Cassie.I blinked at him, my mind scrambling to process the question. He had asked it so softly, so out of character for him, that it caught me completely off guard. I tried to answer, but the words tangled in my throat, coming out as nothing more than a stutter. Before I could form a coherent response, the doctor spoke, thankfully taking the burden off my shoulders.“She’s lucky you brought her in when you did, Alpha,” the doctor began, his tone clipped but professional. “Her body’s been under a lot of strain. Malnutrition, dehydration, sleep deprivation—all of it is taking a toll on her wolf. If this continues, it could weaken her further. Her wolf’s connection to her is already fragile.”I barely heard the man’s words. My focus was split between Axel’s hand holding mine and his gaze burning into me. His thumb traced absent, repetitive circles over the back of my hand, and every time the doctor mentioned something concerning, Axel’s grip shifted—tightening, then loosening—like h
Cassie.My gaze flickered toward the door as it creaked open, a nurse walked in with a nervous smile and Axel straightened almost immediately. “I have something to take care of,” he said, his tone curt and distant, “I’ll be back.”He didn’t wait for me to respond, he just strode toward the door, his broad shoulders rigid, and disappeared out of the door.The nurse bowed slightly, a sign of respect for her Alpha, before turning to me. “How are you feeling, Cassie?” she asked softly, approaching the side of my bed.“I’m fine,” I muttered, even though I knew it wasn’t true. My body felt heavy, my mind even heavier. The piercing headache from earlier still throbbed faintly behind my eyes, but it wasn’t just physical pain gnawing at me.The nurse started administering some medication, her hands quick and efficient. I barely paid attention to her, my thoughts reverting to the memory of what had just happened.Axel had almost kissed me. And I almost let it happen.I closed my eyes briefly,
Cassie.When I stepped into my apartment, I had to do a double take. For a moment, I thought I’d entered the wrong unit because the space didn’t look anything like the one I left behind. Everything had been cleaned, organized, and restored to perfection. The faint smell of lavender hung in the air, a contrast to the faint musky scent I left behind. I didn’t need to guess who was responsible. Axel’s grip on my arm tightened slightly, his presence solid and unyielding beside me.He glanced down at me briefly. “Mirabel’s making dinner,” he said simply, his voice low and controlled, as if this was just another day in his orderly world.I nodded, unsure of what to say. The weight of the last few days still clung to me, leaving me feeling fragile and unsure.Axel guided me to my room, his touch both commanding and oddly gentle. My bed, which had been unmade when I left, was now perfectly arranged, the pillows fluffed and neatly placed. Even the clothes I had left scattered on the floor w
Cassie.I walked silently behind Axel, unsure of what to expect from his words. I could hear the faint sound of crickets, but even that sound couldn't drown out the relentless thudding of my heartbeat. Each step felt heavier, the tension between us pulling me closer to something I wasn't sure I was ready to face.When we reached the door at the end of the hall, he pushed it open without hesitation.I stepped in first and froze.Bella and Carly knelt in the center of the room, their hands bound behind them.The flickering light overhead cast uneven shadows across their faces, and even though they weren't battered or bruised, their tear-streaked cheeks told me enough. They'd been crying for a long time—probably for days.The room was small and suffocating, with walls that seemed to close in the longer I stood there. A tiny window, even smaller than the ones from earlier, sat near the ceiling letting in just enough moonlight to highlight the cold, unwelcoming space.Torture devices hung
Cassie.I stood there in silence, my arms crossed tightly against my chest as Bella and Carly groveled on the floor like they hadn’t been trying to kill me just days ago. “Alpha, please! Forgive us!” Carly’s voice cracked, her hands trembling as they rubbed together in a pitiful show of submission.Bella wasn’t any better, her head bobbing up and down like a puppet’s, tears streaking her cheeks. “We’re sorry, Alpha! We’ll never do it again!”I didn’t miss the way they addressed Axel and ignored me completely, as though I was invisible in the room. My blood boiled at their audacity. How could they disregard me? When I was the one they attacked, the one they humiliated and tried to destroy. Yet, their apologies were aimed at Axel, as if he was the one they’d wronged.Axel’s voice cut through their crying, sharp and unforgiving. “If you both don’t get the hell out of here in the next second, you’ll wish for death!”The fury in his tone was thick, and the girls scrambled to their feet,
Cassie.The moment Axel and I stepped into the apartment, I turned around to face him, planting my hands on my hips. My chest tightened as I glared up at him, the weight of my unresolved emotions boiling to the surface.“You know,” I started, my voice sharper than I intended, “I tried to make sense of it on our walk here, and I just… didn’t. You’re so confusing. One minute, you’re nice, and the next, you’re cold. Is it because it’s natural for you to be mean to me, and the mate bond is getting in the way of that? Forcing you to try and be nice to me? Is that what this is?”Axel’s expression didn’t shift at first—his dark eyes studying me with an unreadable intensity. Then he exhaled slowly, running his fingers through his hair like my words had physically weighed him down.“Cassie,” he said in that infuriatingly calm voice, “go to your room.”“No.” I straightened, my voice growing louder. “I’m going nowhere until I get an answer from you.”“Then, by all means, stay here!” Axel bit ou
