3

CASSANDRA's POV.

Our eyes locked across the room, and for a moment, the air between us seemed to burn. Blake. His broad shoulders, his steady stance, and those dark, piercing eyes that seemed to strip away every shield I had carefully built. My heart slammed against my ribs as the weight of his gaze fell on me, heavy with emotion—anger, longing, and something deeper, something I wasn’t ready to name.

Ethan’s voice snapped me back to the moment. “Cassandra.” His tone was clipped, sharp, his false charm barely masking the anger beneath. “A word.”

I forced myself to tear my gaze from Blake, my chest tight as Ethan’s hand landed on my arm. His grip was firm, possessive, a silent warning that I’d gone too far. He led me to a corner of the room, his face a mask of calm that only I could see through. 

“What was that?” he hissed, his voice low but sharp enough to cut. His jaw clenched, the muscle ticking with barely restrained anger. “Refusing to sign in front of the elders? Making a fool of me? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

I tilted my head, letting a cold smile curve my lips. “Yes, Ethan. I protected my father’s lands from a man who thinks he can take whatever he wants.”

His eyes darkened, and his grip on my arm tightened. Not enough to hurt—not here, not where people could see—but enough to remind me of his strength. “You’re playing a dangerous game.what will you do when everyone turn on you, I'll handle the pack cassie, you are just a woman”

I leaned closer, keeping my voice low and steady. “This isn’t a game. It's my fathers I'll handle it as I deem fit.”

For a moment, the mask slipped, and I saw the true Ethan. The cold, calculating man who had plotted my death, who had stolen everything from me. He quickly covered it with a tight smile, his grip loosening as he stepped back. 

“You’ll regret this,” he said, his tone light but laced with menace. “You always do. Don't come crawling on your knees ,I love you Cassie but I won't help you then.”

I held his gaze, refusing to flinch. “Not this time.”

He turned and walked away, his shoulders stiff, his charm snapping back into place like a well-worn mask as he rejoined the gathering. I exhaled slowly, my hands trembling with suppressed rage. He thought he could control me, that I would bend to his will again. Never.

“Still a fighter, I see.”

The voice sent a shiver down my spine. I turned to find Blake standing behind me, his dark eyes filled with something that looked dangerously close to admiration. He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

Blake’s lips curved into a faint smirk. “Looking out for you, apparently.”

I scoffed, crossing my arms. “I don’t need your help.”

“No?” he asked, his gaze dropping to my trembling hands. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re holding on by a thread.”

Anger flared in my chest, and I stepped closer, narrowing the distance between us. “Don’t presume to know me, Blake. You lost that right when I chose Ethan.”

His smirk faded, replaced by something raw and unguarded. “And look where that got you.”

The words hit like a slap, and I hated how much they stung. I hated that he was right. 

“Why are you really here?” I demanded, my voice trembling with anger.

Blake stepped even closer, his warmth brushing against me, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Because I never stopped loving you.”

The air seemed to leave the room, and I stared at him, my chest tightening with a rush of emotions I couldn’t name. Before I could respond, his hand cupped my cheek, his touch gentle but firm. 

“Blake…” I started, but the words died on my lips as he leaned in, his mouth capturing mine in a kiss that stole every coherent thought from my mind.

It wasn’t soft or hesitant. It was fierce, desperate, a collision of anger and longing that left me breathless. My hands pressed against his chest, but I couldn’t bring myself to push him away. For a moment, I let myself feel—the heat of his touch, the fire that had always burned between us.

The sound of something crashing shattered the moment. I broke away, my heart racing as Ethan stormed toward us, his eyes blazing with fury. He didn’t say a word as he reached Blake, his fist flying with brutal precision. The punch landed hard, sending Blake staggering back, but he recovered quickly, his own fists clenched in response.

“You dare touch my wife?” Ethan snarled, his voice dripping with venom. He grabbed my arm, yanking me behind him as he squared off against Blake. 

Blake wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze never leaving Ethan. “She’s not yours to claim.”

Ethan’s grip on my arm tightened painfully. “Stay away from her,” he growled. “If I catch you near her again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

“You don’t scare me,” Blake shot back, his voice low and steady. “But maybe you should be scared of her.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Ethan turned to me, his jaw clenched, his eyes searching mine for some sign of submission. But all he found was defiance.

“Let go of me,” I said, my voice ice-cold.

For a moment, I thought he wouldn’t listen, that he’d tighten his grip further. But then, with a sharp exhale, he released my arm and stepped back. 

“You’ll regret this,” he said again, his voice low and dangerous. 

“No,” I replied, meeting his gaze head-on. “You will.”

Ethan stormed out of the room, his anger palpable even after he was gone. Blake stepped toward me, his expression softening as he reached for my hand.

“Cassandra…”

I shook my head, pulling away. “No. You need to stay out of this, Blake. You don’t understand how dangerous he is.”

“I’m not afraid of him,” Blake said, his voice firm. 

“But I am,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Not for me. For you.”

Blake stared at me, his jaw tight, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t bear to face, I had hurt him times over again, abandoned him. Without another word, I turned and walked away, my heart heavy with the weight of everything I had to do.