Chapter 25
Elowen's POV
I woke up sandwiched between two warm bodies, momentarily disoriented by the tangle of limbs surrounding me. Last night's memories flooded back—the confessions, the passion, the agreement that had changed everything between us. I was now officially involved with both Thornwood twins, an arrangement that still felt surreal in the morning light.
Casper stirred first, his amber eyes meeting mine as a lazy smile spread across his face. "Morning, sweetheart," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
I instinctively tensed at his touch, memories of his forceful handling at the kitchen flickering through my mind. The way he'd gripped my wrists, pushed me down, spanked me... The contrast between that dominant, almost frightening Casper and this tender version beside me was jarring.
He noticed my reaction, his smile faltering. "I'm sorry," he said softly, withdrawing his hand. "I know I've been... intense. Too rough sometimes." His eyes searched mine, vulnerability replacing his usual confidence. "I'm trying, Elowen. To balance what I feel with how I show it."
"She's beautiful when she first wakes up, isn't she?" Cassian's sleepy voice rumbled from my other side, his arm tightening around my waist.
I felt my cheeks flush hot. "This is weird, right? I mean... good weird, but still weird." I looked back at Casper, still processing his apology, this small acknowledgment of his volatile nature.
Casper chuckled, cautiously pressing a soft kiss to my forehead after I nodded my permission. "We'll figure it out together. All of it."
The Pack House was already bustling with activity when we finally emerged from Casper's room. I could feel curious gazes following us, the news of our unconventional relationship apparently spreading fast. Cassian seemed unbothered, his hand resting possessively on my lower back as we entered the kitchen.
"Big day today," he said, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl. "Championship qualifier. Not like yesterday's practice run."
"Randall going to be there?" Casper asked, pouring coffee into three mugs.
Cassian's expression darkened. "Yeah. That rookie's got talent, I'll give him that. But he's also got a death wish with how he drives."
"You'll crush him," I said confidently, accepting the coffee Casper offered. Our fingers brushed, sending electricity up my arm despite my lingering wariness.
"Damn right I will," Cassian winked. "Especially with my good luck charm watching." He leaned down to kiss me, his lips warm and demanding.
Casper cleared his throat. "My turn," he said, pausing until I nodded my consent before turning me gently and capturing my mouth in a slower, deeper kiss that made my toes curl.
"Jesus, get a room. Again." Cindy's voice broke the moment as she entered the kitchen. "Though I have to say, this is going to make pack gatherings way more interesting." Her smile was genuine despite her teasing.
"Are you coming to the race today?" I asked, trying to compose myself.
"Wouldn't miss it," she replied, before adding conspiratorially, "Heard through pack gossip that Sarah barely crawled out of her apartment this morning. Apparently, she's been crying all night and looks like absolute hell."
Cassian snorted. "Good. Maybe she'll finally leave us alone."
"Don't count on it," Casper muttered. "She's desperate to climb the pack hierarchy. Nothing's more important to her than status."
"What you did to her was pretty brutal, though," I said quietly to Casper, unable to completely suppress the memory of Sarah's public humiliation.
A shadow crossed Casper's face. "I protect what's mine," he said simply, though something in his eyes suggested he knew he'd crossed a line—not unlike the lines he sometimes crossed with me.
The Apex Racing Track hummed with energy far beyond yesterday's practice session. Flags snapped in the wind, the stands packed with spectators for the pre-season championship qualifier. Professional camera crews positioned themselves at strategic points, and vendors hawked merchandise bearing the racers' logos.
"This is the big leagues," I whispered as Casper guided us through VIP security, his hand warm against my back.
"Cass has been working toward this for a long time," he replied, pride evident in his voice despite the competitive edge that always existed between the brothers.
Cassian was already in the pit area, suited up in his black racing gear emblazoned with the red lightning bolt of Apex Racing. When he spotted us, he broke away from his crew, jogging over with a confident swagger that turned heads.
Without hesitation, he pulled me into a kiss that left little doubt about our relationship status. Several camera flashes went off nearby, and I felt my face heat up.
"That's going to be on social media in about thirty seconds," Cindy commented, looking amused.
"Good," Cassian replied, his eyes flicking to Casper with something like a challenge. "Let everyone know."
Casper stepped forward, placing his hand possessively on my waist, but this time he paused, his eyes meeting mine with a silent question—seeking permission where before he might have simply claimed. When I leaned slightly into his touch, he visibly relaxed. "Don't forget she's mine too, brother."
The tension between them crackled, and I felt caught in a delicious power struggle that was both terrifying and thrilling.
"I need to get back," Cassian finally said, his eyes lingering on me. "Watch me fly, Little one." He squeezed my hand before returning to his team.
As we made our way to our seats, I spotted a familiar figure slumped in a corner of the VIP lounge. Sarah looked nothing like her usual confident self. Her red hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, dark glasses covering what were probably puffy eyes. Her typical revealing outfit had been replaced by an oversized hoodie.
She flinched when she saw us, quickly turning away and hunching her shoulders as if trying to disappear. A few of her usual friends were notably absent from her side.
"Damn," Cindy whispered. "She really did crash hard after yesterday."
I felt a surprising twinge of pity, quickly followed by satisfaction. "She brought it on herself," I reminded Cindy, though part of me wondered if anyone deserved the level of humiliation Casper had engineered.
"Still, that's the trouble with climbing too high too fast," Casper commented, his voice low. "When you fall, everyone watches."