Chapter 37
Elowen's POV
I sat by the window on the plush cushioned seat, scrolling mindlessly through TikTok while my fingers kept drifting to the double marks on my neck. The skin felt warm and slightly raised under my touch. Luna's words still echoed in my head: "Welcome to the family. You're one of us now." The thought made my stomach flutter with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I barely had time to look up before the door swung open, revealing Casper and Cassian. My heart jumped at the sight of them.
"Hey, cutie," Casper said, stepping inside with that warm smile that always made my knees weak. "How are you liking your new room?" He walked over and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, his body heat immediately seeping into me.
Cassian leaned against the doorframe, his icy blue eyes softer than usual as they roamed over my face. "Is everything to your satisfaction, little one?"
I nodded, looking around the beautiful space they'd created for me. "It's fucking amazing. I can't believe you guys did all this."
Casper squeezed my shoulder. "Come on, let me show you around properly." His hand slid down to my lower back as he guided me through the room. "We picked out everything ourselves."
"The security system is state-of-the-art," Cassian added, finally pushing away from the door to join us. "Nobody gets in without your permission."
Casper pointed to the massive bookshelf. "I remembered all your favorites from high school." His fingers trailed over the spines of the books. "And this reading nook by the window—I know how much you love to curl up with a good book when it rains."
My throat tightened as I noticed a silver frame on the nightstand. It held a photo of the three of us from Cindy's sixteenth birthday. Next to it sat a delicate silver bracelet with the Thornwood crest.
"You guys thought of everything," I whispered, eyes burning with unexpected tears.
"Only the best for our mate," Cassian said, his voice low and possessive.
I moved toward the huge bed, running my hand over the soft comforter. "This bed is enormous. Fits a lot of people," I said with a small grin.
Casper and Cassian exchanged a look that made heat pool in my stomach. They moved closer, one on each side of me.
"That's the idea, baby," Casper murmured, pulling me against his chest. His lips brushed my ear. "God, it feels good to finally have you here officially."
Cassian pressed himself against my back, his nose skimming along the mark on my neck. A shiver ran down my spine at the contact. "No more sneaking around," he said, his breath hot against my skin.
I turned my face up to Casper, who captured my lips in a hungry kiss. His tongue slipped into my mouth, and I moaned softly. When he pulled back, I twisted to find Cassian waiting. His kiss was deeper, more demanding, his hand tangling in my hair to hold me in place.
My hand found its way to Casper's waist, slipping under his shirt to feel the warm skin beneath. Cassian's fingers combed through my hair, tugging just enough to make my scalp tingle.
Look at you, sandwiched between two Alphas. You've come a long way from that shy little girl, Juno's voice purred in my mind.
As my fingers traced Cassian's jawline, I suddenly froze. Something flickered across his expression—a flash of tension that disappeared as quickly as it had come. I glanced at Casper and saw the same thing—his smile seemed forced for just a second.
I pulled back slightly, my instincts screaming that something wasn't right. "What did Alpha say to you guys in his office? Did he punish you?"
The shift in their demeanor was subtle but unmistakable. Casper's eyes darted away for a split second. Cassian's jaw tightened.
"Don't worry about it, baby," Cassian said, his voice more controlled than usual. "He just gave us some tasks to handle. We'll take care of it."
I shook my head. "Tell me what happened. Please."
Casper sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The Red Wolf is temporarily closed."
"What? Why?" I demanded, my eyes widening in shock.
"There was a scandal in my bar," Casper explained, his expression darkening. "Alpha thinks it reflects poorly on the pack."
"But that was Sarah and Drake's fault! Why are you being punished for what they did?"
Cassian's hand settled on my hip. "The public doesn't see it that way. They see a bar owned by an Alpha heir that can't control what happens inside its walls."
"I should have been more careful," Casper added, his voice tight. "I failed as Alpha Austin's heir."
"I'm so sorry," I whispered, guilt washing over me. "This is because of me—"
"No." Casper took my hand, squeezing it firmly. "This is because of Drake and Sarah. Not you." His thumb brushed over my knuckles. "Besides, this gives me more time to spend with you."
"What about you?" I asked, turning to Cassian. "What did Alpha say to you?"
Cassian's mouth twitched. "There's talk of performance enhancers in the Championship. My father wants me to find out who is slandering me by claiming I took them during the competition."
I frowned. "That sounds serious."
"It is. Racing reputation matters. I'll get to the bottom of it," he said, his voice determined.
My eyes drifted back to the photo on the nightstand, and suddenly I was transported back to that day when I was sixteen. Cindy had thrown a massive birthday party at the Thornwood mansion. I'd spent hours getting ready, secretly hoping Casper would finally notice me as more than his sister's awkward friend.
"I still can't believe this is happening," I murmured, picking up the photo. "If you had told sixteen-year-old me that someday I'd be mated to both of you... God, I would have died from shock."
Casper chuckled, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. "What was going through your mind back then, baby? In this picture?"
I blushed. "Honestly? I was thinking how fucking beautiful you were and how I'd never stand a chance."
Cassian raised an eyebrow. "So it was always Casper, huh?"
My blush deepened. "Well... you were always so intense, Cass. You scared me a little."
"And now?" His voice dropped an octave.
"Now I like it," I admitted, heat spreading through my body.