MasukCassandraNeil. I had almost completely forgotten about him. That one stupid kiss was all it took to make me doubt everything. Well, not exactly everything. I loved Connor. Simple. Wasn’t it? But Neil had been there when I needed Connor. And where was my mate now? Trying his best to avoid me.Neil answered on the second ring.“Mel?” his deep voice droned in my ear, and it shouldn’t sound so good.‘You shouldn’t talk to him!’ Sage bared her teeth at me. I ignored her. It’s not like I’m cheating on Connor.I took a deep breath before I answered. “No, it’s me. Cassie.” Why was my heart beating so fast suddenly?Stunned silence on the other end for a few tense heartbeats.“Hey,” he said at last. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you.” His breath hitched over the phone. “Did you… did you block my number?” he asked, and the slight hurt in his voice made me feel guilty despite myself.Sage grumbled disapprovingly, ‘It was the right thing to do. He’s not our mate.’I felt Mel’s eyes boring i
ConnorThe city seemed louder, busier, and the smells overwhelming. I went to my office where there was less noise, less temptation.Shelly Rohas was back from maternity leave and back in her post as manager. She was one of my most capable employees and pack members. I was relieved to have her back. My business was running smoothly in her capable hands. We spent some time going over financials and orders before I left to inspect a few sites.Once again, my pack members didn’t disappoint me. They took pride in their work, and it showed. I would like to think my father would have been proud of how committed they were.After the explosion that nearly cost us everything, including injuring my father almost fatally, I had wanted to close the renovation business and venture into another field. But my pack helped rebuild Wolffe Renovations, and it would have been unfair to take it away from them. Satisfied that there were no problems to deal with, I could concentrate on my current dilemma.I
CassandraIt felt like the worst hangover. Throbbing head, dry mouth, nausea. I couldn’t lift my head off the pillow. But it was worth a try. He said something stopped him from draining me. I bet my life it was Miles. If only Connor would just give it another go. Miles was in there, hiding or recovering.‘That was dangerous, what you did, Cassie,’ Sage sounded pissed off. ‘Connor is right. You should be more careful. Don’t you care about our pup?’“Don’t fucking preach to me right now, Sage. I feel like shit.” My head throbbed, and Connor’s teeth left marks on my shoulder that still burned. “I know you’re worried, but I can’t deal with this right now.”‘Yeah, we both do. I should have stopped you.’“I needed him, Sage.” Tears pricked my eyes. I cry so easily these days. Of course I wouldn’t want to hurt my child, and I felt some guilt. But this was Connor, the man I loved more than life. “And he needs us.”Sage retreated to the dark places in my mind and shut me out, but she couldn’t
Reject her? It would be for the best, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it, knowing the pain it would cause both of us. I couldn’t put our pup at risk.“I can’t do that, Cassie,” I said, softening my tone. “But the longer I stay, the more difficult it would become for me to control this thirst for blood. What if I hurt Aiden or another pack member?”“You said something stopped you,” she continued as if she hadn’t heard me. “Maybe you should bite me again.”“Cassie, stop.” I gripped her arms and shook her once. “Listen to yourself! Do you have a death wish?” I wished I could shake the recklessness out of this stubborn woman. I was no longer the wolf she knew but something else, something much darker, and yet she couldn’t see it. She was in denial. I wished I could share in her optimism that somehow Miles had survived the transformation, but I didn’t.“No, I mean… think about it. It could be your wolf, Connor. He won’t let you hurt me,” she said as if it were obvious. Her face brightene
ConnorCassandra lay spread out before me like an offering, glistening with her juices soaking her thighs. Her taste bubbled on my tongue like the sweetest champagne. But what was even sweeter was the taste of her blood. I craved more. The pulse quickening in her neck beckoned me to take it. Just one bite. I could almost taste it.“C-Connor?” The fear in her voice drove me over the edge.I grabbed her hips and pulled her to me, plunging into her slick entrance without warning. Warm, wet heat enveloped my dick. Her gasps were music to my ears. Fear and excitement formed a potent mixture with her scent, and I breathed it greedily.“Sacred now? You wanted this,” I growled at the base of her throat, letting my fangs graze the velvet skin. Her pulse fluttered there, a frightened bird struggling to escape.“No… God, yes, I need you,” she moaned, her back arching to meet my violent thrusts.I lifted her knees onto my shoulders, opening her up more, pushing in deeper. The sound of our skin sl
CassandraSomewhere inside this creature was the man I loved. I knew he would never hurt me. He just had to trust himself and our bond, like I trusted it. I had to. There was no other way. I wasn’t losing him. We’d been through too much to let anything come between us. I remembered how he saved me from Frank’s men, how desperately he fought the shifters. Everything he did was for me, for us. It was my turn to fight for us now.“No, I’m not going. You need me.” I gave him my wrist, seeing the hunger in his glowing eyes. “Take it. I trust you not to hurt me.” God help me, I was risking my life, but he was worth it.“You don’t know what you’re saying.” He swallowed audibly, his voice rough. His skin appeared unusually pale, with prominent dark veins. “I can’t control it!”Hands clawed at the sheets, muscles in his biceps strained as if he would bolt any moment. He looked like a cornered animal, eyes flitting towards the bedroom door only to return to me.“I believe you can.” I said, forc
ConnorEverything will be fine. That’s what I told Cassie. In fact, nothing was fine. My father was dying. The feds were still snooping around because of the video footage from Rossi’s compound. I didn’t tell Cassie about it because she would worry too much, and I wanted her to focus on her exams.
ConnorI watched the early morning sun turn her hair to flame as it caught the light. We fell asleep on the rug in front of the fireplace. The fire had long gone out, but she was warm, snuggled in my arms. She was so perfect. How did I get so lucky? My passionate, feisty mate. When I looked at he
He was the president of the freaking student council. But that still didn’t give him the right to put his lips on me. In his office, I had to divulge my entire life story to him and his three buddies. Well, I only told him the parts that mattered.“It boggles the mind,” he remarked, looking at me l
CassandraThe first two weeks had been agony. It was like high school all over again, only with teeth and fur. There were the cool kids, the jocks, the nerds, the mean girls (of course) and the geeks. Yep, even though they were mostly alphas, which made it so, so much worse.“Oh my gosh, Melissa, I







