CASSANDRAWas there such a thing as destiny? I’ve often wondered about it. Were our lives really planned out from birth to our imminent death, or was it just purely coincidence and our own actions that determined our fate?Decide for yourself. I still can’t.But what happened three days ago was the turning point that changed my life, not just mine, but all of ours, even the people that I didn’t even know existed. All our lives changed as the result of one minor act of defiance. Well, alright, it wasn’t all that minor.*****“Hurry, Cassie! Before he wakes up.” The frantic woman screaming at me was my mother, Agnes Morelli, née Browne. She hurried from the kitchen, her heels rapping a tattoo over the tile floor. Two black bags in hand, she rushed upstairs, while I marveled at the blood pooling at my feet.I stared down at the inert body of my stepfather with mixed emotions. “Are you sure he’s not dead?” Would it be a loss for humanity if he were? Certainly not.The brass naked woman I
“Are we there yet?” I asked with a yawn. It felt like we’d been driving for days, only stopping to grab something to snack on and freshen up in the public restrooms.“If you ask me that one more time, Cassandra…” Agnes snarled at me.“Mom, seriously! You need to sleep. In an actual bed.” I threw my hands up in exasperation. She refused to stay over at a motel, pulling over at truck stops to rest for the night, fearing that Frank would find us. There was no way Frank would find us in the City of Los Angeles. We’re driving through the buzzing streets, weaving through traffic as if we were being hounded.Agness glared at me through red-rimmed eyes. “I’ll sleep when we’re safe.”“At least let me take over. Just tell me where we’re supposed to go.” For the love of Mike, let's go somewhere civilized. It seemed like she was determined to drive us to the end of the world.“Fine!” she huffed and pulled the car over to the curb. “When you get to Santa Barbara, wake me up.”“What or who the hell
“You’d better come inside,” Red Beard said, moving aside to let us through and closed the door firmly behind us.Inside, it was warm and cozy. Unexpectedly so. Colorful rugs covered the floor, matching the plump cushions on the wicker chairs and couches. It was so different from Frank’s ivory palace, which was cold and gleaming, all white and cream. I didn’t like the way the giant man glared daggers at Agnes. He didn’t invite us to sit. His expression was hard to read. I wondered if he was angry or upset or surprised, or maybe all of it. My mother had terrible taste in men - that we’ve established. But if this was one of her exes, we needed to have a serious talk.“Joel…” Agnes began, but stopped short when Red Beard interrupted her.“Whatever it is, Agnes, I don’t want to hear it.” His huge hands opened and closed at his sides; head lowered. He reminded me of a bear right before the attack. But the next thing he said, “You hurt me.” The accusation in his voice made me study him, no
CONNORI was out on a run, the cool evening breeze brushing over us as I let my wolf run free. We needed the release, the escape from the pressures of the day, when the alert from the gate came through about two women asking to see Beta Joel. It piqued my curiosity instantly, because Joel hardly had any visitors, let alone women. But as I approached, I picked up the irresistible scent and Miles went ballistic in my head.I was about to peek through the window when Cassandra opened the door, saw me in wolf form, and screamed. I just had to see her. The pull was instantaneous. Only, she didn’t feel the same, or she was holding back. I sensed her wolf, but it was clear she hadn’t shifted yet.Her mother was human, and I noticed some tension between Joel and her. Could she be his mate? A human woman? I made a mental note to ask him about it in the morning. It was unusual for us werewolves to mate with humans, but it wasn’t unheard of.But there were some serious downsides. We had to stay
CASSANDRAAfter what happened last night, I’m not sure that I’m sane. Maybe I’ve had some mental break after I hit Frank. It’s quite possible. I’ve read about such things. Temporary insanity. In reality, I might be strapped to a bed in some psych ward, and this was all some hallucination. Because I cannot be a werewolf. It’s ludicrous. Werewolves are fiction. What was this? Was I trapped in the Twilight Saga?But what about the voices in my head? I heard the hot guy’s voice as plain as day in my head. Nope, definitely something horribly wrong with me. Unless…Now we’re on our way to the head honcho of this place-pack, whatever. The Alpha. I snickered to myself. I should just go with this insanity and see where it leads. So long as they don’t cut me into little pieces and offer me to the moon goddess or some shit. Yeah, moon goddess. Red Beard or Joel, my supposed father, tried to explain things to me. My head was still reeling. Didn’t understand a word. I’m not speaking to Agnes. Peri
CONNOR"I apologize for Cassie's rude behavior, Connor," Agnes started off as soon as we stepped into my sun-filled office. Agnes touched her forehead slightly, revealing that Cassandra’s behavior had embarrassed her."She's certainly feisty," I said, directing them to be seated on the plush leather chairs. "I understand she doesn't know how to behave in a pack dynamic. You've been living in the city?" It would certainly be a challenge to train Cassandra in all things pack related. Something I looked forward to immensely.Agnes was a beautiful woman, the resemblance to Cassandra obvious. But Cassandra had inherited her father's temperament, unmistakably Joel's daughter. Agnes’ big brown eyes held many secrets, and as she sat with her arms folded across her chest, it was clear she wasn't about to give them up easily. A tight smile forced its way onto her lips.“Yes,” she said. “Cassandra grew up in Miami.”Joel glanced at Agnes from time to time, the tension radiating off him in palpab
