Chapter 93
# Elowen's POV
I stood frozen in the center of the ballroom, my heart hammering against my ribs. The metallic scent of blood filled my nose as I stared at Casper—or rather, what used to be Casper. His eyes blazed gold, feral and unfamiliar. Leo had taken complete control.
Cassian took a cautious step toward me. Immediately, a threatening growl rumbled from Casper's chest. His eyes flashed dangerously, teeth bared like a cornered animal.
"Stay away from her," Leo snarled through Casper's lips. "She's mine."
A surge of anger rushed through me. Without thinking, I stepped forward and slapped Casper hard across the nose. The sound cracked through the silent ballroom.
"Yes, girl! Show him who's boss!" Juno cheered in my head.
I stared directly into those golden eyes. "Leo! What the hell is wrong with you? This isn't what Casper would do!"
A cruel smile twisted Casper's lips. Those familiar features looked wrong somehow—distorted by Leo's presence. His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist with bruising force.
I winced but stood my ground. The guests pressed themselves against the walls, parents shielding their children. Fear hung thick in the air.
"That's your brother!" I said, straightening my spine despite the pain in my wrist. "My mate! He has every right to stand by my side!"
Leo's voice slithered through my mind, low and possessive. "Little freckle... mine... only mine..." His mental touch felt like burning fingers trailing down my spine, filled with raw desire.
"Until you learn some manners," I shouted loud enough for everyone to hear, "Little freckle won't be speaking to you at all!"
The roar that erupted from Leo shook the walls. Several guests screamed, covering their faces. Glasses on nearby tables vibrated with the force of it.
"You can't scare me!" I met his gaze without flinching, though my fingers trembled slightly. "I'm your mate, Leo. I won't leave you, but I won't tolerate this behavior either!"
From the corner of my eye, I saw Alpha Austin and Ethan approaching slowly, hands raised to show they weren't threatening. Luna Ella followed behind, worry etched on her face.
I scanned the crowd quickly. My mother was nowhere to be seen. Of course. Jessica had already fled the scene. A bitter taste filled my mouth. "Always gone when things get hard," I muttered.
Leo's head snapped toward the approaching Alpha. His muscles tensed, preparing to attack.
"LEO! STOP!" I shouted, terror gripping me. "He's your father!"
In one swift motion, Cassian pulled me behind him. "He's not listening to reason, Elowen!" His voice was low, urgent. "Right now, he's all instinct!"
I struggled against his grip. "That's not true! Casper is still in there! I can feel him! If I could just talk to him—"
"It's too dangerous," Cassian insisted, his grip tightening.
The sound of shattering wood cut through our argument. Leo had torn a table in half, splinters flying across the room. Someone screamed in pain.
"If you really love me," I said, staring up at Cassian, "you'll trust me! Let me go! I can do this!"
Doubt clouded Cassian's face. "How? How will you reach him?"
My voice shook but remained firm. "I don't know exactly... but I know I can!"
Cassian took a deep breath, then released his hold on me. "I love you, Elowen," he said softly. "Be careful." He turned to Luna Ella. "Mother, if things go wrong, get her out."
I watched in awe as Cassian's body began to shift. His muscles rearranged, skin sprouting dark brown fur. Within seconds, an elegant, powerful wolf stood in his place.
Around us, Alpha Austin, Luna Ella, Ethan, and Cindy were clearly trying to shift as well, their faces contorted with effort, but nothing was happening. They remained frustratingly human despite the danger.
"What's happening?" I cried out. "Why can't any of you shift?"
Alpha Austin's face darkened with rage and confusion. He strained visibly, veins popping on his forehead, but his body remained unchanged. Cindy looked on the verge of tears, while Ethan kept trying desperately to trigger his transformation.
"It's worse than I thought," Cassian's voice came through our mind link. "Fuck, Drake tampered with multiple champagne glasses! The ones without cherries must have contained an inhibitor. I only managed to make him drink the one he offered me, but looks like he had more prepared. Father and the others must have drunk those without knowing! Fuck, I'm the only one who can shift and fight now. Goddamn it!"
Luna Ella grabbed my arm, pulling me toward a corner. "We need to keep you safe!" Her eyes darted around the ballroom, taking in the chaos as guests scrambled in panic. I watched her expression shift from protective to resolute as she assessed the situation. Suddenly, her gaze fixed on something behind me.
"Jake!" she called out to one of the security guards. "Get that injured woman to safety first!" I turned to see an elderly lady clutching her bleeding arm where a large splinter had embedded itself.
Luna Ella gripped my shoulders, forcing me to look at her.
"Being a luna isn't just about bearing children, Elowen. It's about leading the pack in crisis. Today, you must practice that! Lead these people to safety, not risk yourself for Casper!"
My body moved automatically, guiding terrified guests toward the exits. Tears blurred my vision as I worked. My heart felt torn in half. Part of me needed to help Casper, to bring him back from the brink. But these people needed protection too.
"This way!" I shouted, my voice stronger than I felt. "Stay together! Don't push!"
The crowd bottlenecked at the doorway, panic making them shove and scramble. A woman tripped, nearly getting trampled before I hauled her back to her feet. I positioned myself in the center, creating order from chaos.
"One family at a time!" I commanded, surprising myself with my authoritative tone. "Children and elderly first!" People actually listened, the frantic pushing easing as I directed traffic like I'd been born to lead.
As I directed the last family out, a child clutching his mother's dress looked back at me with wide, frightened eyes. I forced a reassuring smile, though inside I was screaming.
Behind me, I heard Cassian's wolf snarl. I turned to see him facing Leo, both circling each other. Cassian's fur bristled, teeth bared. Leo's golden eyes burned with rage, Casper's body moving with inhuman grace.
"I need to stop this," I thought desperately. "Before someone else dies."
Luna Ella grabbed my arm as I tried to move forward. "Elowen, don't!"
I yanked free from her grip. "I have to try! I won't let them kill each other!"