Eden Grace
'Finally…I caught you, my little mate.' Rael's low, guttural growl rolled through the room, vibrating in her chest, 'How dare you run from me!'
He lunged forward, his muzzle brushing against her neck, his hot breath and the slick, possessive press of his tongue on her neck making her shiver with fear.
Eden froze, knowing even a single misstep could reveal her secret.
'Wait…' Rael's eyes narrowed, scanning her, sniffing, pressing against her for the bond that should have screamed inside her.
His nose twitched, fur bristling. 'What is happening!? Why can't I feel it?'
Rael's silver eyes blazed as he circled her, the heat of his presence pressing down on Eden like a storm about to break.
'Where…where is Ishira?! Why can't I feel our bond! Why I can't feel her scent'
Eden swallowed hard. Good, the potion she had hurriedly drunk was already masking Ishira's presence. The potion is working!
Relief mingled with terror, making her heart pounding in her chest. She looked at him boldly "I told you…you were hallucinating because of poison. You can't feel anything because there's nothing inside me. There's nothing called Ishira. I was born wolfless."
'Lies..!' Rael's growl deepened, more feral, more dangerous. 'Do not lie to me, little mate! Do you think bond is something that vanishes easily? The mate cannot simply disappear. I know she's here but can't smell her…! What did you do?!'
Eden's lips pressed together, fingers trembling slightly, but her eyes were steady. She knew the bond cannot just disappear, but she can mask it temporarily.
Her secret was safe…for now. She had fooled him by hiding Ishira, and the scent too. But she knew, deep down, that the storm was far from over.
She breathed steadily, "I don't know what you're talking about, Alpha. I have nothing to do with you or Cassian. Also I'm not your mate, you were affected badly because of the wolfbane poison so that is why you were hallucinating."
The wolf snarled, jaws snapping shut, teeth gleaming, the sound echoing like rolling thunder. 'You… How dare you try to deny the bond! You think some damn poison clouded my divine instinct? Do you think I am a fool, little mate? I will shred every piece of defiance in you.'
"Enough, Rael!"
Cassian's command cut through the storm like a scalpel. Rael stiffened, ears flicking, eyes narrowing, but the fire in him still burned, tempered now by Cassian's control.
"Step back. You are hurting her."
Rael froze for a heartbeat, ears twitching, tail lashing with agitation. 'Cassian! Can't you see she's lying!? I can't be wrong, she is our mate! Can you not feel it!?'
Mate..?
Cassian's gaze swept over Eden. Her face was ghastly pale but steady, lips pressed together. She looked so small and weak as if she would die any second if Rael pressed on her. Cassian couldn't stop staring at her as old memories hit back again.
Eden was still the same fragile girl he had known in high school. His once little pet. She was still weak, trembling, her small physique similar to like that of a human.
Was she truly his mate? If so, why could he not feel it? He knew from the very beginning that Eden was a werewolf who had no wolf. Now how come a wolfless like her be his Luna? Could it be true that they hallucinated because of the poison? Because that deadly poison Noxilla V had that capability.
Yet Rael…he was no ordinary wolf. He was born of the legendary Blackthorn ancestral dynasty, a creature of immense power and instinct honed over generations.
Only the Alpha of the pack could inherit such a wolf, and the moment someone bore Rael, the world automatically knew they were the next heir of Blackthorn pack.
Cassian's chest tightened with the tension of opposing truths. Torn between instinct and reality, he remained silent for a heartbeat, watching his wolf's restless movements.
Rael growled low, pacing, every muscle coiled like a spring. He would not relent.
'She is hiding herself from me. She cannot deny what is ours. Cassian, do not let her fool you! She cannot escape the bond!'
"I'm not fooling anyone. It is you who are fooling yourselves." Eden's voice cut through, her voice steady though her heart raced.
'Why you….' Rael's silver eyes blazed, teeth bared.
"Enough. Everyone out, now. I need space." Cassian's voice cut through, sharp and cold.
Eden's skin chilled, a shiver crawling down her spine at the authority in his tone. What?
The werewolves immediately acted out and moved swiftly, grabbing Bella and dragging her out who was already in shock that Eden had a mate, that also none other than Cassian Blackthorn himself!
Even though she wanted to fight, she clearly knew she can't overpower the deranged Blackthorn clan. Soon everyone left.
And the sudden emptiness pressed down on Eden like a tangible weight, the air itself seeming to thrum with Cassian's presence.
The massive wolf that had pinned her moments ago was gone. In its place stood a figure, impossibly tall, impossibly human. Cassian Blackthorn. Completely naked.
The sight stole the air from her lungs. Every muscle, every line of his body glistened in the dim light. Powerful, dangerous, and intimate in a way that made her stomach twist.
Eden immediately closed her eyes, going completely red. Wait…why isn't he wearing that advanced technology shapeshifting compatible fabrics? This pervert bastard! Does he think they are still living in ancient times? He's absolutely shameless…!
Cassian's low, amused chuckle cut through the silence as if he knew what she was thinking. "Oops, I was in such a hurry to find my mate that I forgot to wear it. Sorry."
This man….! He was deliberately teasing her! This absolute shameless, perverted bastard. Eden's hands tightened over her face, wishing she could disappear.
She could feel him everywhere, his Alpha energy curling around her like smoke, invisible yet impossible to ignore.
Eden could feel the pull of the mate bond she was hiding, the silent thread linking them, even though she had masked Ishira completely.
No, no she can't break now. She can't give up Ishira to the guy who was her school bully!
Eden could already feel her body warm up, every instinct, every breath, reminding her that he was her mate. Even masked, even denied, she could not outrun him or his presence.
She could already feel Cassian's deranged eyes on her, scanning her, feeling her.
"My dear little pet…..after all these years, I wondered if I'd even recognize you. But you haven't changed at all. Still so small and fragile as ever."
Eden's breath hitched.
There was the faintest edge of amusement in his voice like he was remarking on a delicate, fragile thing that could break at any moment.
Cassian stepped closer, so close that Eden could feel his heat and the weight of his presence pressing down on her, "Is it true what Rael said? You are my mate?"
He tilted his head, studying her like prey, his eyes glued on her as if he was memorizing every tremble of hers. "And yeah don't lie to me. Or I will make sure you remember everything….every moment from our past. You remember it, don't you, little pet?"
Memories surged unbidden, crashing into her chest like a tide she could not hold back. The cruel things he had done, the things that had left her humiliated, the moments she had sworn she would never forget.
Even if he recognized her, she barely recognized him. The boy who had haunted her school days had grown into a man now, tall, broad, inhumanely strong, radiating danger and power.
The air felt charged, vibrating with the unspoken claim of centuries-old bloodlines and the fierce, relentless will of the Blackthorn heir.
Eden shivered, her body going more warm, reacting to him. She could feel Ishira has begun to react. No, no, she can't! Not now!
Cassian hovered over her like a grim reaper, "So tell me Eden, are you really my mate?"