Chapter 41
Elowen's POV
The sound of Jake closing the bar door echoed through the building, leaving the three of us frozen in a suspended moment of frustration and unexpected humor. Cassian cursed under his breath while Casper's body still shielded mine protectively, his muscles tense against my back.
"Fucking Jake," Casper muttered, his voice rough with unspent desire. "Always has the worst timing." His hands were still on my waist, fingers digging slightly into my skin.
"We should head back to Pack House," Cassian suggested, running a hand through his disheveled hair. The cool composure he usually maintained was cracked, his ice-blue eyes still dark with want.
I nodded, trying to calm my racing heart and the ache between my legs. "Yeah, probably best." My voice came out breathier than I intended.
The interruption had broken the spell, but not the connection between us. We drove back in charged silence, our bodies still humming with unfulfilled need. Casper's hand rested on my thigh the entire ride, thumb tracing small circles that sent jolts through my system. Cassian kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror, his gaze heavy with promise.
But when we reached Casper's room, something shifted. Instead of rushing to finish what we'd started, we simply held each other. Casper's strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind while Cassian faced me, his cool fingers tracing patterns on my arms.
"Tonight isn't about sex," Cassian whispered, his ice-blue eyes softer than I'd ever seen them. "It's about belonging."
Casper pressed his lips to the mark on my neck. "You're ours now," he murmured, his breath hot against my skin. "No rush."
That night, sandwiched between their warm bodies, I slept better than I had in years. No nightmares. No waking up in cold sweats. Just peace. Their heartbeats formed a steady rhythm around me, like a protective shield against the world.
I woke to sunlight streaming through the window and the solid warmth of two bodies pressed against mine. Casper's arm draped heavily across my waist, his face buried in my hair. On my other side, Cassian's steady breathing tickled my neck, his leg hooked possessively over mine. Their scents had merged overnight—pine and smoke from Casper, cold ore and roses from Cassian—creating a unique fragrance that felt like home.
My fingers traced the marks on my neck, the permanent reminders that I belonged with them. For once, I wasn't scared of belonging somewhere. The double marks were slightly raised, sensitive to touch, and every time my fingers grazed them, a warm pulse spread through my body, reminding me of our connection.
"Morning, freckles," Casper mumbled into my hair, his morning voice even deeper than usual. He tightened his arm around me, pulling me closer against his chest.
Cassian stirred on my other side, his eyes fluttering open. "You're thinking too loud," he complained, but his lips curved into a rare smile as he traced my jawline with his finger.
The peace shattered during breakfast when Luna entered the dining room, her face tight with concern. The scrape of her heels against the marble floor made all three of us look up from our plates. The warm, comfortable silence we'd been sharing evaporated instantly.
"Beta Jessica is here again," she announced, her eyes flicking to my neck where the double marks stood out against my skin. "She looks... determined. The Reid family apparently isn't pleased with Drake's public humiliation. She's demanding to see you, Elowen."
My stomach dropped. The toast I'd been eating suddenly tasted like cardboard in my mouth.
Casper's fork clattered against his plate. "Absolutely fucking not," he growled, muscles tensing immediately. His amber eyes darkened dangerously, and I felt Juno stir anxiously inside me. "She's hurt Elowen enough."
"She's still a Beta," Cassian reminded him, his voice cool but his hand warm on my thigh under the table. Through our mind link, he added, "Refusing her isn't wise politically. We need to know what she wants."
I swallowed hard, feeling the food stick in my throat. "I'll see her." My voice came out steadier than I felt.
"Not alone," both brothers said in unison, their synchronicity almost comical if the situation wasn't so tense.
We agreed to meet in the Pack House's formal receiving room. It was a space I rarely entered—all antique furniture and old paintings of former Alphas lining the walls. Their stern faces seemed to judge me from their gilt frames. I sat rigidly on an antique loveseat, flanked by Casper and Cassian like bodyguards. The leather creaked beneath us, and the scent of furniture polish hung in the air.
Jessica strode in like she owned the place, her spine ramrod straight despite the situation. She wore her usual armor: a charcoal cashmere turtleneck tucked into a knife-sharp black pencil skirt, sheer stockings whispering against each other, and the single strand of pearls that never left her neck. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of my neck, where both marks were clearly visible.
"I need to speak with my daughter," she announced coldly, her gaze never wavering. "Alone."
Casper's arm tightened around my shoulders. "Not happening." His voice was hard as stone.
Cassian's posture remained relaxed, but I felt the tension radiating from him. His eyes never left my mother, watching her like a predator.
"This is Pack business," Jessica snapped, her eyes flashing with that familiar cold anger. "There are matters she needs to know that shouldn't be public knowledge."
I felt the twins exchange glances over my head.
"Let her talk," Cassian suggested through our link. "We'll be right outside the door. One scream, and we'll break it down."
I nodded reluctantly. "Five minutes," I told her. "Alone."
Casper squeezed my hand before standing. "We'll be right outside," he warned Jessica, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl.
After they reluctantly left, Jessica remained standing, her posture stiff and unyielding. Only when the door closed did I notice the slight tremble in her hands before she clasped them tightly together.
"You've made a mess of everything," she began, her voice sharp but with an underlying strain I'd never heard before. "The agreement with the Reids is falling apart. Drake is furious."
I crossed my arms, refusing to be intimidated. "Drake already announced his relationship with Sarah at the Red Wolf. Whatever contract you signed is meaningless now."
"You don't understand," Jessica's voice cracked slightly, the only sign of her composure slipping. She took a controlled breath, her knuckles white as she gripped her own hands. "This isn't just about Drake or the contract. I made promises I can't break. There are consequences."
"What consequences?" I demanded.
Her eyes met mine, and for the first time, I saw something that looked almost like fear behind her anger.
"Your father—" she said, her voice suddenly flat and emotionless, "he didn't have cancer, Elowen. He killed himself."