63

APRILS POV
Cassius turned toward me, his eyes soft. “We do this every few weeks. It’s a way for the pack to unwind, to connect. I thought you might like to see this part of my life.”
My chest tightened. My throat felt like it was closing up. I wasn’t sure why this simple gesture felt like so much. But it did. He was inviting me in. Letting me into something he held dear, something he didn’t have to share with me.
I shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling like I didn’t belong here. Like I was an outsider in a world that wasn’t mine.
“They’re just curious,” Cassius murmured as a few heads turned toward us. Some of the wolves gave us a passing glance, others lingered a little longer than was comfortable. “Give it a minute. They’ll get used to you.”
I didn’t respond. What was I supposed to say? That I didn’t belong here? That I felt like an outsider just standing at the edge of this world he’d so willingly brought me into?
Used to me? I swallowed hard. The idea that I might actually stay in this world, that I might fit somewhere… it terrified me. But I didn’t pull away. Not this time.
I followed him closer, letting my eyes adjust to the low light.
Cassius must have sensed my hesitation because he stepped closer, his hand brushing against mine. “You’re safe here,” he said softly. Safe. That word felt foreign on my tongue, like something I’d long since stopped believing in.
“Why did you bring me here?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended. Don’t get me wrong; I did not mind that he had it, but I had to know why.
“Because I wanted you to see this part of my life,” he said, his gaze steady. “Because I want you to understand me.” His honesty caught me off guard, leaving me unsure of how to respond.
Before I could find the words, a young woman approached us, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Alpha,” she said, nodding respectfully before glancing at me. “Is this…?”
“This is April,” Cassius said, his tone leaving no room for argument. The woman’s gaze lingered on me for a moment before she smiled.
“Welcome,” she said warmly, though I could see the questions in her eyes.
“Thank you,” I managed to say, my voice awkward and stiff.
The woman nodded and left, but the exchange left me uneasy. I wasn’t used to being introduced or acknowledged like this.
Cassius led me further into the clearing, stopping near the bonfire. The heat from the flames was a welcome contrast to the cool night air, and for a moment, I let myself relax. “Do they always stare this much?” I asked, glancing around at the curious eyes that kept darting our way.
Cassius smirked. “You’re new. They’re curious.”
“Curious about what?”
“About why I brought you here,” he said, his voice tinged with amusement.
I frowned.
“And why did you?” His smirk faded, replaced by something softer, more serious.
“Because you’re important to me.” The words hung in the air between us, heavy and unspoken for too long. My instinct was to deflect, to make a joke, or change the subject, but something in his expression stopped me.
“I don’t know what to do with that,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
“You don’t have to do anything,” he said. “Just… be here.” The simplicity of his request startled me.
For so long, I’d been fighting to stay afloat, to keep my walls intact. The idea of just existing, of letting someone else carry the weight for even a moment, was terrifying. But as I stood there, surrounded by his pack and the warmth of the fire, I felt something shift. It wasn’t trust, not yet. But it was a beginning.
A young boy, no older than ten, ran up to Cassius, his face lighting up with excitement.
“Alpha! Did you see me earlier? I shifted faster this time!” he exclaimed, bouncing on his heels.
Cassius crouched down, his expression softening. There was a fondness in his eyes as he ruffled the boy’s hair. “I did, Kai. You’re getting stronger every day. Keep it up.”
The boy grinned from ear to ear, his chest puffing out with pride. “Thanks, Alpha!” And with that, he darted back to the others, his excitement palpable.
I watched them, my heart aching just a little. The warmth in Cassius’ voice and the way he interacted with the boy was a side of him I hadn’t expected. It made me realize just how much I’d misunderstood him. There was so much more to him than I’d been willing to see.
“You’re good with them,” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.
Cassius glanced at me with a hint of amusement in his eyes, but he didn’t laugh. “They’re my pack. It’s my job to be.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head slowly. “It’s more than that. You care about them. It’s not just about duty.”
