What kind of relationship do you have?

Elowen stood outside the door, her heart thudding painfully in her chest as she listened to the muffled voices inside. Her hands trembled at her sides, and she cursed herself for eavesdropping, but she couldn't help it. She had heard Aria's voice, soft and sad, asking Cassian why he accepted a mate. 

Is this why? Is this why he doesn't want me?

The thought clawed at her mind. Her body moved before she could think it through, her anger and frustration pushing her forward. She slammed the door open, the loud bang echoing through the room. Cassian and Aria both turned to her, surprise and confusion etched on their faces.

Elowen's heart pounded so loudly she could barely hear her own thoughts. Every cell of her being told her to turn around and run, to escape their judgmental gazes. But no—she couldn't back down now. If she did, she would never get the chance to confront him again.

Cassian's brows furrowed as his eyes locked onto her. His confusion shifted to annoyance. "What are you doing here?" he asked coldly, his voice sharp enough to cut.

Elowen swallowed hard, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. His aura was suffocating, and she could feel the power of an Alpha pressing down on her. She lifted her chin, trying to muster all the courage she had left. 

"Is that why you rejected me?" Her voice wavered, but she pushed through. "Is it…because of h-her?"

Aria's eyes widened as she turned to face Elowen fully. She glanced between her and Cassian, frowning in confusion. "What are you talking about?" Aria asked, her tone laced with uncertainty.

Cassian's expression darkened. He took a step forward, his presence looming over her. "What the hell are you saying?" His voice was sharp, but Elowen didn't flinch. She stood her ground, even as her heart screamed at her to flee.

"You rejected me because of her, didn't you?" Elowen spat, her voice rising with frustration and pain. She looked at Aria, feeling the bitterness grow inside her. "Because you want to be with her! Now that she has lost her mate you're seeing this as a chance." 

Aria's face twisted in sorrow. "Hey…you don't have to throw my loss in my face like that," she said, tears welling up in her eyes. "I just lost my mate. I never meant to come between you two. I'm still recovering..." Her voice broke as she spoke, and she turned away, her shoulders shaking with emotion.

Cassian's glare turned sharp as he fixed his gaze back on Elowen. "How dare you speak to her like that," he growled. His tone was colder than she had ever heard, laced with anger and disdain. "Do you have no shame at all?"

The sting of his rejection hit her all over again, harder this time. Her hands shook at her sides, and her vision blurred with unshed tears. "You still haven't answered me," she choked out. "I don't care about her tears or her pain. I want to know why you rejected me!" She could barely breathe, her chest tight with the weight of all her emotions. "Is it because of her? Because you want to be with her?"

Aria's lips trembled as she tried to speak, but she could only shake her head. "If that's what you think…I'm sorry. I'll leave right now." She cast one last sad glance at Cassian before running out of the room, her sobs echoing down the hall.

Cassian's body tightened, and he turned to follow her. Elowen's heart dropped as she watched him move to chase after Aria, but before he could take a step, she grabbed his wrist, holding him back with all her might.

"Don't you dare leave without answering me!" she cried. Her voice wavered, filled with both desperation and anger. "I deserve the truth. Is it because of her? Is that why you rejected me? So you could be with your friend instead?"

Cassian looked down at her hand gripping his wrist, then back up at her face. His gaze darkened, his eyes narrowing as he grabbed Elowen's jaw with a firm, almost bruising grip. 

He yanked her face closer to his, their breaths mingling as his cold voice sliced through the air. "How dare you question my friendship with Aria," he sneered. "Our relationship is pure. Don't you dare taint it with your petty jealousy."

Elowen winced in pain, her jaw aching under the pressure of his hold. She tried to pull back, her voice shaking as she whispered, "L-Let go…"

But Cassian only tightened his grip, his thumb digging into her skin. His eyes blazed with intensity, his aura suffocating. "Why do you care?" he growled. "What does it matter what kind of relationship we have? I already rejected you. So why the hell did you come back? To humiliate yourself more?"

Her eyes welled with tears, her throat constricting as she choked on her words. She couldn't speak, couldn't even breathe properly under the weight of his rage. He glared at her crying face for a long time, his eyes and face were unreliable. After a while, with an irritated sigh, he released her. 

Elowen stumbled back, her hand instinctively reaching up to her jaw, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She was terrified, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. Her entire body felt shaky and weak, but before she could collect herself, Cassian grabbed her wrist again.

He pushed her against the wall, pinning her there with his weight. She gasped, her wide, trembling eyes locking with his. His expression was cruel and his lips curled into a mocking smirk, but the gleam in his eyes made her blood run cold. There was something dangerous about the way he looked at her, like a predator playing with its prey. 

"What exactly are you trying to do?" he taunted. "Are you trying to secure a place in my pack? First, you spread your dirty scent all over my room, and now you're trying to make Aria feel bad so she'll leave, and you'll get what you want. Is that it?"

Elowen's heart clenched at his words, a fresh wave of hurt crashing over her. How could he think so disgustingly of her? She stared up at him, her lip trembling. "I'm not trying to secure anything," she whispered with pain. "I'm leaving tomorrow, and I don't care who you're with. I never asked to be in your room—Luna insisted."

Cassian's eyes flickered, his grip faltering for a brief moment as her words sank in. They stood there, staring at each other in silence. For the first time, Elowen saw a glimmer of something other than rage in his eyes—something unreadable—but it was gone before she could even comprehend it.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed him away with all the strength she had left, her hands trembling as they connected with his chest. He didn't resist. She stormed out, her eyes burning with unshed tears, but she refused to let him see them fall. 

"And I'm sorry for entering your room," she whispered under her breath as she disappeared into the hallway, leaving him standing alone, staring at the empty space where she had been just moments before.