Chapter 146
Cassian's POV
I held Elowen's hand tight. Too tight, probably. My fingers pressed into her skin hard enough to leave marks.
I didn't care.
The room stank of blood and fear. Drake's blood. Jessica's sweat. And underneath it all—Elowen's vanilla and honey scent, cut through with sharp anger.
My wolf Zero growled in my head. She's ours. Keep her safe.
"Casper," I said through our twin link. "What's your call?"
My brother stood behind Elowen, his body pressed close to hers. His deep gold eyes locked on Jessica's face. That satisfied smirk played at his lips.
She's scared, Casper sent back. Good. Elowen was right. Jessica thought I'd let this shit slide.
"Anyway, they can't leave this room!" Alaric shouted from across the office.
I watched him kick Drake's chair. The legs scraped against the floor. Drake's head snapped back, blood dripping from his split lip.
"This woman needs to pay!" Alaric's voice cracked with rage.
Elowen tensed against me. Her pulse jumped under my thumb. I stroked her wrist slowly, trying to calm her down.
These assholes are too friendly with her, I sent to Casper. Not normal.
I know, Casper's response came fast. Alaric's jealous. He wants all the attention on Jessica. But Kade and Ronan keep looking at Elowen like... I don't know. Like she matters.
I didn't like it. Not one bit.
Kade leaned against the desk, arms crossed. His amber eyes tracked every movement between the three of us. That knowing smile never left his face.
Ronan sat on Drake's lap like he weighed nothing. Drake grunted, trying to shift away. Ronan just pressed down harder.
"Get off me," Drake wheezed.
"Make me," Ronan shot back. His emerald eyes sparkled with something nasty.
I pulled Elowen closer. My jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached.
"We need to get her out of here," I told Casper through our link. "Before these Alphas forget their boundaries."
Casper's hand moved to Elowen's waist. Possessive. Protective.
Agreed. But how? She'll fight us.
Alaric walked toward Jessica now. He held a silver knife—the same one from earlier. Jessica whimpered from the corner, gagged with torn cloth.
"Babe," I said softly.
Elowen looked up at me. Those amber eyes were wide, uncertain. She'd been talking to Juno again. I could always tell when her wolf took over the conversation in her head.
"What?" Her voice came out rough.
"You should go. Let us handle this."
Her body went rigid. "No."
"Elowen—"
"Don't." She yanked her hand from mine. "Don't use that tone with me. We agreed. No more secrets."
My chest tightened. Zero snarled in my head. She's upset. Fix it.
I'm trying, I shot back at him.
Casper moved closer to us both. I felt his presence through our twin bond. The same frustration I felt echoed in him.
We'd already made our decision. Get Elowen out. Deal with Jessica and these Alphas without her here.
But Elowen's amber eyes moved between us. Back and forth. She knew. She always knew when we were planning something.
"I can hear you two," she said. Not through the pack link—she couldn't access that yet. But she read our body language. Our shared glances. "Stop it."
"We're not—" Casper started.
"Yes, you are." Her voice shook. Not with fear. With anger. "I said no more hiding things from me."
Ronan suddenly jumped off Drake's lap. He stretched, cracking his neck. Then he sauntered over to us with that lazy, dangerous walk of his.
"Congrats, by the way," Ronan said. His wild grin showed too many teeth. "I call godfather."
I grabbed his arm. Fast. Hard. My fingers dug into his bicep.
"What are you doing?" My voice came out flat. Cold.
Ronan held up his hands. "Easy, man. Just being friendly."
"We're not friends."
"Yet." His emerald eyes danced with amusement. "Look, your girl's covered in blood. Let me take her to change. You two can..." He waved at Jessica and Drake. "Do whatever Alpha shit you need to do."
Every muscle in my body locked up. Zero pushed forward, making my eyes flash gold.
"If you think—"
"I won't touch her," Ronan cut me off. "She's your mate. Both of yours. I don't play with other people's toys."
Heat flooded my face. Elowen would definitely ask about that comment later.
Casper moved between us. "Back off, Ronan."
But Ronan kept talking. "I'm just saying—she needs a break. And you two need to focus. Can't do that if you're worried about her."
He wasn't wrong. I hated that he wasn't wrong.
Elowen looked at me. Then at Casper. Her amber eyes were softer now. Uncertain.
"I'm really glad you're alive, Casper," Ronan added. His voice dropped, became serious for once. "Losing you would've sucked. You're like... the fun one."
Despite everything, Casper's lips twitched. Almost a smile.
Elowen hesitated. Her hand reached out, but stopped halfway.
"If she gets hurt—" I started.
"She won't." Ronan's grin returned. "Scout's honor."
"You were never a scout."
"Details." He held out his hand to Elowen. "Come on, Little Luna. Let's get you cleaned up."
Elowen bit her lip. Her gaze moved between me, Casper, and Ronan's outstretched hand.
I wanted to grab her. Pull her back. Lock her in our room where she'd be safe.
But Casper's voice filled my head. Let her choose. If we force this, she'll hate us.
I don't care if she hates me. I care that she's safe.
She needs to trust us. That means trusting her too.
I exhaled slowly. My jaw hurt from clenching.
"Ten minutes," I said to Ronan. My voice dropped to a growl. "She's back here in ten minutes. Understand?"
"Crystal clear." Ronan draped his arm over Elowen's shoulders. Too casual. Too familiar.
My wolf snarled. Casper's did too. I felt Leo's rage through our twin bond.
Ronan leaned close to Elowen, whispering something that made her relax slightly. She glanced back at us, worry written all over her face.
Then Ronan started talking again, loud enough for us to hear. "And when the kid's born, I'll teach them how to fight. How to be cool. How to—"
"If anyone's godfather, it's me," Kade interrupted from the desk. "Or Alaric."
"Fuck that," Ronan shot back. "I called it first."
"I'll bring her back in ten," Ronan promised, meeting my eyes. "You have my word."