Cassie.When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the faint sound of shuffling outside my room. My heart raced slightly, the remnants of a restless night still clinging to me. For a fleeting moment, I thought it might be Axel, and I quickly slipped out of bed, my bare feet padding softly against the floor as I headed toward the noise.But when I opened the door, it wasn’t Axel. It was Mirabel, humming softly to herself as she wiped down the counters. Her back was to me, but she must have sensed my presence because she turned around, her face lighting up with a smile.“Good morning, Luna,” she greeted warmly. “Is there anything you need?”I hesitated. Luna. The word still felt foreign on her lips and wrong in my ears.“Cassie. I’m not a Luna,” I corrected her, my voice clipped, then I cleared my throat.”“I don’t need anything. I’m fine.”But my eyes betrayed me, darting toward Axel’s door before I could stop myself. Mirabel must have caught the motion because a knowing look flash
Cassie.A frown instantly settled on my face at Axel’s words.And you must never let anyone know that you’re my mate, or that you’re related to me in any wayThe sharp edge of his command echoed in my mind, leaving behind a bitter sting. I’d heard him say it before so I shouldn’t have been shocked to hear it again, especially now, but I couldn’t stop the ache that bloomed in my chest.I did not intend to be hurt by his words, but the pain was there nonetheless, curling deep in my ribs like a wound that refused to heal.I parted my lips, wanting to ask why it mattered so much to keep me a secret. Was I something he was ashamed of? A hidden mistake he’d rather no one knew existed?But I was tired—exhausted beyond belief. I didn’t have the strength to fight him, not tonight.“This will not be up for debate,” Axel continued, his voice firm as if reading my thoughts, “If you can abide by these rules, you’re free to go. But if you can’t…” He paused, his gaze piercing through me. “Then I don
Cassie.It wasn’t until I returned to the lecture room that I remembered Violet had told me she’d be waiting for me in the cafeteria. My stomach churned at the thought of how much time had passed since our earlier conversation. She was probably wondering what had kept me. I stuffed my books into my bag in a hurry and darted out of the room, weaving through the scattered students lingering in the hallways.By the time I reached the cafeteria doors, my breath came in short bursts, and I was beginning to feel the weight of the day pressing down on me. Just as I stepped inside, my eyes caught sight of Violet near the far corner. She wasn’t alone. She was chatting animatedly with a girl and a guy I didn’t recognize.“Violet!” I called out, waving a hand in her direction.She looked up at me, her face lighting up in recognition. She waved me over with a smile, her carefree energy a welcome contrast to my own frayed nerves.I approached cautiously, my steps slowing as I neared the group. Vio
Cassie.The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. My heart raced as I stood in Mr. Pierson’s office, trying to process Axel’s sudden arrival. His presence dominated the room, his piercing gaze darting between me and Mr. Pierson. I could feel the storm brewing behind his eyes, the kind that promised chaos if not contained.Axel’s voice broke through the silence, sharp and cold. “Am I interrupting something?”“No,” Mr. Pierson replied, his brow furrowing in confusion. “But I don’t even know who you are. And frankly, I’d like to know how you think you can barge into my office and throw accusations around.”Axel scoffed, a deep, guttural sound that sent a shiver down my spine. He took three deliberate steps toward Mr. Pierson, his body radiating menace. My instincts kicked in before he could say or do anything reckless. I moved quickly, stepping between them and placing my hand lightly on Axel’s chest.“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly desp
Axel.The morning air was light and cold. It was the kind of weather I usually found soothing, but today, it grated on my nerves. Every breath I took felt heavier than it should, as though the weight of the world pressed against my chest. My knuckles cracked audibly as I clenched and unclenched my fists, the movement both a habit and an outlet for the frustration boiling beneath my skin.I hadn’t slept. How could I? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Cassie bruised, bandaged, and hiding her pain like it was a secret she couldn’t trust me with. That image had burned itself into my mind, each detail fueling an anger so fierce it kept me pacing my room through the rest of the night.By the time the sun began to rise, I knew I wouldn’t make it through the day without taking action. I summoned Warren and Jake through mind link as the first light pierced through the fog.“We need to figure out what happened to Cassie,” I said sharply, my tone leaving no room for argument.I tasked Warren wi
