Cassandra walked inside the pack house and headed straight towards her room. Exhaustion tugged at her bones, but her resolution after meeting with Alpha Callisto strengthened. 

She saw hope that things would be alright in the long run. 

As she ascended the stairs, passing by the other pack members, she heard them whispering. 

For a moment, she thought they must be whispering about Caleb's betrayal or probably Alpha Thomas’s death, which had dealt her a heavy blow. However, to her surprise, they were different. 

This time, the whispers were about her husband's ‘preparations’ to arrange a room for his mistress beside their room.

Oh, she couldn't call Harmony his mistress. She was his mate, rightful lover, and deserving Luna of the pack. 

And who was she? A wife who had no identity anymore, just a Gamma warrior. 

Bile rose in her throat at the memories of that slap that Caleb made not to her face but to her ego. 

Cassandra gulped, refusing to let them see her bleed or cry anymore. They didn't deserve that after how they betrayed her trust. 

When Cassandra reached her room, she saw Caleb standing at the entrance. His arms were crossed against his chest, and his brows knitted as he ordered men to arrange things according to Harmony's liking. 

“Cassandra, I know it might put you at ease, but I have arranged for Harmony to live beside us. As the rightful Luna, she deserves the respect,” Caleb said sternly. 

Cassandra looked at the man before her, contemplating whether this was the same man she had been hopelessly in love with. 

The same sense of betrayal made her heart clench, but she maintained the serene smile on her face. 

“Of course, it's logical,” She said smoothly. 

Seeing her calm expression, Caleb's stern expression faltered a little. He had expected her to throw a tantrum, cry, make a scene, care for or hate him, just like she did at the field when he took Harmony's side. 

Cassandra's calm expression threw him off guard.

“Cassandra, you—” Caleb started, but before he could continue, he smelled her presence before hearing her soft footsteps. 

Harmony walked to them, dressed in an ivory silk dress. The fabric clung to her chest like a second skin as she blinked at them with innocent eyes. 

Cassandra looked at the girl, the dress making her want to scoff in their face. But she stopped herself in time. 

“Alpha Caleb —” She stopped, her voice delicate as she looked at Cassandra as if threatening her existence. 

Seeing the fake, pretentious acting, Cassandra felt a little irritated. 

“I was looking for you. I wanted to ask you if you would like to eat anything specific that I can cook for you,” Harmony said, a triumphant glint crossing her eyes as she leaned close to Caleb, her chest pressing on the man's biceps. 

This time, Cassandra's lips twitched in amusement that she barely hid. The little actress was truly something. 

Without indulging in their useless display of affection, Cassandra turned her attention to Caleb.

“Actually, I came to tell you something,” she said. 

Caleb dragged his mesmerized eyes from Harmony's cleavage reluctantly before furrowing his brows. 

“What?” 

The helplessness was evident in his voice before he cleared his throat. 

“I have decided to take up Alpha Callisto's offer. He wants me to train his Gamma females. I declined before because I thought I would take over Luna's duties after winning, but clearly…” Cassandra trailed off, noticing how Caleb stiffened. 

“Well, I have free time now,” She added. 

“You are leaving?” Caleb asked, not liking the sound. 

Cassandra scoffed inwardly. She would've believed his expressions if not for the betrayal and humiliation from earlier. 

“I am not leaving,” Cassandra smiled and looked at Harmony provocatively before adding, “I am just sharpening my skills and trying to expand our network.” 

Caleb clenched his fists.

“You can't divorce me,” He said. 

Cassandra smiled softly. 

“Oh, Caleb, you wound me. I wouldn't think of a divorce even in my dreams. I promised my dad and Alpha Thames that I would always think about the pack’s welfare, and that's what I am doing,” Cassandra said. 

The lies tasted bitter on her tongue, and she wasn't used to this kind of act, but she was ready to do it for her people and her father. 

Caleb panicked a little. Cassandra was the kind of asset to the pack that he couldn't afford to lose, no matter what. 

He wanted to object, but Harmony looped her arms around his biceps and blinked at him. 

