10. CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 10
Graham
I wait until I'm sure Cassie's fully asleep before I slide out of bed, careful not to disturb her. With her mind drunk and her body satisfied, it's the perfect opportunity for me to snoop around.
As I look through her closet and wardrobe, I am forced to realize she is barely living here. Not like she lives somewhere else. No, but the apartment's devoid of pictures, books, and clothes. The place itself is welcoming and cozy, but it holds nothing of significance to Cassie.
She doesn't own expensive things. Of course, some people could argue that she isn't working for a billion-dollar company in order to buy Gucci and Prada's products. Yet nothing here tells her story. So, where are those interesting tidbits from the past or mementos from her childhood?
With each second that goes by, I’m more and more torn, and it doesn't get better the closer I look. She works for a tech company. There has to be a computer around here somewhere.
My eyes go up, scanning the small living room area. A laptop. Yes, there it is. I step over to it and press a button, turning it on. It asks for her password. Remembering the information from the files my company has on her, I try her birthday. It works!
Are you sure you want to do this? my wolf asks. It’s unethical.
What do you know about ethics? I counter with a mental chuckle.
We’re invading her privacy in a different way, he argues.
If I remember well, it was you who wanted to make sure she’s not sharpening a knife behind our back, I mutter back, annoyed at the sudden awakening of his conscience.
There are different ways to do that, he insists. We could ask her. Wouldn’t it be better if we talked to her directly?
Does it make you feel better if I tell you that we’re not snooping through her computer? I inquire.
Only if it’s true, he allows, though he doesn’t sound convinced.
I turn the computer around to show him the sticker of the company’s logo. The laptop’s Grey’s Enterprises’ standard issue that is given to the supervisors to take home. It explains why Cassie has it.
Okay, yeah, that does give you the right to go through all the files, he agrees.
It’s all in the contract, I confirm. And not even in the small print.
As the laptop springs back to life, a little box pops up in the middle of the screen.
It's an email from someone called Tim.
The sender's name alone infuriates me. I click on the message and almost drop the laptop on the floor.
We should talk about what we saw.
I'm going to go to the police.
Cass, please, call me.
I still love you.
I'm sure Grey is behind it. We should report him.
The messages go on and on, going from one extreme to the other. Blackmail, accusations, angry messages, insults, and fear. I curse under my breath.
Growing up in a royal court, there is very little that comes as a surprise for me. Like wolves, humans are predictable creatures, especially when it comes to their darkest, most manipulative selves.
You should check if Cassie replied to him, my wolf suggests.
I shouldn't. This is wrong. But my stubbornness wins, and I click on Tim's profile picture.
There's an indication of recent activity that sends me into a frenzy. I scroll down the page and check the top few replies, realizing that they're all from Tim to Cassie. None from her to him, though. That asshole is calling her names while pressuring her into an explanation and confession as if she knows anything.
Maybe she does, my wolf suggests. Why would he be so insistent if she didn't?
When I open a message that's even worse, I can't control my claws and fangs. He really took this blackmail thing to a whole new level, claiming that he has things on Cassie that the world would love to see.
No, but who will you lie to next, Cass? Did you know I had proof of our relationship? Everyone will know. For a whore, you are not even good in bed.
But then the next message is the complete opposite.
I'm sorry, baby. You know I would never do anything to hurt you.
I scroll through the messages, taking them all in.
They're old, my wolf comments. Some were sent more than a year ago.
You're right , I agree. They're probably not important.
I've been through all the files on her laptop and can't decide whether she's a traitor or not. There are some documents that could be seen as suspicious, but I brush them off due to her position in the company. It's normal that she has information on F-Rec stored. We've all been guilty of working from home.
It's a dead end.
With anger growing inside me, I'm not even sure I want to spend another moment in this goddamn apartment.
It feels insulting to live in a place like this.
And yet, it's hers.
Cassie's scent is everywhere. Her little touches, no matter how insignificant, are all around. All too fresh.
She's stirring , my wolf warns me, his senses catching the movement from the bedroom down the hall.