Axel.The moment Cassie returned home that day, something felt off. I couldn’t quite place it at first, but I knew something was wrong. She walked through the door, limping slightly, and I froze in place. I noticed her clothes were different from the ones she had worn earlier in the day. She was wearing something more casual, and her hair was down, completely covering her face.What bothered me the most, though, was the way she was avoiding me. She wasn’t meeting my gaze—she was just rushing to her room as if she couldn’t get away from me fast enough. My heart sank. I didn’t need to be a genius to figure out that something had happened. She was hiding something from me, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to know what it was.I stood there for a moment, just staring at the door she had disappeared behind. Then the worry set in. What happened to her?That night, I found myself replaying the day in my head over and over again. How did she go from being so excited to go to school in the mo
Cassie.The moment Mr. Pierson’s words left his lips, Violet and I exchanged confused looks, our eyes darting between each other and Mr. Pierson. My heart sank as his gaze settled firmly on me. A lump formed in my throat, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure if I’d heard him correctly.“Me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Mr. Pierson’s smile didn’t waver—it was polite, calm, but somehow intimidating. “Is there another Cassie standing here right now?” he replied, tilting his head slightly.I felt a few students slow their pace as they walked past us, curiosity etched on their faces. Though no one stopped, their glances lingered for far too long, making my skin prickle. I resisted the urge to shrink under the weight of their stares. My cheeks burned with embarrassment.I glanced at Violet, hoping for some reassurance. She shrugged and gave me a small smile. “I’ll wait for you at the cafeteria,” she said casually, though I could see a flicker of concern in her eyes. Her response
Cassie.When I woke up the next morning, something felt… off. It wasn’t like the typical tiredness from a restless night, though that was part of it. It was as if I’d forgotten something important that should have been impossible to overlook.Was it someone’s birthday? An anniversary? I wracked my brain, but nothing came to mind. Still, the unease lingered.Closing my eyes, I saw a hazy vision of Axel sitting on my bed, his hands reaching out to touch me. My heart quickened at the image, but I shook my head. No. That was impossible, I’d barely slept, and when I finally did, I was all alone in my room. It must’ve been a figment of my imagination, surely. The product of exhaustion, or maybe a bizarre dream. I pushed the thought away, forcing myself to focus on the day ahead.I dressed in the pair of jeans that nearly cost me my legs, that day at the mall and a plain black top to match. I rolled my hair into a bun, grabbed a banana on my way out of the kitchen, and headed out the doo
Cassie.Dinner was quieter than I had expected, though the sound of Mirabel cleaning the counters filled the space. She had prepared something simple—grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and sautéed vegetables—and as I sat there eating, I could feel her eyes flicker toward me every now and then, though she said nothing at first.As she continued wiping down the counters, her voice broke the silence. “It seems like no one ever sees you around anymore,” she said, her tone polite but formal, as it always. “You’ve been coming in late and leaving early, so much that when you’re here it feels like you really aren’t.”I glanced up, startled by the observation but masking my reaction quickly. It wasn’t like Mirabel to comment on my comings and goings.“I didn’t realize anyone cared,” I said lightly, trying to keep the conversation from veering into anything too personal.Mirabel shrugged, her expression neutral. “I only mention it because it’s noticeable. Makes things feel different around he
Cassie.By lunch, the rumors had spiraled into full-blown scandal material. More detailed information about the affair surfaced. It sounded absurd but that didn’t stop anyone from entertaining the idea. It was scandalous, and scandals were irresistible. Even though no one had mentioned any names yet, I couldn’t shake the gnawing unease settling in my chest. Every look in my direction felt like it lingered too long, every laugh like it was aimed at me.I sat alone at a corner table in the cafeteria, poking at the pasta on my tray, as snippets of conversation floated toward me.“Do you really think it’s true?” one girl whispered to her friend at the table next to mine.“It has to be,” the other replied, her voice brimming with excitement. “Why else would a lecturer pay that much attention to a freshman?”My stomach churned. I knew better than to listen, but their words clung to me, each one sinking deeper than the last. It was just talk, I told myself. Nothing more than mindless goss
Cassie.I woke up earlier than I had the day before, my body fueled by a restless energy that wouldn’t let me sleep in.The sun was just beginning to settle when I dressed hurriedly, slipping into a red long-sleeved shirt and jeans. My goal was simple: leave before Axel woke up. The idea of running into him again, with his sharp gaze that always seemed to pry secrets from me, made my chest tighten.I needed quiet, enough quiet to make decisions for myself without his intrusion.“No, what you need is to tell him about what happened to you, and have them catch those perpetrators. Those girls deserve hell!” Cy countered, but I couldn’t do that, so I shut her out because I knew it would only be a series of the same talk.By the time I arrived on campus, the morning air carried a strange buzz. Whispers floated around, pulling everyone’s attention toward some unseen source. Students clustered in groups, talking in hushed voices, but their expressions weren’t subtle. There was excitement,