“You would need this time to make your wolf healthier and stronger. And honestly, I need a rest too. I have been training for too long. I'll travel a little,” Cassandra said. 

Seeing Harmony pressing herself against Caleb, Cassandra felt a detached amusement in her body before she looked at Caleb's wavering resolution.

After a sigh, he finally spoke, “Okay, fine. You can go. But you need to keep me updated. You are still my wife.”

Caleb's words made Cassandra want to chuckle.

“Of course, Alpha,” She said with suppressed mockery before nodding with a fake smile and closing the room. 

That night, Cassandra packed her stuff lightly. Other than Betty, she didn't tell anyone about her destination. And about her plan of colluding with Alpha Callisto, even Betty didn't know. 

“Must you leave?” Betty asked anxiously, not liking Cassandra's departure. 

“I'll be back. Don't worry,” Cassandra squeezed her friend's hand. 

“Watch out for our loved ones, Betty. I’ll contact you to stay updated with pack’s whereabouts. We can't trust anyone anymore,” Cassandra said, hinting at a deeper conspiracy in the pack. 

And why not? She never had imagined Caleb would betray her, but he did. 

“Be careful, Miss Cassandra,” Betty said, and Cassandra nodded at her. 

~~~~~~

The journey to the Divine Bloodlust pack was long and grueling, mostly because her mind was full of memories of betrayal and humiliation that didn't seem to leave her head. 

The forests blurred past her, and the wind bit her cheeks as she rolled down the window to feel the cold air and stop her mind from thinking useless, self-deprecating things. 

When Cassandra reached the Bloodlust pack, dawn had already broken, and she stopped at the pack borders with a stern expression. 

The guards walked to her car.

“Yes?” 

“Cassandra Eleanor. Your alpha has invited me,” Cassandra said. 

The guards looked at each other before they probably got the green signal from the leading security force, and they opened the large gates of the fencing. 

Cassandra drove her car inside the Pack, visibly impressed by its magnanimous beauty. 

Everything was so beautiful, clean, and well-arranged that it made the pack look like a dreamland. It was nothing like what she expected from the most dangerous pack in the world. 

As she reached the pack house, she couldn't help but feel her breath getting caught in her throat. 

There before her stood Alpha Callisto. 

Stripped to nothing but black khaki pants, his body glistening with sweat and muscles rippling with every movement that screamed danger. 

He stood before another man and seemed to be talking about something important. She stopped the car at the entrance of the pack house, and the man turned to look at her as soon as she got out. 

His brown hair looked damp while his hazel amber eyes burned with focus. 

Cassandra froze in her place when his lips stretched into that familiar smirk, her heart fastening at the sight. 

He looked dangerous. 

He walked to her, long and slow strides, asserting his dominance. Standing before her, invading her personal space, he looked down at her. 

“You are here,” He said before he leaned and placed his face in the crook of her neck, their chests almost touching. 

“In our pack, you smell like us, or nothing at all,” The man said before he licked her neck, making her gasp. 

In that moment, one thing became clear. The chilling realization dawned on Cassandra. This would be no easy alliance, no comfortable partnership, and if she lost, she might be losing more than just that pack. 

She looked into his eyes before taking a deep breath.

“Hello, Alpha Callisto,”

“Hello to you, too, Miss Cassandra. Let's test your ability,” He smirked. 

Cassandra had only stepped into the Divine Bloodlust pack after driving for hours, so she didn't expect the alpha to ask her to spar and train first. 

While she understood his intentions because that was exactly why she was here, the straightforwardness was a little hard for her to digest. 

Then again, what could she expect from the beast of the werewolf world? 

The weight of his cold and calculating gaze as it raked over her unsettled her as it lingered long enough to make her feel stripped beneath it. 

“You're late,” His cold voice snapped her attention to his cold, hazel-amber eyes. 

His expression was unyielding, but if he thought he could intimidate her easily, he was in the wrong. She wasn't here to let another alpha walk over her. 

“I wasn't aware there was a time,” Cassandra said coolly, her chin lifted as she stared into his eyes, despite the dangerous vibes oozing from his body.

