April’s POV
The first thing I felt was warmth. Strong arms wrapped securely around me, a steady heartbeat beneath my cheek, and the scent of cedarwood, musk, and something uniquely Cassius filled my senses.
For a moment, I didn’t move. I just lay there, listening to his slow, even breaths, feeling the rise and fall of his chest. It was… nice. Comforting. Which was insane, considering how chaotic my life had been the past few days.
I shifted slightly, and that’s when I realized just how closely we were tangled together. One of my legs was thrown over his, his arm was wrapped firmly around my waist, and his face was buried in my hair.
“You’re awake.”
His voice was deep and rough with sleep, sending a shiver down my spine.
I tilted my head up and met his gaze. His eyes were still heavy with sleep, but there was something else in them, too-something unreadable.
“Yeah,” I murmured.
Neither of us moved. Neither of us let go.
A slow smirk pulled at his lips. “You’re warm.”
I rolled my eyes. “So are you.”
“Hm.” He shifted slightly, tightening his grip on me for a second before exhaling. “I could stay like this all day.”
The thought made my stomach flip, but I pushed it aside. “But then you wouldn’t get to show off your cooking skills.”
That got him. Cassius raised a brow. “Are you saying you want me to cook for you?”
“I’m saying I won’t say no to breakfast.”
His chest rumbled with a low chuckle. Then, with an effortless movement, he pulled me even closer for a brief second before finally releasing me and sitting up. “Fine. But only because I don’t want my girl starving.”
My girl. Aaww.
I swallowed, ignoring the way my stomach did a stupid little flip at his words.
I sat up as well, running a hand through my hair as he stretched, muscles flexing under the sheets. I caught myself staring and quickly looked away, ignoring his amused smirk.
“Come on,” he said, throwing the covers off and getting out of bed. “Let’s get you fed.”
I followed, shaking my head but unable to stop the small smile tugging at my lips.
Little did I know, this morning was about to get a whole lot more interesting.
Cassius’s POV
I wasn’t the type to linger in bed, but waking up with April next to me had made it damn near impossible to move. Her warmth, her scent, the way she had fit so perfectly against me-it all made me want to stay there, just for a little longer.
But she wanted breakfast. And as much as I wanted to keep her wrapped in my arms, I also wanted to take care of her.
So, I pulled on a pair of sweats and led her downstairs, watching as she followed. She was still wearing my clothes-my shirt, my scent clinging to her skin. She probably didn’t even realize what it did to me.
I shook off the thought and stepped into the kitchen, rolling my shoulders before opening the fridge.
“Any requests?” I asked, glancing at her over my shoulder.
April slid onto one of the barstools, crossing her arms on the counter. “Surprise me.”
I smirked. “Careful with that. I could hand you a raw steak and call it breakfast.”
She snorted. “Then I’d have to take over, and I don’t think you’d like that.”
She wasn’t wrong. The idea of her caring for me like that-cooking for me, making herself at home in my space-felt far too intimate. And I was already struggling with how deeply I was falling for her.
I grabbed eggs, bacon, and some pancake mix.
“Wait…” April narrowed her eyes. “Didn’t you just make me pancakes the other day?”
I paused, then shrugged. “You complaining?”
She lifted her hands. “Not at all. Just curious.”
I focused on the stove, cracking the eggs into a pan, feeling her gaze settle on me.
“So, Alpha Cassius cooks,” she mused.
“I do a lot of things.”
“Do you also clean? Do laundry? Scrub toilets?”
I smirked, flipping the bacon. “Are you trying to figure out if I’d make a good househusband?”
April choked. “What? No!”
I laughed at her horrified expression. “Relax. I know I’d be a great one.”
She shook her head, but I caught the small smile she tried to hide.
I plated the bacon and eggs, then turned to the pancake batter.
“So…” April’s voice softened, curiosity lacing her tone. “Before you became Alpha, what were you like?”
I stiffened slightly but kept my expression neutral.
“Wasn’t much of a before,” I said, keeping my voice even. “I’ve been Alpha since I was seven.”
April’s eyes widened slightly. “That young?”
I nodded. “Rogues killed my family. The pack had no one else.”
April didn’t say anything right away, but I could feel the weight of her gaze.
“I’m sorry,” she said finally, and for once, the words didn’t irritate me.
I shrugged, keeping my attention on the stove. “It was a long time ago.”
I really did not want to talk about it, and I think she noticed that.
A beat of silence passed before she smirked. “So, no rebellious phase? No sneaking out, no wild teenage years?”
I huffed a small laugh. “No time for that. I was running a pack.”
April sighed dramatically. “That’s so boring.”
I shot her a dry look. “Sorry to disappoint.”
She grinned. “I’ll forgive you. As long as these pancakes are good.”
I plated the food, setting it in front of her before grabbing my own plate and sitting across from her.
She took a bite, pausing for a second before nodding. “Okay, you can stay.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Good to know I have your approval.”
April smirked, but just as she was about to reply-
The front door swung open.
Gabriel’s voice rang through the house. “Alpha, we need-”
He stopped short, eyes scanning the scene-April, sitting in my kitchen, wearing my clothes, eating breakfast with me like she belonged here.
April slowly chewed her food, swallowing as she muttered, “Well, this is awkward.”
I exhaled, rubbing a hand over my face.
Gabriel, to his credit, recovered quickly. His lips twitched as he folded his arms. “So, I take it this is why you’ve been missing in action?”
April narrowed her eyes. “And you are?”
Gabriel smirked. “Gabriel. Beta of the pack. And you must be the infamous bartender.”
April raised a brow. “Infamous?”
He grinned. “The Alpha has been talking about you for weeks. I almost thought you were imaginary.”
April turned to me, her lips curling into a smug smirk. “Oh? Talking about me, huh?”
I shot Gabriel a glare, but the bastard just grinned wider.
This was going to be a long morning.
But as I glanced at April, taking in the way she fit so seamlessly into my space, I realized something.
I’d never had something like this before. Never wanted it before.
April was the first. My first real relationship. The first woman I had ever truly wanted-not just in my bed, but in my life.
And that thought alone scared the hell out of me.