Cassa’s POVI stared out of the window of the Mayor’s office, my gaze fixed on the lively scene in the plaza below. I couldn’t help but imagine myself down there, capturing the moment with my camera. But my daydreaming was cut short when Mayor Montalvo dropped a couple of file boxes on my table, just a few steps away. “Sort these files by date and put them back on my desk when you’re done,” he instructed before retreating to his seat. I reached for the files in the organizer, my mind still half lost in my thoughts. There were three files, and I felt a weariness settle over me. It seemed that whenever Julius didn’t have appointments in town, he kept me busy with an endless stream of work. Resting my feet on the cold floor, I felt a slight relief from the pain that had been nagging at me. I started sorting the files, arranging them from the latest date to the oldest. Every so often, I glanced at Julius, who was engrossed in his laptop, typing away. It was a rare day without phon
"Stop staring at me, Cassa, and finish your work," he grunted, his annoyance sharp enough to cut through the air. His words hit me like a slap, and I felt the heat rise to my cheeks for the second time that day. Embarrassed, I straightened up and focused on my task, desperately trying to ignore the flush creeping up my face.I leaned my head against the cool window, hoping it might soothe the heavy drowsiness weighing me down. The evening had stretched on endlessly, and he’d made it clear we weren’t leaving until I was done. My stomach growled, a harsh reminder that I hadn’t eaten all day. Where were we even going? We’d passed the turn to his house a while ago, and now the car sped along unfamiliar roads. I sat up, my curiosity piqued. He must have somewhere in mind. At least the ache in my feet from those ridiculous heels had eased after a day of sitting. Small mercies."Should we go for a walk this time?" I asked, my voice tentative. I glanced at him—head tilted back against the hea
Cassa's POVMy eyes drifted around the empty space, my stomach growling in protest as I waited for the food. Mayor Montalvo had left without even bothering to eat, and here I was, fighting off exhaustion. My eyelids were heavy, and I stifled a yawn that threatened to escape. I glanced at the door behind me—the one he’d disappeared through. Alone on this floor? Was this some sort of test to see if I could be trusted? It sure felt like it. The silence was unsettling, and yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me. That *someone* he mentioned earlier. My instincts prickled, but I pushed the thought aside when the waiter appeared with a warm smile and a tray of food. It wasn’t what I ordered—it was what *he* ordered. Typical. Still, the aroma of stewed beef hit me like a tidal wave, and my hunger surged. "Enjoy your meal, Ma'am," the waiter said as he rolled the cart away. I dug in, savoring each bite even as my mind wandered. By the time I finished, I was los
Cassa's POVJulius remained silent, causing me to glance at him. The moonlight streamed through the glass window, casting a gentle glow in the dimly lit room. I had forgotten to close the curtains that morning, allowing the moon's light to illuminate the space. Julius looked at me as if seeing me for the first time, and a crease formed on my forehead."Did I say something wrong?" I asked, a hint of worry in my voice."No, nothing. I was just lost in thought," he replied, averting his gaze from me. "But how could your grandfather help me?"A smile spread across my face as I tightened my grip on my hand, resting it on my lap. I looked at the shadow of the window dancing on the floor. "If I ask for his favor, my grandpa will do anything, trust me. He has ways that you wouldn't expect.""But you know..." he trailed off, letting out a sigh. "If I had any other option, I wouldn't be foolish enough to share this with you." An annoyance laced his voice."Are you calling yourself foolish for s
Cassa's POV Julius took the phone from my hand and locked the door behind him. I could hear muffled voices coming from inside the room. I let out a breath and walked away, my mind filled with questions. As I descended the stairs, I noticed Julius wearing his walking clothes, taking long strides. The seriousness on his face and the stormy look in his eyes caught my attention. "Is everything alright?" I couldn't help but ask, concern lacing my voice. He passed by without even glancing at me, but then he stopped abruptly. "I'll be away for two days, and you stay here," he stated before continuing on his way. I wondered what had happened, why he was leaving so suddenly. I bit my lower lip, wanting to know more. Julius walked away, and I remained where I was until he disappeared from my sight. The next morning, a knock on my door pulled me out of my thoughts. I stood up from my seat at the study table and opened the door. An unfamiliar woman stood before me, her eyes scanning me up an
Cassa's POV "Fine, you need to explain this," Evalyn muttered, walking away."You wait here until I sort it out," he said before closing the door. I heard his footsteps receding.I gripped the windowsill, feeling my strength waver, supporting myself to prevent myself from collapsing to the floor. I closed my eyes, trying to process what had just happened. The thought of Julius's sister tearing me apart sent shivers down my spine. Could it be true? And seeing the anger in her face made her words seem all the more real. What on earth had happened? It was as if I couldn't believe the situation I was facing, and I was now caught in the fury of his sister.I had been waiting for an hour, growing increasingly anxious about the conversation between the siblings. Were they arguing? Or something worse? I fidgeted in my seat, my impatience growing as I stared out the window. My mind wandered, contemplating the possibilities of what might be happening between them.My hand drummed on the surfac
