Aprils POV
The next few days at the bar were a blur of laughter, the clink of glasses, and the ever-present hum of conversation. I fell into a rhythm: serving drinks, listening to stories, and keeping an ear out for any whispers of rogue activity. Snow was always at the back of my mind, her senses merging with mine, ready for any hint of danger.
It had been a week since the stranger-tall, broad-shouldered, with eyes that held the intensity of a storm-had last appeared. The way he had leaned over the bar, his voice low and velvet-smooth as he asked, “What are you?” sent a shiver down my spine. Even now, I could feel the prickle of unease at the memory.
“He’s dangerous,” Snow warned, her voice laced with a growl.
“I know,” I had whispered under my breath.
It was late, and the crowd was thinning out as the night edged closer to dawn. My fingers brushed over the polished wood of the counter, grounding myself as I scanned the faces. Humans are all blissfully unaware of the supernatural currents beneath the surface of their world.
Sometimes, I wish I was like them, unaware of the evils that walk the earth. I am not calling myself evil, but most werewolves are. Take a look at my ex-mate, for example. But then there come souls as sweet as Dylan. Oh, Dylan, How I missed him.
“I bet you’re intrigued with the stranger,” Snow teased, her voice softening. I knew she was trying to distract me from thinking about Dylan. The thoughts of Dylan were now replaced with those of the handsome stranger. There was no point in lying to her. The stranger had left an imprint, one that lingered despite my best efforts to brush it off, and I fucking hated it.
The sudden creak of the front door had my body tensing. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was-his presence was a wave, rolling over me, heavy and commanding. The chatter in the bar seemed to dip as he stepped in, his eyes finding mine almost immediately.
“Relax, April,” Snow whispered, but I could feel her shifting uneasily. He was an Alpha-I had known it the moment he first spoke. The raw power he exuded was enough to set every nerve in my body on edge.
I straightened, wiping an imaginary smudge from the counter as he approached. His scent-woodsy and something darker-wrapped around me before he even spoke.
“You’re still here,” he said, lips quirking into a half-smile that was more challenging than greeting.
“Last I checked, I work here,” I replied, forcing my voice to remain steady. Snow rumbled approvingly at the confidence in my tone. His eyes, a striking silver-blue, lingered on mine, searching.
“Name’s Cassian,” he offered, breaking the silence.
You mean Alpha Cassian? I thought but did not say out loud.
“April,” I replied, even though I was sure he already knew that. His gaze shifted, narrowing slightly as if he were trying to solve a puzzle. He didn’t know what I was, and that gnawed at him.
“Interesting place for someone like you,” he said, a note of curiosity slipping through his carefully controlled expression.
I arched an eyebrow, masking my racing thoughts with a practiced smirk. “Someone like me?”
Cassian’s eyes sparkled with an intensity that sent an electric jolt down my spine. He leaned in slightly, the polished wooden counter between us feeling like a paper-thin barrier. His presence was suffocating, captivating, and undeniably dangerous.
“Someone who doesn’t belong,” he said, voice low, his words laced with intrigue as if daring me to reveal more.
In a way, he was right; I did not belong, but I was not going to show him that.
I swallowed, my heart thumping wildly against my ribs as I fought for composure. Snow stirred, her presence in my mind strong and bristling.
“Stay alert,” she cautioned, a low growl vibrating through our shared consciousness. The edge in her tone mirrored the prickling tension that seeped into my limbs.
I forced a smile, channeling every ounce of nonchalance I could muster. “I’m just a girl trying to make ends meet,” I replied, my fingers moving automatically as I wiped down the bar. The routine grounded me and kept me from showing the nerves that coiled tight in my stomach. But Cassian’s sharp, unwavering eyes told me he wasn’t buying it.
“Is that so?” he mused, leaning back just enough to give me a moment’s reprieve. His gaze still lingered, probing, like he was piecing together an enigma he couldn’t quite crack. “I’ve heard stories,” he continued, the corner of his mouth curving into a smirk. “About those who hide in plain sight.”
My chest tightened, and Snow let out another warning growl. My eyes darted to the exit, measuring the distance. I could feel the sweat on my palms, but I kept my expression neutral.
“Sounds like the beginning of a fairy tale,” I said, forcing a light laugh. “Or maybe it’s just a terrible joke.”
Cassian’s smirk deepened, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Oh, I think I’ve found a story worth following,” he said, his tone casual but the challenge clear.
The air around us thickened, charged with something that made my pulse race and my instincts scream at me to run. But there was something else, too-a flicker of curiosity I hadn’t felt in months. It unsettled me and made Snow’s hackles rise even higher.
“April, table three needs a refill,” Michael’s voice broke the moment, snapping the tension in half. I blinked, the noise of the bar rushing back in like a flood. Grabbing the tray, I moved away, grateful for the space but acutely aware of Cassian’s gaze following me, trailing like a shadow.
“We need to be cautious,” Snow murmured as I navigated through the crowd, the weight of Cassian’s stare pressing against my back.
I nodded, just a subtle tilt of my head as I set drinks down at the table. I chanced a glance over my shoulder, meeting his eyes across the room. There was that smile again-knowing, teasing, and far too tempting.
Whatever game he played, I had to be smarter, which meant always being two steps ahead. I was dumb once, and that got my parents killed, never again.
My survival depended on staying several steps ahead of the Alpha, whose attention I couldn’t afford yet somehow craved.