36

Cassius POV
The night air was cold against my skin as I stepped into the street. My fists clenched at my sides, my mind racing.
She was infuriating. Stubborn, guarded, impossible to read. And yet, I couldn’t stay away.
As I walked, her words echoed in my head.
“I don’t need you at all.”
Maybe she didn’t. But I needed her.
—
Back at the pack’s estate, the usual chaos awaited me. Wolves arguing over border disputes, rogues encroaching on our territory, and the never-ending responsibilities of being an Alpha.
But none of it mattered.
All I could think about was April.
Her strength, her fire, the way she looked at me like I was just another man instead of the Alpha I was. She didn’t fear me. She didn’t revere me. She saw me.
And that terrified me more than anything.
—
Later that night, as I stood on the estate’s balcony, looking out over the forest, I let my thoughts wander.
I’d made mistakes before. Hurt people I cared about. Pushed them away in the name of duty and control.
But April… she was different.
She was the one thing I couldn’t control, couldn’t predict.
And I was starting to realize that maybe I didn’t want to.
For the first time in years, I felt something other than duty or obligation. Something real, raw, and terrifying.
And I knew I couldn’t stay away from her. Not anymore.
No matter what it cost me.
—–
The weight of leadership never left my shoulders. It was a constant, pressing force, an invisible tether pulling me in every direction. After walking away from April-again-I threw myself into the duties of my role, forcing myself to focus on the pack.
At least, that was the plan.
I couldn’t let her distract me. Not now. Not when everything around me was threatening to spiral out of control.
—
By dawn, the estate was a flurry of activity.
The rogues had been encroaching on our borders for weeks, testing our patience and defenses. Gabriel, my Beta, stood at the head of the pack’s training ground, barking orders to the younger wolves as they sparred.
“Cassius,” he called out as I approached, his tone clipped but respectful. “We’ve got another report from the southern perimeter. The scouts found fresh tracks, too organized to be loners.”
I nodded, my jaw tightening. “They’re planning something.”
Gabriel crossed his arms, his sharp blue eyes scanning the horizon. “You think they’re trying to bait us?”
“It’s possible.” I glanced at the sparring wolves, their movements sharp but not nearly disciplined enough for what we might be up against. “But we can’t afford to wait and see. Double the patrols and have the warriors rotate every four hours. I want updates the second anything changes.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Gabriel turned back to the pack, his booming voice cutting through the morning air. I took a moment to observe him. He was a solid second-in-command, loyal and capable, but even he couldn’t take on the burden of leading this pack. That was mine to bear alone.
—
Inside the estate, the council awaited me.
They were already seated in the grand hall, their expressions grim. The council was made up of elders, wolves who had served under my father before me. While I respected their experience, their constant second-guessing sometimes grated on me.
“What’s the situation?” I asked as I walked in, my voice calm and controlled.
The oldest among them, Eamon, nodded gravely. “The rogues are getting bolder. We believe they’re planning an assault on the southern territory. Their numbers are growing.”
I met his gaze, my eyes narrowing. “How many?”
“Enough to put pressure on our borders,” he replied. “They’ve been circling for weeks now, but we’ve seen more coordinated activity recently.”
“Do we know what they want?”
“No,” Gabriel spoke up, joining us with a grim expression. “But they’re not attacking directly. It’s almost like they’re waiting for something.”
I stood still for a moment, my thoughts racing. This wasn’t just a rogue pack looking to claim territory. There was something more behind this. It felt like they were testing us-waiting for an opening.
“We can’t just wait for them to strike first,” I said firmly. “Prepare the warriors. I want full-scale training for the next week. Every wolf will be ready.”
The council members exchanged uneasy looks, but no one objected.
“We’ll need more supplies for that,” Eamon added. “Food, weapons, healing herbs-if you’re planning to go to war, we’ll need resources.”
I nodded. “I’ll handle it,”
The meeting was a blur after that, the council’s words barely filtering through my focus. I didn’t have time to care about their disagreements or minor concerns. The rogues were my priority, and I couldn’t afford distractions.
But even as I dove back into my duties, I couldn’t shake the image of April from my mind.
It gnawed at me like an itch I couldn’t scratch. I had to keep reminding myself that I couldn’t afford to care about her.
She was just another complication in an already complicated life.
—
Later, when the sun began to dip behind the mountains, I again found myself on the training grounds, overseeing the wolves’ progress. Gabriel had organized the warriors into teams, and they were practicing defensive formations. The warriors were strong, but they weren’t ready for the kind of fight that was coming.
I watched them spar for a while, feeling the weight of my position settle heavily on my chest. I’d always known that being Alpha meant sacrifice, but sometimes it felt like the cost was too high.
“Cassius,” Gabriel’s voice cut through my thoughts. “You need to be careful. The stress is starting to show. You’re pushing yourself too hard.”
I looked at him, a frown tugging at my lips. “We don’t have time to take it easy.”
Gabriel shook his head. “I know you’re carrying a lot, but you can’t do everything yourself. We’re a pack, remember?”
I turned away, my eyes scanning the warriors. “I know. But no one else is going to protect them like I will. This is my responsibility.”
“You’re not alone in this,” he insisted, stepping closer. “We’re here to help.”
I clenched my jaw, knowing he was right but unwilling to show it. I didn’t want to rely on anyone else-not when it came to protecting my pack.
Before I could respond, I heard a howl in the distance, echoing through the trees.
“Something’s out there,” I said, turning toward the sound. “Get the patrols out. Now.”
—
The night stretched on as I dealt with the latest signs of rogue activity, organizing shifts and ensuring the pack was ready for whatever came next. But no matter how busy I kept myself, April’s face lingered at the edge of my thoughts, a constant reminder of what I had walked away from.
I couldn’t afford to let her in. Not now, not when everything was so uncertain.
But damn it, I wanted to.
How crazy was that?
The night was still heavy with the weight of leadership as I retreated to my quarters. The tension in my body was finally starting to loosen. I collapsed into the chair, my mind still running a mile a minute.
I needed a drink.
I poured myself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid swirling in the glass. I sat back, finally allowing myself to relax.
But in the back of my mind, I knew I wasn’t done yet. There was more coming, and I wasn’t ready to face it.
Not without April.
Fuck!
So much for not being dependent on anyone.