Julius POVIt was not a typical day for me, and it had been five years since I last saw him, sitting across the table on the first day of August. The weather was pleasant, with the warm morning sun casting its golden rays upon us. People chattered around, their voices blending into a symphony of background noise as they passed by the café's outdoor seating area.I clutched my cup and took a sip of coffee, wondering why he wanted to talk to me. Allious only sought me out when he needed something or when he found himself in trouble. "What a surprise!" I began, breaking the silence that had settled between us.Allious looked at me over his cup, a smile playing at the corners of his lips before he placed it back on the table. His cognac eyes sparkled with amusement, and I couldn't quite decipher the reason behind his reaction or the mischievous glint in his gaze."You never change, the same Julius Montalvo I know," Allious muttered, leaning forward with his arms resting on the table. "Wha
Julius POVBut Allious wasn't convinced. He leaned back in his seat and explained, "Keeping her in your own home will ruin her reputation once it slips from anyone's mouth. Just because you trust your werewolf being, does that mean betrayal is unlikely to happen."His words struck a chord within me. He was right, but there was a vow I had taken, a secret I couldn't share with Allious. I knew he would lecture me if he knew the truth.I knew Kyle wouldn't do anything unless she was kept under his control, as long as she stayed by my side."I know, and of course, he won't do anything unless I let my guard down," I replied, my voice filled with determination.But Allious wasn't satisfied. He continued to study me, his delicate eyebrows furrowing as he tried to uncover the truth. "You are hiding something, Liu," he said, his gaze piercing. "That's what I'm trying to figure out here. The consequences it might bear in the long run."I remained tight-lipped, refusing to reveal the vow I had t
Cassa’s POVI paced in my room, frustrated. There was more to the bitterness between my grandfather and my father than I understood, and I felt ignorant. I needed answers, something to shed light on this whole mess.The last time I talked to Julius, I’d struggled to give him any answers. I knew nothing. My grandpa never told me the real reason for his feelings, but I had a feeling my father would.So, I had to see Julius. I was going to my dad's house to get some answers. I stopped in front of my door, opened it, and let the rosy fragrance waft in. It was refreshing, a little delight to start my morning. I closed the door behind me and walked down the hallway to the end room.I knocked on the door. Erisha had visited me this morning to chat and promised me a horseback riding lesson soon. If Julius didn’t approve of the idea, I’d be riding a horse right now just to escape my overthinking.“Is that you, Lina? What’
Julius POVI gritted my teeth and swallowed hard against a rising tide of anger. I had to know who that man was and why he was here. Why did he call Cassa Havina his wife? Was he out of his mind?My wolf stirred, sensing the man’s aura, and I caught a glimpse of his wolf through my eyes. Then it warned me not to engage, leaving me with a nagging question that went unanswered. Did Fergan know this guy? Why let him pass the border? Had he done something to one of my pack warriors? I needed to get to the bottom of this, but I couldn’t shake the worry for Cassa. What if that man came back for her? He spoke with such conviction that she was Havina.I glanced at Cassa walking ahead, lost in thought. I knew she was replaying that man’s words in her mind. We were close to the Manor now, and a few servants were outside, cleaning the front. “Are you leaving now?” she asked, looking back at me, concern etched on her face. “Can you stay?”“Yes, I will stay.” I clenched my fists, wanting nothing
Cassa’s POV"It's a dangerous horse. Do you want to get yourself killed?" Julius's voice deepened as he swiftly pulled me away from the imposing stallion.Erisha approached us, her brows furrowed in concern. "What happened?" she asked, her gaze shifting between me and her brother."She was about to touch Brody. He's a dangerous horse, especially to those who haven't tamed him," Julius explained sternly, casting a disapproving look my way.Erisha's mouth fell open as she glanced at Brody. "He's right, Issa. Brody is dangerous. No one should get close to him. He's killed people before, and we've barely managed to keep him under control. It's strictly forbidden to approach him."Julius realized he had gripped my wrist too tightly, and I winced slightly. "Sorry," he muttered, releasing his hold. My hand, clutching the camera tightly, relaxed with relief that it hadn't slipped from my grasp and broken.Feeling Julius's gaze burning into me, I took a deep breath before speaking, cheeks flus