I quickly close the laptop and return it to its place. As quietly as I can, I return to the bedroom, thickening the shadows around me to shield me.
Cassie has moved to my side of the bed, and I have to be very careful as I slip into the sheets. She falls back into a deep slumber, and I am reminded that this has been her first time with me. She must be spent, already pushed to her limits.
Even so, her curves cry out to me, tempting me with their beauty, asking me to press my hard length into her velvet heat again.
There is something intoxicating about being with a human. With wolves being the superior and more powerful species, the mere thought of being able to break them with just one thrust too hard is pure adrenaline.
Cassie has given herself to me so fully and completely. It's because she didn't know better. She doesn't know to fear me. Not to the extent she should. And yet, it was her willingness and trust that drove me even wilder.
It was the sweetest and hottest fuck I've had. I can't believe it was with a human.
Her body has a vulnerability to it. My hands aren't fully under my control. They want to wrap around her waist and hold her, cupping her round butt cheeks as I mount her. Again and again.
Thankfully, after what feels like the longest fight in my life, I manage to stop this from happening.
Instead, I turn around to look at her, unable to resist. I inhale her delicious human scent. It's a lot like lilies and peaches, inviting me to bed.
There is a strength to her that is alluring, if not mesmerizing.
Get your shit together, my wolf warns softly. She's growing on me, too, but we should keep our heads clear. Or at least try to.
Look at her, I dare him because the temptation is undeniable.
She's practically naked on the sheets, her perky breasts teasing me with their wonderful texture.
I know, he mutters. I feel that weird connection, too. It's gotten even stronger since you slept with her.
Maybe it's the way wolves mark their territory, I suggest, but I'm pretty sure it's a myth.
I've never heard of it , my wolf replies. Although, it's not like anyone likes to openly talk about wolves and humans fornicating.
Garren slept with humans. Grayden, too , I say. Maybe they know something.
Do you really want to talk to your brothers about your and their sex lives? My wolf snorts.
I grimace. No, I’d rather not.
Cassie shifts on the bed and sets her head on my chest. Her small, naked body wraps around me as she entangles her legs with mine.
I let out a half-sigh, half-groan. The contact of her soft flesh against mine is more than I'm ready to handle. Not with my hard cock throbbing.
Gently, I pull her into my arms, and she gives herself to me willingly. Just like during our passionate night of lovemaking and fucking.
It's only now that the exhaustion from a great fuck-fest hits me.
I should rest now and think tomorrow. She'll give me answers at breakfast.
With my mind made up, I fall into the land of slumber.
As soon as I close my eyes, I dream about having her sweet body pressed to mine. This time, we're not in the office but in my wolf's natural habitat. I'm not in my human form, but I'm taking a passenger in a wolf's body.
Cassie and my wolf are lying on the greenest stretch of grass, soaking in the sun. Her head's resting on the wolf's black torso. She fits perfectly against both of our forms.
My wolf nuzzles into her neck, and I do the same. The happiness I feel just by being around her is indescribable.
The grass sways in the gentle wind.
My wolf's tail flicks once as she snuggles closer to our warmth.
And the sun...is right above. It's so perfect, so perfect we close our eyes and never want to open them again.
It's all perfect until all of a sudden, she's gone.
My wolf jumps to his feet and frantically looks around. My own emotions are going wild with worry and fear.
Where did she go?
I'm jerked awake by the sudden feeling of emptiness.
It's then that I realize Cassie isn't in bed anymore.
What the fuck was that? my wolf asks, sounding just as out of it as I feel.
I have no idea, I tell him and push myself out of bed.
I follow the smell of coffee to the kitchen where Cassie's pouring herself a cup. She's wearing an oversized sweater and plaid pajama pants, her hair wild and a bit curly in the back. The faint smell of eggs and toast wafts my way. Inhaling it feels surreal.
She glances up at me, standing in the doorway. Her eyes widen ever so slightly. "Y-you should probably get dressed."
My brows furrowing, I look down at myself and realize I'm stark naked. My semi-erect cock stands out like a pole, waiting for a flag to be pulled up.
