Chapter 3

A year ago, I'd gone back to Cascade University to visit my old advisor.

Cassian happened to be on campus that same day, working the career fair for Ironwood.

I remembered a girl at their booth, running around, helping everyone, laughing at everything. She had a big, easy laugh.

Later, Cassian told me the booth had been staffed by student volunteers.

I'd teased him. "Careful, Mr. Project Manager. All those cute young things. Don't let one of them run off with your soul."

He'd actually gotten annoyed. He'd wrinkled his nose like I'd said something gross.

"Young girls? What's so great about them? They chatter nonstop. They drive me up the wall."

I'd believed him. I'd even felt a little smug.

Not even six months later, the man who couldn't stand young girls was sleeping with one.

I took screenshots of everything. Valerie's transfers. Her profile page. The photo of the hotel they'd stayed in. Even the sappy messages they'd sent each other. I put it all in one folder and labeled it what it was: evidence.

Then I called Marlowe.

Marlowe Hayes and I had been best friends since we were pups. She was the pack's legal counsel, and she was also Gideon's wife.

Cassian had left in Gideon's truck, so I needed the dashcam footage. When I told her what I wanted, she didn't sound surprised at all. Within minutes, she'd pulled that morning's recording.

The truck had picked Cassian up outside our building and headed straight for the airport. For a while, nothing happened.

Then Cassian's phone rang.

He answered, and a girl's voice came through the speaker, sweet as syrup. "Provider! My flight lands at one! What about you?"

Cassian chuckled, low and warm. "Mine lands at two, Pup."

"Aww. Then I'll just have to wait for you at the airport." She let out a pouty little whimper. "Buy me a coffee when you get here, okay?"

His phone chimed.

"A coffee's like five bucks!" she protested. "Why'd you send me a hundred and forty-three? Send it back!"

"The rest is for snacks," he said fondly.

"Five is five! I'm a woman of principle."

The call ended. In the driver's seat, Gideon glanced over at him. "So you and Valerie. Does Alpha Tilly know?"

Cassian paused. "No. And I don't see why she needs to. We're all adults here. You know how it is."

Gideon laughed. "Man. And here I thought you and Tilly were joined at the hip."

Cassian went quiet.

A few minutes passed. Then he spoke again.

"Honestly? I used to love her. I thought I couldn't live without her."

"But you stay with someone long enough, and... I don't know. Tilly's gotten so dull. It's all pack business, ledgers, and rules. That's it. That's her."

"She's seven years older than me, and honestly, she's just... heavy. Serious all the time. I don't feel anything anymore."

"You know what it's like, lying next to her every night? It's like clocking in. My wolf doesn't even stir."

"Once a person gets that stiff, the spark's gone. Around her, my wolf just wants to yawn."

"Val's different. She's young. She's bright, she's fun. When I'm with her, I feel like I've come alive again."

They said more after that, but I didn't catch it.

I'd stopped listening.

All I'd heard was that he'd met Valerie, and that with her, he felt alive again.

So what were the ten years he'd spent with me?

Had he been walking around dead the whole time?