The man smirked.

He stepped forward, invading her personal space once again, making her heart skip a beat as he leaned. 

Cassandra’s body froze. She wondered if he would do something obscene, but the man barely took the backpack from her shoulders and gave it to his beta. 

“There's always a time when you are under me,” he said, looking at her intensely. 

Cassandra's body stiffened. Was it just her, or did the phrasing indirectly indicate something she didn't want to say out loud? 

She followed the man to the training grounds, observing his muscular back and ripped muscles. 

The man hadn't smiled genuinely since they met her, nor did she expect him to. However, his words always held a tint of edginess and provocation that she couldn't pinpoint. 

This reminded her…

“When handing your card to me, you said I would need it. What did that mean?” Cassandra asked. 

She didn't know why, but after their meeting, she couldn't remove that thought from her head. The way he looked at her as if he knew, he was sure she would accept the offer.

“I have eyes, Miss Cassandra. I see things pretty well,” He said, looking at her from the corner of his eye. 

Cassandra blushed in embarrassment. For some reason, it felt like he was mocking her for not seeing the deceit in her husband's actions. 

It was normal to think so, too. Everything was happening before her, yet she let love and prejudice against her good and caring husband blind her. 

Without another word, Alpha Joaquin walked to the centre of the training ground before barking an order. 

“Circle,” 

His voice was domineering, like that of a leader, and within seconds, seven trained she-wolves, a part of his internal security, circled them. 

“Strip the extravagant clothing, Miss Cassandra. You are not here as a guest but a warrior,” The man said, and Cassandra nodded in understanding.

She took off her leather jacket. 

“As strong as you are and are here to train my Gamma females, this session would also be a training for you. Your first lesson,–” Joaquin said, stepping outside the circle. 

“Pain is the only truth, and I will teach you how to survive it,” he said before raising his hand and bringing it down to signal the start of the training. 

What followed next was hours of gruelling sparring without any breaks. Cassandra’s legs trembled as every time she defeated the former groups of Gamma females, a new set of females would arrive to spar with her. 

Her forehead was covered in sweat, and her vision blurred when a drop got into her eyes, earning her a hard blow in the abdomen that sent her a few metres away, her body falling to the ground as she barely suppressed her groans. 

Joaquin watched her like a hawk watching its prey. His gaze was cold, yet unidentified emotions swirled in it, like a recognition, a call beyond expression. 

Every time she stumbled, his body twitched, trying to catch her, help her, and fix the mess he had orchestrated, but he knew he shouldn’t. 

After the seventh round, Cassandra’s body collapsed, her ribs aching terribly as her limbs trembled from the constant workout. 

“Enough,” She groaned, chest heaving as she panted heavily. 

Joaquin’s gaze softened for a split second before it hardened again.

“It’s not enough until I say it is.” He walked to her before crouching in front of her.

Cassandra raised her eyes, her gaze locking with his as she clenched her jaws, suppressing her urge to curse at him. 

If she didn't know any better, she would've almost thought that he was punishing her for a sin that she didn't know. 

“You are hurt,” Alpha Callisto said, touching the bluish mark on her shoulder. 

‘No shit sherlock,’ Cassandra barely bit the snarky reply that was at the edge of the tongue while Kianna chuckled at her condition, making her anger worse. 

Alpha Callisto’s touch lingered on her shoulder, a little too warm for someone who appeared so cold and calculative. 

And then, his hand reached for the mark on her neck. 

“You don't belong to him anymore,” his voice was barely above a whisper, enough to catch his attention. 

He didn't specify who he was talking about. He didn't need to. 

She knew he was talking about Caleb, the man who humiliated her, replaced her when she was at the epitome of her happiness, and discarded her and her dreams like she was nothing. 

Cassandra was about to open her mouth and say she didn't need that bastard either when Joaquin interrupted her. 

“You belong to yourself now. And if you want to survive in this world, for your dream, you'll have to become stronger than everyone who tried to break you,” He said before standing. 

