Chapter 10: A new Guy

Cassandra Novalez

I whispered at the name etched into my mind like a curse:

Agatha.

It clung to me like a shadow, a whisper that refused to fade. Questions buzzed in my mind—too many and too wild to catch. My once-simple life felt unreal now, an intricate tangle of werewolves, vampires, and bonds that defied logic.

The sharp pull in my chest returned, overwhelming and inexplicable. It wasn’t just Vander. It was something deeper, something I didn’t fully understand but couldn’t ignore.

I paced the room, the faint glow of my laptop casting long shadows across the walls. Sabel had stopped by earlier, her voice laced with exasperation.

“Cas, how many days are you planning to lock yourself in here? It’s semester break! Go out, shop, live a little. I’ll be in the library.”

I nodded absently, barely acknowledging her as she left. As soon as the door closed, I was back at it—searching, reading, obsessing.

Is it possible for a werewolf to have two mates?

Every result told me the same thing:

No

Werewolves had one mate—just one. Their bond was absolute, their instincts unerring. So why did Vander keep gravitating toward me? Was I some cruel echo of Agatha, a phantom meant to haunt him with memories of his lost mate?

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I clenched my fists. “This is insane,” I whispered. But even as I said it, I couldn’t stop myself from scrolling through page after page, searching for an answer that made sense.

Vander Tyler Laurent

Pain tore through me, relentless and consuming. It felt like claws raking across my chest, shredding me from the inside out. My wolf howled, desperate to break free, to destroy something—anything—to drown out the emptiness.

“Rrraaaaaaahhhh!” The roar ripped from my throat as I slammed my fist into the stone wall. The impact cracked the surface, sending a spiderweb of fractures across it. Blood smeared my knuckles, but the sting was a relief compared to the storm raging within me.

“Van!” Salva’s voice pierced through the haze, sharp and insistent. But I ignored her. I had to. If she came any closer, I wouldn’t be able to hold back.

“You’re hurting yourself!” Another voice—Vince’s—echoed behind her, laced with panic.

I didn’t care. Nothing mattered. Not the ruined dungeon, not the glass shards cutting into my palms, not even the blood pooling on the floor.

"Bring me something to-- aaaaarrhh! Kill!"

Everything is in chaos.

And then I smelled her.

That scent—sweet, warm, and infuriatingly familiar—wrapped around me like a noose. My wolf stirred, instantly quieting.

“Van…”

No. It couldn’t be.

I turned, vision swimming, and there she was. Cassandra. Standing in the doorway, her soft brown eyes wide with concern.

“Stay away!” I roared, my voice a guttural snarl. My body convulsed, another wave of pain crashing over me. I throw the vase few inches close to her ear. It wasn't my intention.

Fuck! Who brought her in!

She didn’t flinch. Instead, she stepped closer, her scent enveloping me, soothing the chaos. My wolf leaned into it, but the man in me recoiled.

“Van, please.” Her voice was steady, a soft plea that broke through the storm.

Before I could stop her, she closed the distance between us. Her arms wrapped around me, her touch like a balm against the fire raging inside me.

“I’m here,” she whispered, her words trembling with emotion.

The fight drained out of me. My knees buckled, and I sank to the floor, pulling her down with me.

“Agatha…” The name slipped out before I could stop it.

Pain crossed her face.

“No, Van. It’s me. Cassandra.” Her shakinh hands moved in slow, soothing circles on my back.

Her words were a lifeline, grounding me as the darkness closed in. I gave in to it, letting the calm of her presence pull me under.

Cassandra Novalez

Three days.

It had been three days since Vander collapsed in my arms, and I hadn’t left his side.

“He’s drained,” Draco explained when I pressed him for answers. “He’s been resisting too much for too long. It’s a miracle he hasn’t completely lost himself.”

The weight of his words settled over me like a stone. Vander’s pain wasn’t just his own anymore—it was mine, too. Whatever bond tethered us together made his suffering unbearable to watch.

And then, finally, he stirred.

“Van?” I leaned closer, my voice barely above a whisper. His eyes fluttered open, unfocused and heavy with exhaustion. Relief washed over me, and I smiled despite myself.

But the warmth in his gaze vanished as soon as recognition set in.

“What’s she doing here?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the fragile quiet.

I froze, the sting of his words hitting harder than I expected.

“She’s been taking care of you!” Salva snapped, her tone protective.

“I don’t need her,” he muttered, turning his back to me.

The dismissal was like a slap to the face. I blinked rapidly, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“It’s fine,” I said quietly, rising to my feet. “I’m leaving.”

The cold air outside stung my cheeks as I wandered aimlessly, trying to outrun the ache in my chest.

“Hey. Are you crying?”

The voice startled me, smooth and laced with amusement. I turned to see a man leaning casually against a sleek Ferrari. His sharp features and easy smirk immediately set me on edge.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice wary.

“Melzedeik,” he said, his grin widening. “Vander’s cousin.”

Before I could respond, another voice cut through the night like a whip.

“Zede, leave her alone.”

I turned to see Vander storming toward us, his eyes blazing with fury.

Melzedeik chuckled, unfazed. With a smirk, he grabbed my hand and tugged me toward his car.

“Like you said, dear cousin, we’re leaving.”

“Let her go!” Vander’s roar echoed behind us, but Melzedeik was already sliding into the driver’s seat, his laughter filling the small space.

“So,” he said, casting a sideways glance at me, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “You’re the one driving Vander insane.”

I stared at him, my pulse pounding in my ears. For the second time that day, I wondered what the hell I had gotten myself into.