Cassian Blackthorn
Cassian sat alone in his office cabin at the highest floor of Blackthorn Tower, the vast glass walls revealing the glowing sprawl of Valemont City below.
A knock interrupted the stillness and his secretary entered in, "Alpha, there is an incoming call from Elder Blackthorn. What should I do?"
Cassian's fingers paused over the file as soon as he heard Elder Blackthorn.
For a brief moment, his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, because he already knew why his grandfather who rarely contacted him directly had suddenly decided to call.
Cassian closed his eyes briefly for a second. "Put it through."
As the line connected, Cassian answered the call with restraint.
"Good evening, Grandfather."
"You bastard, what I'm hearing is true!? You got married in secret!?" Elder Blackthorn thundered, his voice vibrating with barely contained rage. "Is the rumour true or is it some cruel joke of yours..!?"
Cassian knew that the news of his secret marriage with Eden would have reached Elder Blackthorn long before it became public knowledge, because in Valemont there was not a single whisper, transaction, or hidden alliance that escaped his grandfather's awareness.
Even after stepping back from direct leadership, Elder Blackthorn remained one of the most influential and feared figures in the city, a man whose network, reputation, and legacy still shaped the fate of entire packs with a single word.
Cassian replied carefully, "It's true, Grandpa. I got married."
"This son of a—!" his grandfather barked, voice sharp with fury. "Irresponsible fool! How dare you make such decisions on your own? Didn't even think about us once? You are always like this. Taking things for granted, always taking reckless decisions and creating trouble!"
"Grandpa I–"
"Leave everything and come to the mansion. Right now! And bring that mate of yours with you too. I want to see what kind of wolf dared bind herself to you."
With that he cut the call without even leaving room for Cassian to reply.
Cassian let out a long measured sigh. He was always like this, always demanding things go his way, never caring for opinions, ruling with the arrogance of an ancient Alpha who believed every wolf existed only to obey his will.
Cassian braced himself for the chaos that was about to unleash at the mansion.
He walked to the large French window and stared out at the dark, heavy sky, the clouds were low and brooding as if a storm was about to approach.
.
.
.
.
Elsewhere in the city, night had already fallen when Eden stepped out of the Apothecary with a small bag of rare herbs clutched in her hand and a satisfied smile on her face, her heart light with success after a productive day.
She had barely taken two steps when cold rain suddenly splashed against her face.
Eden gasped, "What the…it's raining!? It was sunny this morning how did it turn so dark and stormy so suddenly."
Thunder rolled faintly in the distance, and as she lifted her gaze, her heart skipped violently in her chest.
Someone stood across the street.
Tall. Motionless. Soaked in rain.
Eden flinched her heart, skipping a beat, when she saw him.
Cassian Blackthorn!
Cassian stood rain-drenched in the middle of the road, silent and deadly, looking no less than a grim reaper who has here to harvest her soul. Or her wolf perhaps.
Eden's eyes widened, a shiver running down her spine. "What is he doing here? Don't tell me he was tailing me..!"
There was something in his stance, in the cold weight of his gaze, that made her senses scream.
Something was wrong…or rather, something was coming.
Cassian stepped forward, the umbrella in his hand doing nothing to hide the sharp outline of his frame against the dark rainy street.
She blinked, confused. He's has umbrella yet he's soaking wet…what a weirdo.
Cassian stepped closer, finally standing before her. Even drenched, Cassian looked breathtaking. Every feature was impossibly perfect and magnetic.
His eyes flicked to the bag of herbs in her hands and a slow, knowing smile curved his lips. "Someone looks happy today."
"Of course," Eden said triumply, lifting the bag slightly. "You know what happened today–"
"I know." Cassian interrupted her baffling her. "Congratulations on the deal with the Pharma."
Her eyes narrowed. "You knew? I knew it, you are spying on me, aren't you?"
Cassian leaned in, his gaze piercing. "So what if I was?"
Her temper flared instantly. "What? You think you can just follow me around whenever you want?"
"Shouldn't I? Isn't that what husbands do?"
Husband. Heat surged to her cheeks, a flush she couldn't hide. "That…that's not something normal husbands do." she hissed.
Cassian chuckled and leaned closer, so close that she could feel his breath near her ear.
"But I'm not normal one, am I?" His voice was low and dark yet they cut through the storm. "You…of all people clearly knows it. Don't you Eden?"
Eden's chest tightened, a jolt of fear and fury twisting together, the memories she'd buried clawing back at her.
She had survived so much, faced enemies and death itself, yet in that moment, standing across from him, she felt the old fear she had thought buried in school return.
Only now it was laced with something else…a tension she couldn't name.
"You're impossible…" Eden spun to run, but Cassian's hand shot out, gripping her wrists.
"What are you doing…" Eden gasped at the sudden contact.
"Did I tell you could move? Why do you always act on your own, Wife?" Cassian's voice was low, sharp, and dark.
Eden's chest heaved as she struggled against him, eyes blazing. "Let me go, you psycho."
Cassian's grip didn't loosen instead his voice dropped deep and commanding, slicing through the rain. "Eden..."
Eden's heart skipped a beat at the sharp weight in his tone but she didn't cower away.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice steady despite the storm around them.
"You remember the contract rules which mustn't be broken, right?" Cassian's eyes bore into hers, unwavering.
"Yes, I know. Why?" Eden looked at him confused but then Cassian pulled Eden closer startling her.
His voice went low, like whisper. "Then tell me… what is it?"
Eden blinked for a second. "Are you serious right now? In the middle of all this?"
"What. is. it.?" he stressed it.
Eden had no choice but to speak. "To stay by your side until the contract ends…no matter what happens."
Satisfaction flickered in his eyes, along with something darker and more complicated, something only he understood.
Cassian murmured faintly, "Correct. Don't forget that, my dear Eden."
Eden's eyes narrowed as she studied him, sensing his dull mood. "You're acting strange. What's going on?"
"Nothing." His voice flat. "Let's go now."
"Go? Where?"
"My pack members are wishing to see us. My grandfather wants us in his mansion right now." Cassian replied evenly as he pulled her to the car.
Eden's face fell instantly, "What? Right now?"
"Yes right now." He said without a flicker of hesitation.
"Are you serious!? I can't go like this! I don't look presentable at all!" She protested, tugging slightly at her coat.
"So what? Do I myself look presentable to you?"
She blinked and scanned his drenched form, his clothes clinging to him. He looked no less that a wet dog.
"But…" she began, hesitating.
"No buts. When Grandpa says something, we obey. He is very strict. So hop on. No negotiation."
Eden had no choice to get in as the rain was getting uglier.
"Why does it always have to be like this?" she muttered under her breath, more to herself than to him.
Cassian smiled faintly, "Because this is my world now and you are part of it."
Soon, beneath the raging sky and the relentless downpour, thunder rolling like distant howls across the city, they drove off together through rain soaked streets, not knowing what waited them ahead.