Cassandra understood the meaning behind his words. 

She didn't aspire to throw Caleb away, only. Her dream was to rule the pack like a luna, which wouldn't be possible with her current abilities. After all, she won't have an Alpha by her side at that time anymore. 

All her complaints about earlier dissolved into nothing, and she looked at the alpha in a new light. 

His way of doing things was different, but it had a purpose. 

___________

That evening, Cassandra's body ached like it was on fire. Her limbs felt overused, and she sat in the doctor's cabin, treating her wounds for quick recovery so she could spar the next day with the same ability. 

Because of the wolf's absence, her healing had been lowered, and she had to rely on medicinal herbs to speed up the process. 

Though her body was in pain, her heart had a sense of satisfaction. Despite the number of rounds, she hadn't broken, she hadn't begged for mercy. 

Cassandra walked to the room allotted to her, which was strangely one of the two rooms on the third floor, and didn't waste time stripping. 

She had been craving a bath from the moment she exited the training grounds. 

She walked inside the bathroom, noticing the strange placement of the door right beside the bed, but that was the least of her concerns. 

Standing under the warm stream of the water, she closed her eyes. 

“In my pack, you smell like one of us or nothing at all.” 

“You don't belong to him anymore.” 

Alpha Callisto's deep voice echoed in her mind, and her cheeks turned red. 

What the hell was wrong with her? Why was she thinking about that? 

As she washed the dirt off her body, a gasp left her mouth when she suddenly felt an intense ache in her neck. 

Her mark was hurting. And it only meant one thing. 

Caleb was engaging in sexual activities with Harmony. 

Tears welled in Cassandra's eyes, but before she could relent, a weird sound caught her attention. 

It wasn't just any weird sound. It was the sound of the bathroom door opening from the other side, a door she had failed to notice. 

She quickly grabbed the towel just in time to hide her private parts and walked behind the curtain of the shower, her pupils dilating when she saw Alpha Joaquin walking inside the bathroom. 

She saw how his brows furrowed when he saw the water on the floor. 

“These people can't do one thing right,” He grumbled under his breath and took off his shirt before taking off his pants. 

However, just as his fingers hooked with the elastic of his shorts, he paused. 

He lifted his head and sniffed the air. 

“Ah,” a wince left Cassandra's mouth simultaneously, and Alpha Callisto's suspicion strengthened. 

Without wasting a second, he walked to the shower area and removed the curtain that Cassandra held on to for dear life. 

Due to the sudden jerk, her body fell forward, making her fall directly on Alpha Callisto, whose eyes widened as he lost his footing and fell on his butt, taking Cassandra with him. 

"What were you trying to do, Miss Cassandra?" Joaquin's voice was a shade deeper than normal as he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to calm his wolf, which suddenly became a little uneasy. 

Cassandra closed her eyes in embarrassment, very well aware that her hand was on top of Alpha Callisto's chest, and if not for the towel between them, their naked bodies would touch. 

The situation was inappropriate in all ways. 

"I'm sorry, Alpha Callisto. I was using the washroom when you opened the door," Cassandra paused. 

"Wait. Why am I the one apologizing? You are the one who walked in on me taking a shower," she said, lifting her head and glaring at the alpha. 

Alpha Joaquin looked into her daring hazel eyes and clenched his jaws. 

"This is my bathroom, Miss Cassandra." He leaned back, looked at the ceiling, and took a deep breath.

"What are you doing? Wait. Are you feeling me up?" Cassandra asked, forgetting about her pain. 

Alpha Joaquin raised his head and glared at the girl. 

"Seriously? I am trying to calm my wolf so that I will not take up the opportunity that you have clearly presented under that towel." Joaquin didn't put a filter on his mouth, and Cassandra blushed. 

She was well aware of how instinctive the alpha wolves were. 

"I am talking about attacking you, not having–" Alpha Joaquin was about to clear when he thought it was useless to explain it to her. 

He got up, helping her while keeping his gaze trained on her eyes.

The respect for him increased in her eyes, and she apologised quickly. 

Alpha Callisto followed her to her room before showing her the bathroom designed for her room. 

