43. Cassidy
CASSIDY
Tonight, we finally get to celebrate.
Harlan, Silas, and I have been doing major overtime to get this campaign off the ground, and the two alphas have done so much.
Evander and Isaac have been supporting us all during this time, doing their best to be a reprieve from the stress of it all and somewhere we can safely land.
And it paid off.
The atmosphere on the marketing floor couldn’t be more different this morning.
The frantic energy has finally settled, replaced by laughter, chatter, and the occasional cheer drifting across the bullpen whenever somebody spots another milestone on the live dashboard.
Even the scent hanging over the office has changed. The sharp bite of stress has softened into excitement, relief, and just enough exhaustion that I suspect half the department will sleep for twelve hours straight tonight.
I smile to myself as I refresh the analytics for what has to be the hundredth time today.
The numbers climb again. Social engagement is still climbing, website traffic is off the charts, and Aurelion is sold out in multiple places.
Every time I think we’ve found the peak, another wave rolls in. It’s incredible.
“It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?” Hallie says, appearing beside my desk with two mugs of tea balanced in her hands. “I’ve never refreshed a spreadsheet so many times in my life.”
I grin as I take the offered mug, warmth filling me at the easy offer from her. “You’re assuming I ever stop.”
She laughs, her eyes flicking to my screen. “I don’t blame you. This is your first big campaign. You should be proud of yourself.”
There’s a little burst of applause somewhere behind us, followed by someone announcing that another one of the fragrance variants has already sold out online.
More laughter, and someone swears loudly in celebration.
I can’t help smiling. They deserve this. Every single one of them.
Harlan carried the weight of this campaign on his shoulders for weeks. Silas somehow managed to keep everyone moving in the same direction without throttling half the department.
Hallie has barely stopped since November. Orion looks like he’s survived purely on caffeine and spite.
Even Jessie from social has finally unclenched enough to crack a joke.
Every single person has put in the work. My phone buzzes with another notification, an email from Uri.
Subject: #SignatureLaunch
Congratulations, team. The Aurelion campaign has been one of the biggest successes that we’ve had on a launch day.
We’re already breaking records. Please pass on my appreciation to everyone involved.
I smile, reading the rest of the email. It’s warm. Genuine. Not the kind of corporate congratulations that get copied and pasted into a newsletter. Uri means it, and it’s a nice feeling to be part of.
It suddenly feels wrong to just go home after this. To not give my mates something to show how proud I am of them.
We’ve all poured so much into this. There should be something to commemorate it.
Before I can overthink it, I grab my phone and open my favourite bakery.
The luxury brownie selection appears on the screen, clearly aware of my late-night orders, and I immediately start adding far more desserts than any five people could reasonably eat.
My heat’s due next week. If they don’t think they’re a worthy celebration gift, we can blame the sugar cravings on that.
By the time I’ve finished, the basket is bursting with decadent treats. Exactly as it should be.
The delivery slot for this evening is still available, and I’m even more excited knowing I won’t need to ask one of them to come with me and ruin the surprise.
I type in Harlan’s address before I can forget, then pause when the little box asking for a gift message pops onto the screen.
A smile tugs at my lips.
I don’t even have to think about it.
Congratulations. I’m so proud of all of you. Love, Cassie xx
I read it back once, warmth blooming through my chest. Hopefully it’ll be a nice surprise.
I confirm the order, tuck my phone back onto my desk, and turn back to the analytics just as another notification flashes onto the screen.
The numbers have climbed again.
By the time I finally shut down my computer, the office has emptied considerably. The cleaning team have started making their way around the floor, and the handful of people still here all have that slightly dazed look that comes from too much to drink and exhaustion from weeks of stress.
I stretch my arms above my head, my shoulders protesting immediately.
I sling my bag over my shoulder before glancing towards Harlan’s office through the glass.
It’s dark, which is unusual. If he was leaving, he’d come and say goodbye at the very least. So, where is he?
Now that I think about it, I’ve only really caught glimpses of him all day. Never had time for more than a quick hello in passing.
The thought makes me smile as I head towards the lifts, weaving around little pockets of colleagues still talking excitedly about sales figures and customer reactions.
“Night, Cassie!”
“See you tomorrow!”
“Congratulations!”
“You, too!” I call back, unable to stop smiling.
The lift doors slide open before I even reach them.
