Chapter 25 Bloom

Cassian lifted me off his shoulder and set me down on the large leather couch in the center of the VIP room. The movement was firm, but careful enough that it didn't hurt.

I immediately straightened my clothes before springing to my feet.

Every ounce of frustration I'd been swallowing exploded to the surface.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I shouted, jabbing a finger hard against his chest. "Who gave you the right to throw me over your shoulder in front of everyone, especially your girlfriend, and drag me in here? Those arrogant comments. The way you keep touching me..." I glared up at him, fury burning through me. "Get a grip, Cassian. You're nothing to me."

Despite my anger crashing into him like a wave, he didn't take a single step back.

Instead, his chest expanded beneath my finger. The full weight of his Alpha aura rolled through the room, hot, commanding, impossible to ignore.

Ever since Fiona had kissed him in the parking lot...

Ever since I'd started pretending he didn't exist in the school hallways...

And after seeing another man's hand on my waist tonight...

Every one of those moments had pushed something inside Cassian or rather, Axel to the breaking point. His eyes darkened until they were completely black. Then he took one long step forward. My back hit the wall.

His massive frame boxed me in completely. There was nowhere left to run. Blueberries and juniper filled every breath I took, the scent blending with the dim lighting until it felt impossible to think.

"You're driving me insane, Bloom," he hissed.

His voice was rough enough to vibrate through my bones.

"The second I saw that guy touching you just to get under my skin..." His jaw flexed violently. "I had to fight Axel not to tear everyone in this place apart."

His eyes locked onto mine.

"So don't stand here pretending you get to question me."

"It doesn't concern you!" I shot back, refusing to shrink beneath his presence.

"I'll dance with whoever I want."

My chin lifted defiantly.

"I'll touch whoever I want. Kiss whoever I want. Sleep with whoever I want." I could feel my breath hitting his chest.

"You don't get to corner me over any of that when you already have a girlfriend, Cassian."

My eyes turned cold.

"So why don't you go back to Fiona...

"...and pay attention to the person you supposedly care about."

His teeth clenched so hard I could actually hear it. The sharp line of his jaw stood out beneath the low lighting. He leaned even closer. Our lips were barely inches apart.

"Fiona is nothing but a shield."

Every word was whispered slowly, deliberately, as though he wanted to carve it directly into my mind.

"A necessity I have to tolerate to protect my sanity... my pack..."

His voice faltered for the briefest second.

"...and maybe..."

His eyes searched mine.

"...maybe you."

He swallowed.

"But the person who's been driving me out of my damn mind..."

His gaze burned into me.

"The one who keeps invading my dreams every night."

His voice dropped even lower.

"The one whose scent leaves me completely insane..."

"...is you."

Silence crashed over the room. The air itself seemed to freeze.

Our faces were so close that every uneven breath tangled together. My chest was pressed against his solid body. Every inch of us touched. Somewhere inside me, every wall I'd spent days building began to crumble beneath the unbearable closeness.

My heart pounded so violently it felt ready to burst through my ribs.

"How am I supposed to know that?"

My voice came out quieter than I intended.

"You're so inconsistent."

My eyes flickered down to his lips before climbing back to his.

"One minute you're flirting with me..."

"The next you disappear."

My chest tightened.

"Then the next day..."

"You kiss Fiona."

The words barely escaped my lips. I closed my eyes for the briefest moment.

"I'm tired, Cass..."

For a heartbeat... I almost gave in. Then his eyes lifted from my lips back to mine. The darkness inside them deepened.

"You challenge me too much, Bloom."

His voice sounded like both a promise and a warning.

"If you were mine..."

His gaze never wavered.

"...you wouldn't even want to know the things I'd do to put you back in line."

One corner of his mouth lifted. "Or maybe you would."

His voice became dangerously soft. "I haven't figured out your tastes yet."

The words hit me like lightning. If you were mine.

Reality came crashing back all at once.

Fiona.

She was still outside. Everyone believed she was his girlfriend. She held onto his arm in public. She claimed him without hesitation. Meanwhile...

He hid behind her like a shield. Then came into private rooms and said these things to me. The warmth inside me vanished instantly. An icy numbness spread through my chest. The softness in my eyes disappeared, replaced by something distant. Something guarded.

I planted both hands firmly against his chest and shoved him away.

"Then it's a good thing that I'm not yours."

My voice was ice. Steady. Controlled.

"You already belong to someone."

I took one step back.

"And she's probably waiting for you outside."

Another step.

"So go."

I met his eyes one last time.

"Go take care of your shield, Alpha."

Before he could answer, I slipped past him, opened the door, and walked out without looking back.

My heart refused to slow down. But pride kept my feet moving. I disappeared into the crowd, weaving through flashing lights and dancing strangers until I finally spotted Ivy near the bar.

She was scanning the room anxiously. The second I reached her, I grabbed her arm.

"We're leaving," I said.

"Right now."

One look at my face...

One faint trace of blueberries lingering in the air from the direction of the VIP rooms...

...and Ivy pieced everything together.

She didn't ask a single question. She simply nodded. Together we left the deafening music behind and stepped into the cool night air.

The drive back to the pack house was quiet. Until Ivy finally broke the silence. She glanced at me through the rearview mirror as she turned the steering wheel.

"What happened in there, Bloom?"

Her voice was gentle.

"Are you okay?"

I watched the streetlights race past outside my window before letting out a long breath.

"I'm exhausted, Ivy."

The words came out as little more than a whisper. Around her... The walls I'd built always seemed to weaken.

"I've really given up."

I rested my head against the window.

"I've drawn my boundaries."

"I stay away from him."

"I do everything I can."

"But Cassian..."

A bitter laugh escaped me.

"He won't let me go."

"He's always there."

"Always finding me."

"Always invading my space."

When we stopped at a red light, Ivy shifted the car into park for a moment and reached over, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"I care about Cass."

Her honesty never wavered.

"We grew up together."

"He's my future Alpha."

Then she smiled softly.

"But you're my best friend, Bloom."

Her amber eyes met mine.

"So my loyalty is with you."

"No matter what you need..."

"No matter when..."

"I'm here."

A mischievous grin spread across her face before she winked.

"And if it comes down to it..."

"We'll kick our Alpha's ass together."

She laughed.

"No one gets to corner you in this house."

For the first time in days...

A genuine smile found its way onto my face.

"I know."

And I meant it.

***

By the time we parked inside the pack grounds, the night had grown quiet. We slipped into the house without waking anyone. Outside our bedrooms, Ivy turned toward me and wrapped her arms tightly around my neck.

Everything I'd been holding together nearly cracked again. "It's going to be okay," she whispered into my ear. "I promise."

When she pulled away, I gave her a grateful smile. We wished each other goodnight in hushed voices before disappearing into our rooms. After closing my bedroom door, I leaned back against the wood and closed my eyes.

Cassian's dangerous words still echoed inside my head. But tonight... More than anything else... I realized that in this unfamiliar house Ivy had become my safest place.