Chapter 24

Cassius.

Cassius grumbled to himself as Ella ignored him to talk to Adam. She was on a call with him, not that self-righteous Alpha. He wasn't fit for that title.

'If he wants to play dirty, so can I.'

He had heard just enough through the phone that he knew Adam planned on taking Ella out that night. He grabbed a jacket and set out, planning to watch them from a distance until an opportunity presented itself. He ran towards Ella's home, making sure to stick to the shadows. Cassius crouched down and hid within some bushes outside, watching as Adam led Ella to the car.

'He can dress up as fancy as he wants. He still won't hold a candle to me.'

He undressed, keeping his eyes on Adam's Camaro. Cassius shifted, as he knew he couldn't keep up with a car in his human state. The bushes barely masked his large wolf. The car pulled out of the driveway and started toward town with Cassius close behind.

Where were they going?

Cassius’s curiosity was piqued when Adam continued through town to the outskirts. They stopped by a grand building he had never noticed before. He cocked his head, listening in to their conversation.

A ball? How very quaint. He rolled his eyes. He'd have to wait here. It’d be too crowded to do anything in there - too many witnesses that might see him.

Cassius transformed back and pulled his clothes back on. He slipped his arms through the sleeves of his jacket as he felt a bit of a nip from the slight breeze. Pulling the hood up, Cassius waited in the alley across the street. He knew it might be a while before they came out again, so he pulled out his phone, busying himself with one of the many apps to pass the time.

He occasionally looked up to make sure he didn’t miss Ella and Adam exiting the building. Cassius checked the time on his phone. It was getting late. Surely the ball would be over soon.

Sure enough, Ella and Adam came walking through the doors, a stupid grin was on Adam’s face.

He was enjoying himself way too much. Time to take him down a notch.

But Cassius hesitated as he noticed Adam was not leading Ella back to his car, but down the street. He followed slowly behind them, keeping out of sight. Within a few minutes, Cassius could finally see their destination.

'A moonlit boat ride? Really?'

He snuck around to the other side, hiding himself amongst the trees, and watched as Adam rowed them out to the center of the lake. Cassius smirked as they started making out. This was the perfect time to interrupt their little date.

He quietly made his way to the edge of the water, diving under the surface. Cassius quietly dove down under their small rowboat. They were completely oblivious to his presence.

Cassius laughed to himself as he swam up, placing his hands on the bottom of the boat. He hefted one side up, dumping the two into the water. He swam away as quickly as he could, not wanting to be spotted. Cassius wished he could have seen the look on Alpha Adam’s face when he fell into the water.

Cassius melted back into the trees, watching the aftermath. Ella headed in his direction, and he made sure to mask his scent. She was naked besides her lacey bra and panties. Cassius smiled to himself as he took in her beautiful figure.

He watched her transform and shake the water from her ginger coat. She had no idea he was even there as she ran off into the woods, mere feet from him. Cassius shifted, wanting to follow her a while to see where she ended up.

As he started off in the same direction, following Ella’s scent, he startled a deer. Its eyes went wide, and it loped off.

Oops.

He didn’t dwell on his mistake for long. His senses told him that Ella was still heading away from him. It seemed she was exploring this place. Could it be that she had never run through this part of the woods? Cassius was surprised. It seemed like the kind of place Ella would have found long ago. He knew every inch of these woods like the back of his hand, having lived in them for years. He enjoyed the solitude they provided.

Suddenly, a howl reverberated through the air.

'That Alpha never knows when to quit, does he?'

Cassius growled in anger, glaring in the direction of the sound. He thought of tracking Adam down and confronting him, but he was still unsure if he’d be able to take the larger wolf on alone. Cassius’s head whipped around in surprise as he heard a response ring out. Ella had answered Adam. His trick hadn’t deterred her at all.

Cassius growled in frustration. His chest burned with jealousy. He nearly bounded toward Ella to show her what she was missing by being with Adam, but he restrained himself. Cassius was sure that sort of action would only push Ella away.

Instead, he ran off toward his home. He let the whipping wind take his mind from his feelings. The ground yielding to his powerful paws and the blur of foliage as he ran through the forest helped him forget his plan had crashed and burned.

Adam would regret coming back into Ella’s love life. He should have stuck to being a dad.