I expect to find Harlan leaning against the back wall with his arms folded. Or Silas scrolling through emails while pretending he isn’t waiting for me.
Instead, I’m rewarded with another perfect man, who grins at me.
“Hi,” I say with a smile, looking up into Isaac’s brown eyes. “What are you doing down here?”
“I thought I might need to come and drag you away from all of this,” he teases. “And yet, you’ve wandered out on your own.”
I laugh, leaning into him for a hug. I breathe him in automatically, the sweet butterscotch and caramel of his scent relaxing me almost instantly.
“You ready to head home?” he asks, nuzzling my hair.
“Of course.” I pull back, pressing the button for the lift. He wraps his arm around my waist, taking my bag without asking. “Where are the others?”
“They’re already there,” he says, and I frown.
“They left?” I ask, looking behind us as if they’re going to randomly appear.
“Si and Harlan had something to handle earlier and went home after it so they didn’t disturb you. I sent Evander home so I could have you to myself for the drive,” my beta admits.
The lift arrives, and the doors open with a quiet hum, revealing mirrored walls and the harsh fluorescent lighting that always makes everyone look more tired than they are.
Our bonds are unusually muted, and the quietness leaves me oddly unsettled. I don’t know if it’s the alcohol I’ve drunk—all two glasses of it—or if it’s something on their end.
It’s weird, though.
I glance at my quiet mate as we step into the cold evening air of the basement, our footsteps echoing across the mostly empty concrete.
“You okay?” I ask.
His eyes flick towards me. “Mhm.”
I raise an eyebrow, unease churning in my gut. “That wasn’t an answer.”
A tiny laugh escapes him. “You’re very perceptive tonight.”
“Not an answer either,” I press, my heart rate quickening as we approach the car. “What’s going on, Isaac?”
He opens the passenger door for me, his expression softening. “We’ll explain when we get home.”
The words don’t land properly. They just… don’t make sense.
Maybe—
“Hey, hey, hey,” Isaac murmurs, leaning in to clip my belt in for me. “Do not panic. This is nothing to worry about.”
“I’m not—”
“Don’t lie to me,” Isaac says wryly. “Not only can I smell your anxiety, I can feel it through the bond as if it were my own. There’s been something with work, that’s all. Silas and Harlan will tell you about it, but there’s nothing for you to worry about.”
He gives my knee a gentle squeeze before closing the door. I watch him round the car, my fingers twisting in my lap. When he slides into the driver’s seat, I can’t help but notice how his smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Something with work?” I ask as he starts the engine.
Isaac sighs, giving me a pleading look. “Please, shortcake, let this wait until then?”
I bite my lip but nod, turning to look out the window instead of trying to make conversation. I don’t think I can, anyway. My mind is already racing, trying to piece together what could have gone wrong on such a perfect day.
The drive is quiet, but not uncomfortable. Isaac keeps his hand on my knee, thumb tracing small circles that should be soothing but only make my anxiety spike higher. His scent is still sweet, but it’s off, an edge of concern that prickles at it.
“I love you,” I tell him as we turn into Harlan’s street.
“I love you, too,” he says, squeezing my thigh.
When we pull into the driveway, I notice Harlan’s car is already there. The house lights are on, warm and inviting, but something feels off. The air is too still, the usual energy of the pack bond still muted.
Isaac turns off the engine but doesn’t immediately move to get out. Instead, he turns to me and gives me a soft, sad smile.
“Whatever happens in there,” he says quietly, “we’re all here. Okay? All of us.”
My throat tightens. “Isaac—”
“Come on.” He presses a kiss to my forehead before climbing out.
I follow, my legs feeling strangely unsteady as we approach the front door.
Isaac opens it, and the scent of home hits me the way it always does—a warm kitchen at dusk, coffee still hot, something sweet on the counter.
But underneath it, something has curdled.
The softness is still there, but it’s pulled taut, threaded through with restrained alpha scent that tells my instincts something is wrong long before anyone speaks.
Everyone’s in the living room. Harlan is standing rigidly by the window, one hand tucked into his trouser pocket, with Silas sitting tensely in an armchair, his forearms braced on his thighs. Evander’s lying on the sofa, one arm thrown behind his head, but he’s not dozing or happy.
He’s just as tense as the other two.
What has happened today to have this kind of effect? How have I missed it?
What could I have done?