CASSIUS POV
The moon hung low in the sky, casting pale silver light across the forest as I crossed the border into my territory. The Alpha convention had been grueling-hours of discussions about rogue movements, threats to packs, and whispers of something larger brewing in the shadows. But none of it mattered at that moment.
All I could think about was her.
April.
I’d been away for days, each one stretching endlessly, the weight of my absence gnawing at me. Reports from my warriors about the rogue incident near town had only made the longing sharper. I needed to see her, to confirm with my own eyes that she was safe.
Storm stirred in the back of my mind, his presence a constant hum of energy. His voice rumbled low, rough like gravel. “She’s close. I can feel her.”
“I know,” I murmured, quickening my pace toward the bar.
“We shouldn’t have left her.” His growl was tinged with reproach. “Rogues sniffing around her… because of us.”
“Because of me,” I corrected, guilt slicing through me. It was my choice to draw close to her, to bring her into my orbit. April didn’t belong in the middle of this chaos, yet somehow, I’d made her a target all because I could not stay away from her.
Storm fell silent, though his unease lingered, pulsing through our bond. As I reached the bar, I paused outside, drawing in a deep breath to steady myself. Her scent lingered faintly in the air, warm and familiar, wrapping around me like a balm. I pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The dim lighting bathed the room in a soft glow, and my eyes immediately sought her out. There she was, moving with practiced ease behind the counter, her hair catching the light as she wiped down a glass.
My chest tightened. She was beautiful and radiant even in the mundane rhythm of her work. And gods, I’d missed her more than I’d allowed myself to admit.
As if sensing my gaze, she looked up, her eyes locking onto mine. Her lips curved into the slightest, softest smile-a smile that felt like a hand reaching into my chest and gripping my heart.
“Cassius,” she said, her voice steady, though her eyes searched mine for answers.
“April,” I replied, closing the distance between us. My relief at seeing her safe was palpable, washing over me in waves.
“You’re back,” she said, setting the glass aside.
“I am.”
Her brow furrowed slightly as she leaned closer, lowering her voice. “Is everything okay?”
I hesitated, the truth balancing on the edge of my tongue. But I swallowed it. She didn’t need to know about the rogues, the unsettling intelligence from the convention, or the fact that I suspected she was being watched. Not yet.
“I told you I’d be back,” I said instead.
She gave me a look, one brow lifting. “You said that before you left. I wasn’t sure how long a while’ would actually be.”
“Longer than I’d hoped,” I admitted, meeting her gaze.
Her lips twitched as if she wanted to press further, but instead, she grabbed a glass, filled it with water, and slid it across the bar. “Drink. You look like you’ve been through hell.”
I chuckled softly, lifting the glass. “You could say that.”
“You don’t leave for no reason, Cassius,” she said after a moment, her tone quieter. “What’s going on?”
I sighed, setting the glass down. “It’s not safe right now.”
Her expression shifted, her brow furrowing in concern. “Not safe for who?”
“For you,” I said simply.
Her eyes widened briefly, then narrowed. “Me?”
“Being close to me has its risks,” I explained, my voice low. “I’ve tried to keep those risks away from you, but…” I trailed off, unsure how to finish without alarming her.
“But it’s complicated,” she finished for me. Her tone held no judgment, only quiet understanding.
I nodded. “It always is.”
April straightened, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m not afraid of a little trouble, you know.”
“I know,” I said, my lips curving into a faint smile. “But that doesn’t mean I want you to deal with it. You deserve better.”
She studied me for a long moment before sighing and shaking her head. “You’re impossible, Cassius. You know that?”
“So I’ve been told,” I said, the tension between us easing slightly.
But my thoughts remained tangled, weighed down by the information I’d learned at the convention. The rogues were searching for something-or someone-and the timing of their movements was too coincidental to ignore.
Storm, my wolf growled softly, his voice a low rumble in my mind. “She’s ours to protect.”
“I know,” I replied silently. And I meant it.
—
The bar emptied as the night wore on, and April moved through her closing routine with practiced efficiency. I stayed, my presence a silent promise that she wasn’t alone.
As the last customer left, she locked the door and turned to me. “You’re not leaving, are you?”
“Not tonight,” I said.
“Good.” Her voice was softer now, almost vulnerable. “Because I think I’d miss you again if you left.”
Her words struck me like a lightning bolt, warming me from the inside out.
She missed me.
“You don’t have to worry,” I said quietly, stepping closer. “I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe.”
Her eyes met mine, a flicker of emotion passing through them. “Just promise me one thing.”
“Anything.”
“Always tell me before you leave; I liked that,”
“I promise,” I said, my voice steady as a small smile made its way to my lips. I had done something right, and little did she know that it was only the beginning.
The weight of her words settled over me, and for the first time in days, I felt a sense of peace. Storm hummed in agreement, his presence a steady pulse in my mind.
April didn’t need to know everything yet. But when the time came, I’d make sure she understood just how much she meant to me-and that I’d do whatever it took to keep her safe.