Cassidy
The scent of fresh bread and roasted meat still clung to my clothes when the doors burst open
I froze, my fingers tightening around the wooden spoon I had been using to stir the stew. The kitchen was warm, safe—my one place to disappear. But now, cold air swept in as two guards stepped inside, their expressions unreadable.
"Cassidy Boyce."
I swallowed hard, my stomach twisting into a painful knot.
I knew better than to run.
Still, my body screamed at me to move—to do something, anything to stop what was about to happen.
"You're coming with us."
I wanted to ask why, but the words stuck in my throat.
Instead, I let out a quiet gasp as one of the guards grabbed my arm, his grip firm, unyielding. Panic surged through me as they twisted rough rope around my wrists, yanking it tight.
I hadn't done anything.
Had I?
Yesterday I was called to alpha Garrick throne room and he only asked about Jonas and if I knew anything about his family but that was it. I thought this was over.
I forced myself to think—had I broken a rule? Spoken out of turn? No. No, I had done everything right. I had stayed quiet, invisible, just as I was supposed to.
So why were they taking me?
I barely kept my footing as they dragged me through the halls, my heartbeat hammering in my ears.
The moment the doors to the grand hall swung open, the first thing I noticed was the silence.
Then, the weight of dozens of eyes on me.
I shrank under their gazes—wolves, vampires, witches and humans—all of them watching me like I was something insignificant, something that didn't belong.
I didn't.
This wasn't a place for people like me.
Terror curled in my gut like a sickness.
And then—I saw him.
A man situated at the side of the table, powerful and imposing, his presence filling the entire room. His dark eyes locked onto me, sharp and intense, like he was trying to dissect me with a single glance.
I had never seen him before, but my instincts screamed that he was dangerous.
My entire body went cold.
I dropped my gaze immediately.
"She's here because of her connection to resistance, she's known to be seen with a slaveboy who we just found out is a very important person in the resistance, unfortunately he escaped," Alpha Garrick said, voice slow and measured.
Friend?
Jonas.
The air in my lungs froze.
Jonas had worked in the kitchens for years—until he disappeared. People whispered that he had joined the resistance, but I didn't know for sure.
I didn't know anything.
"Maybe if you treated them better, they wouldn't turn against you," a voice snapped.
Freya Langley.
Every human knew and loved her. she was treated with respect in her country
She was a human, but she spoke with authority. Confidence. She wasn't afraid like I was.
I risked a glance at Garrick.
His golden eyes burned with irritation as he addressed the room, his voice smooth, deliberate.
"She's been seen speaking with him before he vanished. And we believe she might have valuable information."
I sucked in a sharp breath.
I didn't.
I knew almost nothing about Jonas beyond the fact that he had escaped, I also knew he had family in another state but I wouldn't tell them. his sister is just barely a teenager.
Would they believe that?
I doubted it.
Fear tightened around my ribs, making it hard to breathe.
I wasn't important enough to be kept alive if I had no use to them.
"What does that have to do with us? you gathered the council members across the continent over a slaveboy?" I hear a voice speak in annoyance.
"Well my spies tells me that the resistance are forming an alliance with the humans in Canada,"
Really? but why would they do that? the humans in Canada lived the best lives. They were amongst the ones treated with respect in the world. They were free to do anything they wanted and travel wherever they wanted unlike us here in America.
"That's not true, I would know and would have told my moon warden," I heard Freya speak in fear.
Was she afraid of her Moon warden? I heard he is amongst the most powerful werewolves in the world. Even stronger than Alpha Garrick.
"Are you sure about that? what if you're aware and kept it from the other council members?" I hear Garrick say to her.
"Do not accuse me of such!!." Freya yells at him.
You will speak to me with respect, human," Garrick growled, baring his fangs at her.
Freya didn't back down.
I envied her bravery.
A sudden growl ripped through the room, deep and furious.
I flinched violently as one of them slammed his fist against the table. The sound echoed, sharp and terrifying.
A small, involuntary whimper left my lips.
I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to disappear.
I shouldn't be here.
I was nothing compared to the people in this room—just a human girl who scrubbed floors and carried trays. I was not meant to be part of their politics, their wars.
So why was I here?
"Has anyone of you heard such a rumor?" I hear him ask.
I peeked up at the person and I almost passed out, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might break my ribs.
His gaze was still on me. He stared me down with so much intensity that I felt my legs shake in....fear?
I don't know anymore.
But something in it had changed.
It wasn't just scrutiny anymore. It was something deeper, something unreadable.
I dropped my gaze immediately.
I had looked too long.
I wasn't supposed to meet the eyes of men like him.
The conversation continued, but I barely heard it, my thoughts drowning in panic.
Garrick accused Freya of treason, of keeping secrets about the resistance. Her council members pushed back, but he wasn't backing down. He was trying to shift blame, to make her seem like the true enemy.
I slowly looked up again an invisible force drawing me to look at the man who I realized from their conversation is Alpha Kieran Duskbane, the moon warden of Canada. He looked so different from everyone else at the table.
He seemed to glow in my eyes. His dark long hair covering most of his eyes in a foreboding way.
I found myself wanting to touch it.
Suddenly his eyes snapped back at me and I immediately turn my eyes to the ground.
He caught me staring-
I'm dead. Mother said to always keep my eyes down. Jonas what have you gotten me into?
"Where is your friend?" his voice thundered but I was too lost in my own thoughts to realize the question was for me.
The scraping of a chair on the floor brought me back to me senses as I realized someone was walking to me and unexpectedly I knew who it was.
"Unbind her," He said.
What?
"She's a human. She doesn't need—" I hear Alpha Garrick start but he is cut off.
"I said unbind her."
The room held its breath.
The guards hesitated before releasing me.
I exhaled sharply, my skin stinging from the cuff burns. I resisted the urge to rub them, to shrink into myself.
Why had he done that?
It didn't make sense. No one unbound humans. No one cared if we were uncomfortable.
I forced myself to stay still, to keep my head down.
But I could still feel his gaze.
Slowly, cautiously, I lifted my eyes.
He was still looking at me.
My stomach twisted.
I didn't know what I had done to gain his attention, but I wished more than anything that I could undo it.
Kieran took a slow step toward me.
"Do you know where your friend is?"
His voice was measured, unreadable.
I shook my head. "No."
Lie.
The way his expression hardened told me he didn't believe me.
I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself not to cry, not to crumble.
I was terrified.
I was confused.