Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord-Chapter 56: Cassie

Jayden's pulse skyrocketed. His breathing hitched. And he suddenly felt this aphrodisiac effect wash over him.

And then—without warning—Penelope's hand slid onto his lap.

Jayden froze. His brain glitched. Her hand pressed gently... then slowly began to move upward, trailing along his thigh... higher... higher, heading straight for his crouch.

His entire body locked up. He couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Could barely breathe. He sat there, paralyzed, his mind flashing red warning signs as her fingers inched closer to the top.

But right before her hand could reach its destination—

"Mum! What the hell are you doing?!"

Cassandra's voice rang out like a thunderclap, shattering the spell.

Penelope jolted back, blinking rapidly as if waking from a daze. "Huh?" she said innocently, glancing between Jayden and her daughter. "What's the matter, sweetie?"

Cassandra stood frozen at the doorway, holding a half-empty glass bottle filled with golden liquid. Her mouth hung open in shock, she had seen it all. How her mum sat seductively with Jayden, and how her hands almost touched his little brother.

"What's the matter? Are you serious right now?!" Cassandra stormed in, eyes wide. "You were—you were all over him! You were literally—Mom! What the hell?!"

Penelope blinked again, looking genuinely confused... or maybe just playing dumb. "Oh, come on... he didn't seem to mind."

She turned back to Jayden with a playful smirk.

Jayden, meanwhile, was still stuck in a daze—face flushed, heart hammering. Their eyes met... and Penelope's gaze softened, her own cheeks turning faintly pink as realization finally settled in.

"...Oh."

Cassandra groaned in frustration, stomping closer. "I found this in your room," she held up the glass bottle accusingly. "You've been drinking again, haven't you?"

Penelope glanced at the bottle and gave a sheepish shrug. "Maybe just a little..."

Cassandra sighed heavily. "Mum... you know you can't handle vodka anymore. You promised you'd cut back."

Penelope giggled, standing up unsteadily. "Pfft. I'm fine. Healthier than most newborn babies. And for the record, I've been drinking long before you were even a glimmer in my eye."

"You're not fine," Cassandra grumbled, setting the bottle down. She grabbed her mother's arm gently but firmly. "Come on, let's get you sobered up before you make things more awkward."

Penelope pouted but let herself be guided away. "Aw, but I was having fun~" she groaned as Cassandra dragged her out the room.

Jayden just sat there, speechless. His mind reeled. He couldn't believe it...

Penelope had been drunk the entire time.

But she'd seemed so normal at first... at least until she... began to seduce him.

Jayden kept pondering the mystery behind everything that had just happened a few moments ago. How she had approached him, how she had touched him, and how she had almost 'touched' him.

He was also surprised by how Cassandra walked in and took her away like it wasn't the first time it'd happened.

Though, he was a bit relieved to know that when Penelope was seducing him, she was actually drunk. If she wasn't, things would be really awkward.

And if Cassandra hadn't walked in just in time, Penelope hands would have found it's way to his zip. And he didn't know what would have happened next.

He exhaled deeply, his face still warm. "That... was close."

As he sat processing everything, Cassandra returned a few minutes later, looking tired but relieved.

"I'm so sorry, Jayden," she said softly, walking back over. "I didn't realize she'd been drinking before you showed up. With my mum... the alcohol doesn't hit her right away—it kicks in like, ten, fifteen minutes after."

Jayden chuckled faintly. "Ah... so that's why she seemed totally normal at first?"

Cassandra nodded with an exhausted smile. "Exactly. It's... kinda her weird quirk. Her system's slow to metabolize alcohol. But when it hits... well... you saw." she sighed

"I'm really sorry about everything, Jayden." she added. "I hope you're not offended with her, she didn't mean to do or say all that."

Jayden shook his head. "No, I'm not. I understand... my mother actually had this same issue." he chuckled

Cassandra's eyes lit up. "No way."

Jayden nodded. "Yeah. She'd always hide it from me, though. She would only drink at night after she thought I was asleep. Then she'd head into the woods at dawn, high as a kite... come back hours later with some giant beast on her back."

Cassandra burst out laughing. "That's awesome!"

Jayden laughed too, shaking his head. "I swear, I always thought the booze made her a better hunter."

Cassandra exhaled. "My mum takes it merely to drown her sorrows of being a single mum. But she claims to drink Vodka because it's the strongest thing she'd ever had after rum," she chuckled, causing Jayden to burst into laughter.

