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.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.“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,
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.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
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.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.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.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