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027.

Author: Natashah
last update Last Updated: 2024-11-21 21:39:26

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
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    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

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    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

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  • Second Chance At Love   057.

    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

  • Second Chance At Love   056.

    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

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    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

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