Cassandra wiped a tear of laughter from her eye. "God... parents, right?"

"Yeah... parents." Jayden's smile dimmed a little, his gaze growing distant.

Cassandra noticed the subtle shift and gently reached out. "Hey... you okay?"

Jayden blinked, snapping out of it. "Yeah. I'm fine." He stood up, grabbing the box from the table. "Is your mom gonna be okay?"

Cassandra nodded. "Yeah. She just needs a nap."

"Good," Jayden said with a smile.

Cassandra raised a brow. "You're leaving already?" she asked

"You're leaving already?" Cassandra tilted her head.

Jayden smiled slyly. "Do you want me to?"

Cassandra raised an eyebrow. "And what if I said no?"

Jayden grinned. "Then I'd ask... what do you like to do for fun?" he asked, quickly equipping all the skills and knowledge he'd acquired from watching romantic movies.

Showtime.

Cassandra giggled. "Oh? I like to read novels... watch movies... basically just slack off."

Jayden's grin widened. "Perfect. I happen to be a slacker in training myself. Maybe... you could teach me a few more tricks?" he winked.

Cassandra laughed again. "Wow, Romeo. Didn't know you could be this bold."

Jayden shrugged playfully. "I have my moments."

"You sure you're not secretly drunk too?" she teased.

Jayden shook his head. "No, i don't take alcohol. It makes one vulnerable," he replied

Cassandra nodded thoughtfully. "True."

A comfortable silence stretched between them. Then—

"I—"

"Jayden—"

They spoke at the same time, both pausing awkwardly.

Cassandra giggled nervously. "You go first."

Jayden smiled softly. "No... you."

Cassandra hesitated, then took a deep breath. "Jayden... would you... like to come to my room?" she asked. Her face turned beet red. She looked anywhere but at him.

Jayden's heart skipped. "I'd love to," he replied, his voice low and sincere.

Cassandra exhaled like a weight had lifted. "Okay... follow me." she smiled, elated that Jayden had accepted her invite.

She turned, leading him out of the room, her steps light and quick. Jayden followed, clutching the box of beast crystals like treasure, his mind a whirlwind.

He would have put it in his inventory, but if Cassandra were to notice that the box was suddenly gone, he didn't know how he would explain himself.

They passed through the marble hall, into the grand sitting room, then toward the sweeping staircase. Cassandra climbed, pausing halfway up to glance over her shoulder with a shy smile.

Jayden smiled back, following her upward—knowing full well... he was about to step into uncharted territory. He already had two pending relationships, but who said he couldn't add one more to the equation?

Besides, he'd have to be the biggest simp in the world to refuse the chance to get close to a beautiful girl.

So he followed Cassandra up the stairs and into the hallway, each step echoing softly beneath their feet. She glanced back at him once or twice, her golden hair shimmering under the soft chandelier lights, a subtle smile lingering at the corners of her lips.

She was nervous, yet excited. She had never invited a boy to her room before, Jayden would be the first.

And that made her anticipate how it would end up. It was exhilarating.

After passing by a few doors and elegant paintings on the wall, she pushed open a door painted in a delicate lavender hue. "Welcome to my lair," she teased.

Jayden stepped inside—and for a moment, just stood there, taking it all in.

The room was... beautiful. Elegant yet undeniably hers.

The walls were painted a muted lilac, accented with strings of fairy lights draped across the ceiling like soft stars. On one wall hung a gallery of framed posters—Casablanca, Roman Holiday, La La Land, and even an old Broadway production of Phantom of the Opera—all tinted in purple tones that made them shimmer beneath the fairy lights.

A plush, deep violet chaise lounge sat under a wide bay window, where soft moonlight spilled onto a small bookshelf overflowing with classic novels and music scores. Across the room, a white antique writing desk hosted a record player, its arm resting atop a Mozart vinyl. Scattered across the bed were pillows of every shade of purple, some shaped like stars, others heart-shaped.

And on the shelves beside the desk? Rows and rows of CDs, alphabetized, labeled, arranged meticulously—Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin... names Jayden recognized instantly.

"Wow..." Jayden breathed softly. "It's like... cozy royalty."

Cassandra laughed, perching herself gracefully atop the edge of her bed. "Glad you approve."

