1: Biggest win

CASSIE

The biggest victory in Lunara Corp’s history should be the only thing on my mind. Instead, all I can think about is whether tonight will finally be the night I gather enough courage to tell Zoren Marlowe that I am in love with him.

Music pulses through the private beach resort, blending with laughter, clinking glasses, and endless conversations. Crystal chandeliers reflect off the ocean while strings of golden lights wrap around palm trees, turning the shoreline into something out of a dream.

My hand aches from the many congratulatory handshakes I’ve accepted tonight. Billionaires, politicians, celebrities, and influential figures most people only ever see on television fill the venue, celebrating Lunara Corp’s biggest business victory since its founding.

To the human world, this is merely another corporate success. To us, it’s something much bigger.

Mr. Marlowe taps his wine glass with a silver spoon, and conversations gradually fade.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he announces with a warm smile, “let’s hear a few words from the man of the night.”

Applause echoes across the ballroom as my father steps onto the stage. This victory isn’t just ours. It belongs to both Lunara Corp and the Marlowe family.

The public knows Mr. Marlowe as Vice Chairman of Lunara Corp, while my father, Richard Bennett, serves as Chairman and CEO. What they don’t know is that behind the billion-dollar empire exists another world. A hidden world where wolves rule from the shadows.

Mr. Marlowe is the Alpha of the Arlowe Pack. While Dad is his Beta, the second-in-command.

Yet inside Lunara Corp, their roles are reversed. Dad leads the company and Mr. Marlowe stands beside him. It is the balance both families have maintained for decades.

One rules in business, the other rules the pack, ensuring neither man carries the burden alone. More importantly, they are brothers in everything but blood.

“…and finally,” Dad continues, smiling in my direction, “I’d like to thank my daughter, Cassie. She contributed far more to this achievement than she’ll ever admit.”

Every pair of eyes turns toward me. Heat rushes to my cheeks as applause erupts. I smile awkwardly, wishing the floor would swallow me whole. Dad always finds a way to embarrass me.

When he finishes, Mr. Marlowe lifts his glass. “To Lunara Corp’s biggest win!”

“Cheers!”

Crystal glasses collide, and the celebration resumes. Before I can escape another round of congratulations, my best friend, Emilia, slips her arm through mine.

“There you are!” she exclaims, dragging me away. “Everyone’s waiting.”

She leads me toward the bonfire where our friends have already gathered. And just like always, my eyes find Zoren.

They always do.

He stands lazily beside the fire, one hand tucked into his pocket while the other brushes his black hair away from his forehead. The orange flames dance across his sharp features. Even surrounded by billionaire heirs and Alpha descendants, he somehow stands out effortlessly. Tall, confident, and annoyingly handsome.

At six-foot-two, with broad shoulders, navy-blue eyes, and the kind of smile that only appears around people he truly cares about, he looks like someone the moon itself sculpted.

“Stop staring.” Emilia bumps my shoulder, barely holding back her laughter.

“I’m not staring.”

“You’ve been staring since you saw him.”

“I have not,” I counter.

“You absolutely have.”

Ignoring her teasing grin, I join everyone in a circle around the fire for a game of Truth or Dare. It’s a tradition that somehow survives every gathering.

Names are called, truths are answered, dares are completed. I’m only paying half attention. Until—

“Cassie.”

Emilia’s grin becomes dangerous, and my heart races.

“I dare you…” She pauses dramatically. “…to kïss Zoren.”

My heart stops. “What?”

The group erupts. The music fades into the background.

“Do it!”

“You have to!”

“No backing out!”

The choruses come from different directions. Across from me, Zoren folds his arms, watching with amusement. He isn’t laughing. Somehow, that makes it even worse.

Katherine, Zoren’s younger sister and one of my closest friends, blinks in surprise before a tiny smile appears on her face.

“Well?” Emilia folds her arms. “A dare is a dare.”

I glare at her. She only smiles wider. She knows. Maybe not everything, but enough to guess I have a crush on him.

The truth is, I’ve loved Zoren for years. Not because he is the future Alpha. Not because every girl in school dreams about him. I love the boy who stayed beside me whenever I cried. Who remembered my favorite books. Who always slowed down while walking because he knew my legs were shorter than his. Who never made me feel invisible.

“Are you doing it or not?” Emilia asks impatiently.

Everyone waits. Including Zoren.

Taking a shaky breath, I stand. Every step toward him makes my heartbeat louder. The laughter around us slowly disappears until all I can hear is my own pulse.

Inches away from him, I stop. He looks at me, his expression unreadable, his eyes soft. I bend down, hesitating for a few seconds. My gaze drops to his lips.

Just one inch higher…

Would everything change? Would he kïss me back?

Fear wins. It always does. I lean forward and press a quick kïss against his cheek, pulling away before he can react.

The circle explodes with groans.

“Seriously?”

“The cheek?”

“That doesn’t count!”

Emilia dramatically covers her face. “I was rooting for you.”

Laughter echoes around us. Only Zoren remains silent. When I dare look at him again, he is smiling. Not teasingly, not awkwardly. Just… shocked? Confused? My mind is too much of a mess to process it fully. Like my tiny act of courage has done something to him.

Unfortunately, my wolf isn’t nearly as forgiving.

“Coward,” Elaris growls. “You almost did it.”

“I know…”

“You wanted his lips.”

“Stop.”

My face burns. I hurry back to my seat before anyone notices how red I’ve become.

“It’s either you have no feelings for him,” Emilia whispers when I settle down beside her, “…or you’re hiding them.”

Emilia is my closest friend, but she isn’t a werewolf and doesn’t know my identity as one. We’ve known each other since elementary school. I have her, Zoren, Katherine, and Austin in my life. Of the four, Emilia is the only human.

I pretend not to hear her and walk away from the group, staying within sight in case Emilia needs my attention.

Jason chuckles in relief. “I knew the rumors weren’t true.”

Poor Jason. He has no idea. Being born a werewolf means heightened senses. It’s impossible not to notice the way his heartbeat changes whenever I walk into a room, or how nervous he becomes whenever I smile at him. Thankfully, he doesn’t notice my wolf quietly intimidating him.

“You okay?”

A familiar voice interrupts my thoughts. I look up. Zoren stands beside me holding two glasses. He hands me one. Our fingers brush, and electricity shoots through my body.

We stand in comfortable silence, watching the waves crash against the shore. I open my mouth, and my wolf tenses.

“Now. Tell him. Do it before he leaves for college.”

“Zoren, I…”

His phone rings. He flashes me an apologetic smile before pulling it from his pocket. A few seconds after he answers, the warmth disappears from his expression instantly.

“What?” There’s a beat of silence. “I’ll be there.”

My chest sags in disappointment. The call ends, and he slips the phone back into his pocket.

“Cassie, I’m sorry,” he tells me. “There are important pack matters I have to handle.”

Before I can respond, he walks away. I watch his figure disappear into the crowd until I can’t see him anymore.

Elaris sighs, and I kick a pebble. The confession I have rehearsed a million times remains trapped inside my chest.