Chapter 17 - Cassius

The wind sliced through the dense forest, cold and sharp like a blade against his skin. Cassius inhaled deeply, his chest rising as the crisp air filled his lungs. Every step closer to the ritual felt heavier than the last, yet his resolve was ironclad.

His face, often marked by the carefree charm of an Alpha, was now a mask of steely determination. Today would determine everything. His heart thundered in his chest, each beat a reminder of what was at stake.

This is it. No turning back now.

He clenched his fists, nails biting into his palms. The pain grounded him, cutting through the fog of anxiety that threatened to cloud his mind. Cassius took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the earthy scent of the woods.

For Alysa. For us.

Alysa’s eyes flickered in his mind, her voice soft but sure in his memory, pushing him forward. The thought of her gave him strength, even as doubt gnawed at the edges of his resolve.

The council had made it clear: this ritual, this binding, would test his soul. And he had agreed, knowing full well what it meant.

What if he was wrong? What if the oath revealed feelings he wasn't even aware of? The consequences would be… final.

Cassius shook his head, banishing the whispers of fear. He knew his heart. He'd spent too long denying it, hiding behind duty and obligation. But no more. Today, he would lay everything bare.

The sky above was a thick blanket of storm-gray clouds, as if the heavens themselves were holding their breath for what was to come. Cassius shook his head slightly, trying to dispel the weight of the moment.

He didn’t have time to dwell on the consequences or the doubts gnawing at the back of his mind. His Pack needed him strong. Aurora needed him alive. But above all, Alysa needed to know the truth of his heart.

As he neared the clearing, voices drifted to him on the breeze. The assembled crowd waited, a mix of anticipation and dread hanging heavy in the air. Cassius squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. Whatever happened, he would face it with the dignity befitting an Alpha.

A crackle in the underbrush caught his attention, pulling him from his thoughts. Marcus emerged from the tree line, his auburn hair catching the dim light that filtered through the branches.

His face was tight, brows furrowed as if he carried the same weight Cassius bore.

The trees parted, revealing the gathering. Alphas from every Pack stood in a loose circle, their faces grim. Cassius's gaze swept over them, noting the tension in their postures, the wariness in their eyes.

Cassius’s gaze drifted toward Alysa, standing beside Aleksander. She was trying to be brave, her posture straight, but the worry etched into her features betrayed her. His heart clenched at the sight.

I’ll prove it to you, Alysa. You’ll see.

Her eyes were wide with worry, and her bottom lip was caught between her teeth. Looking at her lips did something to him the situation did not call for.

Moon, she's beautiful.

Cassius's heart clenched. He wanted nothing more than to go to her, to pull her into his arms and never let go. But he couldn't. Not yet. He had to prove himself first.

The forest clearing was alive with an unnatural stillness, a pocket of silence amidst the towering trees. Cassius’s boots crunched against the frosted earth as he made his way toward the center of the gathering.

Elder Greymane stood near the front, his weathered face impassive, but his silver eyes gleamed with the knowledge of ancient rites. The others, the Alphas of the surrounding Packs, were already positioned in a wide circle, their faces obscured by both distance and shadow.

Selena stood like a wraith at the far end, her dark eyes following his every move. Ragnar's imposing figure was unmistakable, his fiery red hair a beacon even in the dim light.

At the center of the clearing stood a slight figure, her silver hair gleaming in the dappled sunlight. The witch. Power radiated from her in almost visible waves, making the hair on the back of Cassius's neck stand on end.

Cassius’s steps faltered only when he spotted Alysa again, her chestnut hair catching the breeze, strands whipping against her face. Her eyes met his, and for a heartbeat, the rest of the world faded. She was the reason. The reason for every choice, every sacrifice, every painful step he was about to take.

Elder Greymane cleared his throat, snapping the moment like a brittle twig. "Cassius White, Alpha of the Annex Pack," the elder’s voice boomed, "are you certain you wish to go through with this?"

The weight of the question pressed down on Cassius. His eyes flicked to Marcus, who stood beside him, looking more conflicted than ever. Marcus had always been a warrior, but even he seemed reluctant now.

Marcus’s jaw clenched as he glanced at Cassius. "Cass," he began, voice rough, "you don’t have to do this anymore. If you say you love her, then…"

"I do," Cassius interrupted, his voice steady. "I have to." His gaze shifted back to Alysa.

She needs to know.

"I love her," he said simply, but the weight behind the words was undeniable. Marcus nodded, not pushing further, though the tension remained visible in his clenched fists.

Elder Greymane’s expression remained unreadable as he faced Cassius once again. "Are you sure you are prepared for what is to come, knowing the consequences?"