He moved to the velvet loveseat opposite her and sank into it with a content sigh. "Yeah. You really love purple, huh?"

She chuckled, toying with the corner of a pillow. "It's calming. And it makes everything feel... mine." She shrugged playfully. "Besides, what's life without a little extra color?"

Jayden smiled, watching how easily she seemed to melt into the space around her. "It suits you."

For a few beats, they sat in comfortable silence, the faint crackle of the record player filling the air as a gentle piano melody spilled from the speakers.

"Did you... decorate this all yourself?" he asked after a moment.

Cassandra nodded proudly. "Most of it, yeah. Mom helped with the furniture, but the posters, the records, the lights? All me." She leaned back on her hands, gazing up at her ceiling. "Sometimes I just lie here at night, stare at the lights, and imagine I'm under the real stars."

Jayden's lips curled. "Sounds peaceful."

"It is." She paused, glancing over at him. "But it also gets lonely."

The softness in her voice pulled at something deep inside him. He didn't know why, but... he understood.

"I get that," he murmured. "My room back at when I was a kid. I used to cover the ceiling with glow-in-the-dark stars. Pretend the roof wasn't even there."

Her eyes lit up. "Really? That's adorable."

Jayden chuckled. "Adorable's not exactly what I was going for."

She giggled, swinging her legs playfully off the bed. "Well, tough luck, Romeo."

He smirked. "There you go calling me that again."

"Fits you," she teased, tossing him a chocolate from a nearby jar.

He caught it midair, biting into it with a grin. "All right, Juliet."

Her laughter echoed through the room.

Then, his gaze drifted back to her CD shelf. "Is that... Beethoven's Ninth?" he asked, standing to get a closer look.

"Sure is." Cassandra stood too, joining him at the shelf. "I've got all of his symphonies. And Mozart, Chopin, Debussy. Even some Vivaldi if you're into that."

Jayden's eyebrows raised, genuinely impressed. "I didn't know you were a classical fan."

"Neither did anyone else," she admitted shyly. "Most people expect me to blast pop music or whatever. But..." She trailed her fingers along the spines of the CDs. "Classical makes me feel... timeless. Like nothing matters except the music."

Jayden exhaled slowly. "Yeah... exactly. It's like... the only thing that stays beautiful no matter how ugly the world gets." he chuckled. Ever since he was little, Jayden loved classical music, it always helped in calming down his nerves.

Their eyes met. Cassandra's lips parted softly. "Yeah... you really get it."

"I really do," Jayden said quietly.

They lingered there in silent, standing close—inches apart as the soft strains of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata wrapped around them like an invisible cocoon. The dim fairy lights overhead flickered gently, casting a lavender glow across the room. It felt like they were alone in their own little universe, bound by the delicate thread of music.

Cassandra was the first to pull away. She turned her face aside, clearing her throat with a playful smirk. "Ahem! So, Jayden..." She plopped down onto her bed, biting into a chocolate bar. "What do you like to do for fun?"

Jayden dropped onto the couch across from her, his hands behind his head, relaxed. "Nothing much, really. I like playing video games... watching movies..." He paused, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "And... hunting."

Cassandra giggled, quirking a brow. "You said that last part like it's a chore."

He shook his head. "Nah. Hunting's actually my favorite hobby." His gaze grew distant. "It makes me feel... closer to nature, I guess."

She grinned. "So what do you hunt? Rabbits? Squirrels?"

Jayden chuckled softly. "Think... bigger."

"Ahhh." Cassandra leaned forward, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Wolves? Boars?"

"Something like that," he replied slyly, lips curling into a playful grin.

She shook her head, laughing. "Trying to impress me, huh?"

He shrugged, a smirk dancing on his lips. "Maybe."

She tossed a pillow at him, giggling. "You said you watch movies. What kind?"

Jayden leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. "Mostly fantasy. Adventure. But recently..." His voice softened. "I've been watching romance. I... kinda find it captivating."

Cassandra's face lit up instantly. "You got that right! Romance is the best."

Jayden grinned. "I think my favorite so far is... The Vampire Diaries."

Her hands flew to her mouth, excitement sparking in her eyes. "No way! Me too! I LOVE Elena."

"Yeah, she's cool," Jayden chuckled. "But Damon's my favorite."

Cassandra sighed dreamily. "Sometimes I wish my life was like Elena's."

Jayden frowned, cocking his head. "Why would you wanna wish for that? You realize she lost almost everyone she loved, right?" He laughed softly.

