Chapter 5 - Cassius

Cassius's jaw clenched as he strode into the conference room, the scent of tension thick in the air. Marcus Redwood's hulking frame dominated one end of the long mahogany table, his ruddy complexion deepening as Cassius met his gaze. The challenge simmering beneath the surface was unmistakable.

The Crimson Oak rogue Alpha radiated power, but it wasn’t the kind of power that came with grace or refinement. No, Marcus carried himself with a brute’s confidence, a man who thrived on raw strength and intimidation.

Aleksander slipped in behind Cassius, closing the door with a soft click that echoed in the silence. The muted lighting cast long shadows across the room, amplifying the charged atmosphere.

This better be worth it.

Cassius slid into a chair opposite Marcus, watching the man with narrowed eyes. The air in the room was thick with tension, and every muscle in Cassius’s body was coiled tight, ready for whatever came next.

The territory expansion was crucial, but dealing with the Crimson Oak Pack always left a bad taste in his mouth.

The room itself was a stark contrast to the charged atmosphere—clean, minimal decor. No distractions. Just the wide, polished table between them. But despite the simplicity of the setting, there was an undercurrent of violence in the air, a reminder that this was no ordinary negotiation.

"Let's get this over with," Cassius growled, leaning forward. "You called this meeting, Marcus. What do you want?"

Marcus's lips curled into a smirk. "Straight to business, as always, Cassius. I like that about you." He spread a map across the table, his thick fingers tracing a line along the eastern border. "We're willing to cede this portion of our territory to you, Aleksander. It's prime land, plenty of resources."

Cassius's eyes narrowed. The offer was too good to be true.

"And what do you want in return?" Aleksander asked.

"That's where things get interesting." Marcus leaned back, his chair creaking under his weight now facing Aleksander. "We've heard rumors about a certain member of your Pack. Your sister, I believe."

The air in the room seemed to thicken. Cassius's muscles tensed, a low growl building in his chest. "What about her?"

Marcus's eyes glinted with interest. "She's unmated, isn't she? Young, beautiful… I am looking for a suitable mate. Money’s one thing, but a union between our Packs, a marriage… now that would solidify the deal, wouldn’t it?"

The growl in Cassius's chest erupted into a snarl. His vision blurred, rage clouding his thoughts.

How dare he? Alysa isn't some pawn to be traded.

"Absolutely not," Aleksander snapped, his face contorted with disgust. "My sister isn't part of any deal."

Marcus held up his hands, a placating gesture that did nothing to calm the storm brewing in Cassius's chest. "Now, now, let's not be hasty. It's a generous offer. She would be well-cared for, and the alliance between our Packs would be stronger than ever."

Cassius's hands clenched into fists, his claws threatening to break through. The wolf inside him howled, demanding retribution for even suggesting such a thing. He could feel his control slipping, the urge to shift and tear Marcus apart growing stronger by the second.

Breathe , he commanded himself.

But the image of Alysa, forced into a loveless marriage, her spirit broken, flashed through his mind. His protective instincts surged, overwhelming his rational thoughts.

Cassius's fingers dug into the wooden table, the edge biting into his skin. He fought to keep his voice steady, but the words were thick in his throat. “Alysa isn’t part of this negotiation,” he growled, the words escaping before he could stop them. "Because she is my mate."

The room fell silent. Aleksander's head snapped toward Cassius, his eyes wide with shock. Marcus's smug expression faltered, replaced by confusion and then suspicion.

What the hell did I just say?

Cassius's own words echoed in his ears, surprising him as much as everyone else in the room. But he couldn't back down now. The thought of Alysa with anyone else, especially as part of some political deal, made his blood boil.

His wolf, usually controlled and disciplined, growled beneath his skin, demanding protection for what was his.

"Your mate?" Marcus's eyes narrowed. "That's… unexpected. I wasn't aware you had claimed her."

Cassius straightened in his chair, forcing his features into a mask of calm authority. "It's recent," he lied smoothly, his mind racing to catch up with his mouth. "We've been keeping it private."

Aleksander, to his credit, recovered quickly. He nodded, though Cassius could see the questions burning in his friend's eyes. "That's right. It's not common knowledge yet."

“Interesting,” Marcus leaned back, his earlier enthusiasm deflating. "I see. Well, that certainly changes things." He drummed his fingers on the table, his gaze darting between Cassius and Aleksander. "I suppose we'll have to discuss other forms of compensation for the territory."

Relief washed over Cassius, but he kept his expression neutral. "Yes, we will. Monetary compensation would be the most straightforward option."

Aleksander jumped in, steering the conversation back to numbers and logistics. Cassius forced himself to focus, but his mind kept drifting to Alysa.

What have I done? How am I going to explain this to her?

As Aleksander and Marcus haggled over figures, Cassius could feel Marcus's suspicious gaze on him. The other Alpha's eyes narrowed every time Cassius spoke, clearly not entirely convinced by the sudden revelation.

