Chapter 162
Casper's POV
My father's footsteps echoed in the conference room. Back and forth. Back and forth. Each step felt like a punch to my gut.
I stood near the wall. My hands clenched at my sides. Cassian sat at the table. His face was blank. But I felt his anger through our twin bond. It burned like ice.
"She didn't know." My father stopped walking. His voice cracked. "She made that choice before she knew about the baby."
My throat tightened. I opened my mouth. "Father, it was—"
"Don't." He held up his hand. His eyes were red. Wet. "Just don't."
He slammed his fist into the wall. The sound made everyone jump. Plaster cracked. White dust fell to the floor.
My mother sat in the corner. Her hands gripped each other. She didn't look at anyone. Just stared at the table.
"Austin." She whispered his name.
He didn't respond. He pressed his forehead against the wall. His shoulders shook.
I wanted to say something. Anything. But my mouth felt full of sand.
This is your fault. Leo's voice growled in my head. You let him take her.
I know. I thought back. Shut up.
She's ours. OURS. And we failed—
"The decision was mine too." Cassian's voice cut through the room. Cold. Flat. "I was there when Elowen agreed. Casper wasn't... he wasn't in control."
My jaw clenched. Thanks for that.
Through our bond, I felt his response. I'm not lying.
My father turned. He looked at Cassian. Then at me. "What does that mean?"
"I was infected." The words tasted bitter. "The demon's magic. It made me... Leo was fighting for control. I thought I'd killed you. I wasn't thinking straight."
"Where is she?" My father looked at me. Then Cassian. "Where's Elowen now?"
"The demon's realm." Cassian's fingers drummed on the table. "We can't reach her through the bond. He's blocking it somehow."
"So we need to figure out how to get her back." Ethan spoke for the first time. He sat at the far end of the table. His voice was calm. Too calm. "But first. We need to answer a more important question."
Everyone turned to him.
"Who tried to kill me and Austin?" He leaned forward. "Why? Because I don't believe it was the demon. We've coexisted with hell for generations. There's no motive."
My stomach dropped.
"Unless." Ethan's eyes narrowed. "Unless someone in the pack wanted us dead. Someone who benefited from the chaos."
"What are you saying?" My mother's voice was ice.
"I'm saying." Ethan looked directly at me. "If Drake and Jessica were traitors. If they orchestrated everything." He paused. "Maybe Elowen was part of it. Maybe this whole 'pregnancy' story is just another manipulation. A convenient excuse to explain her deal with a demon."
The room exploded.
My vision turned red. Literally. Leo surged forward. My eyes burned. I felt them change color. Hot. Angry.
I was moving before I realized it. My chair crashed backward. I crossed the room in two steps.
"Say that again." My voice came out wrong. Deeper. Leo's growl underneath. "I fucking dare you."
Casper. Stop. Cassian's mental voice was sharp. Urgent. He's baiting you. Don't give him what he wants.
I don't care. Leo's rage filled my chest. He insulted our mate.
Kade stepped between us. His hand on my chest. "Easy, Thornwood."
"I'll rip his spine out through his throat." The words came from somewhere dark. Somewhere Leo lived. "I'll make him watch while I do it."
"Are you threatening a prince?" Ethan's eyebrow raised. "A royal bloodline?"
"That's a promise." My teeth felt too sharp. "Not a threat."
"Is it?" Cassian's voice was bored. He didn't stand. Just looked at Ethan. "Because I'll help."
Thank you. I sent the thought through our bond.
Always. His response was immediate. But control yourself. This is what he wants. Division. Doubt.
I'm not like you. My hands shook. I can't just turn it off.
I know. Cassian's mental tone softened. That's why I'm here. To balance you.
"Ethan." My father's voice cut through the tension. "Are you seriously suggesting that Elowen—a girl who's been abused and manipulated her entire life—is part of some grand conspiracy?"
"I'm suggesting we investigate all possibilities." Ethan spread his hands. "Before we throw resources at finding her. We should know if she's even telling the truth. Pregnancy is easy to fake. Especially when it buys sympathy and protection."
That did it.
Leo roared inside me. My claws extended. The shift started without my permission.
Fur rippled under my skin. My bones began to crack. Reshape.
Casper. NO. Cassian's mental shout was desperate. If you shift now. If you attack him. Father will have to choose between pack law and you. Don't make him do that.
The truth of it hit me like cold water.
I froze. Halfway between forms. It hurt. Everything hurt.
"She's carrying our children." My voice came out as a snarl. "If you keep talking. Keep questioning her. I will end you. Royal blood or not."
"So you claim." Ethan's face remained skeptical. "But you can't prove it. Can you? No medical records. No pack healer confirmation. Just her word. And a convenient excuse for why she'd make a deal with a demon."
"Any other stupid questions?" Cassian finally stood. His voice was flat. Dead. But I felt the rage burning through our bond. White-hot. Controlled.
"We know her." I forced my body back to human form. It took everything I had. "Better than anyone in this room. And she wouldn't lie about this."
Ethan opened his mouth.
Then a laugh filled the room.
Low. Smooth. Deadly.
My blood froze.
I knew that laugh.
"Oh, this is delicious." The voice came from everywhere. Nowhere. "Really. I couldn't have written it better myself."
I tried to turn my head. To look for the source.
I couldn't move.
No one could.
The entire room was frozen. Like someone had pressed pause on reality.
"Let me clear something up." The voice continued. Silk and poison. "Since you're all so busy pointing fingers."
A figure materialized in the center of the room. Brown hair. Gray eyes. But wrong. The eyes flickered. Red underneath.
Raven.
"I tried to kill you." He pointed at Ethan. His smile was vicious. "Me. Not Elowen. Not Jessica. Not Drake. Though they helped create the perfect conditions. I'll give them that."
My lungs burned. I needed to breathe. To move. To do something.
Nothing worked.
Ethan's face had gone white. His eyes were wide. Terrified. But his body remained perfectly still.
Kade's jaw was clenched so hard I could see the muscle ticking. Alaric's usual smirk had vanished. His amber eyes burned with barely contained fury.
"But that little Beta's daughter." Raven's eyes glowed fully red now. "That brave. Stupid. Selfless girl. She traded everything to bring you back. And this." He gestured around the room. "This is how you repay her? Doubt? Suspicion?"
He walked toward Ethan. Slow. Predatory.
Cindy's eyes followed him. Horror written across her frozen features. A single tear tracked down her cheek.
"If you continue to act like a whining bitch." Raven leaned in close. His voice dropped to a whisper. But somehow I heard every word. "I won't fail the second time."