"Right," I say and chuckle. It takes a lot out of me to sound calm, but I manage. After all, it is my specialty.
I return to the bedroom to grab my clothes. When I come back, I find Cassie waiting for me with a cup of coffee and toast.
"It's an actual breakfast," she says dryly.
We sit down at the breakfast table. "I've been meaning to talk to you," I begin, playing for some more time. When in doubt, go for direct. And if she will be reluctant to tell me what I need to know, then I'll force her to.
She lowers her gaze to the steaming coffee. "Yeah...Me too."
For a long moment, there is an awkward silence. I wait for her to speak first. She must know I want to find out who and what she really is.
"Go ahead," I encourage. "You first."
"Okay," she agrees. Another pause. She lifts her hand, takes a sip of coffee, then sets her mug back on the table. Her jaw is tense.
Is it something bad she wants to tell me? Or is she trying to come up with a believable lie?
All the while, I keep my cool mask in place. This ability is one of the main benefits of growing up in a court full of backstabbers, whether they're royals, nobles, or friends of friends. So, keeping my mask on and acting normal is the least I could do.
"About last night," she says and pauses once again. "I'm not sure how it happened, but it happened."
I can't help but roll my eyes. Is this serious?
"And?" I ask slowly.
The question confuses her. "What do you mean? I was just starting."
"By stating the obvious. About how last night happened. What did you want to say? That it was a mistake?"
Cassidy looks at me with wide eyes.
"Listen, Cass. We're both grown-ups, are we not?" She nods. "We've enjoyed each other's company. That's all. No strings attached. I'm your boss, you're my employee. And right now, we're working together on something that's a lot bigger than whatever this awkwardness is."
I gesture toward her direction, her cheeks reddening.
"Now, this," I explain, "is totally unnecessary. We fucked, then we slept in the same bed. We still have shit to do. Are you saying you're not able to put last night aside, Cassidy?"
To my surprise, she nods, straightening her back. "Of course, I can."
"Good," I say, unsure whether I should be relieved or not. I drink my coffee. The tone I used, I have used it with plenty of women in my past. Though surely not as many as Grayden and Garren did. While I've occasionally indulged in getting a release, I didn't fuck around like a horny rabbit. Either way, this message is usually enough to get the point across.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" she asks, changing the topic.
Now that the air's clear, this could be the time for me to finally voice what's been bothering me since I went through her files. With everything that's been going on, I really can't afford to make more mistakes than I already did.
Taking a deep breath, I look her in the eye.
"Tell me about Tim," I say.
Instead of fear, I sense uncertainty.
As I suspect, she makes a face. "What about him?"
"Drop the pretense," I order, my eyes simmering with anger. "I know about the messages."
It serves me right for being so fascinated by her lips and curves. I should have acted faster last night. Then I would know what this damn computer thing held. I could have found more substantial evidence before...
Fuck.
Her facial features freeze. "Did you go through my things?" Her voice is cold and trembling.
“The computer’s my property,” I wave her off. "Tell me what the hell is going on."
"I don't owe you an explanation," she bites back.
"Bullshit!" I bark, smacking my fist on the table and making the china clink.
My claws slip out before I can stop them. Everything around me goes cold, and it takes her flinching for me to realize that the warmth in my cheeks is from the shadows wrapping me into their dark embrace. Despite the morning hour, the light in the room has gone out as if someone has pulled down the blinds.
Calm down, my wolf growls though he's itching to be let out.
It's when I see the horror written on her face that I regret what I did. Her fear is...unsettling.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, feeling the darkness hide in the various nooks and crannies around the apartment. My claws retreat, and I clear my throat.
"I'm sorry," I start softly, "for using that tone and treating you with such roughness. You'll do well to remember that I'm not human. You'll also do well to know your place. I'm your boss, so be sure not to lie to me if you want to keep your job on top of your life."
"What do you want from me?" she asks, her voice colder than steel.
"Answers."
