Aprils POV
The early evening light filtered through the blinds, painting golden stripes across the floor. I stared at the narrow beams as though they might offer some answer to the turmoil swirling inside me. My hands rested on the counter, fingers idly tracing the wood grain, but my mind was a thousand miles away. Or maybe it was just two steps behind, trying to catch up with everything Cassius had done-and everything I’d felt because of it.
“He’s trying, April,” Snow’s voice rippled through me, soft yet firm. It was the same tone she used when I refused to acknowledge something obvious. “More than anyone ever has.”
“I know,” I muttered under my breath, the words barely audible even to myself.
“Do you? Or are you too scared to admit it?”
Snow’s presence felt like a soft breeze against my consciousness, a constant reminder that I could never truly hide from myself. She saw it all-my thoughts, my feelings, even the things I tried to bury.
I leaned back against the counter, arms crossing over my chest as I looked out the window. “Why does it matter?” I asked quietly, directing the question inward. “Why should I care if he’s trying? People leave, Snow. They always do. He’ll just be another name on the list.”
“But he hasn’t left. Not really. He came back.”
I closed my eyes, squeezing them shut as if that would block out the truth in her words. “He left once,” I argued.
“I know, I remember everything. I am not saying forget it; I’m just saying that maybe it would not be such a bad idea if you gave him a chance,”
Snow’s voice softened, and with it came a flood of memories-ones I’d worked so hard to suppress.
My ex-mate never gave me a chance; instead, he killed my parents.
My parents’ faces flashed in my mind, their laughter echoing faintly before it was replaced by the chaos of that night. The blood. The fire. The screams. I felt the ache of running, the constant fear of being hunted, and the crushing weight of rejection when my mate turned away from me without a second thought.
“You’ve been strong for so long, April, Snow whispered. But strength doesn’t mean closing yourself off. He’s not the same as the ones who hurt you. You feel it too, don’t you? That pull? The way he looks at you like you’re the only thing in the world?”
I opened my eyes and stared at the flowers sitting in a makeshift vase on the table. Daisies and sunflowers are simple yet beautiful. Cassius had brought them yesterday, along with a box of chocolates that now sat half-eaten on the counter. He hadn’t said much; he just handed them to me with that crooked smile before asking if I’d go for a walk with him.
And I had. Against my better judgment, I’d gone.
It was nice. Too nice.
He’d asked about my favorite places, my hobbies, and what I thought about the stars. The questions were simple, but the intent behind them was anything but. He wanted to know me-not just the surface-level version I showed the world, but the real me.
“He sees you, April,” Snow said, pulling me back to the present. All of you. And he’s still here.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “For now. But how long until he realizes I’m not worth the effort?”
“You don’t believe that,” Snow said.
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t because, deep down, a part of me believed it. Months of rejection and loss had carved that belief into my soul, no matter how much I tried to fight it.
The sound of the door opening snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned, and there he was, standing in the doorway with a fresh bouquet of flowers in one hand and a sheepish grin on his face.
“Am I interrupting?” Cassius asked, his voice warm and tinged with hesitation.
How had he gotten up here?
“Perhaps your boss let him in,” Snow said.
“Probably,” I told her.
I shook my head, my heart skipping a beat despite myself. “No. I was just… thinking.”
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “I brought these for you,” he said, holding out the flowers. They were roses this time, deep red and velvety. “I wasn’t sure if you’d like them, but they reminded me of you.”
I raised an eyebrow, taking the bouquet from him. “How do roses remind you of me?”
He smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe. “Beautiful but with thorns. Tough as hell but still soft in the right light.”
My cheeks heated, and I quickly turned away, setting the flowers on the counter. “You’re laying it on a little thick, don’t you think?”
“Maybe,” he admitted, his tone playful. “But it’s all true.”
I glanced at him over my shoulder, my walls cracking just a little under the weight of his sincerity. “What do you want, Cassius?”
His expression grew serious, and he took a step closer. “I wanted to see you. To let you know, I’ll be gone for a while. Some… responsibilities I need to take care of.”
Something in my chest tightened at his words, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Gone where?”
“Just out of town,” he said, his gaze never leaving mine. “But I didn’t want to leave without telling you this time. I know I’ve made mistakes, April, but I’m trying. I want you to know that.”
The sincerity in his voice made my resolve waver. He wasn’t just saying the words; he meant them.
“I… appreciate that,” I said quietly, my voice softer than I intended.
His lips curved into a small smile. “I’ll be back soon. And when I am, I hope we can keep figuring this out. Together.”
I didn’t respond, but something in his eyes told me he didn’t need me to.
As he left, the apartment above the bar where I lived felt emptier than it had in days. I sat on the couch, staring at the roses, and let out a long breath.
“You’re scared,” Snow said, her voice gentle but unwavering.
“Of course I am,” I whispered. “But maybe… maybe I’m tired of running too.”
For the first time in months, the idea of letting someone in didn’t feel so impossible.