登入Cassie's Pov I felt the change in the air the moment our convoy crossed the final ridge into the distant territory. The road narrowed. The trees stood closer. Luka drove. Asher rode in the front passenger seat. Caspian sat beside me in the back, eyes on the tree line. No one spoke until the first checkpoint appeared.The guard stepped into the road and raised a hand. Luka slowed but did not stop completely until the man was close enough to hear.“State your purpose,” the guard said.“We’re here at the invitation of your council,” I answered. “Cassie of Northbridge. Lunar Queen. These are my mates—Luka, Asher, Caspian. We’re expected.”The guard’s gaze flicked over the four of us. “The council does not recognize outside triads. You’ll wait here.”Asher’s voice stayed level. “We didn’t travel this far to wait on the side of a road. Inform them we’ve arrived.”The guard hesitated, then spoke into a handset. Minutes passed. Finally he stepped aside. “Proceed to the central hall. Do not d
Cassie's Pov I took my seat at the head of the long table in the neutral conference hall that sat exactly on the old border line. Luka stood at my right shoulder, Asher at my left, Caspian slightly behind. Across from us sat the three representatives of the neighboring pack's Elder Voss of the River Clan, Commander Rylan of the Stone Ridge pack, and Lady Mireille of the Eastern Reach. Their aides lined the walls. Mine did the same. Elder Voss spoke first. “We acknowledge the expansion of Northbridge into the contested corridor. We do not yet acknowledge your right to dictate terms inside it.” “I’m not dictating,” I said. “I’m offering a structure that keeps your borders intact while allowing legitimate commerce to move. The corridor has been a dead zone for twelve years because no one could agree on who controlled the risk. I’m here to end that.” Commander Rylan leaned forward. “You arrive with corporate title and Lunar Queen status in the same breath. Forgive us if we find
Cassie's Pov I opened the door to the private sitting room on the executive floor and found her already standing by the window. My mother looked smaller than I remembered, the years sitting heavily in the lines around her mouth. Luka, Asher, and Caspian entered behind me and took positions along the wall—close enough to reach me in two steps, far enough to let the conversation stay between us unless it turned.She turned. “Cassie.”“Mother.”“You look well.”“I am.”She glanced at the three men. “They stay?”“They stay,” I said. “You asked for this meeting. You don’t set the terms of it.”Her hands tightened on the strap of her bag. “I heard about the company. About the shares. About the public statements. I thought—”“You thought what?”“That you might be willing to speak to me again.”I remained standing. “You disappeared after the divorce. You sent no letters. You made no calls. You let the silence become the entire story. Now you hear that I have money and public partners and you
Cassie's Pov Caspian was beside me on the steps of the Northbridge building while the cameras flashed. The statement had already gone out an hour earlier. He held the signed transfer papers in one hand and spoke without looking at the microphones.“I accept the shares,” Caspian said. “They are mine. The arrangement is permanent. Any further questions go through the company counsel.”Luka’s voice carried next. “That’s the only comment you’ll get from us today.”Asher added, “The rest is private.”We walked back inside before the reporters could push closer. The doors shut. The quiet of the lobby felt earned.By evening the first articles appeared. Old allies of Caspian’s parents had moved quickly—anonymous quotes, carefully worded suggestions that the shares were a quiet buy-off, that Caspian had traded pride for security, that the triad was buying silence. The language was polished enough to spread.I read the third piece aloud in the penthouse. “They’re trying to make it look like y
Cassie's Pov I stepped through the glass doors of Northbridge headquarters with Luka on my left, Asher on my right, and Caspian half a pace behind. The lobby stretched wide and bright, all polished stone and quiet conversation that died the moment the four of us crossed the threshold. A receptionist rose halfway from her chair, then sat again when she saw my face.“Miss—” she began.“Cassie,” I said. “I’m here to see the executive floor. They’re expecting me.”She swallowed. “Yes. Of course. The board is assembled in the main conference room. I’ll—”“We’ll find it,” Asher said, already moving toward the elevators.The ride up was silent except for the soft chime of floors. When the doors opened on the thirty-second level, a cluster of senior staff froze mid-conversation. One man in a gray suit recovered first.“Miss Cassie. We weren’t told you’d arrive with… company.”“These are my partners,” I said. “Luka. Asher. Caspian. They stay with me.”A woman near the window—Director of Opera
Cassie's Pov In the small private room off the main hall, I stood still in the dark dress I’d worn under the graduation gown. The lawyer, Mr. Halden, set a sealed envelope on the table between us. Luka stayed at my left, Asher at my right, Caspian just behind my chair. None of them sat. None of them looked away from the envelope.Mr. Halden cleared his throat. “Miss Cassie, your father left instructions that this be delivered only after your graduation ceremony concluded. The seal is intact. I have witnessed it myself.”I stared at the heavy cream paper. “My father has been gone for years. Why now?”“Because that was the condition he set,” Mr. Halden said. “Before the divorce was finalized, he made certain arrangements. He was very specific. No earlier disclosure. No exceptions.”Asher’s voice was quiet. “Open it.”I broke the seal. Inside was a single folded document and a smaller envelope of keys and access cards. My hands did not shake, but only because I forced them still.Mr. H
Cassie’s Pov“He knows my name?” I whispered under my breath.The ‘he’ in question was Asher, heir of the Valley pack, the one everyone adored. Honey blonde hair, brown eyes that always sparkled like he carried sunshine in his pockets, and a smile that could talk anyone out of their clothes. He was
Cassie’s Pov My name is Cassie, or as my schoolmates like to call me, ghostie. That was the thing about being ‘the quiet girl’ people assumed you were part of the furniture, or a shadow, or maybe a faint ghost drifting too politely through hallways to bother anyone. Which was fine. Preferred, ev
Cassie's pov“Lily?” My eyes went wide open. “W-what are you doing here?”Her jaw gaped open, her eyes dancing from Luka to me. “You guys do it every time or what?” She whipped her gaze back to Luka. “Are you seriously planning on killing my friend? At this rate, she’s definitely getting pregnant.”
Cassie’s POVI stared at him.“Oh, what do I put on?” I blurted out, miserly to myself.“Something cool for studying,” Asher said with a completely straight face. “Will make us focus." He cleared his throat.I nod my head, unable to hide my red cheeks.“So it’s a yes?” He raised his brows.I picked







