Chapter 28
Elowen's POV
The Red Wolf bar pulsed with energy, completely transformed for Cassian's victory celebration. LED strips flashed black and red lightning patterns—his racing colors—while screens replayed highlights of his win. The gleaming trophy stood proudly displayed, catching light and attention from everyone who passed. The normally sleek, upscale establishment had been converted into a shrine to speed and triumph, with enlarged photos of Cassian crossing the finish line adorning walls usually reserved for vintage whiskey advertisements.
Despite the joyous atmosphere, a nagging worry had been following me for days. Drake's threat about those photos he'd taken without my consent still echoed in my mind. "They'll all see what a slut you really are." The twins had promised to protect me, and I believed them, but the anxiety lingered like a shadow I couldn't shake.
I moved through the crowd in Cindy's borrowed outfit, smiling and accepting congratulations from pack members who now treated me with a new level of respect. She'd insisted I wear this sparkly diamond-studded V-neck dress that showed way more cleavage than I was comfortable with, and had even sent her personal stylist to do my hair—an elegant updo with honey-gold strands framing my face.
You look magnificent, Juno purred in my mind. And you belong here with them. Stop doubting yourself.
I still felt the occasional urge to tug at my hemline, but I'd grown more comfortable in my own skin these past days. The way both Thornwood brothers looked at me—like I was the most precious thing in their world—had gradually changed how I saw myself.
"There's my beautiful mate," Cassian called, breaking away from his racing team to pull me into a passionate kiss that left little doubt about our relationship. Several pack members smiled knowingly; our unconventional arrangement with the twins had become an open secret within the Thornwood Pack.
"I'm so proud of you," I said against his lips, no longer caring who saw us together.
He kept his arm possessively around my waist as he guided me through the crowd. "Have you seen my brother? He was supposed to make you a special drink."
"Looking for me?" Casper appeared, sliding a glowing amber cocktail across the bar. "One Victory Lap for our girl." His eyes met mine with unmistakable heat. "Looking absolutely ravishing tonight, cutie."
I took the drink, letting my fingers brush against his in a deliberate caress. "Thanks to your sister's excellent taste."
Cassian's hand slid lower on my hip, pulling me closer. "She does look good enough to eat, doesn't she, brother?" The heat in his voice made my cheeks flush.
"Later," Casper promised with a wink that sent shivers down my spine. "We've got all night."
I took a small sip of my cocktail, savoring both the moment and the unfamiliar sense of belonging I'd started to feel. Not long ago, I would have been overwhelmed by their attention. Now, I reveled in it.
"I still can't believe Sarah's here," I said quietly, nodding toward the far end of the bar where she was serving drinks. "After what happened yesterday..."
Casper's expression darkened. "Alpha Austin ordered her to work tonight as part of her punishment. She's lucky she wasn't banished after drugging you."
"She looks different," I observed, noting how she kept checking the door and whispering to another bartender. Her hands trembled slightly beneath her serving tray, and behind her forced smile, I could see a hollow, desperate look in her eyes. "This morning she couldn't even look me in the eye, and now she's acting like she's waiting for something good to happen."
Cassian's body tensed beside me. "I don't like it. She's up to something."
"Let's not let her ruin your night," I said, squeezing his hand. "This is your celebration."
As we mingled with guests, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Pack members kept giving me strange looks—some sympathetic, others judgmental. I tried to ignore it, focusing instead on Cassian's achievement and the warmth of belonging I felt when both brothers stayed close to me.
"Dance with me?" Cassian pulled me toward the small dance floor where couples swayed to the music.
His hands settled on my hips, a firm, grounding pressure that staked an unspoken claim as we moved together, his eyes never leaving mine. "You've changed," he murmured. "You hold yourself differently now."
I smiled up at him. "Good different?"
"Incredible different," he whispered against my ear. "You've always been beautiful, but now you own it. It's sexy as hell."
Over his shoulder, I saw Sarah slip away from her post at the bar and head to the entrance. At the door, she intercepted one of the security wolves, whispering something urgently while sliding what looked like cash into his hand. The guard hesitated, glanced around nervously, then nodded and stepped aside. Drake sauntered in with Blaze and two other men from his pack, looking completely out of place in the celebration but moving with the confidence of someone who belonged.
"Drake's here," I whispered, my body tensing. "Sarah just bribed the guard to let him in."
Cassian's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing dangerously as they flickered between amber and human. "What the fuck? He knows he's banned from pack territory. Casper will throw him out."
"No," I said, touching his chest. "Let's not make a scene. This is your night."
I watched in confusion as Sarah's entire demeanor changed the moment Drake entered. She straightened her posture, fluffed her red curls, and subtly adjusted her already-low neckline. Despite her attempt at confidence, I could see the frantic desperation in her eyes—the look of someone who had nothing left to lose. When had those two become friendly? After her public humiliation, I'd expected her to hate anyone associated with me.
"Something's wrong," I said, watching as Drake nodded to Sarah across the room. "They're planning something."
Cassian guided me back to the bar where Casper was already watching the situation unfold, his expression murderous. "What's that bastard doing in my establishment?"
"He's with Sarah," I explained quickly. "They keep looking at each other. She bribed the security to let him in."
Before either brother could respond, I caught fragments of conversation from a nearby group:
"...can't believe she'd let him take pictures..."
"...Alpha's sons are going to lose their minds..."
"...always knew she was playing both brothers..."
My heart sank as I realized they were talking about me.
Across the room, I spotted Sarah whispering to Drake in a corner, their heads close together. Her eyes darted around nervously, and beneath her mask of vindictiveness, I could see the broken woman who'd been publicly humiliated just yesterday. Something passed between them—papers of some kind.
"What's she giving him?" I asked, my voice tight with building panic.
Casper was already moving around the bar when I saw Drake hand something to Blaze, who began circulating through the crowd. His silver hair caught the light as he moved from group to group, distributing whatever he held. People started looking at whatever he was distributing, then staring directly at me with expressions ranging from shock to disgust to pity.
"Is that—" a woman near me gasped loudly.
"With Drake Reid?" another whispered back.
Cassian's body went rigid beside me, his eyes flashing dangerous gold. "What the fuck is going on?" His arm tightened around me protectively.
A woman near us gasped, showing something to her friend. I lunged forward, snatching it from her hands despite Cassian trying to stop me.
The paper trembled in my hands—a grainy but unmistakable photo of me and Drake in bed, clearly taken without my knowledge. I was partially undressed, appearing unconscious or extremely intoxicated. My head was tilted back against the pillows, eyes half-closed, while Drake loomed over me with a predatory smile.
"Oh my god," I whispered, the room spinning around me. "I never—we didn't—"
"He must have taken this secretly when you were dating," Cassian growled, taking the photo and crumpling it in his fist.
Casper appeared beside us, his face contorted with rage. "That fucking bastard. I'll kill him."
Tears burned my eyes as I saw more and more people looking at copies of the photo. I caught fragments of conversations all around me:
"Always suspected she was just using the twins..."
"Beta trash trying to climb the pack ladder..."
"Probably slept with both brothers and Drake..."