Chapter 201
## Cassian's POV
Casper's body tensed beside me, and I felt a flicker of pain through our bond. Despite everything—despite the lies, the manipulation, the secrets—Austin was still our father. Hearing someone dismiss his life so casually stung.
But I couldn't entirely disagree.
"He's done a lot of shit," Casper admitted quietly. "But he's still—"
"Still what?" Ronan interrupted, his emerald eyes hard. "Still the man who let his wife sign away his daughter? Still the Alpha who stood by while Drake tormented her? Still the father who made a deal with a demon and shoved a wolf spirit into you without your consent?"
Each word landed like a punch. Casper's grip on Elowen tightened unconsciously, and through our bond, I felt his conflict—love for our father warring with the undeniable truth of his failures.
"He's complicated," I said finally. My voice came out colder than I intended. "But Elowen made her choice for a reason."
"And then there's Ethan," Ronan continued. "Cindy's precious mate. That spoiled, arrogant prick."
"Hey," Casper warned. "That's our sister's husband."
"Doesn't make him any less of an entitled asshole." Ronan shrugged. "I'd bet money that if he takes over as Alpha, he'll run this pack into the ground within a week. The guy's got the leadership skills of a wet paper bag."
"He's not that bad—" Casper started.
"Isn't he?" Ronan challenged. "Come on. You've seen how he acts. Everything handed to him on a silver platter. Never had to fight for anything. Never had to prove himself. Just rode in on daddy's coattails and got himself a pretty Alpha's daughter as a prize."
I couldn't argue with that assessment. Ethan was... well, he was exactly what Ronan described. But he was family now, for better or worse.
"At least we have Queenie now," Ronan said, his voice softening as he glanced at Elowen's sleeping form. "Things will be different with her around."
Queenie. The nickname made something warm bloom in my chest, even as possessiveness snarled alongside it. She was ours. Not just "Queenie" to the pack. Ours.
"The real problem," I said slowly, choosing my words carefully, "is that Ethan won't let go of his claim to leadership easily. Even with Elowen here, even with everything that's happened—he's going to fight us on this."
"Then we fight back," Ronan said simply.
"It's not that simple," Casper argued. "If we push too hard, we could split the pack. Cause a civil war."
"And if we don't push hard enough," I countered, "we'll end up with Ethan as Alpha and this pack will fall apart anyway."
The conversation was getting too heavy. Too political. Too much for this moment when Elowen was sleeping peacefully, when we should be enjoying this rare moment of calm.
"Selene's demand is fucked up," Ronan said, breaking the tense silence. "Making Elowen choose between her mates and her future kids? That's some twisted shit."
"Tell us something we don't know," Casper muttered.
"I mean—" Ronan started, but I cut him off with a sharp gesture.
"Stop."
He looked at me, confused.
"Whatever you're about to suggest," I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous low, "if it involves permanently giving up our bond with Elowen, I suggest you shut the fuck up right now."
Zero surged forward in my mind, his growl echoing my own. The very idea of anyone—even Ronan, even with good intentions—suggesting we should sacrifice ourselves made my blood boil.
"Tell him," Zero snarled. "Tell him we'd burn the world down before we let her go."
Ronan held up his hands. "Whoa, easy. That's not what I was going to say."
"Then what?" Casper demanded, his own protective instincts flaring.
"I was going to say," Ronan continued carefully, "that I've seen you two with her. Yeah, you were assholes before. Total dicks, actually. But with Elowen? You're different. Better. She's good for you."
The sincerity in his voice caught me off-guard.
"I'll admit," he went on, "I never thought Casper would settle down for anyone. He used to be—"
"Careful," Casper warned, but there was no real heat in it.
"—really popular with the ladies," Ronan finished diplomatically. "But Elowen? She's special. She's worth it. And honestly, she's my baby sister, so yeah, I'm biased."
"She has my—" Ronan started, then caught Casper's sharp look and quickly corrected himself. "Penis! I meant Penis. That character in the movie. His name is Penis, right?"
The absurdity of the statement broke the tension. I felt Casper's silent laughter through our bond, and even I had to fight back a smirk.
"Sure," I said dryly. "Penis. That's definitely a character name."
Ronan's face flushed. "You know what? Forget it. Point is, you guys are good for her. And I think she's worth fighting for. Whatever it takes."
The movie continued playing, but my mind was already racing ahead, planning, calculating. Ronan's words had crystalized something in my thoughts.
"Whatever it takes," I repeated silently. "Even if it means proposing something insane."
Through our bond, I felt Casper's curiosity spike. He knew I was planning something. He just didn't know what yet.
Soon, I promised him silently. Soon I'll tell you both. But for now, let her sleep. Let her have this moment of peace.
Because once I laid out my plan, everything was going to change. And there would be no going back.