Chapter 18
Casper's POV
I knew something was wrong the second Elowen downed that whiskey. Her freckled face flushed bright red, not the cute kind of blush I loved, but an unhealthy, burning red. Her amber eyes clouded over, pupils blown wide, and her breathing turned fast and shallow. The scent rolling off her skin changed too—her normal sweet vanilla smell now mixed with something sharp and chemical.
My wolf snarled inside me. Someone had fucked with what was mine.
I shoved Sarah's hand off my shoulder, disgusted by her fake strawberry perfume that couldn't mask her desperation stink. My entire focus locked on Elowen like she was the only person who existed.
"Elowen?" I reached out, brushing my fingers against her cheek. Shit, she was burning up, her skin hot as fire. "You okay, cutie?"
She jerked back from my touch, stumbling a step. "Don't touch me." Her voice came out thick, slurred. "I'm fine."
But she wasn't fucking fine. I could smell it, see it, feel it. My nostrils flared, catching that chemical taint mixing with the whiskey on her breath. My eyes snapped to Sarah, who suddenly found her red nail polish fascinating.
"What the fuck did you put in that drink?" I growled. I felt my eyes shift to gold, my wolf pushing forward, ready to tear into anyone who'd hurt Elowen.
"Nothing!" Sarah's green eyes widened with fake shock. "It's just whiskey, babe. The one you always liked."
"Bullshit." I stepped toward her, grabbing her wrist. "Tell me what you put in it. Right. Fucking. Now."
Cindy jumped up, her eyes darting between Sarah and Elowen. "What's happening? What did she do?"
"I didn't do anything!" Sarah yanked her arm free, backing up. "Why would I drug some nobody?"
Ethan moved toward Elowen who was now leaning heavily against the railing, swaying slightly. "She doesn't look good at all."
Sarah's eyes darted around, looking for support but finding none. She crossed her arms defensively. "You're all overreacting. She's probably just a lightweight who can't handle her liquor."
I stepped closer, towering over her as my wolf pushed at the surface. My voice dropped to a dangerous growl that made her flinch. "Last chance, Sarah. What. Did. You. Do?"
She must have seen something in my eyes—the promise of consequences far worse than she'd imagined—because her confident facade cracked. She glanced at the others watching, then back to me.
"Fine," she hissed, lowering her voice. "Maybe I slipped something in her drink. It's nothing serious, just a little E to loosen her up. The boring bitch could use some fun anyway."
My muscles tensed, rage building inside me. I grabbed Sarah's arm again, squeezing hard enough to make her gasp. "You fucking drugged her? Are you insane?"
Before Sarah could answer, the screech of tires cut through the air. Cassian's black race car with its red lightning design skidded to a stop at the edge of the track, engine still roaring. In a blur of movement, my brother was suddenly beside us, his cold blue eyes taking in the scene.
"What happened?" Cassian demanded, his gaze fixed on Elowen's flushed face and unfocused eyes.
"His slut ex drugged Elowen's drink," Cindy spat, pointing at Sarah.
Cassian didn't wait for more. He moved with predatory speed, reaching Elowen in two strides. Before I could react, he had scooped her into his arms.
"Put her down," I snarled, stepping toward them. "I've got this."
"Like you had this situation?" Cassian's voice dripped with contempt. "You can't even control your ex-girlfriend, and you think you deserve her?"
His words hit like a sucker punch. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to rip him apart. "Give her to me, Cassian. Now."
"Stop," Elowen mumbled between us, her head rolling against Cassian's chest. "Both of you just stop."
"She needs to rest and get this shit out of her system," Cassian said, his grip tightening around her. "And clearly, you can't be trusted to keep her safe."
"That's not fair," Cindy cut in. "Casper didn't know—"
"He should have," Cassian snapped. "He should have smelled it. I would have."
The smugness in his voice made my blood boil. I stepped closer, my hands itching to tear Elowen from his arms. "You weren't even fucking here."
"And look what happened when I wasn't," he shot back. "I'm taking her back to the Pack House."
"I'm coming with you," I insisted, already moving toward my car.
Elowen's voice, though weak, cut through the air. "No. Just Cassian."
Three words. Just three fucking words that twisted in my gut. I froze, watching as she curled closer to my brother's chest. The rejection stung worse than any fight I'd ever lost.
Cindy looked uncomfortable, shifting her weight. "I should go too. She might need me when she wakes up."
"I'll drive you," Ethan added quickly, clearly wanting to escape.
Just like that, they were all leaving. Cassian carried Elowen to his car. My chest tightened watching her in his arms, where she should have been in mine. Cindy and Ethan followed in their car, leaving me standing with Sarah and her triumphant smirk.
"Guess it's just us now," she purred, sliding her hand up my arm. "Like old times."
I wanted nothing more than to follow her immediately, but reason told me that on Pack House territory, no matter how much of a bastard Cassian was, he wouldn't let anything happen to her. This allowed me to turn my attention... to the real culprit. Sarah had to pay the price. And it had to be tonight.
"Yeah," I forced myself to smile, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Like old times."
Her green eyes lit up with victory. She thought she'd won. Stupid bitch.