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.“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 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.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 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.I woke up to an empty bed.For a moment, I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my mind foggy with sleep. I could have sworn Axel was here last night. The warmth of his presence had been undeniable, his steady breathing, the way his arm had draped over my waist. I hadn’t imagined it—had I?Shaking off the confusion, I stretched and climbed out of bed, padding over to the bathroom. As I brushed my teeth, I replayed last night in my mind, trying to make sense of it. But now… now I couldn’t stop thinking about how he’d made himself comfortable in my space, like he belonged there, something about how he’d been began sleeping in my room, on my bed, didn’t seem quite right to me.Once I’d showered and thrown on a pair of shorts and a tank top to match, I walked into the living room and found him there—like he always belonged, on the dining counter, a bowl of something in his hands, eating without a care in the world. I could hear Mirabel bustling around in the kitchen, humming softly
Cassie.Ever since my return to Red Hollow pack, I tried as much as possible not to think of Selena.Thoughts about Selena meant thoughts about that horrible night—how she led the rogues to my bedroom, and in turn, took everything I once held dear, and how I barely survived afterwards. It also meant thinking about all the ways she tormented me before that night, and I just couldn’t take it. Despite everything that happened to be in Red Hollow pack, I never truly hated anyone, because deep down, I always believed it was my fault. My fault for having a weak wolf. My fault for surviving in the fire when the rest of my family didn’t. But with Selena, it was different.I hated Selena. And that night, the hatred I had for Selena was born, sharp and unforgiving.I shook my head, returning to reality and Axel standing shirtless before me.“But—” I started to say, but the words caught in my throat.“Violet has an agenda,” Axel said, his tone firm and unwavering. “Until we know what she appro
Cassie.As lectures went on, I couldn’t shake the unease that settled deep in my chest. The conversation I overheard earlier about thr massive dog-like creature lingering near the school premises gnawed at the back of my mind. I kept telling myself it was probably nothing, because humans liked to exaggerate, and I hadn’t heard anyone else mention it. Maybe it was just a stray someone mistook for something bigger. But still… something didn’t sit right with me.I had tried to focus on my lectures, jotting down notes mechanically but my thoughts remained elsewhere.Cy was just as restless, pacing at the edges of my consciousness with a low growl as though she could do something about the situation.“It’s probably nothing, right?” I asked her.“We shouldn’t ignore it,” she responded. “You know as well as I do that humans don’t just see things like that.” I nodded. She had a point.When the bell rang, signaling the end of the lecture, I gathered my things and stepped out into the crowded
Cassie.I sucked in a breath, holding onto it as we neared the car parked in front of Violet’s building. My heartbeat quickened at the sight of Axel coming out of this car to lean casually against his sleek vehicle, his piercing gaze fixed on me. I avoided looking at him, pretending his presence wasn’t suffocating me. Violet glanced at me with a mix of worry and confusion.“Do you want me to stay outside with you?” Violet asked softly, her voice filled with concern.I shook my head, my voice calm despite the storm brewing within me. “I’m fine.”Axel straightened as I approached, his presence looming larger than life, but I kept walking, my pace steady, my resolve unwavering. I brushed past him without so much as a glance, heading straight into the building with Violet trailing behind me.The silence was deafening until Violet broke it, her voice hushed but incredulous. “You just walked past him?”We started up the stairs to her apartment, and I shrugged, forcing a nonchalant tone.
Cassie.When my eyes fluttered open, the weight of everything that had been gnawing at me earlier seemed to fade into the background, if only for a moment. Even the faint beeping sound I’d heard before drifting off now felt like a distant memory. My body felt heavy, as though sleep had wrapped around me like a cocoon, unwilling to let go. I didn’t want to let go.“You’re up,” Violet’s voice broke through my haze, drawing my attention to where she stood by the bed, balancing two plates in her hands. The smell of pasta and tomato sauce wafted toward me, making my stomach grumble in response.“You’re back,” I murmured, rubbing my eyes and sitting up.“And I’ve finished cooking, too,” she said proudly, setting the steaming plates down on the bed between us. The sight alone was enough to stir my appetite. I quickly realized it was so because I hadn’t had anything to eat since I woke up.Violet plopped down beside me and tilted her head. “Didn’t you sleep last night? I came in and found y
Cassie.Violet’s apartment was small—smaller than I had imagined, even though she’d warned me beforehand. But I didn’t mind. The place felt like an extension of her, every inch reflecting the vibrant and chaotic personality I’d come to know in the short time we’d spent together.The walls were covered in an odd but strangely fitting combination of posters—bold feminist slogans, vintage werewolf pack history prints, and even a few cheesy romance movie posters. I couldn’t help but smile at the mismatched aesthetic. The scent of citrus air freshener filled the air, blending with the faint aroma of instant coffee, as though the apartment itself was used to early morning cramming sessions and late-night breakdowns.My gaze landed on the closet, which took up an absurd amount of space compared to the tiny bed pushed up against the wall. Clothes spilled out in every direction, some folded neatly, others tossed haphazardly like she’d rushed out in a hurry. Fairy lights dangled across the wal