"We'll need time to gather the funds," Aleksander said, pulling Cassius back to the present. "How about we set the exchange for two weeks from now? That should give us enough time to make the necessary arrangements."

Marcus nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving Cassius. "Two weeks. That's acceptable. And I expect to see your new mate at the ceremony, Cassius. It's only fitting that she be there for such an important event."

Cassius's jaw clenched. "Of course. Alysa will be there."

Shit. This is getting more complicated by the second.

The rest of the meeting passed in a blur of negotiations and thinly veiled tension. When Marcus finally left, the door closing behind him with a resounding thud, Cassius slumped in his chair, exhaustion washing over him.

Aleksander whirled on him, his eyes blazing. "What the hell was that, Cassius? Since when is my sister your mate?"

Cassius ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. "It's not… It's not real, Aleks. I had to say something. You heard what he was suggesting. I couldn't let him think Alysa was available for some political marriage."

Aleksander's anger deflated slightly, but confusion still clouded his features. "So it was all a lie? Just to protect her?"

"Of course," Cassius said, perhaps a bit too quickly. "You know how I feel about Alysa. She's like a sister to me. I couldn't stand by and let her be used as a bargaining chip."

Like a sister. Right. Keep telling yourself that.

Aleksander sank into a chair, shaking his head. "I appreciate you looking out for her, but this… This is a mess, Cass. How are we going to explain this to Alysa? To the rest of the Pack?"

Cassius's stomach churned at the thought. "We'll figure it out. It's only for two weeks. We just need to keep up the charade until the exchange is complete. Then we can say it didn't work out or something."

"And you don't think people will find that suspicious? An Alpha claiming a mate and then suddenly breaking it off?"

Cassius winced. He hadn't thought that far ahead. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The important thing is that Alysa is safe from being traded off to some stranger."

Aleksander's eyes narrowed. "Is that the only reason, Cass? Or is there something you're not telling me?"

Heat crept up Cassius's neck. "What are you implying?"

Aleksander raised a brow. “You’re not doing this because of Marcus being a rogue, are you? You’ve always been one of the few who’s been open to working with them.”

“It’s not about him being a rogue,” Cassius shot back. “It’s about not knowing him well enough. He could be dangerous. We don’t know what kind of life Alysa would have with him.”

Aleksander sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I get it. I do. But you and I both know that some people are going to see this as a slap in the face to the rogues. You’re going to have to defend your decision.”

“I will,” Cassius said firmly. “I don’t care what people think. My only concern is Alysa.”

Aleksander was silent for a while until Cassius finally spoke. “If you had to choose… would you rather she ends up with him? Or with me?”

"You. Of course, my best friend," Aleksander said. "I just find it interesting that your first instinct was to claim her as your mate. Not your ward, but your mate."

Cassius stood abruptly, pacing the length of the room. "You're reading too much into this, Aleks. I did what I had to do to protect her. That's all."

Is it, though? Or did you just say out loud what you've been denying to yourself?

Aleksander watched him for a long moment before sighing. "Alright. I believe you. And… thank you. For protecting her. Even if your method was a bit… extreme."

Cassius stopped pacing, turning to face his friend. "You know I'd do anything to keep her safe. To keep any member of both our Packs safe."

"I know," Aleksander said softly. "But this isn't just any member of the Pack, Cass. This is Alysa. My sister. Your… whatever she is to you. This affects her life in a big way."

Guilt gnawed at Cassius's insides. He hadn't considered how this would impact Alysa beyond keeping her safe from Marcus's proposition. "You're right. I should have thought it through more. But what's done is done. We need to figure out how to move forward."

Aleksander paced, shaking his head. “You know she’s going to lose her mind when she hears about this.”

Cassius winced internally. He knew that all too well. “I’ll explain it to her. She’ll understand.”

Or at least, I hope she does.

Aleksander nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. "We should tell her together. She deserves to hear it from both of us."

The thought of facing Alysa, of explaining what he'd done, made Cassius's stomach churn. But Aleksander was right. They owed her the truth.

"Agreed," Cassius said, grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair. "Let's go now. The sooner we explain, the better."

As they left the conference room, Cassius's mind raced with possible scenarios. How would Alysa react? Would she be angry? Hurt? Or, worst of all, indifferent?

The drive to Cassius's estate seemed to take both an eternity and no time at all. Aleksander was uncharacteristically quiet, lost in his own thoughts. Cassius's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white.

What have I done?

The question echoed in his mind, a relentless refrain that grew louder with each passing mile.

As they pulled up to the house, Cassius caught sight of Alysa through the window. She was in the living room, curled up on the couch with a book, completely unaware of how her life was about to change.

His heart clenched at the sight of her. At that moment, all his rationalizations about brotherly protection crumbled. The truth hit him like a physical blow. He claimed her because he wanted her to be his. Because the thought of her with anyone else was unbearable.

Cassius took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. He and Aleksander approached the front door.

I’ve faced down rogue Alphas, vampires, and werebears, but none of that feels as dangerous as this.

