Cassius’s POV
Fear.
It wasn’t something I let myself feel.
Fear was for the weak. For the ones who weren’t strong enough to fight.
I had spent my life burying it, beating it down, replacing it with control, dominance, and power.
But last night-when I walked into that bar and saw April standing there, blood dripping from her skin, her body still braced for a fight-
I had been afraid.
The kind of fear that settled deep in my bones, wrapping around my ribs like a vice. The type of fear that made my wolf snarl inside me, ready to tear through anything that even thought of hurting her.
She had handled herself.
She had fought.
She had won.
And yet, my fear hadn’t eased.
Because it could have gone differently.
So easily.
A second slower. A misstep. An extra rogue lurking in the shadows.
And I would have lost her.
My jaw clenched as I flipped another pancake onto the plate.
That was when I knew.
I couldn’t wait anymore.
I had been holding back, playing it cool, letting her keep her walls up. Letting her set the pace.
But I had reached my limit.
Shadow had been clawing at me all morning, restless, demanding. “Make her ours.”
I hadn’t responded, but I didn’t need to. He knew what I was thinking.
What I had already decided.
I would make her mine.
And I wouldn’t take no for an answer.
The smell of butter and vanilla filled the apartment as I set the plates down on the table.
It was a small thing-making breakfast-but it meant something.
I had never done this before.
Not for anyone.
My life had been a cycle of responsibility, power, and strategy.
I didn’t do soft. I didn’t do domestic.
But with her…
With April…
I wanted to.
I wanted to do every damn thing for her.
The thought unnerved me.
But it didn’t stop me.
I heard the soft rustle of sheets, then the quiet padding of bare feet against the floor.
Then-
“Cassius?”
I turned.
She stood in the doorway, her hair tousled from sleep, her voice thick and groggy.
Fucking hell.
She had no idea how she looked.
How easily she wrecked me.
I smirked, masking the storm inside me. “Morning, princess.”
She blinked at me, then at the food. “You cook?”
I shrugged. “I told you. I have many talents.”
She shuffled forward, sliding into the chair across from me. She looked at the pancakes, then at me, her expression unreadable.
I leaned back, gripping my fork, but I didn’t eat.
I couldn’t.
Not until I said what I needed to say.
“April.”
She glanced up.
I exhaled, rubbing a hand over my jaw. “I meant what I said last night.”
Her gaze didn’t waver. “Which part?”
I held her eyes. “I don’t want you to be alone in this.”
Something flickered across her face.
She started to speak, but I wasn’t finished.
“I was scared, April.” The words felt raw coming out, but I didn’t stop. “When I saw you last night, when I realized you had fought-” I broke off, my grip tightening around the fork. “I know you can take care of yourself. But I don’t want you to have to.”
She swallowed, her fingers curling slightly around the edge of the table.
“I thought I had time,” I murmured. “I thought I could wait. Give you space. Let you figure this out at your own pace.”
My throat was tight.
I leaned forward, voice low, rough.
“But I don’t have time, April. Not when the thought of losing you makes it impossible to fucking breathe.”
Her lips parted slightly.
Shadow growled, pushing forward. “Claim her.”
I didn’t fight him.
“Be mine.” The words were more of a command than a request, but my voice softened as I added, “Please.”
April exhaled shakily, looking at me like she was seeing me for the first time.
Then-
“You really are an Alpha, huh?” she murmured, teasing, but there was no hiding the emotion in her voice.
I smirked, tilting my head. “And you really are a pain in my ass.”
She smiled.
Then she leaned in, her lips brushing mine-soft, barely there, but enough.
And when she pulled back, her voice was quiet.
“Yes.”
Shadow let out a deep, victorious growl.
And just like that-
She was mine.