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.I folded my arms across my chest, watching Jake as he ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled. His gaze lifted to the night sky for a moment before settling back on me.“What is the deal with you and Violet?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even.Jake let out another sigh, his shoulders tensing as if my question weighed heavier than I expected. “Why do you care?” he shot back, and the bite in his tone startled me.I blinked, taken aback by his rudeness. Jake had never spoken to me like that before.“You’re both my friends, and I care about you both,” I said firmly, searching his face for any trace of the easygoing Jake I knew.But he just shook his head, a humorless chuckle escaping his lips.“Is there something wrong?” I pressed, but once again, he shook his head, his lips pursing like he was holding back words he wanted to say.After a pause, he finally spoke. “How well do you know Violet?”His question made me frown. Axel had asked me something similar earlier, but
Cassie.Jake sat comfortably at the bar, his arm slung around the shoulder of a she-wolf, laughing at something either of them had said. The sight made my stomach twist, and when I turned to look at Violet, her expression mirrored mine—shocked and utterly speechless.“Maybe we came at a bad time,” I muttered under my breath, hoping to ease the tension that was beginning to coil around us.Violet, to my surprise, didn’t even flinch. Instead, a slow smile tugged at the corners of her lips, her eyes glinting with something I couldn’t quite decipher. “Why is this a bad time?” she asked, arching a perfectly sculpted brow in my direction.I stared at her, mouth agape, stunned by the confidence radiating off her. Before I could come up with an answer, Violet was already walking further into the bar, her heels clicking against the wooden floor with purpose.Jake’s laughter died the moment he spotted her approaching. His eyes widened in shock, and he quickly removed his arm from around the sh
Cassie.“I didn’t expect to see you here,” I said softly, my voice barely audible over the rustling of the leaves. Axel stood by Cam’s grave, his hands buried in the pockets of his black pants, his shoulders stiff. He turned his head slightly, his sharp profile illuminated by the sunlight, before turning his gaze back to the headstone.“It’s been a little while since I visited,” he said, his voice low and steady. His eyes, though, were anything but calm—they flickered with something I couldn’t quite name. “You bought flowers, so I knew you were coming here.”I sucked in a breath, unsure how to respond. “Have we ever been here together?” he asked, breaking the silence.I shrugged at first, then thought about it. “I don’t think so,” I murmured.Silence enveloped us again, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves as the breeze picked up. I stepped forward, kneeling by Cam’s grave and placing the flowers gently on the grass. My fingers brushed the cold stone as I whispered, “I’m here w
Cassie.“Hey, I don’t know if you saw the text I left you,” I said into my phone, pacing the living room as the rays of morning sun filtered through the windows.Violet’s voice came through the speaker, soft but cheerful. “Yeah, I saw it. I’m down.”A relieved smile tugged at my lips. “Great! I’ll meet you at the café then. I have an errand to run first, but I won’t take long.”“Alright, see you there,” Violet replied.“See you soon.” I ended the call, feeling a little lighter as I tucked my phone into my pocket.The clatter of dishes pulled my attention toward the kitchen. Mirabel had arrived and began preparing breakfast. She glanced at me over her shoulder, a questioning look in her eyes.“What would you like for breakfast?” she asked with a raised brow.I shook my head. “Nothing for me, Mirabel. I’m heading out.”Her brows furrowed slightly, and for a moment, I thought she might press further. But instead, she hesitated, giving a small nod before turning back to the stove.I di
Cassie.“I went out with a friend,” I said, my voice steady, though my heart felt like it was about to burst through my chest.Axel didn’t reply immediately, but his piercing gaze locked onto mine, his sharp features unreadable, yet somehow suffocating. His eyes narrowed slightly, and the weight of his gaze pressed down on me.Clearing my throat, I narrowed my eyes back at him, “Did you think I ran away?”His response came swift and cutting, as he closed whatever distance was left between us. “Given your history, I wouldn’t put it past you,” he said, his tone razor-sharp.I swallowed hard, feeling the walls closing in. “Well, I’m here,” I said, attempting to sound firm, though my voice trembled. “I didn’t run away.”I tugged my arm lightly, trying to pull free from his grip, but Axel’s hand stayed firmly around it. His fingers weren’t painful, but his hold made it clear he wasn’t ready to let me go.“Do you need something?” I asked, hoping to mask the unease bubbling inside me.He d
Cassie.The restaurant was cozy and intimate, the kind of place that made you forget the world outside existed. As Mr. Pierson and I talked, the initial tension eased, replaced by an easy camaraderie I hadn’t expected. For someone who seemed very responsible, he had an easy going side to him.“Cassie, you know you can drop the formalities outside of school, right? Call me Jon,” He had said, and because I hadn’t been anticipating he’d say that, I choked a little on my food.“Try it,” He urged.I tilted my head, a smile creeping onto my face despite my best efforts to keep things strictly polite. “Jon,” I repeated, testing the name like it was foreign to my tongue. “That’s going to take some getting used to.”He laughed, a rich sound that filled the small space between us. “I’ll allow a grace period. But only a short one.”As the evening wore on, I found myself relaxing even more. Jon talked about his life, growing up as the eldest of five brothers, and how he’d felt the weight of re
Cassie.“Mr. Pierson!” I called out, surprised and slightly embarrassed to see him standing before our table. My heart sank as I recalled the promise I’d broken the day before. I was supposed to meet him after lectures, and I completely forgot.His lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “Seems you had a busy day yesterday,” he said, his voice calm and unbothered.I nodded quickly, fumbling for an explanation. “I did. I had to go to the hospital after school…a friend came to pick me up, and it slipped my mind entirely. I’m so sorry, Mr. Pierson. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”He nodded in understanding, his smile softening. “No need to apologize. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.”As he turned to leave, I felt an urge to make things right. “Wait!” I blurted, making him pause mid-step. “I still want to properly thank you. I promise I won’t forget this time.”Mr. Pierson chuckled warmly. “I’ll hold you to that,” he said before walking away, leaving me with a strang
Cassie.I would come to find out that rogues eventually got killed by Axel’s claws.I stretched lazily, letting the remnants of sleep cling to me before I got up to prepare for school. As I pushed my window open to let the morning air in, the faint sound of voices caught my attention.Down below in the courtyard stood three guards, their postures tensed as they exchanged words. At first, I didn't pay much attention, but then one sentence made my breath hitch."Alpha tore them apart. Didn't even let them beg for mercy," one guard said, shaking his head in what seemed like a mix of awe and fear."Ripped their hearts out after the interrogation," another guard added.“This should serve as more lesson to all those rogues who don’t believe how secure this pack is.” the first one said, and the other two nodded.“At this point they should’ve never come. Alpha always know when rogues are around the vicinity. They will never find a way to infiltrate this pack.” The second added. I froze, my h
Cassie.Axel and I continued our walk towards the apartment, and though his hands held mine tightly, I couldn’t let go of the tension in my chest. My heart hammered against my ribcage, and the words “They’re coming for you” were on a loop in my head.I shook my head and tried to focus, as Axel led me into the apartment, but my attempts were futile. “Hey, how are feeling?” he asked me, with his hand pressed at the back of my head so I could look away from him even if I wanted to. “I’m okay,” I told him, trying to release myself from his hold, but he held me in place.“Come,” he ordered in a deep voice that sent shockwaves down my spine, seeping into my skin from where his hand held me, as he led me to my bedroom.“What are you doing?” I asked him, but I should’ve known he wasn’t going to respond. I folded my lips and let him lead me. Inside my room, Axel sat me at the edge of my bed and went into my restroom, staying there for at least five minutes before he came out with his sleeve