Cassie.My entire body was on fire as Axelโs stormy gaze bore into me, igniting something deep inside. I had never felt this way before, never had my body reacted so intensely just from a look. My stomach tightened, and a forbidden thought crossed my mindโI wanted him to take me completely.โIf you wanted my attention, all you had to do was ask, not go through such a childish method,โ Axel said, his voice low and rough, sending a shiver down my spine.I should have felt fear at the raw dominance in his tone, but instead, my blood boiled hotter for him. โWhy should I?โ I whispered, tilting my chin up, refusing to back down. โYou came without me having to say a word.โHis nostrils flared.In the next second, I was against the nearest wall, his firm grip keeping me caged. His body pressed into mine, his anger so potent that I could almost feel his wolf daring to take over.โRepeat those words again,โ he dared, his voice dangerously low.โEveryone out!โ Axel barked.I bit my tongue, real
Cassie.Suggesting a sleepover with Violet must have been the best decision I couldโve made in such a short time. And, of course, Violet being Violet, she was more than excited to play along. She showed up at my door with an overnight bag slung over her shoulder, her book bag in one hand, and a change of clothes for the return to school. Her grin was practically contagious.We had a lot to catch up on as our return to school was upon us.Truthfully, I wasnโt sure returning to school was the safest idea, but from what Iโd seen in our student forum, people were already making plans. Many were going back, and there was talk of a candle walk around campus in Jaredโs honor. It felt like an obligationโlike something I couldnโt ignore. I didnโt know him personally, but I thought he deserved that much. Violet and I just had to go.Of course, Axel didnโt take the news well.He didnโt exactly yell, but the sharpness in his tone had been enough to let us know he was not accommodating the idea. H
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 conclusionโintruders.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.โGood morning to you too,โ she said, giving me a knowing look through the mirrorโs reflection.I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair as I forced my heart to settle. โGood morning,โ my voice was barely above a whisper, my hand pressed against my chest as I tried to slow my breathing.โIโm not going to lie, that scared me. The way you woke up, looking around like you expected to see somethingโor someoneโother than me,โ Violet said, her eyes wide as she chuckled, shaking her head as sh
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 wasnโt even sure what was happening between us anymore. I didnโt 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
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 roomโalphas from different regions, all with their own domains, their own responsibilities, and yet, none of them seemed willing to lift a damn finger.โI think itโs high time we address the elephant in the room,โ 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 classroom was too small for the number of voices rising within it. Seven of us sat around a cluster of desks, a circle that didnโt 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 didnโt.I had never spoken to them before yesterday, yet here I was, a part of the planning committee for Jaredโs candle walk. I wasnโt 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 didnโt 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 wouldnโt use. The date was still undecided, but they were discussing logistics nowโwho would handle what, how they would gather candles,
Cassie.I leaned back against the vanity, gripping the edge as Axelโs 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.โI need to take this off,โ 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 fireโburning, 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.โWait, Axel,โ I gasped, my fingers trembling against his skin.โLike hell I will,โ 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.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 feltโฆ off. My body achedโmore 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 couldnโt 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 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.โIโve been here before. This is nothing,โ 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.โYou look like youโre a second away from losing your mind.โThe 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.โNice to know you find this amusing,โ I muttered, rolling my eyes as I crossed my arms.โI donโt,โ he chuckled, taking a few steps closer. โKn
Cassie.The ride to school had been suffocating. Axel didnโt say a word to me, didnโt 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?โDo you know what would be crazy?โ Violetโs 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. โWhat?โ I asked, raising a brow.โIf after everything, your lecturer friend turns out to be a bad person, it would literally break me.โThe words hit like a brick, and I stopped walking altogether, my breath catching.โWhat?โ My voice was sharp as she turned to face me fully. โDid something happen?โViolet hesitated, rubbing her neck before finally looking away. โNot entirely,โ she admitted. โBut a couple of students were whispering about him yesterday. They said they saw him going toward the tall trees behind the schoolโฆ the big field.โI felt my stomach
Cassie.I woke up slowly, feeling warmโwarmer 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 meโwoodsy, 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 awakeโunguarded, 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 donโt 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 feltโฆ off. My body achedโmore 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 couldnโt 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 Axelโs 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.โI need to take this off,โ 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 fireโburning, 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.โWait, Axel,โ I gasped, my fingers trembling against his skin.โLike hell I will,โ 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 didnโt 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 didnโt.I had never spoken to them before yesterday, yet here I was, a part of the planning committee for Jaredโs candle walk. I wasnโt 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 didnโt 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 wouldnโt use. The date was still undecided, but they were discussing logistics nowโwho 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 roomโalphas from different regions, all with their own domains, their own responsibilities, and yet, none of them seemed willing to lift a damn finger.โI think itโs high time we address the elephant in the room,โ 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 wasnโt even sure what was happening between us anymore. I didnโt 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 conclusionโintruders.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.โGood morning to you too,โ she said, giving me a knowing look through the mirrorโs reflection.I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair as I forced my heart to settle. โGood morning,โ my voice was barely above a whisper, my hand pressed against my chest as I tried to slow my breathing.โIโm not going to lie, that scared me. The way you woke up, looking around like you expected to see somethingโor someoneโother than me,โ Violet said, her eyes wide as she chuckled, shaking her head as sh