Chapter 222
Elowen's POV
"Not satisfied?" I barked out, my voice cracking with barely contained fury. "You want to know if I'm not satisfied?"
They're hiding the worst parts, Juno snarled in my mind, her rage bleeding into mine until I could feel my nails sharpening into claws. Don't let them sugarcoat this nightmare.
"Let me get this straight," I continued, my voice dropping to something deadly calm that made both of them flinch. "Your brilliant plan to protect me is to make everyone believe you've chosen Sarah—Sarah—as your mate instead of me?"
Cassian's jaw tightened. "It's not—"
"Not what? Not a betrayal? Not the most fucked-up thing I've ever heard?" I laughed, but it sounded hollow even to my own ears. "Because from where I'm standing, it sounds like you're planning to parade another woman around as your Luna while I'm carrying your children."
"Elowen, please—" Casper reached for me, but I jerked away.
"Don't touch me right now." The words came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn't help it. My chest felt tight, like someone had wrapped steel bands around my ribs and was slowly squeezing. "Just... explain. Make it make sense."
Cassian stepped forward, his ice-blue eyes clouded with something that looked painfully like regret. "The plan is simple. We make Selene believe that the mate bond is broken—that you've rejected us publicly, convincingly enough that she stops watching you. Stops watching our children."
"And Sarah?" I whispered, hating how my voice trembled. "Where does she fit into this simple plan?"
"She's the distraction," Casper said quietly, his amber eyes fixed on the floor. "If people believe we've moved on with her, then no one will question why you're leaving. Why you'd hate us enough to walk away."
I stared at him, feeling something crack inside my chest. "You were at that ball, Casper. You stood in front of everyone and said I was the only woman you'd ever love. That you'd die before letting anyone take me from you."
His throat worked as he swallowed hard. "I remember."
"Then how the hell do you think anyone will believe you've suddenly decided Sarah is your mate?" I demanded, my voice rising. "How is this remotely convincing?"
"Leo caused chaos at that ball," Cassian interjected, his voice cold and clinical in that way that told me he was trying to distance himself from the emotion of it all. "People were terrified. Confused. They might not remember exactly what was said in the heat of the moment."
"Bullshit." I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to hold myself together. "Cindy remembers. Your parents remember. The entire pack—"
"Will believe what we show them," Cassian finished. His eyes met mine, and I saw something there that made my breath catch. Determination. And underneath it, a grief so profound it made my own heartbreak seem small in comparison. "If we sell it hard enough. If we make it hurt enough."
The room spun slightly, and I had to grab the doorframe to steady myself.
He's right about one thing, Juno admitted reluctantly. Pain makes things believable. But this is insane.
"The babies," I managed to get out, my hand instinctively moving to my still-flat stomach. "If you do this—if you make everyone believe Sarah is your new mate—what happens to them?"
Casper's eyes flashed amber for just a second before he forced them back to their normal color. "The pups stay with you. Always."
"For how long?" I pressed, feeling my wolf's fury mixing with my own. "Until the Moon Goddess gets bored and picks a new target? Until they're born and powerful enough to fight her off themselves? When does this charade end, Casper?"
"I don't know!" The words exploded out of him, and he slammed his palm down on the dresser so hard that the antique drawers rattled. A photograph of his parents fell face-down on the wood, and the sound of glass cracking filled the sudden silence.
"Jesus, Casper, that's a family heirloom!" Cassian hissed, rushing over to check the damage. "Mom's going to—"
"I don't give a fuck about the dresser!" Casper shouted, whirling on his brother. His chest was heaving, and I could see Leo pushing at the surface, making his eyes bleed to gold around the edges. "How can you stand there and talk about furniture when we're discussing—"
"Stop." My voice cut through their brewing argument like a knife. Both of them froze, turning to look at me. "Just stop."
I took a shaky breath, trying to organize the chaos in my mind into something coherent. Something that wouldn't get us all killed.
"Let's say this works," I started, my voice eerily calm now. "Let's say everyone believes you've chosen Sarah. That I've been... discarded." The word tasted like ash on my tongue. "What happens when she gets pregnant?"
The color drained from Cassian's face.
"Oh, you didn't think that far ahead?" I laughed bitterly. "When an Alpha takes a new mate, Casper, what's the first thing that happens to the children from the previous bond?"