Cassie.I woke up for the second time to a gentle tapping on my shoulder, a sound soft but persistent enough to drag me out of the sleep I hadn’t realized had claimed me. My head jerked up, and I blinked, trying to organize myself, and my thoughts. The living room came into focus—the same one I’d reluctantly stepped into last night. My suitcase was still where Axel had left it.A sigh escaped my lips and I closed my eyes again, too tired to deal with anything.The tapping came again, and I turned my head to find a young girl standing beside the couch. She looked to be in her late teens, with dark hair tied into a loose braid and eyes that mirrored curiosity.“Who are you?” she asked her voice light but laced with caution.I froze, startled by the unfamiliar face. My mind jumped to conclusions—ones that made my stomach churn. Was she… Axel’s?I gasped, sitting upright. “Are you—are you married to Axel?” The question tumbled out before I could stop myself, and the girl’s brows shot up
Axel.The moment the elevator doors slid open, I felt a spark of irritation that shot straight through my chest. Cassie was standing next to Jake, her petite frame dwarfed by his tall, broad stature. Her face tilted up toward me, confusion clouding those brown doe-like eyes of hers.And indifference. There was a damn trace of indifference in her expression, like she couldn’t care less about my presence.That look was enough to make my jaw clench, and my wolf, Ice, stirred in my mind.“Pull her away. Mark her,” he snarled, his voice raw and demanding, “Let them all know she’s ours.”I shook my head, keeping my expression neutral even as Ice’s growls rattled my brain. “Not now,” I told him firmly.“Then when, Axel?” Ice snapped, “She’s right there, and I can smell Jake all over her!”Ice’s possessiveness clawed at me, but I shut him out before his anger spilled into mine. I couldn’t deal with his relentless growling and Cassie’s infuriating presence at the same time.Still, my eyes c
Cassie.The faint sound of furniture being moved greeted me as Axel raised a brow, curiosity etched across his face. His features were calm, yet there was a sharpness in his eyes that unsettled me. He gestured toward the apartment, his broad shoulders brushing past me as he stepped ahead. I followed silently, feeling my chest tighten with every step.When we reached the apartment, the door was already ajar, and inside, men were working diligently, shifting furniture and unpacking boxes. I paused in the doorway, taken aback by the sheer size of the space. The white walls glistened, reflecting the soft rays of sunlight that poured through the open windows, making the whole apartment feel warm and inviting.It was far more spacious than I had anticipated, with high ceilings and polished wooden floors. For a moment, I allowed myself to admire it. But then, as if on cue, Axel’s presence loomed behind me like an unspoken reminder of everything I was trying to forget.“We can talk in the b
Cassie.My heart raced as I stared at the glowing screen of my phone, my breath caught somewhere between disbelief and exhilaration. My name sat boldly in the salutation, followed by the word “accepted.”“Dear Cassandra Holt… we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted—”I screamed. Loud, piercing, and raw, the sound bounced off the walls of the room, so loud that for a moment, I didn’t even recognize it as my own. It was pure joy, unrestrained and rare—a spark of light in the darkness I had been wading through for years.Before I could fully process the email, the door to my room burst open, slamming into the wall with a deafening crash. My scream choked in my throat as I spun around.Axel stormed in, shirtless and barefoot, his dark eyes wild and frantic, scanning the room like he expected to find danger lurking in the shadows. His hair was tousled from sleep, but his body—toned and intimidating—was tense, ready to fight whatever threat he thought I was facing.“Cassie
Cassie.“So does that mean you won’t be returning? Or do I need to hold on to your spot for a week—which quite frankly is all I can do?” Eric asked over the phone.I smiled, shaking my head even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “No need to hold on to it,” I said, keeping my voice as even as possible, “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone for.”The moment the words left my mouth, I heard the soft clearing of a throat from the other side of the table. I didn’t need to look up to know it was Axel, seated with his iPad in front of him, though I could tell his attention was zeroed in on my conversation. His presence was suffocating, even when he wasn’t saying a word.I rolled my eyes, turning my gaze back to the piece of bread in my hands. I dragged the butter knife through the Nutella jar with more force than necessary, my phone still pressed between my ear and shoulder.I’d hoped that the harsh sunlight that filtered through my window when I woke up would somehow prove everything from th
Cassie.The hum of the engine was almost soothing, but the man sitting next to me made it impossible to relax. Axel’s sleek black Range Rover glided effortlessly down the highway, its red and black leather interior gleaming under the sunlight streaming through the windows.Axel’s idea to take me back to say proper goodbyes to Eric and the others had seemed logical enough at the time, but now, sitting in a box of leather and masculinity, I wasn’t so sure anymore.He was wearing what he called casual—a fitted blue sweatshirt that stretched over his broad shoulders and jeans that hugged his thighs in ways no man’s jeans should. His sneakers were spotless, and the rolled-up sleeves of his sweatshirt revealed strong, veined forearms. My eyes kept drifting toward him like they had a will of their own.“Pull it together,” I muttered under my breath.Cy, my wolf, wasn’t helping either.“He’s so sexy,” Cy purred, the words vibrating through my mind like a smug little melody.I shifted uncomfo
Cassie.The car felt suffocating. My fingers tightened around the seatbelt, gripping it so hard my knuckles ached. The sleek interior of Axel’s car, once fascinating with its leather and red-and-black design, was now the last thing on my mind. The only thing I could focus on was the way Axel drove like a madman, his foot pressing into the accelerator as though he wanted to punish the road beneath us.“Axel, what’s going on?” I managed to ask, my voice shaking despite my best effort to sound calm.His jaw clenched but he didn’t respond, his focus fixed on the road ahead, his knuckles white against the steering wheel.The tension was unbearable. The speed of the car, the way it swerved so sharply around corners, sent my pulse into overdrive. For a moment, I thought I heard a growl—low and menacing—and I wasn’t sure if it came from Axel or somewhere deep within the car itself.“Axel, I’m serious. Talk to me!” I tried again, this time reaching out to him.I intended for my hand to land
Cassie.“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to you today. Something came up, and I had to return immediately,” I said, pressing the phone closer to my ear as Axel’s car hummed quietly beneath me.“You must’ve taken a huge risk coming here, Cassie. Are you okay?” Eric’s voice came through with a mixture of disappointment and concern.He’d called me to ask where I was since I’d called him before Axel and I left Red Hollow estate, telling him I would come visit. A sigh escaped my lips at his words.“No, it wasn’t like that. I am okay, but I’m sad I was only able to see the old couple. There was a little situation and I had to leave right away,” I explained, stealing a glance at Axel, who was gripping the steering wheel tightly, his jaw set in that unreadable expression he always wore. “I’ll visit again when I can. I just need some time to get things in order.”Eric let out a heavy sigh. “Okay, but be careful. Don’t forget to take care of yourself, alright?” His concern made my chest tighten
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 bubblin
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