Cassius met the Elder's gaze steadily. "I am," he said, his voice firm despite the tremor in his hands. "I want—no, I need Alysa to know the truth. I love her. I've loved her for longer than I was willing to admit, even to myself."

A soft gasp reached his ears, and Cassius's eyes found Alysa again. Tears shimmered in her eyes, one escaping to trail down her cheek. He ached to wipe it away, to pull her close and whisper how much she meant to him.

Soon, he promised silently.

The witch stepped forward, her ageless face impassive. "Are you ready to begin?" she asked, her voice carrying an otherworldly echo.

Cassius nodded, forcing down the lump in his throat. "I am."

"Then step into the circle."

With a deep breath, Cassius moved to the center of the clearing. Runes carved into the earth began to glow with an eerie blue light. The witch raised her arms, and the air crackled with power.

"By the ancient magics that bind us all," she intoned, her voice resonating through Cassius's very bones, "I call upon the spirits to witness this oath. Let the truth be revealed; let falsehoods fall away. Cassius of the Whiteborn Pack, speak your heart's desire."

Cassius closed his eyes, reaching deep within himself. When he spoke, his voice was steady, filled with conviction. "I, Cassius White, swear that I love Alysa Volkov with all my heart and soul. My feelings for her are true and pure, untainted by obligation or coercion."

“I swear that my actions, though misguided, were born of a desire to protect her and keep her close, not out of prejudice or deceit."

The first tendrils of magic were soft, almost unnoticeable, as they wove through the air, curling around Cassius’s feet like thin vines. He stood tall, refusing to flinch as the cold, tingling sensation crawled up his legs.

"So I swear," Cassius finished, "and may death take me if I speak false."

The witch, standing at the edge of the circle, began to chant softly, her words a melodic hum that vibrated in the marrow of his bones. Cassius gritted his teeth as the magic seeped into his skin, probing, searching.

Alysa's smile, soft and shy. The way her eyes lit up when she played with Aurora. The curve of her hips, the fullness of her breasts. The ache in his chest whenever she was near.

Cassius’s breath hitched as the tendrils tightened around his body, growing more tangible, more invasive. His muscles tensed as the sensation spread, icy tendrils wrapping around his chest, constricting.

He tried to focus on the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves or the faint hum of voices in the background, but the magic demanded his attention, pulling him into the ritual’s grasp.

The witch’s voice grew louder, her words sharper, as if cutting through the very fabric of the air around them. Memories flashed through his mind, each one suffused with warmth and longing. The magic latched onto them, pulling them to the surface.

And then the pain hit.

A scream tore from Cassius's throat as liquid fire coursed through his veins. Every nerve ending ignited, his very soul laid bare and raw. The world seemed to dim at the edges of his vision, the tendrils of magic blurring into streaks of silver light.

A sharp, burning sensation erupted in his chest, and he staggered forward slightly, his knees threatening to buckle under the weight of it. He fell to his knees, body convulsing as the oath's magic etched itself into his being.

No.

He couldn't give in. Not now. Not when he was so close. Cassius forced his eyes open, searching desperately for Alysa. There—her face pale with horror, Aleksander's arm around her shoulders. She looked like she wanted to run to him, to stop this madness.

I'm okay.

He tried to speak to her with his eyes.

Another wave of agony crashed over him, and Cassius's world narrowed to a pinpoint of pain. He lost all sense of time, of self. There was only the burning, the tearing, the remaking of his very essence.

The witch’s chant had become a roar in his ears, drowning out every other sound. White-hot agony seared through him, and his teeth ground together under the crushing weight of the ritual.

His vision blurred with the intensity of the pain, and flashes of memories burst through the fog. Aurora’s tiny fingers clutching his, her innocent green eyes staring up at him with trust.

But then Alysa’s face emerged from the haze, her tear-streaked cheeks and trembling lips making his heart twist painfully.

Through it all, one thought kept him anchored.

Alysa. Alysa.

Her name became his mantra, his lifeline. More memories flashed before his eyes, giving him strength.

Their first meeting, years ago. Alysa, barely more than a girl, blushing furiously as she was introduced to her brother's best friend.

The day she arrived at his estate to be Aurora's nanny, all curves and shy smiles. The way his heart had skipped a beat, even as he told himself it was nothing.

Watching her with Aurora, so gentle and loving. The way something in his chest had softened, a warmth spreading through him that he couldn't explain.

Their first kiss, born of fear and adrenaline after the vampire attack. The taste of her lips, the softness of her skin. The way his whole world had shifted on its axis.

Each memory was a balm, soothing the burning ache of the oath's magic. Cassius clung to them, using them to weather the storm raging through his body and soul.

