Prologue - Cassius

The night air hung heavy with the scent of pine and moonlight. Cassius paced the length of his study, his footsteps echoing in the quiet of the Whiteborn estate. The clock on the mantel ticked away, each second a reminder of the responsibilities weighing on his shoulders.

Moonlight spilled through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the room. Cassius ran a hand through his platinum blonde hair, his blue eyes scanning the pile of reports on his desk. The soft glow of the desk lamp illuminated the papers, each one detailing another challenge facing the Pack.

Another night, another stack of problems to solve.

Cassius settled into his chair with a sigh. His father had started giving him more responsibilities lately, but he wasn’t complaining.

He’s just preparing me to take over.

The silence of the house pressed in around him, a stark contrast to the chaos that seemed to follow him everywhere else.

A cry pierced the night, shattering the stillness. Cassius froze, his heightened senses alert. The sound came again, high and plaintive—a baby's wail.

He was on his feet in an instant, moving with the fluid grace of a predator. The cry led him to the front door. His hand hesitated on the knob, uncertainty flickering across his face.

What the hell?

The door swung open. There, nestled in a makeshift basket, lay a tiny bundle. Pink-faced and squalling, a newborn baby girl stared up at him with startling green eyes. Cassius felt the world tilt on its axis.

"What in the—” he breathed, crouching down. The scent hit him then, a mix of milk and innocence, undercut by something familiar. Something that made his wolf stir with recognition.

His hands shook as he lifted the basket, bringing it inside. The baby's cries softened to whimpers, her tiny fists waving in the air. Cassius set the basket on a nearby table, his mind racing.

A folded piece of paper tucked into the blankets caught his eye. With trembling fingers, he pulled it free, unfolding it to reveal a hastily scrawled note.

Cassius,

I'm sorry to do this to you, but I have no other choice. This is our daughter, Aurora. That night we spent together… I never expected this to happen. I thought I could handle it, but I can't. I'm slipping, Cassius. I can feel the madness creeping in. I won't let it take me while I'm holding her.

Please, take care of her. Give her the life I never could. She deserves better than a rogue for a mother.

I'm so sorry.

The words blurred as Cassius read them again and again.

Our daughter.

The realization hit him like a physical blow. He stumbled back, bracing himself against the wall.

How could this happen?

Images of that night flashed through his mind. A chance encounter on the borders of his territory. A moment of weakness. He'd never expected to see Carrie again, let alone…

His gaze fell on Aurora, her cries having subsided to soft coos.

Slipping.

The word echoed in his mind, filling him with dread. He knew what it meant for a rogue wolf. The isolation, the constant struggle to survive—it could drive even the strongest to madness.

Without conscious thought, Cassius found himself moving. He scooped up Aurora, cradling her awkwardly against his chest. Her scent filled his nostrils, and beneath it, he caught the fading trail of her mother.

"Abigail!" he called, his voice rough with emotion. The housekeeper, Abigail Holloway, appeared moments later, her eyes widening at the sight of the baby in his arms.

"Alpha, what—”

"Take her," Cassius said, gently passing Aurora to the startled woman. "Keep her safe. I'll be back soon."

Before she could protest, he was out the door, shifting mid-stride. His wolf form burst from his clothes, paws hitting the ground running. The scent trail was faint, but his determination was iron-clad.

Trees blurred past as Cassius raced through the forest. His heart pounded in his ears, a mix of adrenaline and fear driving him forward.

Please let me find her in time.

The scent grew stronger as he neared the edge of Whiteborn territory. Here, the trees thinned out, giving way to rocky outcroppings. Cassius slowed, his senses on high alert. Something was wrong. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood.

A clearing opened up before him, bathed in silver moonlight. Cassius froze, his wolf whining low in his throat. Two bodies lay motionless on the ground, their fur matted with blood.

He approached cautiously, his heart sinking with each step. One of the wolves was unfamiliar, likely a feral rogue. The other… Cassius's nose confirmed what his heart already knew. Aurora's mother.

Carrie.

Shifting back to his human form, Cassius knelt beside her. Her once-vibrant fur was dull, her eyes glassy and unseeing. Claw marks raked across her body, evidence of the brutal fight that had taken place.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, gently closing her eyes. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here sooner."

Grief welled up inside him, unexpected in its intensity. He hadn't known her, not really. But she had given him something precious, something he hadn't even known he wanted until tonight.

This was the fate that awaited so many who lived outside the protection of a Pack. It could have been Aurora's fate if her mother hadn't made the ultimate sacrifice.

Cassius stood, his jaw set with determination. He couldn't change what had happened here, but he could ensure that Aurora never faced such a fate. She would grow up loved, protected, and part of a strong Pack.

The journey back to the Whiteborn estate seemed to take both an eternity and no time at all. Cassius's mind raced, plans and worries tangling together. How would he explain this to the Pack? To the other Alphas? Being a single father was strange among Alpha wolves.

As he approached the house, he could hear Aurora's cries once more. Something tightened in his chest at the sound. He quickened his pace, bursting through the door.

Abigail looked up as he entered, relief clear on her face. "Oh, thank goodness you're back, Alpha. I've tried everything, but she won't settle."

Cassius crossed the room in long strides. Without hesitation, he took Aurora from the housekeeper's arms. The baby's cries softened almost immediately, her tiny hands reaching up to grasp at his shirt.

"It's alright," he murmured, surprised at how natural it felt to hold her. "I'm here now. You're safe."

Mrs. Holloway hovered nearby, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "Alpha, if I may ask… what's going on? Where did she come from?"

Cassius took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving Aurora's face. "She's mine," he said softly. "Her mother… she can't take care of her. So now it's up to me."

The housekeeper's eyes widened, but to her credit, she didn't question further. "I see. Well then, we'd best get her settled, shouldn't we? I'll prepare a room—”

"No," Cassius interrupted. "She'll stay with me tonight. Could you get some formula and whatever else she might need to my room?"

"Of course, Alpha. Right away."

As Mrs. Holloway bustled off, Cassius made his way to his bedroom. The enormity of what had happened and of what lay ahead threatened to overwhelm him. But looking down at Aurora, her green eyes blinking sleepily up at him, he felt a sense of calm settle over him.

He sat on the edge of his bed, adjusting his hold on the baby. She yawned, her tiny pink mouth forming a perfect 'O'. Something fierce and protective surged through Cassius at the sight.

"I know this isn't what either of us expected," he said softly. "And I'll probably make a lot of mistakes along the way. But I promise you this, Aurora, you will always be loved. You will always be protected."

Aurora cooed, her small hand wrapping around his finger with surprising strength. Cassius felt a smile tugging at his lips, the first genuine one in what felt like ages.

"You and me, little one," he whispered. "We're in this together now."

As she closed her eyes in sleep, Cassius made a solemn vow. No matter what challenges lay ahead, no matter how it might complicate his role as Alpha, he would give Aurora the best life possible. She was his daughter, his responsibility, his Pack.

And he would protect her with his life.