Cassa’s POV "Oh, you big jackass, you made it!" Erisha chimed with a wide grin, slipping her arms away from mine to embrace the man."Evalyn mentioned Julius's fiancée would be arriving today, so I came to see who this woman is," he replied, smiling as he returned Erisha's hug.I stood there, watching them both, unsure of what to say as they separated."Forgive my manners," Erisha muttered, looping her arm back through mine. "Cassa, the man standing before you is my brother's best friend, Anson Avera. He's a vampire."My eyes widened, and my jaw slackened in disbelief. "Vampires exist?" I murmured incredulously.Anson chuckled softly, eyes crinkling at the corners. "Oh yes, we don't just exist in legends and books. We are very real, Miss Hansen."My heart skipped a beat as he leaned closer, his fangs glistening in the light, his hand brushing against my neck as he sniffed me. I froze in place, my chest tightening with a coldness that enveloped me."Stop that, Anson! You're scaring he
Cassa’s POV I closed my eyes tightly, biting the inside of my cheek, tasting the ironic tang of my blood. A week had passed, and I hadn't seen him since that day. I remembered how the light in his gray eyes dimmed, turning dark, his expression stern and pinched as he looked at me. Desire had evaporated, replaced by a coldness I could feel in that moment. I moved away from him, avoiding his gaze, trying to compose myself. Heavy footsteps reverberated as he stormed out and slammed the door hard. I winced. He was angry at my rejection of what we had almost done, but why did it sting me? It should have brought relief. Breathing in the cold morning air, hands gripping the window sill, I stared out at the vast garden of Montalvo Manor. I had been here once before when I was very young, memories vague, my gaze settling on the rose section of the garden where I had been yesterday with Erish. Erish, the third daughter of the Montalvo family, and we were the same age. At first, I thought she
Cassa’s POVI gripped the glass in my hand, blinked away my tears, and drained its contents. I wouldn't cry—they didn't deserve my tears, I told myself firmly.My grandparents had left after lunch, and though I tried to eat, a knot of sickness, coldness, and anger tightened in my stomach. I pretended I was fine, but the truth was the opposite.All my things had been moved from the Mayor's house. Not a single item truly belonged to me, and the promised talk with Julius never happened. He left me in this house with his parents.His mother had given me a tour of the house, steering me away from the sharp stare of her husband. We talked like normal people, but the heaviness in my heart grew with every step. Exhausted, I apologized to her and said I needed to rest. As soon as my body touched the bed, I fell into a deep sleep.When I awoke, the Mayor was in my room, closing the door behind him. A cold glass sat on the nightstand.I sat up, placing the empty glass back. Julius was sitting acr
Cassa’s POVThe manor had an ancient exterior, but inside, it was a classic interior design, making me feel like I had been transported to the late 1500s. Julius was at my side, guiding me to the room on the left. As we passed the front lobby, I admired the large French window on the second floor that allowed light to flood in. My eyes were captivated by the chandelier hanging above the living room, its detailed artwork wrapped in gold. Was it real gold?Was my grandpa is here?Paintings adorned the walls, depicting what I assumed were their ancestors. How long had they lived in this world? It was fascinating, and I realized I had never asked that question before."It's beautiful," I muttered, gazing around in awe. Julius's warm hand clutched my arm, stopping me just as I almost walked into a door."You are bewitched by its beauty and didn't realize the door," he said in a low, deep tone, his eyes narrowing."Surely," I beamed. "I've never been in a house like this. It's amazing that
Cassa’s POVI was in a trance, sitting at the pool's edge, feeling the cool water on my feet. Evalyn had left me to find her brother, and that worried me. Where was he?The word my grandfather had said kept repeating in my mind. Was it good news or bad news for me? I didn't know what I was feeling, but fear was one of the emotions—fear for myself and for this town.Who had spread such rumors? Out of all the possible sources, it had to be them. My palm rested on my forehead, and I felt a headache coming on. I had been thinking about it for far too long.Realizing it was almost night, I knew I needed to talk to Julius. My mind drifted to him answering his phone with an angry reaction. Was he talking to my grandfather? But why hadn't he told me?He had left so suddenly after arriving at his house, without saying anything. In haste, like he was running away. He was adding to my worries.I felt heavy footsteps approaching from behind, so I turned my head. It was the Mayor, with messy hair
Cassa's POVIt had been a week, and I tried my best to feel comfortable around him like I did before. But my mind was in chaos, struggling to erase that kiss from my thoughts. We had just returned to the office from a meeting held in advance with some County Executivess. The event for the senior citizens next month was taking a lot of preparation.It was tiring to keep standing, giving files to each member, handing out snacks. I wouldn't have done it, but the Mayor ordered me to. Just as I was about to sit down at the table, the door opened and the Mayor entered, a file organizer in his arm."You need to type these documents. I need them later," he said.My feet and legs were aching, but I stood up, taking the box from him. As my fingers brushed his hand, my heart suddenly raced. I tried not to flinch, feeling that strange current pass through me every time I touched any part of him."Okay," I answered, my smile straining my jaw and cheeks. I had been smiling for half the day.I placed