April’s POV
The silence in my apartment felt deafening without Cassius. I had barely had a moment to myself since that night-the night everything changed. Three days apart shouldn’t feel like a lifetime, but it did.
Snow stirred in my mind, a comforting presence as I wiped down the bar for what felt like the hundredth time.
“You miss him.”
I sighed, rolling my eyes even though no one was around. “Obviously.”
“You’re not spiraling, though.” Snow sounded pleased. “Before, being abandoned-”
“He didn’t abandon me,” I cut in sharply.
“I know, but before, you would have thought he did.”
I hated that she was right. A few months ago, I would have let the doubt consume me and convinced myself that I wasn’t worthy of someone’s time or care. But Cassius was different. He had responsibilities-he was an Alpha, for Moon’s sake. He hadn’t left me; he was just handling what needed to be handled.
“And yet, you’re still waiting for him to disappear,” Snow murmured.
I clenched my jaw. “Maybe. But I don’t want to be like that anymore.”
Snow hummed in approval, but I could feel her unease. She was still protective, still cautious. After everything, how could she not be?
The doorbell chimed, pulling me from my thoughts. My heart jumped, but I forced myself to stay composed. Cassius wouldn’t be back yet, and-
There he was.
My breath hitched as Cassius strode in, looking just as strong, just as powerful, just as him as ever. His dark eyes locked onto mine, something unreadable flickering through them before his face softened.
And just like that, the weight I hadn’t even realized I was carrying lifted.
I opened my mouth to say something, but then I saw what he was holding-a small, sleek box.
He smirked, holding it up. “I figured if I can’t be around all the time, at least I should be able to hear your voice.”
I blinked at him. “Is that…?”
“A phone. For you.”
My lips parted in surprise. It wasn’t just the gift-it was what it meant.
Cassius ran a hand through his hair, looking almost sheepish. “I hated not being able to talk to you these past few days.”
I stared at him, something warm curling in my chest. I had never had someone want to talk to me like that.
“Take it,” Snow whispered.
I did.
Cassius’ POV
The second I saw her, the tension in my chest loosened.
Three days without April had felt unnatural. Like something was missing.
Shadow growled in agreement. “Our mate was missing. Our female.”
“She’s not our mate,” I reminded him, but even as I said it, the words felt thin.
“She should be.”
I ignored that. Instead, I focused on the way her fingers brushed mine as she took the phone. The way her eyes softened.
“You did good,” Shadow rumbled.
I watched her turn the phone over in her hands, her lips twitching like she was fighting a smile.
“She deserves to have someone look out for her.. She deserves the fucking world.”
Shadow let out a pleased growl. “Then let us give it to her,”