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.“You’re one of us?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.The words felt strange leaving my lips as I stared at Violet, who suddenly seemed like an entirely different person. It didn’t make sense. She didn’t smell like a she-wolf, didn’t carry herself like one, and definitely didn’t have the energy I’d come to associate with our kind.“Yes,” Violet admitted softly, her lips curving into a shy smile.I blinked, my mind racing. “How? How is this even possible?”The Violet I knew didn’t fit the mold of a wolf. She wasn’t brash or territorial like most she-wolves I’d met. She didn’t even seem to notice subtle things most of us couldn’t help but pick up on, like changes in scents or moods. But now it all started to fall into place—This was why Violet seemed oddly familiar that day at the mall. It wasn’t just a coincidence or a trick of energy. And if I remembered correctly, she had said, “See you around,” and I thought it was to me. Now I see it was to Jake.Jake, however, look
Cassie. When I opened the door to my apartment, the first thing I noticed was Axel sitting in my living room. His iPad was balanced in his hand, but he wasn’t looking at it. His gaze was fixed ahead, sharp and focused, like he’d been waiting for me. The moment he saw me, he set the device down and stood, walking toward me with measured steps. His commanding presence filled the room, and I instinctively stopped where I was, unsure of what to expect. Axel towered over me, and although I refused to meet his eyes, I could feel their intensity bearing down on me. He didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “Did you go to the doctor like I told you to?” I gasped, the realization hitting me like a brick. “Oh no.” My eyes widened in horror as I remembered his strict instruction from earlier. I had completely forgotten. Between Jake’s strange behavior and my own frustration, I had stormed straight up to my apartment without giving the doctor’s visit a second thought. Axel sighed, lo
Cassie.“You’re healing nicely,” The doctor’s voice was calm, as he finished his examination, snapping his gloves off and tossing them into the bin. He scribbled something onto a notepad before handing it to me. “But over-the-counter meds won’t cut it. You’ll need these for the pain and inflammation.”I glanced at the prescription, my fingers brushing over the paper, partly understanding what was written on it.“Thank you,” I murmured, stuffing it into my pocket.I still couldn’t believe that I’d been beaten up so badly that it affected me even after days.Axel, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, straightened when I stood. His sharp gaze followed me as I walked out of the room, but he didn’t say a word until we left the hospital’s vincinty.“You need to find a way to get compensation for this, or I’ll do it myself.”His voice was rough and hard, but there was some softness to it.“I don’t want to have any issues with anyone there. If anything, I want to hav
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
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.“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.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.I took a deep breath as I stood in front of the pack house, my eyes locked onto the massive structure that had once been my home. My fingers curled into fists at my sides, my nails pressing into my palms as if that would steady me.“I’ve been here before. This is nothing,” I whispered to myself, willing my body to relax. But the way my stomach twisted said otherwise.The evening breeze carried the faint scent of baked goods and damp earth, ruffling the braids that framed my face. I swallowed hard, rubbing my clammy hands against my jeans, trying to push away the nerves that had crept in without warning.“You look like you’re a second away from losing your mind.”The voice came from behind me, breaking through my haze of thoughts. I turned sharply, my heart jolting, only to find Jake standing there, his lips curved into an amused smirk.“Nice to know you find this amusing,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as I crossed my arms.“I don’t,” he chuckled, taking a few steps closer. “Kn
Cassie.The ride to school had been suffocating. Axel didn’t say a word to me, didn’t even glance in my direction, like I had done something unforgivable. Was it really that bad? Was it so wrong to want relief from the ache that had consumed me?“Do you know what would be crazy?” Violet’s voice suddenly cut through my thoughts, snapping me back to the present.I blinked at her, my steps slowing as I took in the mischief in her eyes. “What?” I asked, raising a brow.“If after everything, your lecturer friend turns out to be a bad person, it would literally break me.”The words hit like a brick, and I stopped walking altogether, my breath catching.“What?” My voice was sharp as she turned to face me fully. “Did something happen?”Violet hesitated, rubbing her neck before finally looking away. “Not entirely,” she admitted. “But a couple of students were whispering about him yesterday. They said they saw him going toward the tall trees behind the school… the big field.”I felt my stomach
Cassie.I woke up slowly, feeling warm—warmer than I should have. My body felt oddly secure, wrapped in a tight embrace. The steady sound of breathing filled my ears, the slight weight of an arm draped over my waist grounding me before my mind even fully registered where I was.And then it hit me.Axel.I stiffened, my eyes widening as I turned my head slightly. His scent surrounded me—woodsy, rich, completely intoxicating. His bare skin was hot against mine, his arm tightening instinctively when I shifted.He was still asleep, his breathing even, his face relaxed in a way I had never seen before.For a moment, I simply lay there, staring at him, caught in the quiet intimacy of the moment. Axel never looked like this when he was awake—unguarded, peaceful.But I had to move. I shifted my waist, testing out the free space around me, and the moment I did, Axel groaned.I froze, waiting a moment so I don’t wake him, then I shifted again, attempting to slide out from his grip. His arms onl