Cassandra blushed at the obvious mistake and was about to apologise when another wave of pain shot across her neck and she fell to the ground. 

Joaquin quickly kneeled before her and lifted her in his arms, bridal style, taking her to the bed. 

"My neck, it's hurting." Tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes. 

"I know," Joaquin said, covering her with the blanket before looking at her. 

He tucked her hair behind her ears before taking the dagger from the drawer. 

"Are you open to drinking blood?" He asked casually. 

"Hmm?" Cassandra asked in pain. 

Without another word, Joaquin sliced his palm and placed it on her mouth, making her drink his blood. 

"I could've licked and sucked your mark to help you, but I am not sure if you would like that kind of intimacy... yet..." He let the sentence trail off. 

Cassandra stared into his eyes, drinking his blood softly. 

Kissing the neck was intimate? Could it be more intimate than what he was already doing? Sharing his blood with her? 

She wanted to remove his hand, not wanting to take advantage of his hospitality as the pain was much bearable now. 

However, his grip was firm like a silent vow, a ruthless promise that he was here to help her. 

After some time, he removed his hand from her mouth and licked his wound to heal it. 

"Have some rest," He whispered and stood from the bed. 

Cassandra held his hand to stop him. 

"Thank you," She whispered. 

The man looked at her intensely, his gaze holding thousands of unspoken words, before he smiled. 

"Sure," he said. 

Cassandra didn't understand the meaning behind his gaze or the word he said.

It sounded like a silent sentence about something he knew but she didn't. 

She didn't dwell on it for long, and once she was sufficiently rested, she walked out of the room to the training grounds just for a walk. 

Alpha Callisto's pack was significantly peaceful. Even though she was a guest, someone from another pack, no one bothered her. Everyone was busy with their work and life, and she liked this about them. 

As she walked further, she saw Alpha Joaquin standing at the edge of the trading grounds, exactly where she had found him in the morning. Her heart skipped a beat at what transpired between them in the room. 

He stood there, watching the moonlit fields, his shirt off, his taut muscles moving with each movement. 

She didn't know what possessed her to speak, but she did. 

"Is that what you do? Breaking every person who walks through your borders?" Her tone held a hint of amusement and silent frustration. 

His gaze didn't move from the horizon, and he looked at her briefly. 

"Only the ones who desire to become unbreakable," his words left no room for discussion. 

It wasn't only a silent compliment for her abilities and a promise that it was just starting. 

"I am not like others," Cassandra spoke, unsure if he had misunderstood her earlier. 

This time, Joaquin turned, moonlight making his skin glow a little. 

"No. You are not. And that's why I haven't gone easy on you," Joaquin covered the distance between them, almost invading her personal space. 

"That's why you are still alive," he whispered, his gaze not leaving hers. 

Cassandra didn't know what to say to that. 

She was tongue-tied, not retorting. She wasn't like this. Usually, she always had something to say, to give back to people, but before him, she had been left to his mercy a couple of times, which irked her. 

"I am not easy to break," She said, her proud glare making Alpha Joaquin smirk. 

"I don't intend to break you, Miss Cassandra," He whispered, stepping closer. 

Their chests almost touched, making her take a shaky breath. 

His gaze landed on her bruised collar bones before he shifted it to her. His eyes glowing a little in the moonlight made him look mesmerizing. 

"And if you think this was hard..." he leaned towards her ear, his lips almost touching her earlobe. 

"...wait until you learn what I do to women who catch my attention," He whispered, taking her earlobe between his teeth before sucking it a bit. 

He stood straight, looking at her provocatively before he left. 

Cassandra didn't move. She couldn't. 

She was frozen on the spot. His words bothered her more than his actions. And what surprised her more was that despite the threat, her pulse raced, not in anxiousness, but in excitement.

And it didn't mean anything good. 

Why? For once, Kianna, her wolf, who hated men touching her, was calm in someone's presence, and her peace was a silent agreement, something she didn't like.