55

CASSIUS POV
The first thing I noticed when I woke up was warmth.
April and I talked all night, and when she started getting cold, she led me to her apartment above the bar and to her bed. Nothing crazy happened, so don’t even think about anything naughty. We fell asleep with her lying on my chest.
Maan, I could get used to this, the late-night conversations and cuddles after. I know it has only been one night, but I can’t help but feel this way. Do you guys think I am getting ahead of myself?
April was curled up against me, her head resting on my chest, her breaths soft and even. Her arm was draped across my stomach, her fingers lightly curled as if, even in sleep, she couldn’t fully relax. I didn’t blame her. The world wasn’t kind to people like us-people who had no one else to rely on.
I shifted slightly, careful not to wake her. My wolf, Storm, stirred in the back of my mind, his presence more subdued than usual. “This… feels good,” he said, his voice rough, like gravel tumbling over itself.
I didn’t respond immediately. He was right, though. It did feel good. Too good.
Her body fit against mine perfectly, as if she was meant to be there with me, created for me. For a brief moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to wake up like this every day. No alarms, no danger lurking in the shadows, no rogues gathering like storm clouds on the horizon-just peace.
I exhaled slowly, my fingers lightly tracing patterns on her arm. She stirred but didn’t wake, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“You’re thinking too much again,” Storm rumbled.
April would love him; she said those exact words to me last night.
I sighed internally. “Can you blame me? There’s too much at stake.”
“And yet, here you are, lying in bed with her like everything is fine,” he teased, though his tone had no malice.
“I’m trying to enjoy the moment,” I admitted. “But you’re right. It’s not enough. She’s not safe here.”
Storm growled softly, a sound of agreement. “Then do something about it.”
My gaze flicked to her face, soft and peaceful in sleep. The idea of taking her back to the pack house had been simmering in the back of my mind for a while now, but the logistics were… complicated.
I’d have to tell her the truth if she came with me. About who I was. About what I was.
And that truth could ruin everything.
She shifted again, pressing closer to me, and I froze, my heart thudding in my chest as her lips brushed against my neck. It wasn’t intentional-she was still asleep-but it sent me a jolt of electricity, leaving me breathless.
“You’re in deep, Cassius,” Storm said, his tone amused.
I ignored him, focusing instead on the steady rhythm of her breathing.
I could get used to this, I realized. I woke up like this, with her in my arms, her scent filling the air around me. It felt… right.
But right didn’t mean easy.
When her eyes finally fluttered open, she blinked at me, her expression soft with the haze of sleep.
“Morning,” she murmured, her voice husky.
“Morning,” I said, my voice low.
She stretched, her body brushing against mine in a way that made it hard to think. “Did I fall asleep on you?”
“You did,” I said, unable to keep the smile from my face. “Not that I’m complaining.”
She laughed softly, the sound like music. “Glad I didn’t ruin your night.”
“You didn’t,” I assured her. “If anything, you made it better.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, suddenly shy. It was a side of her I didn’t see often, and it only made me want her more.
“Tell her,” Storm urged.
“Not yet,” I shot back.
I wasn’t ready to have that conversation. Not now.
Instead, I kissed her forehead, savoring how she relaxed against me, and made a silent promise to myself: I’d keep her safe, no matter what it took.
—
Later that morning, I made my way back to the pack house. The tension was building in my chest-too many things left unsaid, too many decisions hanging in the air. Gabriel had been waiting for me, but I needed to talk to him. There was no one else I trusted like I trusted Gabe. He knew me better than anyone else, and I needed that right now.
When I entered the pack house, I found him in the main room, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, with a look of impatience on his face.
“You’re late,” Gabriel said, raising an eyebrow.
“Had a lot on my mind,” I muttered. “And before you ask, I’m fine. Just… sorting some stuff out.”
Gabriel studied me for a long moment before pushing himself off the wall and gesturing toward the kitchen. “Come on, we’ll talk there. Get some food in you; you look like you’re about to collapse.”
I didn’t argue. Gabriel was my Beta, and when he decided we were talking, we talked. As we settled into the kitchen, I didn’t waste any time. He already knew about April-at least, as the human bartender. But I hadn’t told him the whole truth, the other part of it. That part was complicated. Too complicated.
“I need to talk to you about April,” I said, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
Gabriel raised an eyebrow but didn’t interrupt. “The bartender?”
I nodded. “Yeah, but she’s more than that. She’s not just some random human, Gabe.”
“I know that,” he said, surprising me. “I can smell it.”
That stopped me. “What are you talking about?”
“Her scent,” he said casually. “It’s all over you; that explains why you just got home. Anyway, her scent is different. She’s human, but there’s something off about it. Like she doesn’t belong in this world… but she does. I don’t know how to explain it.”
I ignored his first statement.
I stared at him for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle. I had no idea Gabriel had noticed that. He was always sharp, but this? This felt like a more profound connection than I had realized.
“So, what’s going on?” Gabriel pressed, his tone shifting to something more serious.
I sighed. “I don’t know what it is, Gabe. I know she’s not my mate-my wolf would’ve made that clear to me by now. But it feels like she is. Everything in me seems to pull toward her, and I don’t understand it. I want to protect her like she’s mine to protect, and the truth is, I’m not sure why.”
Gabriel studied me with an unreadable expression. “So you’ve got a thing for her. Big deal.” He leaned back, crossing his arms. “But what does that have to do with your nature?”
“I haven’t told her,” I admitted. “I haven’t told her what I am. Who I am.”
Gabriel’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “Yeah, I figured that. You’ve got some serious control issues when it comes to that.” He raised a hand before I could respond. “Look, I get it. You don’t want her to be freaked out, to feel like she’s in danger. But if you’re going to keep her around-and I think you should-you need to tell her the truth. Before someone else does.”
I clenched my jaw. I knew he was right. But the fear of losing her, of her turning away from me once she knew who I really was, made the words feel heavy in my mouth.
“I know,” I said quietly. “But I don’t want to risk it.”
“Then stop waiting,” Gabriel said, his voice firm. “Tell her. Don’t let this uncertainty eat you up from the inside. She deserves to know, and you deserve to stop overthinking it.”
I let out a breath, leaning back in my chair, trying to process everything. Was I ready for that? Could I handle the fallout if she walked away from me?
Storm’s voice was almost too calm, as if he knew something that I did not. “You’re not going to lose her. The truth will bring you closer. Trust me.”
I closed my eyes for a moment. “You’re right,” I said, finally conceding. “I’ll tell her. Just… not yet. Not today.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow but didn’t press me further. “Alright, Cassius. But don’t wait too long. We’re at war, and we need your full concentration. So, figure it out soon,”
I nodded, the weight of his words sitting heavy on my chest.