CASSANDRAWith the alpha guy yakking to Agnes and Joel, I browsed the books to keep myself busy. I saw some of my favorite authors there, much to my pleasant surprise. Seems like we had something in common. I loved reading. Yeah, I was a nerd. But no one had to know, right? A werewolf nerd. I couldn’t help the insane laughter bubbling up in my throat.“What’s so funny?” a deep, sexy voice asked right behind me.I wheeled around right into the circle of hard, muscled arms. Holy shit! Why was he so close?“Are you creeping up on me, Connor?” I let mild irritation sharpen my tone. I felt flustered, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how flustered he made me feel. Like panty-damping flustered.The damn man smiled, and two dimples appeared on both cheeks. Of course, there would be dimples! As if he wasn’t sexy enough, damn him. And that made him dangerous in my book.“No, I wouldn’t do such a thing. I see you’re admiring my book collection. You like to read?” He wasn’t let
AGNESJoel and I walked to his house in uncomfortable silence. Passersby glanced at us with open curiosity. A human woman at Wolf Creek, unbelievable! I could almost hear their thoughts.It’s not that I expected Joel to welcome me back with open arms, but this—this coldness—it really stung. He had changed from the passionate man who declared his love for me in a whirlwind romance had become this hardened, closed off man. He could hardly look at me and when he did, I couldn’t bear to see the swirling hurt and distrust in his eyes. I did this. I made him this way.I wanted so desperately to fix it. For all our sakes.He held the door open for me, but didn't step inside himself. I called out his name, my voice trembling with hope and uncertainty. "Joel...""I have work to do," he replied, his voice devoid of warmth. He turned to leave, but I couldn't let him go so easily. I reached out and grabbed his arm, pleading with him. "Please, can we talk about it?" There was so much I needed him
ConnorDisgusted with the blood coating my body, I watched the warm water flush it down the drain. The small comfort I felt as the water massaged my tense muscles was short-lived. Knowing that the rogue attack was just the beginning, there was no time to revel in minor pleasures like taking a shower, eating, or even sleeping. My body craved sleep almost as much as it craved Cassie. Her scent still lingered in my room and my overtired mind felt her presence as if she was right there with me in the shower and my cock ached with need.I pushed the desire back, got out, dried off, and dressed comfortably in shorts and a tank top. My pack warriors waited for me to speak to them. They needed to know what we were up against. I was positive Lyon would attack soon, now that his mercenaries had paved the way. We suffered some significant losses, and it was unfortunate. But my pack had powerful fighters that will defend their territory to the death. He won’t win. Not for as long as I was breathi
JoelLater that afternoon, I went to the basement where we held Frank. Troy had the space dived into four small holding cells on the rare occasion we needed to hold someone. Mostly, there were no survivors left to be imprisoned. It was dark down there, just the way I liked it. As I walked down the steps, his fear filled my nostrils, and I drank it in with pleasure. I wanted more than just his fear. Connor forbade me from killing Frank. I didn’t object. Killing him would be too easy. After what he did to Agnes, he needed to suffer. She didn’t have to tell me what he did. What he left on her body told me everything she didn’t want to say.He whimpered when he saw me standing in front of the bars, pushing himself further into the corner. I didn’t say a word. Watching him being terrified, sitting in his own filth, gave me some measure of satisfaction.“What do you want?” His voice shook. “W-who are you?” He narrowed his eyes, peering into the darkness.“You’re him, aren’t you? Cassandra’s
Connor“Maybe Lyon fled the state,” Joel offered his opinion. “He probably heard you escaped and knowing we would come after him, he fled.”I didn’t think so. “There’s no way news of Rossi’s death reached him this fast, Joel. No, he’s waiting until we drop our defenses and then strike.”Eric, Joel and I were in my office discussing further strategies. So far, nothing has happened. We haven’t been attacked, but I still felt uneasy. I didn’t want the females and elderly out of the bunker before I was sure there was no danger. I’ve sent out my best trackers to search for the shifter and his pack. Did he even have a pack? I didn’t have enough information on them and that was biting me in the ass. If my father were here, he would be disappointed. Know your enemy. That was the first rule of war.This was all my fault. I had allowed the mate bond to distract me, among other things. My pride got in the way. I might as well be honest with myself. I wanted to prove I didn’t need outside help t