The ground beneath him felt like ice, and yet his body burned from within. Sweat dripped down his brow, mixing with the dirt beneath him. Every part of him screamed to stop, to let go, to surrender—but he wouldn’t.

I can’t.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pain began to recede. Cassius gasped for air, his body trembling with exhaustion. Slowly, carefully, he pushed himself to his feet. His muscles screamed in protest.

Cassius felt as though he had been hollowed out and rebuilt from the inside. His vision was still blurred, his breathing shallow, but the magic was fading, retreating like the tide after a storm.

He lifted his head slowly, his gaze locking onto Elder Greymane, who watched him with an expression of quiet respect.

His gaze found Alysa. She stood only a few feet away now, frozen, tears streaming down her face. The sight of her gave him strength, steadying him.

"I did this because of love." His voice was low but carried through the silence like a bell. The words weren’t for the council; they were for her.

"I love her," he said, louder this time, his voice echoing in the cold air. "And I would go through this again and again just to prove it."

The silence that followed was deafening.

He paused, gathering his thoughts as memories flooded his mind. Cassius took a deep breath, gathering the last remnants of his energy. He had to speak now, had to make them understand. Make her understand.

"I know…" he began, his voice hoarse from screaming. He cleared his throat and tried again. "I know many of you doubted my feelings for Alysa. Hell, I doubted them myself for far too long."

He paused, letting his gaze sweep over the crowd before settling back on Alysa. Every moment with her had led him here, to this forest, to this truth. He hadn’t realized the depth of his feelings until it was too late, until the idea of losing her felt like it would rip him apart.

"But I can't deny it anymore. Alysa, you've become everything to me. Your kindness, your strength, the way you love Aurora as if she were your own—it's all I can think about. You've brought light into my life when I thought I'd lost it forever."

Cassius's voice grew stronger as he continued, pouring out everything he'd kept bottled up for so long.

"I was scared," he admitted. "Scared of opening my heart. Scared of the complications our relationship would bring. But I'm not scared anymore. I love you, Alysa Volkov. With everything I am."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Alysa's eyes were wide, her lips parted in shock.

"I love the way you bite your lip when you're nervous," Cassius continued, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I love how clumsy you get when you're flustered. I love your laugh, your smile, the way your eyes light up when you're happy. I love how fiercely protective you are of the people you care about."

He took a step toward her, ignoring the way his legs trembled.

"I love that you see me—really see me. Not just as an Alpha or Aurora's father—but as a man. A man who's utterly, completely in love with you."

Silence fell over the clearing as Cassius finished speaking. He stood there, heart pounding, waiting for… something. Anything.

For a long, agonizing moment, nothing happened. Cassius's stomach churned with anxiety. Had it not worked? Had he failed?

Then, slowly, the runes at his feet began to glow. The magic surrounding him shimmered, pulsing with a warm, golden light. Cassius felt it settle into his skin, a gentle warmth spreading through his body.

Relief crashed over him like a tidal wave. He'd done it. The oath had accepted his words as truth.

The witch nodded once, satisfaction evident in the set of her shoulders. "The oath is sealed," came the pronouncement. "Cassius White speaks true."

The clearing was deathly silent. Every eye was on him, a mix of awe and trepidation on the faces of the assembled Alphas. Cassius swayed slightly, fighting to stay upright.

Elder Greymane stepped forward. "The council acknowledges the truth of Cassius White's words," he declared. "Let there be no more doubt or accusation on this matter."

Murmurs of assent rippled through the gathered Alphas. Even those who had been most vocal in their anger seemed subdued now, the irrefutable proof of the witch's oath leaving no room for argument.

Cassius barely heard them. His mind was reeling, the full impact of what he'd just done—what he'd just admitted—crashing over him like a tidal wave.

Cassius's eyes locked with Alysa's across the clearing. Her face was a canvas of emotions—shock, joy, love, all warring for dominance. She took a hesitant step forward, then another.

That was all it took. Cassius surged forward, his exhaustion forgotten. Alysa broke into a run, closing the distance between them.

They collided in the center of the clearing, Cassius's arms wrapping around her waist as hers twined around his neck. He buried his face in her hair, breathing in her familiar scent of apples and cinnamon.

"I love you," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "God, Alysa, I love you so much."

Alysa pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. Tears streamed down her face, but her smile was radiant. "I love you too," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "I've always loved you."

Cassius cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away her tears. Then, heedless of their audience, he lowered his head and captured her lips in a searing kiss.

The world fell away. There was only Alysa—the softness of her lips, the warmth of her body pressed against his, the taste of her tears mingling with his own. Cassius poured everything he felt into that kiss, all the love and longing he'd kept locked away for so long.