Chapter 3

Seven years earlier, Cassandra was supposed to leave the Black Moon Pack territory with Alpha Brad begin a new life overseas. Brad waited at the airport until the very last flight, but Cassandra never arrived because her family home had already become an inferno.

Carly Jones had set the house on fire and taken her own life, leaving Cassandra and Billy trapped inside the burning building. Billy survived but suffered severe burns, while Cassandra escaped with serious injuries that permanently damaged her eyesight.

That terrible night destroyed everything Cassandra had planned. She had been supposed to meet Alpha Brad at the airport, but while he waited for her, she was being treated at the hospital after the fire.

He called countless times, but Cassandra could not answer a single call. Eventually, only his desperate texts remained on her damaged phone, messages she would later read through tears.

The next morning, Cassandra sat outside the operating room covered in soot, leaning against the wall while doctors worked on Billy. She barely noticed when someone gently tapped her shoulder.

“We found your phone at the fire scene,” someone told her.

The person placed the damaged phone beside her, and Cassandra stared at it without the courage to turn it on. She already feared what she would find waiting inside.

The surgery was still not over.

Cassandra curled her knees toward her chest and buried her face against them. Her eyes burned badly, and tears began falling before she even realized how much pain she was carrying.

Then something terrifying happened. Blood began mixing with her tears.

A nurse screamed and immediately pulled Cassandra away. “Oh my, your eyes!”

The fire had damaged her eyesight severely, leaving her dependent on thick glasses from that day forward. Billy survived as well, but the burn scars covering his hands remained a painful reminder of what they had lost.

Seven years later, Cassandra still lived with the consequences of that night. She had learned to move carefully, recognize familiar paths, and hide how much her damaged vision frightened her.

That evening, however, her glasses slipped from her face and shattered against the pavement.

Cassandra froze.

The world immediately became a blur of lights and shadows. She crouched down, searching helplessly for the broken frame, but her fingers found only pieces of cracked glass.

Be careful, Cassandra. You cannot see clearly Emery warned inside her mind.

“I know,” Cassandra whispered. “I just need to find an optical shop.”

She slowly stood and sensed someone nearby. She could not make out the person's face, but she believed the stranger might be able to help.

“Sir, excuse me,” Cassandra said softly. “Could you take me to the nearest optical shop? My glasses are broken. I need to get a new pair.”

The person remained silent.

Cassandra swallowed nervously and lowered her head. “Sorry,” she murmured, fumbling as she tried to move away.

Then the familiar voice behind her made her entire body freeze.

“Cassandra, what the hell are you doing? Crashing into me on purpose?”

Her steps stopped immediately.

It was Alpha Brad.

The powerful Alpha of the Black Moon Pack stood behind her, his presence unmistakable even though her vision could no longer show her his face clearly.

He gave a cold snort and stared at her. “Gotta say, you play blind pretty well. If you were an actress, I'd give you an award.”

Cassandra's fingers tightened around the broken glasses.

Brad's voice became crueler. “Too bad you don't have the guts. If you're trying to seduce me, you should at least have the nerve to feel me up a little. Who knows, maybe I'd even start to like you again.”

Pain spread through Cassandra's chest. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails bit into her palms, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break.

Even though she could not see his face clearly, she turned toward his voice.

“I'm sorry,” Cassandra said quietly. “I didn't mean to bump into you.”

She turned and walked away without waiting for his response.

Seven years had passed, and in Alpha Brad's eyes, Cassandra was no longer the woman he once loved. She was a liar who had abandoned him at the airport and shattered the future they had promised each other.

Cassandra kept walking, trying to listen to the traffic and follow the edge of the sidewalk. Without her glasses, every sound seemed closer and every light seemed dangerous.

Slow down, Emery warned.

“I have to get away from him,” Cassandra whispered.

A small cat suddenly run and brushed against her leg. Startled, Cassandra lost her balance and fell hard onto the pavement.

Pain exploded across her forehead.

Warm liquid trickled down her face.

She slowly raised a trembling hand and touched her forehead. When she pulled it away, her fingertips were covered in blood.

Before Cassandra could stand, a rough hand grabbed her arm and pulled her upright.

“Cassandra, are you fucking kidding me? Still putting on a show? What, you planning to die just so I'll look at you again?”

Brad's anger was still burning when his eyes finally landed on the blood running down her forehead.

He froze.

For several seconds, Alpha Brad simply stared at her, his expression changing from irritation to shock.

“You…”

Cassandra touched her forehead again and realized she was bleeding badly. She immediately pulled away from him.

“I'm fine,” she whispered. “Sorry, I didn't mean to. Don't come closer. You'll stain your clothes.”

Brad stared at her as she staggered backward, pressing one hand against her injured head.

Cassandra did not wait for him. She turned around and ran, desperate to escape before he could see how frightened and helpless she truly was.

Brad suddenly realized she was running toward the road. His expression changed completely, and panic surged through his Alpha instincts.

“Take one more step, I dare you. Cassandra, damn it, stop running. There's a car.”

Cassandra could not see the vehicle approaching.

Brad rushed after her and shouted with all the force in his voice, “Cassandra, there's a car. Stop!”