Cassie.I crouched in the parking lot, my knees pressing against the cold concrete as heavy tears flowed freely down my face. I watched Axel’s car disappear from sight, my chest tightening with every second he drove further away. It felt like the air had been sucked from my lungs, leaving behind an unbearable weight that I couldn’t shake. What kind of crime had I committed in my past life to deserve this? To be treated so unfairly, like I was some pawn in Axel’s never-ending game of control.Nothing had ever worked out the way I wanted—not my freedom, not my life, not even my own heart. And now, here I was again, stuck in the same cycle of disappointment and longing. I bit down on my lip, holding back a sob that threatened to spill out. The thought of returning to the apartment, packing my things, and leaving crossed my mind. Leaving—for good this time. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t that simple.If I left, I’d be a rogue again. Vulnerable. Alone. And no matter how far I tried to
Axel.“Axel?” Cassie’s voice cut through the air, laced with confusion as she rose from her chair, her wide eyes locked onto mine. “What are you doing here?”I narrowed my gaze at her, ignoring the curious stares of the other students lingering nearby. “Can’t I be here?” I asked, my voice even, though my patience was already wearing thin. My eyes shifted briefly to the man standing beside her. Pierson. Again. He stood with an air of ease that I didn’t like. Not one bit.Cassie tilted her head to the side, her brows furrowing. “No, I mean… I thought you left,” she said, her voice softer now.I shook my head, keeping my gaze firmly on the man.“I didn’t.” “I am rather concerned by your presence here, seeing that this building should only be accessible to only students and lecturers,” Pierson said, his lips curving into a polite, albeit smug, smile.Cassie’s eyes widened in alarm, as if she feared what I might say next. She should.“Well,” I began, my tone calm yet firm, “if I’m pa
Cassie.“Your idea of the wolf being a rogue is not a bad one. We usually leave out schools when searching for rogues because, while it’s not uncommon for them to be there, they mostly can’t thrive in places like that, so we ruled them out.” Axel’s voice was steady, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, both hands on the steering wheel, as he drove.I stared out the window, processing his words. “You leave out searching schools because you don’t think they’d ever find themselves there, but now you think they might be hiding in schools?” I asked, a trace of disbelief in my voice. The mere possibility felt surreal.Axel nodded slightly, the grip on the steering wheel tightening just a little. “Not just schools though. Lately, rogues have gone into hiding, and if your theory is right, then they’re likely scattered across schools in the country, blending in where we least expect them.”I turned to him, eyebrows raised. “And you got to that conclusion from a little speculation?”He scoffed,
Cassie.Lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, I couldn’t shake the thoughts that circled in my head. Axel’s sudden insistence on training for me was unsettling. At first, I thought it was just another way for him to assert his control, a way to keep me in check now that I had grown a sharp tongue when it came to him. But something about the way he said it, the way his expression shifted to something far more serious, made me think otherwise.“…dangers that are coming,” he had said. I wanted to ask him what ge meant by that, but our conversation had been cut short when Warren showed up at the apartment, his face tight with urgency as he asked to speak with Axel in private. I hadn’t thought much of it at first because Warren always had something to say, given he was Axel’s Beta, he was constantly lurking around with pack matters. But as they were leaving the apartment, I heard them. Two words, barely audible, but they made my stomach churn. ‘Truman spell’ and ‘wolf.’That was al
Cassie.It was my turn to stop walking and look at Violet.My mouth hung open as I stared at her back, my heart pounding in my chest. The words she had just spoken echoed in my ears, making me feel lightheaded. Violet stopped walking and turned around, her face breaking into a wide grin before she burst into laughter.Despite living as a rogue for three years, I had never accepted that way of life. The things they had done to me, to my son… those wounds could never heal. So that was why hearing Violet ask such a question, added with the fact that she was Selena’s sister, made me think that truly, she had an ulterior motive for approaching me.“I’m kidding,” she said between fits of laughter, placing a hand over her lips as if to stifle the sound. “You should’ve seen your face.”I forced a weak smile, though my stomach churned with unease. “You scared me for a second.”Violet shook her head, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Why? Do you have a thing against rogues?”I hesitated, the
Cassie.As lectures went on, I couldn’t shake the unease that settled deep in my chest. The conversation I overheard earlier about thr massive dog-like creature lingering near the school premises gnawed at the back of my mind. I kept telling myself it was probably nothing, because humans liked to exaggerate, and I hadn’t heard anyone else mention it. Maybe it was just a stray someone mistook for something bigger. But still… something didn’t sit right with me.I had tried to focus on my lectures, jotting down notes mechanically but my thoughts remained elsewhere.Cy was just as restless, pacing at the edges of my consciousness with a low growl as though she could do something about the situation.“It’s probably nothing, right?” I asked her.“We shouldn’t ignore it,” she responded. “You know as well as I do that humans don’t just see things like that.” I nodded. She had a point.When the bell rang, signaling the end of the lecture, I gathered my things and stepped out into the crowded