April’s POV
The scent of something warm and sweet pulled me from the depths of sleep. My body ached, a dull reminder of the fight, but the pain was distant-muted beneath the strange warmth wrapped around me.
Cassius.
The weight of his arm was draped protectively over my waist, his body pressed solidly against my back. Even in sleep, he held me like he was afraid I’d disappear.
The memory of that put a smile on my face.
I blinked, letting the morning light filter in through the curtains as I slowly pieced together reality. The fight. The blood. The exhaustion that had dragged me under the second I let myself breathe.
And Cassius… staying.
Snow stirred in my mind, her voice softer than usual. He didn’t leave. He made sure we didn’t wake up alone.
A slow warmth bloomed in my chest at the realization. I hadn’t even thought to ask him to stay-but he had.
I lay there for a moment longer, absorbing it. The quiet. The comfort. The knowledge that-for the first time in a long time-I didn’t have to carry everything alone.
Then I pulled myself out of bed, wincing slightly as sore muscles protested, and padded toward the kitchen.
The scent of pancakes filled the air, mixing with something rich and buttery.
The sight waiting for me nearly knocked the breath from my lungs.
Cassius stood at the stove, shirtless, golden skin bathed in the morning light, muscles flexing as he flipped a pancake with effortless precision. His hair was slightly tousled, evidence that he hadn’t been awake long, and his brow was furrowed in focus.
Cassius was making breakfast.
For me.
He looks good like this. The thought hit before I could stop it. Relaxed. Like he belongs here.
Snow practically purred in agreement. “He does,”
As if sensing my presence, Cassius turned. The moment his eyes landed on me, something in them softened.
“You’re awake.” His voice was warm, relieved. “How are you feeling?”
I hesitated, glancing down at the bruises on my arms and the fading soreness in my ribs. The fight had left its mark, but that wasn’t what lingered.
“I’m fine.”
Cassius’s jaw tightened. He turned off the stove and crossed the kitchen in three long strides, his hands coming up to frame my face before I could blink.
“Don’t do that,” he murmured, his thumbs ghosting over my cheekbones. “Don’t lie to me.”
I swallowed hard, my throat tightening. “I’m just… processing.”
His gaze searched mine, deep and unreadable. “April… last night, when I walked in and saw you-” He exhaled sharply like he couldn’t even put it into words. “I’ve never felt fear like that before.”
I sucked in a breath, my heart stuttering in my chest.
“I’m not scared of a fight,” he continued, his voice quieter now. “I’m not scared of blood. Of war. But seeing you like that? Knowing you were hurt? I-” He broke off, shaking his head. “I hated it. I hated that I wasn’t there.”
Something cracked inside me at his words.
This was the moment. The raw truth behind all of it.
I reached up, pressing my hand over his. “Cassius…”
“I don’t ever want to feel like that again,” he said roughly. “I don’t ever want to wonder if you’re okay. I don’t ever want you to think you have to do this alone.”
A lump formed in my throat.
No one has ever said that to me before, yet Cassius repeatedly told me that I am not alone.
I had spent so long standing alone, believing it was the only way. And now, here he was, offering something I never let myself hope for.
“I want you,” Cassius said, voice low, fierce. “Not just like this. Not just when it’s convenient. Always.” His fingers curled gently against my jaw, tilting my face up to his. “Be mine, April.”
My heart slammed against my ribs. The words were simple, but they shattered something inside me.
Cassius had always been intense, but this? This was something else. This was devotion wrapped in steel. This was the kind of promise that people like me didn’t get.
Snow’s voice was a whisper in my mind. “We were never meant to be alone.”
I sucked in a shaky breath. “You’re asking me to be yours?”
“I’m telling you,” he corrected, a slight smirk playing on his lips. “But yeah, I am asking too.”
I stared at him, my breath catching in my throat.
“I’ve been trying to fight it, trying to be patient, but I can’t do this anymore,” he said, his voice low, steady. “I want to protect you, April. I want to be the guy who just steps in when things get bad. I want you, all of you,”
My heart pounded against my ribs.
Cassius reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his fingers barely skimming my skin. “I know you’re not the type to ask for help. I know you’re used to doing everything alone. But I don’t want you to be alone anymore.” His thumb grazed my cheek, his touch warm. “Let me into your world. I want to be with you. If you’ll have me.”
Something in me cracked-something I had been holding onto for so long that I forgot what it was like to let go.
“Say yes,” Cassius murmured, his forehead resting against mine. “Say yes, April.”
I could feel his warmth, his strength. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat against mine.
And just like that, my walls crumbled.
Here he was being vulnerable, and you know what? I was done fighting my attraction to him. Would it be so bad if I just let myself go and accept him?
I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?
“Yes,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. Then louder, more confident-“Yes.”
Cassius exhaled sharply like he had been holding his breath. Then, before I could say another word, he kissed me.
It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t desperate. It was everything.
His lips pressed against mine like a promise, steady and sure. His hands slid down to my waist, pulling me closer until there was nothing between us but heat and something electric in the air.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against mine again, his breath warm against my lips.
“You’re mine,” he murmured, his voice rough, reverent.
I smiled, feeling lighter than I had in months.
“And you’re mine.”
Cassius let out a soft chuckle, pressing another kiss to my forehead before pulling me into his arms.
I guess now I was truly not alone anymore.
“Hey, you were never alone and its an insult whenever I hear you say that. What do I look like to you? A damned rock?” Snow says in disbelief.
“Damn, can we get back to that later? I’m kind of having a moment here,” I say.
“You are unbelievable…. Congratulations though, you deserve all the happiness in the world my human half,”
“Thank you, my sweet wolf,”