scent of cedar and mint hit me, grounding me in place. Axel.The car came to a sharp stop just a few feet away, and the driver’s door flung open with force. My wide eyes met his fierce, determined gaze as Axel stepped out, his stride purposeful and commanding. The air around him crackled with barely restraine
Axel.“Alpha Axel, are you certain you won’t remain for the private meeting? Alpha Victor would like for you to stay,” Victor’s beta said, stepping into my path like he owned the damn runway.I stopped mid-stride, fixing him with a sharp glare. He was a wiry man with platinum-blond hair slicked back like he was trying too hard. His thin-rimmed glasses perched on the edge of his sharp nose, making him look more like a sniveling accountant than a beta.I’d never bothered to learn his name. Never needed to. He was insignificant, like most of the council’s lackeys. But something about his smug expression always rubbed me the wrong way.“I don’t care for a private meeting,” I said coldly. “We’re all part of the council. If everyone isn’t present, I’ll assume it’s nothing important. Tell your Alpha I said that.”His mouth twitched, but he didn’t push further, only nodding stiffly before turning away. Good. He knew better than to challenge me.I headed toward my private jet, eager to leave t