April’s POV
The next few days felt like a slow unraveling.
After Cassius dropped me off at my apartment that night, I thought I’d have the space to breathe, to put everything into perspective. But instead, it felt like I’d been pulled underwater, every thought too heavy, every emotion too sharp.
I wasn’t used to this. To him. To the way he saw through me, leaving no room to hide.
Snow had been uncharacteristically quiet since that night, though I could feel her presence like a soft hum in the back of my mind. It was comforting, in a way, knowing she was there even when I wasn’t ready to talk.
It wasn’t until late in the afternoon, as I sat curled up on my worn couch, that she finally broke the silence.
“You’ve been brooding for hours. Spill.”
I sighed, staring at the rain streaking down the window. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“Start with why you’re so scared.”
I hesitated, the truth clawing at the edges of my mind. “Because it’s all moving too fast. One second, we’re barely tolerating each other, and the next, he’s introducing me to his pack and acting like I… belong.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“It’s not bad,” I admitted. “It’s just… overwhelming. Terrifying. He’s… so sure of this. Of me. And I’m not sure of anything.”
Snow’s voice softened, a rare tenderness in her tone. “It’s okay to be scared, April. But you have to ask yourself-are you scared because it’s wrong or because it feels right?”
Her words hit harder than I expected, leaving me reeling.
By the time evening rolled around, I still hadn’t come to any conclusions. My apartment felt too small, too suffocating, so I grabbed my jacket and headed out into the night.
The town was quieter than usual, and the rain kept most people indoors. I walked aimlessly, letting the cool air clear my head.
It wasn’t until I reached the small park near my building that I realized I wasn’t alone. Cassius was leaning against a lamppost, his hands shoved into his pockets.
“How long have you been standing there?” I asked, startled.
“Not long,” he said, his voice calm. “I figured you’d need some air.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you following me?”
He smirked. “No. Just… keeping an eye on you.”
I huffed, crossing my arms. “I’m not a damsel, you know.”
“I know,” he said, stepping closer. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to check in on you from time to time.”
The sincerity in his voice made my chest ache.
We walked in silence for a while, the sound of rain against the pavement filling the space between us. It wasn’t until we reached a quiet bench near the edge of the park that I finally spoke.
“This is too much,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “All of it. You, your pack, the way you look at me like I’m… important. It’s too fast.”
Cassius sat beside me, his expression unreadable. “I get that,” he said after a moment. “But I’m not asking you to figure everything out right now. I’m just asking you to let me in. Even if it’s just a little.”
His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.
Snow’s voice nudged at the edge of my mind. “He’s not wrong, you know.”
“I don’t need your input right now,” I snapped internally.
“Too bad,” she shot back. “You can keep pushing him away all you want, but it’s not going to make this any easier.”
I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling to the surface.
“April,” Cassius said softly, pulling me back to the present. “You don’t have to do this alone. Whatever it is- your fears, all of it-I want to help.”
I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. How could he be so calm? So patient?
“You make it sound so easy,” I said bitterly.
“It’s not,” he admitted. “But I think you’re worth it.”
That night, as I lay in bed, I replayed his words over and over in my mind.
Snow was quiet again, but I could feel her approval, her silent encouragement.
Maybe this wasn’t about slowing down or speeding up. Perhaps it was about finding a balance-about letting myself feel without losing sight of who I was and what I needed to do.
For the first time in a long time, I felt something other than fear.
Hope.