Chapter 91
Casper's POV
Let me out! I'll tear his throat out for talking about our mate that way! Leo snarled inside my head, his rage matching mine.
I felt Cassian's presence in my mind, his voice cutting through Leo's growls. Don't let him get to you. He's baiting you. Stay focused.
He's disrespecting our mate, spreading lies, I shot back through our link. I still want to beat his fucking head in. He's like a goddamn fly that won't die.
My hands clenched into fists so tight my knuckles turned white. Leo's growl vibrated through my chest, threatening to burst free.
She needs to know we support her, I insisted to Cassian.
Action speaks louder than words, but not here, Cassian replied, his mental voice cold and controlled.
I couldn't take it anymore. Breaking away from Elowen's side with a quick, "Be right back," I strode directly toward Drake, my vision narrowing until he was all I could see.
Drake noticed me approaching and straightened up, a smirk appearing on his sickly face. The small group around him fell silent, watching us with wide eyes.
"Well, if it isn't one of the Alpha's precious sons," Drake said, his voice strained but still dripping with contempt.
I moved close enough that only he could hear me, my voice a low growl. "Poor little Drake, still bitter because the only woman you thought you could control finally saw you for the piece of shit you are?"
His face flushed with anger, making the pallor of his skin even more pronounced. "You know nothing about what Elowen and I had."
"What you had?" I laughed, the sound harsh and mocking. "You mean how you manipulated and controlled her? How's it feel being dumped for not just one, but two real men?"
The people around us snickered, and Drake's face turned an ugly shade of red.
"Casper!" Elowen's voice called out from behind me, shock evident in her tone. I felt a flash of guilt, but Leo pushed it away, reveling in Drake's humiliation.
I leaned closer to Drake, tapping his champagne glass with my finger. My eyes flashed gold as Leo pushed forward. "I know what your ass looks like, Drake. And guess what? It's as hairy as a gorilla's and stinks like one too. Kind of like the shit that comes out of your mouth."
That's it. Show him who the real predator is, Leo encouraged through our link, his satisfaction palpable.
Drake's hand trembled, sloshing champagne over his fingers. "Bro, come on! You think marking her changes anything? She'll never truly belong to you."
I stepped even closer, invading his personal space. My voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Don't call me 'bro,' you pathetic fuck. I'm your worst nightmare. Got it?"
Drake's eyes flashed with fear before he masked it. "I was only trying to protect her and the pack. You two forced her into this unnatural bond."
I barked out a laugh. "Protect her? Is that what you call controlling every aspect of her life? And she chose us, asshole. Why else is she standing over there wearing our marks?"
Drake's gaze flicked over my shoulder toward Elowen. "Because she's afraid of what you'll do to her if she doesn't play along."
The accusation hit a raw nerve. Leo roared inside me, demanding release. I felt my control slipping, my eyes fully shifting to gold. "You don't get to look at her. You don't get to speak to her. And you definitely don't get to speak about her."
Drake's lips curled into a sneer. "Don't worry, baby girl," he called out, looking past me to where Elowen stood. "I'll save you from these beasts."
Something snapped inside me. I grabbed Drake's champagne flute and forced it against his lips, tilting it back. "Drink it all like a good little prey," I snarled, watching as he choked and sputtered, liquid spilling down his chin.
"Casper Thornwood!" Luna Ella's angry voice cut through the room. I ignored her, focused entirely on Drake's frightened eyes.
"Mom, don't pretend this asshole didn't have it coming," I growled without turning around. "He's been spreading lies about our mate all night!"
A low, threatening growl escaped my throat—Leo's voice, not mine. It was deep and feral enough to make Luna Ella take a step back.
"Control your wolf," she warned, her voice stern. "This is an official event. You are a future leader."
Drake, seizing the moment of distraction, spat in my face. "Fuck off, you and your half-breed mate."
Everything went red. Leo completely took over, my eyes burning gold. I smashed the champagne glass against Drake's head, watching it shatter. Before anyone could react, I grabbed a sharp piece and drove it into Drake's shoulder.
"Let him pay!" Leo roared through my lips. "No one insults our mate!"
Luna Ella screamed. Drake collapsed to the ground, blood quickly soaking through his white shirt. The ballroom erupted into chaos, guests scrambling backward. Through the haze of rage, I saw Cassian moving quickly toward us.
"Cool it, brother," Cassian said, his voice steady as he gripped my arm. "You've lost control."
Elowen pushed through the crowd, her eyes wide with shock and tears. "Casper, what have you done?"
I was breathing hard, my hands shaking as I slowly came back to myself, Leo reluctantly retreating. "I couldn't let him talk about you like that, Freckle. He needed to learn some respect."
Elowen broke away from Cassian and pushed me back, then knelt beside Drake, pressing her hand against his wound to stop the bleeding. "You could have killed him!"
The sight of her helping Drake sent a fresh wave of anger through me. "After everything he's said about you, you're still choosing to help him?"
Blood seeped between her fingers as she applied pressure to Drake's wound. "This isn't about choosing anyone. This is about not becoming monsters!"
"Monsters?" I echoed, the word hitting me like a physical blow. "Is that what you think we are?"
Elowen looked up at me, her amber eyes filled with confusion and fear. "Not you—this. This violence. This isn't the way."
Drake moaned beneath her hands, his face contorted in pain. "See? Even now... she knows what you really are."