Cassius POV
I had never hated leaving somewhere as much as I did when I walked out of April’s apartment.
It was ridiculous, really. I was the Alpha of a pack. I had responsibilities, warriors to command, and threats to neutralize. But the second I stepped out of that warm, quiet space-the space where she was-it felt wrong.
Like I was leaving something behind that I shouldn’t.
I clenched my jaw as I strode through the pack house entrance, my boots thudding against the hardwood floors. Warriors and pack members stood straighter as I passed, acknowledging me with nods of respect. Usually, I thrived on the structure and the sense of duty. But today, it all felt like a burden.
Gabriel was already waiting for me in the war room, arms crossed over his chest, his sharp blue eyes assessing me the moment I stepped in. The large wooden table in the center was covered in maps and reports, but he didn’t even glance at them.
Instead, his lips curled slightly. “Took your sweet time getting here.”
I grunted, not in the mood for his shit. “I was busy.”
“Busy?” Gabriel arched a brow. “You mean, tangled up with a certain bartender?”
A low growl rumbled in my throat, but it lacked real heat. Gabriel knew me too well to be intimidated. If anything, his smirk widened.
“Good to know you’ve finally stopped brooding and done something about it.”
I rolled my eyes and moved to the head of the table. “Shut up and tell me what we’ve got.”
Gabriel chuckled but dropped the teasing as he picked up one of the reports. “Alright, here’s the deal. The rogues we handled two nights ago-five in total-were spotted near the eastern border. No known affiliations, no insignia, nothing to suggest they belonged to a pack. Just strays.”
I frowned. “And?”
“And,” Gabriel continued, “the ones who went after April? We still don’t know if they were part of the same group. It could’ve been a random attack, but…” His voice trailed off, and his expression darkened.
“But you don’t think it was,” I finished for him.
Gabriel shook his head. “I don’t. Something’s off. Rogues usually don’t operate like this. Attacking lone wolves? Sure. But a woman, in the middle of town, in neutral territory? That’s different. That’s… calculated.”
The thought made my blood run cold.
Calculated.
My hands clenched into fists.
“I want patrols doubled,” I ordered, my voice low and firm. “Especially around April’s place. If there’s even a chance she’s being targeted-”
“Already done,” Gabriel said, cutting me off. His tone softened slightly. “I figured you’d want that.”
I exhaled sharply, nodding once. “Good.”
There was a beat of silence, and then Gabriel leaned against the table, watching me closely. “You know, I’ve known you a long time, Cass. I’ve seen you handle war, rogue invasions, betrayals. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this.”
“Like what?”
Gabriel smirked. “Like a lovesick idiot.”
I scoffed, shaking my head, but the bastard wasn’t wrong.
I hadn’t stopped thinking about her since I left, feeling the warmth of her body curled against mine, and seeing how she looked at me like I was something good, something safe.
The way I never wanted to leave.
Gabriel must’ve caught something in my expression because his smirk softened into something almost genuine. “She’s good for you,” he said simply.
I swallowed. “I know.”
“Does she know that?”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
Gabriel sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I mean… does she know that she’s not just some fling? That you’d tear this fucking world apart for her?”
The words hit harder than I expected.
Because the truth was, I didn’t know if she knew.
I hadn’t told her.
Sure, I’d held her, kissed her, and stayed with her through the night. But had I actually said the words? Had I made her understand?
Fuck.
I rubbed a hand over my jaw, exhaling through my nose. “I’ll make sure she does.”
Gabriel grinned. “Good.” Then, after a pause, “Now, get the hell out of here before I have to watch you sigh dreamily into your coffee.”
I rolled my eyes, but the truth was, I was already standing up. Already making my way toward the door.
Because I’d wasted enough time.
And there was only one place I wanted to be.