Chapter 23
Elowen's POV
The door crashed open with a bang that made me jump. Cassian's hands still gripped my thighs as I sat straddling him on the bed, my shirt discarded somewhere on the floor. We both froze, turning toward the thunderous noise.
Casper stood in the doorway, his massive frame blocking the light from the hallway. His chest heaved with each breath, eyes blazing a deep gold that told me his wolf was dangerously close to the surface. The raw fury on his face made my heart skip several beats.
"What the fuck is this?" he growled, his voice deeper than I'd ever heard it.
I scrambled to cover my bare chest with my arms, my cheeks burning hot. "Casper, I—"
"Get your fucking hands off her," Casper snarled, taking a step into the room.
Cassian's grip on my thighs tightened. "Back off, brother. You don't control who she's with."
The tension in the room was suffocating. I could feel both their wolves pushing against their human forms, the energy crackling between them like electricity. My own wolf Juno stirred inside me, alert and oddly excited by the display of dominance.
"Elowen, come here," Casper commanded, his eyes never leaving his brother's face.
"She's not going anywhere," Cassian countered, his arm sliding protectively around my waist. "She chose to be with me."
Casper's laugh was cold. "While drugged out of her mind? That's not a choice, that's taking advantage."
"The drugs wore off hours ago," Cassian shot back. "Tell him, Elowen. Tell him you want to be here."
Both pairs of eyes turned to me. I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. The sheet clutched to my chest felt thin and useless. I was literally caught between two Alpha heirs, their powerful bodies radiating heat and aggression on either side of me.
"I... I don't know what I want," I admitted, my voice small.
Casper took another step forward. "Let her go, Cass. This isn't right."
"What isn't right is you acting like you own her," Cassian retorted. "You've wanted her since we were kids, but so have I. You don't get to claim her just because you saw her first."
"I protected her first!" Casper roared, a vein pulsing in his forehead. "While you were busy racing your cars and fucking around, I was there for her!"
"Stop it!" I shouted, finding my voice at last. "Both of you stop talking about me like I'm not here!"
They fell silent, surprised by my outburst. I took a deep breath, trying to clear my head.
"I'm not a piece of territory for you to fight over," I continued, anger giving strength to my words. "I make my own decisions."
"And what is your decision, Little Freckle?" Casper asked, his voice softening as he used my nickname.
Cassian's fingers traced small circles on my lower back. "Your choice will decide everything, Little Prey."
My heart hammered in my chest. What did I want? My body responded to both of them in ways I'd never experienced with anyone else. With Casper, I felt protected and desired. With Cassian, I felt dangerous and free. The thought of choosing between them made my stomach twist.
Then Juno whispered in my mind: Why choose at all?
"I... I want both of you," I blurted out, then immediately felt my face flush hotter.
The room went deadly quiet. I could hear my own heartbeat echoing in my ears.
"What did you say?" Casper asked, his voice strained.
I lifted my chin, forcing myself to meet their shocked stares. "I said I want both of you. Is that... is that even possible?"
Cassian recovered first, a slow smile spreading across his face. "It's rare, but not unheard of. Especially with twins who share Alpha blood."
"This is insane," Casper muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Elowen, you don't know what you're asking for."
"I do," I insisted, my voice stronger now. "I'm tired of people making decisions for me. Drake, my mother... everyone acts like they know what's best. For once, I want to choose."
"Once we start this," Casper warned, taking another step closer until he stood at the edge of the bed, "there's no going back. Even without a formal marking, this kind of bond will change all of us."
"Think about what it means," Cassian added, his blue eyes serious. "The pack will talk. Your mother will fight it. Drake might retaliate. Are you prepared for that?"
I thought about Drake's threats, my mother's betrayal, the contract they'd signed without my knowledge. They'd tried to control every aspect of my life. This was my chance to take it back.
"I am," I said firmly.
Casper's eyes searched mine. "You're sure about this? About us?"
"Record my consent," I suggested suddenly. "So no one can say I was forced or drugged."
Cassian raised an eyebrow, impressed by my forethought. He reached for his phone on the nightstand. "Smart girl."
He opened the camera and pointed it at me. I straightened my spine, keeping the sheet over my chest, and looked directly into the lens.
"I, Elowen Hartley, am in my right mind and not under any influence. I consent to exploring a relationship with both Casper and Cassian Thornwood. This is my choice, made freely and without coercion."
Cassian stopped the recording and set the phone aside. "There. No one can dispute that."
"Is it just for tonight?" Casper asked, his voice husky as he kneeled on the bed, "Or are you in this for real?"
I reached out and touched his face, feeling the stubble under my fingertips. "I want this to be real. No more games, no more uncertainty."
His eyes flashed gold again, but not from anger this time. He leaned forward and captured my lips in a searing kiss that made my toes curl. When he pulled back, I was breathless.
"This still only proves you want both," Cassian murmured, his hand sliding up my spine. "Just tonight won't tell us who your true mate is."
"Then we'll have to keep exploring," I whispered, turning to press my lips against his.
Casper's hands found my waist, his touch burning through the thin sheet. "Once I put my cock inside you, princess, I'm never letting you go."
His crude words sent a shock of desire straight through me. I felt wet heat pool between my thighs.
"Is that a promise?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
Cassian chuckled darkly, his fingers tangling in my hair to pull my head back, exposing my neck. "Oh, you have no idea what you've started, Little Prey."
"Show me," I challenged, dropping the sheet completely.