He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he glanced out at the fire, his expression unreadable for a moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer, tinged with something I couldn’t place. “They’re family. Most of them have been with me since I became Alpha. I’ve watched them grow, fought beside them, laughed with them… You don’t turn your back on family.”
His words hung in the air between us, and I found myself lost in them. The weight of what he’d said hit me harder than I expected. Family. The word rolled around in my mind, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to have that. To belong somewhere. To have people who fought for you, who cared for you no matter what.
Still, I couldn’t help but marvel at the territory. It wasn’t just wild land. It was cultivated and lived in. I caught glimpses of cabins nestled between the trees, their windows glowing faintly in the night. Voices carried through the air-soft laughter, snippets of conversation, the occasional bark of a dog.
This was a community. A family.
The realization made something twist in my chest. It had been so long since I’d been part of something like this. Not since my mate rejected me.
The thought made me stiffen. I didn’t need to go down that road, not tonight.
“Are you okay?” Cassius asked, his voice startling me.
“Fine,” I said quickly, too quickly.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and glanced away, trying to hide the emotions that were threatening to spill over.
Cassius turned to face me, his gaze intense. “I’m not going to push you, April,” he said, his voice low but steady. “But I hope you’ll see, one day, that you don’t have to go through everything alone.”
The words hit me like a wave, sweeping me under, and I couldn’t breathe for a moment. I wasn’t sure how to respond. I wasn’t sure I even could.
But before I could say anything, a teenage girl approached us, her eyes wide with curiosity. “You’re different,” she said bluntly, her gaze flicking between Cassius and me.
I raised an eyebrow, unsure of where this was going. “Is that a bad thing?” I asked, keeping my tone light.
She shook her head quickly. “No, it’s just… I’ve never seen someone like you with the Alpha. He’s always so… serious. But with you, he’s different. Happier, maybe.”
Her words made something inside me stir, something deep and uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure how to process it. Cassius? Happy? I’d never seen him that way-at least not in the way the girl seemed to be suggesting.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice softer than intended. My eyes flicked to Cassius, and I caught the flicker of something in his expression, but he quickly masked it.
As the night wore on, I found myself relaxing, surprisingly at ease in the midst of all these strangers. Laughter filled the air, mingling with the crackling of the fire. Cassius stayed close, but he didn’t hover. He gave me space, letting me take everything in at my own pace. The pack was kind, their curiosity never crossing into hostility, and for the first time in months, I found myself wondering what it would be like to belong somewhere again.
The night passed in a blur of conversations and stolen glances.
Eventually, as the crowd began to thin, Cassius and I were left standing by the dying embers of the fire alone together. The warmth of the flames had mostly faded, leaving only the cool air of the night around us. I stared into the fire for a moment, unsure of what to say, and we stayed that way till Cassius turned to me and said :
“I’ll walk you home.” I nodded, too tired to argue.
The walk back to the bar was quiet. The silence between us was no longer uncomfortable but easy. “Thank you,” I said as we reached the door to my apartment.
“For what?” he asked, sounding surprised.
“For bringing me to your pack and letting me be a part of something beautiful and for also letting me see that side of you.” He smiled, the kind of smile that made my heart beat faster.
“Anytime,”he said and pulled me in for a hug. His hold was so tight, but I did not mind it. His scent was so thick that it felt like I was drowning, and I liked it a whole lot.
After a long while, he pulled back, cupped my face in his hand, and pressed his lips to mine. His lips were so soft, and the kiss was gentle, the kind that left you wanting more.
He stepped away too quickly, and I almost started complaining; what the actual fuck was happening to me? I needed help.
He pressed his forehead against mine, both of us breathing heavily, and then he kissed my forehead and said:
“Goodnight, Pretty,”
“Goodnight, Alpha,” I said. He let out such a huge smile, and I could see the twinkles in his eyes, which made my heart warm.
Aaww, I could honestly get used to this.
As I stepped back into the solitude of my world, I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was a place for me in his life after all.