At this point, I'm about to lose it. My gut suspects she's trying to protect someone who could be the key to our downfall. I've given her an easy exit from this. Maybe she just doesn't understand that this is the only chance she gets to clear her name.
I consider telling her more but decide against it. Instead, I rephrase the question. "Why did Tim send you those messages? What does he have on you?"
"It has nothing to do with you," she insists.
Tired of these games, I slam my hand against the wooden surface. My wolf peaks out as I snarl. "Enough!"
Despite her best efforts to control it, I can smell the sweet scent of terror. And fearing me. It's the best way to call out a liar.
So, she's definitely hiding something.
"Tim's my ex-boyfriend. We were together for two years," she says, which I already knew.
"At first, he didn't take the breakup well. He threatened to send my nudes to everyone in the company. For a while, he was struggling with alcohol, and some of those messages, he sent when he was at rock bottom."
That explains all the mood swings, my wolf allows.
"Eventually, he came around, and we became friends again," she continues. "I think he still loves me, but he also learned to respect the fact that we're not together anymore. He's one of the best programmers on my team, and it took us a while to get over our past, but we're in a pretty good place now."
The last batch of messages suggests otherwise, my wolf comments. I'm inclined to agree with him.
"He was the one to bring my attention to the radicals' killings," she explains as if reading my mind. "He insisted on calling someone, but I shut him down and went to find you instead. That's all. On Monday, I'll talk to him again to make sure he stays in line. There. That's it. Are you happy now?"
Fuck no.
My insides are burning like hot iron, yet I remain sitting behind the kitchen table and act all composed. For some reason, I want to tear this Tim character apart limb for limb. How dare he threaten Cassidy?
Isn't that what you did? my wolf muses.
Shut up, I snap.
Careful now, he warns softly. It looks like sweet Cassie has a way of bringing mood swings out of people. How else would you explain your rollercoaster behavior?
Our rollercoaster behavior, I counter. Or did you forget that you're also constantly changing your mind about her?
I know, he sighs. I really can't put my paw on this one.
You and me both, I agree.
"Do you know who the leak is?" I ask, aiming for directness as I narrow my eyes at her.
Her reaction is pretty predictable. She jumps to her feet and starts picking up the dishes from the table. Her hand trembles when she puts my plate in the sink.
"Graham, it was a mistake for us to spend the night together," she says, her voice once again thick with fear. "You just stormed into my life, messed with my mind, and took me the way you wanted. You're dangerous, paranoid, and psychotic. This is not okay."
Yes, Cassie, I am.
I am all that and much more.
"You didn't answer my question," I point out, my eyes tracking her every move.
Her nostrils flare. The muscles in her body tense up, and I realize that I pushed her too far.
"I don't know shit. I want to stop the murders just as much as you do. I don't need to be a part of your fucked up world to want to save innocent lives. It doesn't matter to me whether they're shifters, humans, or whatever else exists!" she snaps. "It's time for you to get the fuck out."
Instinctively, I know I can't stay any longer, or it will jeopardize the entire mission. If she's really not the leak, then I'll need her help finding it.
I hate being put on the spot and forced to make decisions under duress. But even I can recognize that she needs her space.
"I'll see you on Monday at work," I tell her as I get up. "Come straight up to my office after you're done with your regular job duties."
She scoffs. "Just like that?"
"Is there anything else you want before I go?" I ask and smirk as I suggestively run my eyes along her body. Even after last night, I could have her again right now.
A few hours in a bed weren't nearly enough. She doesn't look too bruised or raw, so maybe I should've listened to her when she was asking for more.
"Get out," she says, holding a kitchen knife in front of her like a sword.
I chuckle and take my leave. Before opening the door, I turn around.
"Try not to think about me too much," I taunt.
"You wish," she shoots back. "Arrogant asshole."
I laugh under my breath as I exit, closing the door behind me.
I take a deep breath of fresh air, allowing myself to believe that Cassie's not the leak. Her innocence fills me with unexpected happiness. The memory of the way she tasted and felt in my arms brings a ghost of a smile to my lips.
The radicals suck. Big time. But at least I don't need to deal with the threat alone.