3: Congratulations

CASSIE

“Bye,” I call out to my parents.

But the kïssing couple don’t even spare me a glance or notice me leave. I hurry toward the entrance where Austin is already waiting. Emilia staggers beside me, the half-empty wine glass dangling from her fingers.

“I guess we’re leaving now,” she mumbles as we head for Austin’s car parked out front.

“Yeah?” I laugh. “You’re already drunk.”

“No, I’m not.”

“You almost walked into a flower pot.”

“That flower pot attacked me,” she bites back.

Austin laughs hard, and it melts the lingering tension. As we approach his car, he walks ahead of us and opens the passenger door to retrieve something from the seat. When he straightens up, he hands me a neatly wrapped gift bag.

“Congratulations, Cassie.”

“This should go to my dad,” I say. “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. I’m happy for you.”

There isn’t a trace of jealousy in his voice. Despite our families’ rivalry, Austin has always been able to separate business from friendship. The way he looks at me when he says it feels almost too sincere, and for a fleeting moment I notice the way the lights catch his eyes.

“Are we going out or not?” Emilia cuts in.

Austin lets out a nervous laugh. “Right.”

We bundle into the car. Emilia and I sit in the back with Austin behind the wheel. He starts the engine but doesn’t pull onto the main road right away. Instead, he turns down a quieter coastal street and drives at a leisurely pace.

“Where are we going?” Emilia asks, already sinking into the seat.

“Nowhere yet,” Austin answers, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. “You need to sober up a little first. Fresh air and a slow drive should help.”

Emilia huffs but doesn’t argue. After a few minutes of silence, she leans closer to me, voice low enough that the music almost covers it.

“What was that all about earlier?”

I laugh, the sound a little too forced. “What?”

She narrows her eyes. “You know what. Back at the beach. With him.”

“Nothing,” I say. “Don’t overthink it. It was an accident.”

Emilia keeps staring at me, unconvinced. “You like him?”

“No.” I shake my head. “Don’t overthink it. Seriously.”

She holds my gaze a second longer, still suspicious, before sitting back with a shrug. Austin pretends he didn’t hear any of it, but I catch the slight tension in his shoulders.

A short while later, he turns the car toward a restaurant that overlooks the sea. Its outdoor terrace is illuminated by warm hanging lights, and the atmosphere is peaceful. As soon as we enter, I relax. It’s a welcome escape from the overwhelming noise of the celebration.

After the server takes our orders, Austin leans forward with his elbows on the table. “What’s your plan after this?”

“To enjoy the moment,” I mutter.

Those words get the reaction I want. Austin laughs, and Emilia frowns, staring between the two of us. While Austin is Zoren’s age mate, I’ve never had eyes for him.

Our table goes quiet when the waiter brings our meals. The sweet aroma of the steak drifts into my nose, and Emilia rubs her hands together before digging in.

The conversation drifts to other topics. His future plans. I have two more years until my wolf can identify my fated mate. Part of me hopes it’s Zoren. At his age, he should have felt the bond if I’m truly his. But he’s shown no signs. I don’t know what I’ll do when he finds his mate.

My phone vibrates. An unfamiliar number flashes across the screen. I frown before answering. “Hello?”

“Am I speaking with Miss Cassie Bennett?”

“Yes. This is Cassie.”

The voice on the other end is calm, but something about it makes my stomach tighten.

“I’m calling from St. Gabriel Medical Center…”

The world around me seems to disappear as he drops the bombshell. Everything becomes blurry.

“W-what?”

The call ends without giving me a chance to reply. I stare at the black screen in disbelief. Austin is already standing.

“Cassie?”

“Dad. Mom…” My voice trembles. I look at him, unable to steady my breathing. “There… there was an accident.”

Why am I still here? I should be at the center with them. I shoot to my feet, snatching his car keys from the table.

Austin catches my wrist. “I’ll drive.”

“I can—”

“No,” he cuts in. His expression has turned serious.

Emilia nods. The news seems to have wiped away all traces of her drunkenness. “Yeah, Cass. You should let him drive.”

Instead of arguing, I simply nod. Austin settles the bill, and we hurry into his car. Within moments, we are speeding through the nearly empty streets. I stare out the window, silently praying.

Please… let them be all right. Please…

When we arrive, the emergency department is brightly lit despite the late hour. Emilia is asleep in the car, so we leave her behind. As soon as I give my name at the front desk, one of the nurses escorts Austin and me down a long corridor.

The doctor waiting outside an office looks at me with eyes filled with sympathy. My heart sinks.

“Hi,” he says. “I’m Dr. Collins. We—”

“I need to see my parents,” I interrupt.

He remains silent for several seconds. Then he quietly says, “I’m very sorry, Miss Bennett.” He takes a long pause that feels like hours. “They didn’t survive the accident.”

“No.” The word escapes before I can stop it. “No…” I glare at him, refusing to believe it. “That’s impossible. I just saw them and spoke to them tonight. My father…”

The room spins, and my knees give out beneath me. Before I can collapse, Austin catches me. He doesn’t try to comfort me with empty words. He holds me against his shoulder while I stare blankly ahead, unable to process what I’ve just heard. It isn’t until the doctor softly asks if I wish to see them that the tears finally come.

I don’t remember moving, but soon, I’m in an empty room with a bed. He pulls the cover down, and my breath catches.

They look… peaceful. As if they have merely fallen asleep. Dad’s hand still rests over Mom’s. Even now, they haven’t let go of each other. He always called Mom his Silver Moon. Whenever I asked him why, he would smile like a young man in love instead of one of the world’s most powerful businessmen and werewolves.

“Because the Moon Goddess gave me the greatest gift she could ever give.”

Mom would always laugh before replying, “And your father completes me.”

Business partners. Pack leaders. Soulmates. Even death hasn’t separated them. I reach for their hands, but they are already cold. The realization shatters the last bit of hope inside me.

The doctor leaves to give me privacy, and Austin quietly excuses himself. When he returns, Emilia is with him. The moment she sees me, she runs forward and wraps me in the tightest hug she has ever given me.

“I’m so sorry, Cassie…”

Hearing those words breaks whatever strength I have left. I bury my face against her shoulder and cry until I can’t cry anymore. Austin stands by silently, his head lowered.

“We need to leave,” Austin mutters after what feels like hours.

He’s right, but I don’t know if I want to. Giving me no choice, he sweeps me into his arms and carries me to his car. We reach home shortly after midnight.

The mansion that has always been filled with laughter now feels painfully silent. Every hallway echoes. Emilia insists on staying the night with me. Austin also refuses to leave.

“You both should go home,” I say weakly. “I’ll be fine.”

Neither of them believes me.

“I’ll take the guest room,” Austin says quietly. He shouldn’t be here. “If you need anything, just call.”

I want to protest. But I don’t have the strength. For the first time in sixteen years, our home no longer feels like home.