"I know, but..." She gazed up at her ceiling, wistful. "At least she's free. And not to mention... she's a vampire. Come on, Jayden, what's cooler than that?"

He exhaled slowly, leaning back. "I get that. All my life, I was... kind of a slave to revenge." His voice turned quieter. "Honestly... I still am. But almost dying made me realize—freedom doesn't come from chasing ghosts. It comes from letting go of what's holding you back."

Cassandra chuckled wryly. "You want me to let go of my mom? Yeah... I don't think that's happening."

Jayden blinked in surprise. "Wait... what? I didn't mean... I didn't know you were talking about your mom." He leaned forward. "Why do you feel like she's holding you back?"

Her expression softened. "It's not that she's holding me back. But sometimes... it feels like I'm not in control of my life, you know?"

Jayden tilted his head, a knowing smile touching his lips. "Oh, trust me. I know exactly what that feels like."

Cassandra let out a breath, fiddling with her pillow. "Mom's been my only parent since... forever. I never knew my dad. She barely talks about him." Her voice lowered. "All she ever said was... he left her. Betrayed her." She swallowed hard. "And I see the pain in her eyes. Every day. And sometimes I can't help but wonder if... if I'm the reason. Like maybe... I was a mistake."

Jayden's chest tightened. He stood, walking toward her, crouching in front of where she sat. He gently took her hands in his. "Hey... don't ever say that." His voice was steady, sincere. "No one's a mistake. Everyone's born for a reason. Everyone's got a purpose. A fate."

Cassandra blinked down at him, her lips trembling into a shy smile. "Wow... where'd you get that from?"

Jayden chuckled softly. "My mom."

Then his gaze dimmed. "You know, I never knew my father either. Mom said he went on an expedition... to another planet, and he never came back."

Cassandra's eyes widened, heartbreak flickering in her gaze. "Oh my God, Jayden... I'm so sorry. Here I was rambling about my problems... I didn't even think..."

He smiled gently. "It's okay. It's all in the past now. And I'm looking for to future, while making sure to live in the present." he said

He squeezed her hands. "And besides... you don't really know the full story. Who's to say you weren't born out of love?"

She sighed deeply. "I've tried asking. Trust me. But every time... she just pats my head, cuddles me, says everything's fine. But it's not fine, Jayden. It's like... she's trying to protect me from a truth I don't even know."

Jayden let out a thoughtful hum. "She's probably scared. You're all she's got. Maybe she's afraid of losing you... like she lost him."

Cassandra blinked, her eyes softening. "That... actually makes sense." She chuckled. "Are you a therapist or something?"

Jayden laughed. "No. But... my mom was kinda the same. She always looked lonely. Even when she had us. It was as if there was still something... or someone missing. And I could tell. I could always tell."

Cassandra smiled wistfully. "Our moms sure do have a lot in common."

Jayden grinned. "Yeah... but I think we do too."

Her brows rose, surprised. But instead of blushing, she smirked playfully. "Haha! Nice try, Romeo. But you're not sweeping me off my feet that easily."

Jayden sighed dramatically. "Oh, bummer. I didn't think I'd have to try so hard... considering you admire me."

Cassandra's jaw dropped, her cheeks flushing instantly. "Wha—!" She grabbed a pillow and shoved him back. "I can't believe you remembered that! You're the worst!"

Jayden fell backward, laughing so hard his sides ached. "Hahaha! You should've seen the look on your face. So priceless." he muttered, getting back on his feet.

"You're evil." Cassandra groaned, hiding her face. "I hate you."

Jayden wiped a tear from his eye. "Yeah... I get that a lot." he said, walking back to the seat.

She peeked at him through her fingers, then dropped her hands, her expression softening. "Hey, Jayden... earlier, when you were talking about your mother. You mentioned something like 'Us'. Do you... have siblings?"

His smile faded. His voice lowered. "I had... a sister. But she's... she's gone."

Cassandra instinctively covered her mouth with her palm. "Jayden, I'm so sorry." she muttered, tears welling.

Jayden chuckled darkly. "Don't be... it's fate that decided that we won't be together."

Cassandra's breath hitched. She stood without thinking, walked over, and wrapped him in a tight, warm hug.

Jayden froze as her arms circled his neck—his face pressing softly into her large breasts.

He was stunned... but excited.