APRILS POV
I felt it again.
The sensation crept up my spine, that all-too-familiar prickling feeling. My senses had always been sharp, and they were telling me, without a doubt, that I wasn’t alone.
I turned my head slightly, watching the shadows as I continued down the quiet street. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I knew someone was following me. I didn’t need to turn around fully to confirm it. The feeling in my gut-the way the air around me felt too heavy, too aware-told me everything I needed to know.
I wasn’t afraid, though. Not anymore. I could handle myself. It was what I’d been doing for months-surviving, always staying one step ahead. I was a rogue. And rogues didn’t get caught.
“Stay close, Snow,” I murmured to my wolf, whose presence stirred restlessly within me. I could feel her on edge, too. We were ready, prepared. The moment they tried something, we’d strike.
I quickened my pace, keeping my steps light and deliberate. I wasn’t sure how many there were or how well they were trained, but I knew enough. I was ready to lead them somewhere they wouldn’t expect. Somewhere dark, narrow-where I could use the alley’s shadows to my advantage.
And then I heard it. The faintest rustle, the shuffle of feet against gravel. A soft, calculated movement behind me, making sure not to alert me just yet. But it was too obvious. I knew they were getting closer.
I glanced over my shoulder, pretending to be unaware, though I was already calculating my next move. There was no mistaking it now. They were following me. A small group. I counted four. Maybe five. But the real question was-why? Were they after me? Or someone else?
I swallowed hard, pushing aside the lingering fear. It didn’t matter. If they wanted a fight, they’d get one.
I veered into the alley up ahead, weaving through the shadows, waiting. I knew they would follow me. I knew they couldn’t resist the chase. It was in their nature.
I leaned against the cold brick wall, flattening myself into the darkness, making sure I stayed out of sight. Snow, too, was silent within me. We waited, prepared for whatever came next.
But as I steadied my breathing, preparing for the worst, the sounds behind me changed. The light pattern of footsteps became much more purposeful. The soft scuffling of boots against stone was replaced by heavier, quicker steps. A low, rumbling growl reached my ears, followed by a snarl I recognized all too well.
My heart raced in my chest as the sounds of a struggle erupted in the alley behind me.
I stood still, too surprised to move, my instincts already screaming to get involved, but I knew better. This wasn’t a rogue attack. This was something different. Someone had come to help.
I knew then-Cassius.
He had sent warriors.
I felt a strange warmth bloom in my chest as I realized they were here for me. The warriors were doing what they were trained for-what they had been sent for-to protect me. Cassius had thought ahead. He had planned for this.
Cassius had thought of me.
I couldn’t help but feel a rush of gratitude. How sweet was that?
In all the months of running, of never allowing anyone close enough to care, to protect, I’d never imagined that someone would take the time to watch over me. To leave warriors to ensure I wasn’t alone. I’d always been the one to fend for myself, to fight my battles in solitude. But now, that wasn’t the case.
I stayed hidden in the shadows, my breath caught in my throat as I listened. The warriors’ movements were swift and coordinated, each step echoing their precision. There was no hesitation. They moved as if they’d been doing this for years-and maybe they had. They weren’t just defending themselves-they were taking control, pushing back the rogues with ease, their strength too much for the attackers to handle.
I could hear the rogues’ cries and their desperation as they realized they were outmatched. But still, I stayed where I was, hidden from view, unable to tear my eyes away from the display of skill unfolding in front of me.
I realized then how much I had underestimated Cassius. How much I had underestimated his warriors. They weren’t just here to fight-they were here to protect me.
And in that moment, I understood something I hadn’t allowed myself to grasp before.
Cassius had made sure I wouldn’t be alone. He had sent his warriors to watch over me to ensure my safety. How could I have not seen it sooner? How could I not have realized that he cared in his own way?
The rogues were subdued quickly, their movements slowing as they realized the battle was lost. The warriors didn’t take their time-there was no mercy, no second chances. They were swift and efficient, and soon, the last of the rogues was subdued, their fate sealed.
I exhaled, my heart still racing, but this time from something else-a warmth I hadn’t expected. A sense of being cared for.
For a long time, I’d convinced myself that I was alone. That no one would ever care enough to protect me, to fight for me. But Cassius had proven me wrong. He cared. His warriors cared. They’d just saved my life.
I wasn’t alone anymore.
Slowly, I stepped forward, careful not to make a sound. I remained hidden in the shadows, watching the warriors as they began to round up the rogues. They weren’t looking for me. They didn’t know I was here, and I didn’t plan to make my presence known. Not yet. But the relief that washed over me was undeniable.
I wasn’t alone. Cassius had thought ahead and had ensured that I was protected-even when I hadn’t known it. That thought sank deep into my chest, a soft warmth spreading through me.
For months, I’d been used to being on my own, always hiding, always running. I had trusted no one, had relied on no one. But now… now I felt a shift. A change I wasn’t prepared for.
I stepped back into the deeper shadows, not ready to reveal myself. There was no need for me to make an appearance just yet. For now, I was safe. For now, I could stay hidden. But the knowledge that Cassius had sent these warriors for me, that he had cared enough to ensure my safety, made something in me stir.
As the warriors dispersed into the night, taking the dead rogues with them, I finally allowed myself to breathe again. I wasn’t sure how long I stood there, lost in the overwhelming mix of emotions coursing through me. Gratitude. Relief. A strange warmth that I wasn’t used to feeling.
Snow stirred within me, her thoughts in sync with mine.
“You’re not running anymore, are you?” Snow asked.
I sighed, my breath coming out in a slow, shaky exhale.
“No. I’m not.”
For the first time in months, I felt like I could stop running. That maybe, just maybe, there was something-someone-worth staying for. Something that wasn’t about surviving or hiding. Something that was real.
And in the depths of my heart, I knew one thing for sure.
I wasn’t ready to fight this anymore. Not with Cassius. Not with what was growing between us.
I was ready to see where it went.
“About damn time,” Snow said, and I just ignored her.