Cassie.I opened my eyes to the sound of running water filling my ears before I even registered what was happening. The soft splash against the tub was strangely soothing, pulling me from the heavy fog of unconsciousness. And for a second, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of where I was.My room.The faint scent of lavender clung to the sheets beneath me, grounding me in the familiar space. But something felt… off. My body ached—more than that, it burned. A dull throbbing coiled around my stomach, tightening the moment I tried to shift my weight. My breath hitched as the memories came rushing back, piecing together everything that had happened before I blacked out.Pain sliced through me, sharp and unrelenting. I gritted my teeth, pushing past it as I forced myself to sit up. My limbs were heavy, unwilling, but I couldn’t just stay here. I was alone. I needed to take care of myself.Slowly, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet meeting th
Cassie.I leaned back against the vanity, gripping the edge as Axel’s lips trailed along my neck, his breath hot against my skin. His hands roamed over me, his touch possessive, like he had every right to explore my body. One palm skimmed my waist, sliding upward until it settled over my chest, his fingers curling slightly as if testing my reaction.“I need to take this off,” he murmured against my throat, his voice rough, filled with barely restrained hunger. The heat of his body pressed against mine, and I swore he was made of fire—burning, consuming, unstoppable.God.A shiver ran through me as he tugged roughly at my shirt, his impatience clear. My hands flew to his shoulders, steadying myself as he worked at the fabric like pulling at it alone would make it magically disappear.“Wait, Axel,” I gasped, my fingers trembling against his skin.“Like hell I will,” he growled, his lips never leaving my skin, the deep sound of his voice sending a sharp pulse of heat straight to my core.
Cassie.The classroom was too small for the number of voices rising within it. Seven of us sat around a cluster of desks, a circle that didn’t quite feel complete, but no one seemed to mind. Conversations overlapped, ideas were thrown out and debated, but I was silent, watching the way they all worked together like they had done this before. Like they belonged.I didn’t.I had never spoken to them before yesterday, yet here I was, a part of the planning committee for Jared’s candle walk. I wasn’t sure how it happened. Maybe it was because I had been there when they made the announcement, or maybe someone thought I looked like I cared enough to contribute. The truth was, I didn’t know what I was supposed to do.And so, I said nothing.For most of the meeting, I was there but not really there, nodding along when necessary, taking mental notes I knew I wouldn’t use. The date was still undecided, but they were discussing logistics now—who would handle what, how they would gather candles,
Axel.The meeting room was suffocating. Not from heat or lack of air, but from the sheer tension hanging in the air, thick and unmoving. The long mahogany table stretched across the center of the room, polished to perfection, reflecting the golden glow of the chandelier above. The walls, lined with deep burgundy wallpaper, felt like they were closing in, the heavy drapes blocking out any sign of daylight. A room meant for order, but right now, it held nothing but unspoken resentment and frustration.I leaned back in my chair, my hands gripping the armrests as I let my gaze sweep over the men in the room—alphas from different regions, all with their own domains, their own responsibilities, and yet, none of them seemed willing to lift a damn finger.“I think it’s high time we address the elephant in the room,” I said, my voice calm but firm, the kind that demanded attention.Across the table, Alpha Tristan scoffed, leaning forward with his arms crossed over his broad chest. His golden-b
Cassie.The ride to school was indeed long, longer than it had any right to be.Not because of the distance but because of the thick, suffocating tension that filled the car. No amount of air conditioning could cut through it, and even with the windows cracked open, the weight of unspoken words and unresolved emotions hung between us.Axel said nothing to me. And I said nothing to him.Violet, bless her, made several attempts at conversation. She brought up the weather, schoolwork, and even a random story about one of her neighbors that she clearly hoped would lighten the mood. But it was useless. Axel remained as unreadable as ever, with his signature scowl sitting on his face, and I was too deep in my own thoughts to play along. I wasn’t even sure what was happening between us anymore. I didn’t understand it.Eventually, Violet sighed and gave up, falling into silence as well.When the car finally came to a stop in front of the school gates, I reached for the door handle, ready to b
Cassie.The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was movement. The subtle shifting of weight, the faint rustling of fabric. My senses sharpened, and my body tensed. For a split second, my heart pounded against my ribs as my half-asleep mind leaped to the worst conclusion—intruders.I sat up in a rush, my gaze darting around the dimly lit room, searching for a shadow lurking in the corners. But all I found was Violet, standing by the mirror, stretching her arms before grabbing her towel.“Good morning to you too,” she said, giving me a knowing look through the mirror’s reflection.I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair as I forced my heart to settle. “Good morning,” my voice was barely above a whisper, my hand pressed against my chest as I tried to slow my breathing.“I’m not going to lie, that scared me. The way you woke up, looking around like you expected to see something—or someone—other than me,” Violet said, her eyes wide as she chuckled, shaking her head as sh