Chapter 210
Elowen's POV
I stared at Casper, my fingers hovering over the waistband of my shorts. His amber eyes blazed with something fierce—hunger mixed with desperation.
"You're going to make me crazy, angel," he growled.
I smiled, feeling a surge of power. "Good."
Before I could move, his hands were on my ankles. He yanked me forward. I yelped, falling back on the bed.
"Mrs. Thornwood," he said, his voice rough. "Stop teasing."
His fingers hooked into my waistband. One sharp tug. The fabric didn't budge.
"Casper—"
He didn't let me finish. His hands moved to the inner seam of my shorts. I heard the rip before I felt it. The denim split along the stitching with a satisfying tear.
"CASPER!" I shrieked, scrambling to sit up.
But my body betrayed me. Heat pooled low in my belly. Watching his muscles flex, seeing the raw strength in his movements—fuck, it was hot. The way his biceps tensed, the veins in his forearms standing out, the slight flush creeping up his neck.
"What the hell?" I pushed up on my elbows, trying to sound angry. "These were my favorite shorts!"
He tossed the ruined denim aside like it was nothing. "Ronan said to burn them anyway."
My brain stuttered to a halt. "What? Why would Ronan—"
"Because we're taking you to meet the Ashborne Pack," Casper cut in. His eyes flicked away for a split second. Too quick. Too deliberate. "And he doesn't want their Alpha seeing you in these."
Something wasn't right. His heartbeat spiked—I could hear it, feel it through our bond like a drumbeat against my ribs.
"Casper." I sat up fully, crossing my arms over my bare chest. "Why would I meet the Ashborne Pack?"
"Baby, can we talk about this later?" He leaned down, pressing kisses along my ankle, up my calf. His lips were warm, soft, reverent. "I want you so fucking bad right now."
Each kiss sent sparks shooting up my leg. My toes curled involuntarily.
"You're lying to me." The words came out flat, emotionless.
He froze. His lips stilled against my skin. When his eyes met mine, I saw it—guilt, fear, something dark and desperate swimming beneath the surface.
"I'm not—"
"Don't." I tried to pull my leg back. "I can feel it through the bond. You're hiding something."
In a flash, he was on me. His body caged mine against the wall beside the bed. One hand pressed flat against my lower belly, protective, possessive. His palm radiated heat through my thin panties.
"Please, Elowen." His forehead dropped to mine. His breath came in harsh pants. "Just... not right now. Can you trust me? Just for a little while?"
His hand on my stomach made my breath catch. Our baby. He was protecting our baby, even in this moment. The gesture was so instinctive, so tender, it made my chest ache.
"Casper, I need to know—"
His mouth crashed into mine. The kiss was desperate, almost violent. His tongue swept past my lips, claiming, demanding. I melted into it despite myself. He tasted like mint and something uniquely him, something that made my wolf purr.
His hand slid up from my belly to cup my breast. I gasped into his mouth. His thumb circled my nipple through my shirt, and electric heat shot straight to my core. My back arched, pressing me closer to him.
"You're trying to distract me," I panted when he pulled back for air.
"Is it working?" He kissed down my jaw, my neck. His stubble scraped deliciously against my skin. His lips found my mating mark—the one on the left side of my neck, his mark—and I nearly came undone.
"Casper..." My hands fisted in his damp hair, still wet from his shower. "This isn't fair."
"Life isn't fair, cutie." His teeth grazed the mark, and my vision blurred. "But I swear to god, I'll make everything right. Just let me have you first."
His other hand slid between my thighs. I couldn't think. Couldn't breathe. The pad of his thumb pressed against my clit through the thin fabric of my panties, and my hips bucked.
"Elowen." Juno's voice cut through the haze in my mind, sharp and concerned. "He's hurting."
I blinked, trying to clear my head. "What?"
"Can't you feel it?" My wolf's tone was unusually soft, almost pitying. "Stop focusing on the physical. Look deeper. He's breaking apart inside. His heart is shattering."
I forced myself to focus on the bond, really focus. The pleasure, the desire—it was all there, hot and demanding. But underneath, like a riptide pulling at my feet, was pain. Raw, aching, soul-deep pain that made my own chest constrict.
The emotional force of it hit me like a truck. My knees buckled.
Casper caught me instantly, both arms wrapping around my waist. "Whoa, I got you."
"Why?" I looked up at him, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. "Why do you hurt so much?"
His jaw clenched. His amber eyes glistened. For a moment, I thought he might tell me. Then he just pulled me closer, burying his face in my hair.
"Because I love you," he whispered against my temple. "And I'm terrified of losing you."
Something clicked in my brain. The Ashborne Pack. Ronan. The lies. The pain.
"You're not losing me." I grabbed his face with both hands, forcing him to look at me. "Whatever's happening, whatever you're not telling me—you're not losing me. Ever."
"You don't know that." His voice cracked.
"Yes, I do." I pressed my hand over his heart, feeling it race beneath my palm. "You and Cassian—you're my home. My safe place. My whole fucking life. Do you understand? I'm not going anywhere. Not willingly. Not without a fight."
A tear slid down his cheek. Just one. But it gutted me more than any wound ever could.
"We're supposed to be your protectors," he said hoarsely. "And I feel like I'm failing you."
"You're not—"
"We won't let anyone take you from us, princess."
I spun around. Cassian stood in the doorway, two bags of takeout in his hands. His ice-blue eyes were locked on us, fierce and possessive and glowing with that inner fire that meant his wolf was close to the surface.
"Not Ronan," he continued, setting the bags down on the dresser with deliberate care. "Not the Ashborne Pack. Not the Moon Goddess herself. You're ours."
Relief crashed over me in waves. I smiled at him, feeling my heart expand until it hurt, until I thought it might burst from my chest.
"I know," I said softly. "And you're mine. Both of you. I'm not going anywhere."