Eden Grace
"What did you just call me?"
Eden's heart thundered so loudly, "I… I was wrong, honey." The word felt foreign on her tongue.
Something shifted in him, the darkness in his eyes softening. The sharp edge of his dominance faded and even his aura settled, the heavy pressure slowly retreating like a storm losing strength.
Yes..! I did it! Relief rushed through Eden before she could stop it.
But it lasted only a second.
Suddenly, Cassian grabbed Eden's arm and pulled her up. She gasped as her body swung up and collided with his chest.
"Cassian…!" she whispered.
They were impossibly close now. So close that their noses almost brushed. So close that their lips almost touched, almost breathing the same air.
Her heartbeat spiraled out of control.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
His handsomeness in the moonlight was unreal, almost cruel in how effortlessly it stole her breath.
In that quiet moment, he looked less like a ruthless alpha and more like a dangerous dream she was never meant to touch.
His gaze lingered on her face, slow and unreadable, making her heart skip a beat.
"Calling me honey so easily…" he murmured, "Is this you surrendering… or are you still planning to run, little mouse?"
Her breath caught. "I am not running," she whispered stubbornly.
"Good," he replied softly. "Because I love the chase… but I love catching you even more."
Her jaw tightened. This psycho had always been like this, turning everything into a game. Into a hunt. Into something he could control.
She planted her palm against his chest and pushed lightly, more in protest than strength. "Cassian, let's talk tomorrow. Let go of me now."
"No. Why would I?" he murmured, his voice low and amused. "Why would I let go of a wife this adorable who just called me honey? Come on say it again."
"You—"
"YOU CASSIAN BASTARD COME OUT NOW! I'LL KILL YOU AND TAKE BATH WITH YOUR BLOOD!"
Eden shrieked when a gunshot ripped through the night atmosphere along with a booming voice.
What was that!?
Cassian's teasing vanished instantly. He pulled her close, shielding her with his body. "Stay still," he murmured, deadly calm. "Do not move."
The entire mansion jolted awake and everyone's light snapped on. Who was screaming at the middle of the night!?
Within minutes, everyone had gathered in the main hall.
And there stood dozens of werewolves dressed in black, their faces twisted with fury, their hostile aura filling the hall. They looked ready to attack at any moment.
In the middle stood an elderly werewolf, his presence heavy with authority, and beside him a young woman, her posture proud and rigid, her eyes sharp with anger and arrogance, as if she feared nothing and no one in that room.
Alexander Blackthorn stepped forward, shock flashing across his face. "Aston…? How come you are here?"
However Elder Aston Calveris let out a furious snarl.
"You old hag," he roared, pointing at him. "How dare you betray me again! What I heard, is it true? Your grandson married someone else while being engaged to my granddaughter? Do you think the Calveris pack is a joke?"
Calveris Pack..? The name struck Eden like a sudden blow.
The Calveris Pack was no ordinary pack. They were royalties among werewolves just like Blackthorn, but their influence leaned toward darker paths, tangled with shady dealings and dangerous alliances. Everyone in the werewolf world knew their name. And everyone knew it was better not to cross them.
Eden's eyes widened as her sight landed on the young woman beside Elder Calveris. That means that's Rachel Calveris!?
Her schoolmate!
Eden almost stopped breathing as she recognized her. Rachel was a mean, shady girl everyone avoided in school, because wherever she walked disaster followed in. She was a heartless, merciless psycho who thought she was above all.
And this was the woman Cassian had been engaged to. Of all people…? Eden held her head in horror. What have I gotten myself into!? I'm going to die today! I'm going to die today!!
Grandpa Blackthorn spoke calmly, "Aston, calm yourself. Let's talk this out first, even I didn't know about this until today, I'm confused too."
Elder Calveris however let out a cold, mocking laugh. "So, you are going to act innocent again?" he sneered. "Do you really think I am that easy to fool? You are playing with fire, Alexander. You have already ruined our friendship once with your grave mistake. Do you think I will forgive you again so easily?"
"Aston please let me explain—"
"Enough! Fix this now or else I'll unleash my wrath on your entire pack!
The moment his words fell, his aura exploded outward. A crushing pressure flooded the hall, heavy, violent and suffocating.
Wolves staggered. Some gasped for breath. Others instinctively bowed their heads, unable to withstand the force of his rage.
Even though Eden was far, her chest tightened as if invisible hands were squeezing her lungs.
Around her, pack members struggled. But three figures remained unmoved.
Alexander Blackthorn stood tall, unshaken.
Beside him, Cassian's uncle remained steady, his expression cold.
Before the pressure could crush the rest of the weak members, another force rose to meet it. Cassian's eyes darkened, his wolf surging to the surface.
He snarled, "Enough!! Elder Ashton, you're showing your disrespectful behavior! How dare you assert dominance on my pack!?"
Without a word, his aura surged outward, sharp and commanding, filling the hall like an invisible storm. It was wild, dominant, and unapologetically powerful.
His dominance collided with Aston's.
The suffocating weight shifted. The pressure that had been crushing the Blackthorn pack was suddenly pushed back. Hard.
Wolves from the Calveris side staggered instead, their faces paling as they struggled to breathe.
Only Elder Aston remained standing, his feet planted firmly, his eyes blazing with shock and fury.
The balance of power had changed. And everyone in the hall felt it. Even though Cassian was young Alpha, his power was undeniably strong.
"You brat!! You dare retaliate!" Elder Calveris fumed in anger. "How dare you act so cocky after doing wrong!"
Cassian's gaze remained steady, cold and sharp. "Elder Calveris, if you have complaints about me, please target me solely but attacking my pack members is something I will never allow."
Elder Calveris's face darkened further, fury coiling around him like a living thing. He took a step forward, ready to strike again.
"Ashton, please," Grandpa Blackthorn intervened calmly, "Don't make rash actions. Let's have a talk."
"What's there to talk about? If you want the alliance to survive, tell him to divorce her! I don't know what you will do, fix this. Otherwise I will kill her myself!"
Cassian's jaw tightened, "I will not let anyone touch my wife, even if it costs me my life, I will protect her. Also I will not divorce her."
Eden felt her chest tighten, a strange warmth flooding through her. She hadn't expected this kind of devotion, especially from Cassian.
"Why you—"
"Enough! Cassian! Step back this instant!" Grandpa Blackthorn commanded, his voice firm, cutting through the tension. Cassian had no choice but to step back.
He then turned toward Ashton Calveris, "Ashton, please go back. I assure you I will fix this. This is not the right time, please understand."
Aston scoffed, "Fix? You haven't fixed the old mistake itself, you dare ask me again? I trusted you and backstabbed me again. Is this how our friendship is?"
Pain flickered across Alexander Blackthorn's eyes, brief but deep.
"Ashton…"
"Fine, I'm going for now." Aston Calveris spat, his eyes blazing with fury. "If you don't fix this as early as possible, be prepared to face the worst. I'll give you a week. Do something or else I'll hunt her down and kill her myself and the rest of your pack members. Even your grandson wouldn't be able to stop it."
With that, the Calveris Pack turned and left, their presence vanishing like a storm retreating.
Grandpa Blackthorn staggered slightly, making everyone startle.
"Grandpa…!"
"Cassian! Are you happy now? The Calveris Pack is after our blood now!" Aunt Linda blasted.