Cassidy
Mine.
The word echoed in my mind like a curse.
I had always been nothing—just another human girl trying to survive in a world that had no use for me. I had served meals, and kept my head down, doing everything I could to remain invisible.
But now, standing in the Moon Warden's quarters, his dark, piercing gaze locked onto mine, I felt exposed.
I was something.
And that terrified me.
I stood as still as I could, my arms wrapped around myself, as if that would protect me from the weight of his presence.
The air smelled like leather, like smoke and earth—like him.
I wasn't supposed to be here.
"You're afraid," he said, his voice impossibly calm.
I flinched at how easily he read me.
"Why am I here?" I whispered.
Silence.
He took a step forward, and I instinctively took one back.
His eyes darkened.
"Don't."
It wasn't a threat. It wasn't even a command.
It was something else—something heavier, something that sent a strange shiver down my spine.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to hold my ground even though every part of me screamed to run.
"I don't understand," I admitted. "I don't know anything about the resistance or Jonas. I told you the truth. So why—why did you bring me here?"
His jaw clenched. "Because you belong to me."
The words slammed into me like a physical blow.
I felt my stomach drop, my breath catching in my throat.
"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "No, I don't, stop saying that."
His expression remained unreadable. "You don't get to decide that."
My hands trembled as I clenched them into fists. "Please," I whispered, hating the way my voice wavered. "I just want to go back. I won't cause any trouble, I swear. I—"
"You're not going back."
The finality in his voice sent ice through my veins.
Terror gripped me so tightly it hurt.
"Why?" My voice cracked. "I didn't do anything?"
His gaze never left mine, unwavering and sharp.
"Because you're my mate."
The room tilted.
My vision blurred for a moment as the words sank in, my heartbeat roaring in my ears.
No.
No, that wasn't possible.
Humans weren't mated to werewolves. Ever.
"You're lying," I breathed, shaking my head desperately.
But I knew—I knew—he wasn't.
Because I felt it.
That pull, that invisible force tethering me to him. The strange way my body reacted in his presence—the way my skin prickled, my pulse quickened, the way I couldn't breathe properly when he looked at me.
I had felt it the moment I saw him in the council room, even before I knew who he was.
And now, standing here, alone with him, I couldn't pretend it wasn't real.
I hated it.
I hated that he was right.
Tears burned the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
"I don't want this," I whispered, my voice shaking.
He exhaled slowly, his jaw tight. "Neither do I."
I blinked at him, startled by the quiet honesty in his voice.
For the first time since I met him, I saw something in him that wasn't just cold and calculation.
He was angry.
Not at me.
At this.
At fate.
But the moment passed, and his expression hardened once more.
"Yet here we are," he said, his voice void of emotion.
I clenched my teeth, my whole body trembling.
"You're not actually going to keep me here," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "You can't."
He didn't respond.
My breath hitched.
"You can't," I repeated, my panic growing.
Still, he said nothing.
"You can't just claim me like I'm—like I'm property!"
That got a reaction.
His eyes flashed with something dark and dangerous, his expression hardening.
"That's not what this is," he said quietly.
"Then what is it?" My voice rose.
For the first time, anger cut through my fear.
"You don't even know me!" I snapped. "You don't want me! So why are you doing this? Just let me go!"
His expression remained impassive. "I can't."
The sheer certainty in his voice made my breath catch.
His hands clenched into fists at his sides, like he was restraining himself. "You think I want this?" he asked, his voice dangerously soft. "You think I wanted to walk into that council chamber and have the bond snap into place? You think I wanted my mate to be mere human?"
I recoiled at the bitterness in his tone.
He was just as horrified by this as I was.
For a fleeting second, something in my chest twisted.
But I crushed it.
Because it didn't change anything.
It didn't change the fact that I was trapped.
"So what now?" I forced out. "Are you going to lock me up? Force me to stay with you? What happens when I refuse to be your mate?"
Something flickered in his eyes—something sharp and possessive.
"You won't," he said.
I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "You don't know that."
His lips curled into the faintest smirk. "I do."
I hated how sure he sounded.
Like he knew I wouldn't be able to resist the bond.
Like he knew he would win.
A lump formed in my throat.
"You're wrong," I whispered.
He took a slow step forward. I held my ground, even though my body screamed to retreat.
"You're afraid," he murmured.
I swallowed hard.
"You should be."
My breath caught.
But then—his expression softened. Just slightly.
"I'm sure you know my name, unfortunately I don't know yours." he ask softly
"Cassidy. Cassidy Boyce," I reply holding back a sob.
"I won't hurt you, Cassidy."
I wanted to believe him.
But I couldn't.
I didn't trust him. I didn't trust this bond.
And I sure as hell didn't trust fate.
He studied me for a long moment, then exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his dark hair.
"You're exhausted," he said. "You need rest."
"I don't need anything ," I muttered.
His lips twitched. "That's not true."
I glared at him.
But I was exhausted.
And he knew it.
Without another word, he turned away and walked toward the door.
I tensed, expecting him to leave.
But he didn't.
Instead, he paused in the doorway, his voice low.
"Get some sleep, Cassie."
Then he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him.
I stood frozen, my heart pounding so violently I thought it might break through my ribs.
I was alone.
For now.
But I wasn't free.
Not even close.