Chapter 18 It was the mating day, with Cassandra Rivers wearing an embellished moon-white gown from a luxurious artisan. "Cassandra, this is the necklace passed down from generation to generation in the Rivers bloodline. Even though I have not given birth to you, I consider you my one and only daughter." Unlike Selene Rivers's bonding, where her blood-parents refused to spend even a single coin, Selene's blood-mother Diana Rivers did not leave any stone unturned for Cassandra; even the twin elder brothers of the Rivers family gifted a manor in their territory to her. Soon it was time to take the oaths, with Cassandra standing at the altar waiting for Adrian Blackthorn to arrive amidst pack guests who looked forward to the day. The feast hall, adorned with flowers and banners, felt suffocatingly silent except for the rustle of her dress when, even after waiting an hour, there were no signs of Adrian. Cassandra stood pale with Diana Rivers and her mate Jacob Rivers standing stiffly. "She got left at the altar, didn't she?" someone whispered. "What do you even know, the groom was Adrian Blackthorn, why would a Blackthorn marry an adopted daughter of Rivers?" another voice replied. "She belongs to the countryside so it's no surprise that she is being detested," another added. "What do you even know, she is a homewrecker and climbed into her sister's mate-bed. Now she is pregnant and Adrian is forced to bind with her; both of them are disgusting, thus they make a good couple. If only Selene had listened to me and let me deal with this bitch earlier, all this would have never happened." Jacob Rivers thought it was just malicious slander spread as rumors about Cassandra. He could only swallow the insult with a red face when he saw that the prestigious young she-wolf of the Stone household, Selene's childhood best friend Erica Stone, was present; thus all his anger was poured over Cassandra instead. "Are you going to make a joke of our household?! Call Adrian now!" Cassandra's lips trembled as she cried, looking at Diana Rivers's face for support. "Jacob-" "Shut up!" Diana tried to reason with him only to be scolded in front of all the guests; she too looked at Cassandra sternly. Glancing at her crystal for the hundredth time with no calls or messages, Cassandra reached for Adrian with trembling fingers only for the signal to cut automatically. He had blocked her. Astonished, Cassandra hailed the Blackthorn council hall, connecting to Adrian's uncle. "Uncle... Uncle, please, where is Adrian-" "Where is your nephew?!" Jacob Rivers interrupted, snatching the crystal from Cassandra's hand, wishing to show everyone solid proof of what kind of ruthless wolves the Blackthorns were. He turned the crystal to open-channel and recorded the exchange so he could ask for compensation from Adrian's grandsire. "What is the meaning of this?!!" Jacob gritted his teeth in rage. 9:42 pm p "Mr. Rivers," came Thomas Blackthorn's cold voice. "The mating is off. Adrian is not coming." Jacob's blood ran cold. "What do you mean, it's off? We are not some beggars! Blackthorns can't just call the binding off an hour before!" The silence that followed was deafening. Cassandra's hands clenched into fists, her carefully applied paint threatening to smudge as tears pricked her eyes. "Mating is off?" Her body quivered as Jacob continued shouting profanities. "Do you think this is some kind of a joke?! The Blackthorns-" "What about us? Didn't your good adopted daughter tell you that my father has already thrown Adrian out of the Blackthorn line?" "W-What?" Diana's face paled as she watched Jacob grow angrier by the second. "I am happy that Selene was not raised by you, husband and wife, or Moon knows how she would have been corrupted by your morals!" "Are you not even aware what kind of heinous deeds Cassandra has done? Conspiring against her own sister, she was already pregnant with Adrian's cub and became his mistress when he was bound!" "Cassandra a mistress..." "If our Blackthorn house can cast out Adrian-our own blood-for his stupidity and heartlessness, then what about a fucking orphaned girl from outside whom even your sire does not recognize? Jacob Rivers, your trading house is doomed; we will teach your sons a lesson they will never forget!" The link snapped with a sharp click, leaving Jacob Rivers staring at the crystal in disbelief. 9:42 pm P D Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!