เข้าสู่ระบบCassie's POV “Come on, Cass. Just a few hours.”Maya stands in the doorway, arms crossed, determination written across her face. She's been trying to get me out of the apartment all day.“I don't feel like going out.” My voice sounds hollow even to my own ears.“Which is exactly why you need to.” She sits on the edge of the bed. “You've been in this room for two days. You need fresh air, distraction, anything other than staring at these four walls.”I want to argue. I want to tell her to leave me alone. But the concern in her golden green eyes makes the refusal die in my throat.“Just a bar. Nothing crazy. We will have a drink, talk, maybe shoot some pool.” Her voice softens. “Please? I hate seeing you like this.”The worst part is she genuinely cares. And I'm still yet to tell her why I'm falling apart. I can't explain that her brother broke my heart.“Okay,” I say softly. “Just for a little while.”Maya's face lights up. “Great! Wear something cute. We leave in an hour.”****I pu
Maya's POV I make it three blocks from Knox's car before the tears come again. Not the angry tears I cried in front of him. This is different, heavier, born from a grief so deep I can barely breathe through it.I find a bench near the campus gardens and collapse onto it, burying my face in my hands.I knew. God, I knew from the beginning.When Cassie started talking about a mystery guy, blushing and smiling in ways I'd never seen before, I suspected. The timing was too perfect. Knox found out she was his mate. Cassie suddenly had a secret boyfriend she wouldn't name.But I didn't have proof. And some part of me hoped I was wrong, that Knox would keep his distance, protect Cassie by staying away from her even if he can't reject her for reasons I can't fathom. Instead, he did exactly what I was afraid of. He pulled her in, made her care, made her fall for him.And now she's paying the price for loving someone from our world.Fresh sobs tear through me. I press my hand over my mouth, t
Knox's POV Adrian's words follow me out of the locker room like ghosts. I'm halfway across the parking lot when the question hits me.How does Adrian know Cassie is my mate?I never told him. Never told anyone except Maverick and Maya. The bond isn't something visible to other werewolves unless they're looking for it, and they know what to look for.So how did Adrian figure it out?And more importantly, why hasn't he told anyone? Adrian is my rival. My competition on and off the ice. If he wanted to destroy me, all he'd have to do is tell my father or his that I've found my mate and she's human.But he hasn't. Instead, he switched Lizzy's poison. Saved Cassie's life. Kept her secret. He protected her when I couldn't.The realization sits heavy in my stomach.I lean against my car, head tilted back, staring at the sky. Everything Adrian said is right. I am a coward. I am choosing fear over my mate.And Cassie is paying the price.“Knox.”I spin around. Maya stands a few feet away, her
Knox's POV The puck slams into the boards inches from my head. I don't flinch, or react. Just skate harder, faster, channeling all the rage burning through me into movement.Practice game against the Bluefang team, Adrian's team. The rivalry is supposed to be friendly, but there's nothing friendly about the way I'm playing today.I'm aggressive, reckless. Every hit is harder than it needs to be. Every check pushes the line of what's acceptable.Ronan has already yelled at me twice. I don't care.‘Go to her,’ Nyx snarls for the hundredth time today. ‘Our mate is in pain. We need to fix this.’‘I can't.’ I've repeated the words so many times it's lost all meaning.‘You're a coward.’Maybe. Probably. But I'm a coward who's keeping Cassie alive.Warren already made it clear. Stay away or she dies with Maya. It's that simple, that brutal.So I'm staying away. Even though it's killing me. Even though I can feel her pain through the bond— this hollow, aching agony that won't stop.I steal t
Cassie's POV Morning light filters through the curtains, harsh and unwelcome. I couldn't sleep through the night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Knox standing with Lizzy, his hand hovering over his phone screen before cutting off my call, the way he didn't push her away when she touched him.My eyes feel like sandpaper. My head pounds. My chest feels hollowed out, like someone reached in and carved out everything vital.I roll over and stare at the wall.Knox's shirt is crumpled in the corner where I threw it last night. Even from here, I can see the dark fabric. Part of me wants to pick it up, hold it, breathe in his scent one last time.The rest of me wants to burn it.My phone is face-down on the floor where it landed after I threw it. The screen is probably cracked, I don't care enough to check.I force myself to sit up. The room spins for a second before settling.Class. I have class today. Anatomy practical at nine, then pharmacology at eleven.Normal things that don't inv
Knox's POV Lizzy's car finally disappears down the street, and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.Thirty minutes. She kept me trapped in that parking lot for thirty fucking minutes.I check my phone. 11:15 pm.Cassie should be here by now. I told her to come tonight, and it's late enough that Maya would be asleep. But the parking lot is empty except for my car.I head inside, my stomach tight with unease. Maybe she's running late. Maybe she's being careful, taking a longer route to make sure no one sees her.I unlock the door and step inside. The house is silent. I check my phone again. No messages, no missed calls.Maybe I should text her. I pull up her contact and start typing.“Are you still coming? It's important we talk.”I hit send and wait. One minute. Two. Five. Nothing.The message doesn't even show as delivered.My chest tightens. I try calling instead.The phone doesn't ring. It goes straight to a recorded message. “The number you are trying to reach is not a