CassandraI must have been in shock, or maybe I still was. Connor's act of ripping that awful man's dick off as if it were nothing forever seared itself into my brain. The look on Connor’s face – it was like looking at a different person. Not a person, a demon.‘He deserved it,’ Sage reminded me, her voice harsh.I sat quietly next to Connor at the back of the SUV, letting him hold me, my mind numb.It wasn't until we were driving away, watching that place burn, that Frank even crossed my mind. Where was Agnes?I clutched Connor’s arm in a panic. “Connor! My mother! Where is she? Where’s Frank? We must find them. They…” My chest felt tight, couldn’t get enough oxygen in my lungs. I gasped, my vision blurring.Connor pulled me onto his lap, pressing my head against his shoulder. “Cassie, breathe. Your mother is safe. She’s safe.” He kept repeating those words until it got through to my brain. “She’s with Joel.”“What about Frank? Is he dead?” I hoped not, because I wanted to be the one
ConnorTwo men with their firearms drawn came running around the corner of the old warehouse when they heard the SUV pull in. Simultaneously, Cassie’s petrified screams pierced the stillness of the morning, and my soul almost left my body.Miles took control, fueled by Cassie’s urgent cries, ignoring the shouts and chaos around us as I let my warriors handle the men. Nothing could keep us from our mate. No doors, no men with guns. Miles burst through the steel doors as if they didn’t exist.Our eyes took in everything at once. Cassie lay on top of a crate, her yellow dress torn, wrist and ankles bound. Helpless and naked. The sight was like a knife twisting in my gut. There was a man behind her, pants down at his feet, his erect cock in hand.“What the fuck…” He stared at Miles with open-mouthed disbelief.Miles lowered his head, red eyes fixed on the man. The rumbling growl started deep down in his belly and grew in intensity as he padded towards him.‘I will rip that thing off.’ Mil
CassandraAll this time I held onto the hope that maybe Sage was right, Connor would come to save us. But now even that slight hope was fading, and I feel fear tightening its steely fingers around my mind. Sage stayed quiet as well, and her silence scared me even more.I didn’t trust Frank. When he took Agnes, I knew that glint in his eyes. He was going to hurt her. I just knew. And she was terrified. I smelled it, and it was nauseating. What if he killed her? I got increasingly scared as time went on.No, no, he wouldn’t. I tried to convince myself that Frank was much too much of a narcissist. He valued his own life more than anything, and he needed to bring that money back to his criminal boss. Our only hope was that the pack would come to save us. Yes, yes, I held onto that sliver of hope. It was only a matter of time. Right?Alone with four horrible men that discussed me like I was their next meal, I sat huddled in a corner, my hands and feet bound with steel wire they found lying
ConnorEver since we left Lyon’s place, Joel acted differently. He insisted on driving, but his hands trembled on the steering, his face set in stone, keeping his gaze fixed on the road. He didn’t answer me when I asked him what the matter was, but it seemed as if he were in pain.The gate swung open as we approached, and the guard at the gate acknowledged us briefly. “Ms. Agnes and some strangers are at your house, Beta Joel. I’ve alerted the gamma.”He had hardly finished talking when the SUV sped off, spraying dust and gravel all over. Neither of us spoke. The boy didn’t mention Cassie, and I was going out of my mind. So, this was why Joel said the pack needed us. But it wasn’t the pack. It was Agnes.There was a large man standing next to the parked car on the front lawn. When he saw us, he made a beeline for the house, but Joel was out of the SUV before you could blink.Joel grabbed the man and smashed him with overpowering force onto the car’s roof. Bones cracked along with the
Agnes“Make yourself decent,” Frank said with contempt in his voice as he pulled his pants up. “Get in the car. How far is this place, anyway?” He was impatient, as if it were my fault we wasted time.Slowly, I slid down from the hood of the car and pulled my skirt down, fixing what I could of my blouse. What was left of my panties lay in the dirt, trampled, like Frank had trampled all over me my whole fucking life and I had let him. I let him do this to me, and that was the ugly truth.Strange, but while he was busy raping me, I felt a strange calm come over me. it was like an outer-body experience, watching from outside myself while he rammed his dick into me. It happened while I thought of Joel. Joel, the only man I’ve ever loved. And I knew that this was the last time Frank would ever do this to me again, because I was done being his punching bag.“It’s not that far anymore.” I said with a voice I didn’t recognize. “Just follow that road until you come to an iron gate.” I pointed
“Joel?” I shouted through the mind link. “What the hell are you doing here?” He was so going to pay for not following my orders. I felt sick to my stomach, thinking Cassie was still in Lyon’s clutches.“No time to explain,” he growled. “I brought back-up.”Rossi tried to crawl away while I was busy arguing with Joel through our link, but I caught him and pinned him down. Miles let out a fierce roar that shook the building, and the sour stench of urine reached my nostrils. The man had pissed himself from fear.‘Let’s get this over with,’ Miles snarled. ‘We must find Cassie.’ He hovered over the sniveling man, ready to rip through his throat. But I stopped him. Rossi didn’t deserve a quick death.Seconds later, Joel and other unknown wolves burst through the double doors. The sounds of gunshots and anguished screams followed them.I glared at Joel, who bared his neck for me. “No use acting all submissive while you disobeyed my order, Beta.” He wasn't off the hook, and he needed to know