Cassius's hand hovered over the doorknob, his heart pounding in his chest. Beside him, Aleksander shifted impatiently.

"Are we going in, or are you planning to admire the door all night?" Aleksander's voice was tight with tension.

Yes, I could go for a werebear right now.

Cassius shot him a glare. “Easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to explain why you claimed a friend as your mate.”

Taking a deep breath, Cassius pushed the door open. The scent of lavender and vanilla—Alysa's scent—washed over him, simultaneously calming and unsettling.

Alysa looked up from her book, her warm honey-brown eyes widening in surprise. "Cassius? Aleks? What are you both doing here?"

Cassius's throat tightened at the sight of her. Hair tousled, cheeks flushed from the warmth of the fire, she looked utterly beautiful. And utterly unaware of the bomb they were about to drop on her life.

"We need to talk," Cassius managed, his voice rougher than he intended.

Alysa's brow furrowed, worry clouding her features. She set her book aside and stood, unconsciously smoothing her clothes. "Is everything okay? Did something happen at the meeting?"

Aleksander cleared his throat. "You could say that."

Cassius shot him a warning look.

Let me handle this.

"Alysa, maybe you should sit down."

Her frown deepened, but she complied, perching on the edge of the couch. Cassius and Aleksander took seats across from her, the coffee table between them feeling like an insurmountable barrier.

"You're scaring me," Alysa said softly. "What's going on?"

Cassius leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "The meeting with Marcus Redwood… it didn't go exactly as planned."

How do I even begin to explain this?

Alysa's eyes darted between the two men. "Okay… What happened?"

Cassius swallowed hard. "He made an… unexpected offer. In exchange for the territory we wanted, he suggested…" He trailed off, the words sticking in his throat.

"He wanted you," Aleksander cut in, his voice tight with barely contained anger. "As a mate."

Alysa recoiled as if she'd been slapped. "What? But… that's not… We don't do things like that anymore. Do we?"

The hurt and confusion in her eyes made Cassius's chest ache. "No, we don't," Cassius said firmly. "Which is why I… I told him you weren't available."

Alysa's shoulders sagged with relief. "Oh. Well, thank you. Both of you. For standing up for me."

Cassius and Aleksander exchanged a look.

If only it were that simple.

"There's more," Cassius said, his voice low. "To make sure Marcus understood you were off-limits, I… I told him you were my mate."

The words hung in the air, heavy and charged. Alysa's eyes widened, her lips parting in shock. For a long moment, no one spoke.

Then, "You what?" Alysa's voice was barely above a whisper.

Cassius winced at the disbelief in her tone. "I claimed you as my mate," he repeated, forcing himself to meet her gaze. "It was the only way to ensure he wouldn't pursue the idea further."

Alysa stood abruptly, pacing the length of the room. Her scent spiked with a mix of emotions Cassius couldn't fully decipher. Confusion, certainly. Anger? Fear?

"I don't understand," she said, turning to face them. "Why would you do that? Couldn't you have just said I was already promised to someone else?"

Aleksander leaned back, crossing his arms. "That's a good question, Cass. Why didn't you?"

Cassius felt heat creep up his neck.

Because the thought of you with anyone else makes me want to tear them apart.

"It was instinctive," he said instead. "Marcus needed to understand that you were completely off-limits. Claiming you as my mate was the strongest deterrent I could think of."

Alysa's eyes narrowed. "And you didn't think to consult me first? This affects my life too, Cassius."

Cassius opened his mouth, but the words got stuck. He hadn’t thought it through—hadn’t considered how she’d feel, how she’d react. His wolf, so fiercely protective, had pushed him to act first and think later.

Guilt twisted in his gut. "You're right. I should have. But it all happened so fast, and I—"

"How long?" Alysa cut him off.

"What?"

"How long do we have to pretend to be mates?"

Cassius exchanged another look with Aleksander. "Two weeks," he said. "Until the territory exchange is complete."

Alysa sank back onto the couch, her face pale. "Two weeks of pretending to be your mate. In front of the entire Pack. In front of other Alphas." She looked up, her eyes wide with realization. "What happens after? When we suddenly break it off?"

The same concerns Aleksander had raised earlier. Cassius ran a hand through his hair, frustration building. "We'll figure that out when the time comes. For now, we just need to focus on getting through the next two weeks."

"Easy for you to say," Alysa muttered. "You're not the one whose reputation is on the line."

Her words stung more than Cassius cared to admit.

Is the thought of being my mate really so terrible?

Claiming her publicly, even in a negotiation, wasn’t something that could easily be undone. People would talk. The Packs would hear about it. And Alysa… she would be bound by the expectations of a claim like that.

But it wasn’t a charade. Not really. Somewhere deep inside, he had known the moment he spoke the words that they were true.

She was his.

Whether she wanted to be or not. But forcing her into it like this wasn’t something he had ever wanted.

“Alysa…” Cassius began, his voice softer now. “I didn’t mean to put you in this position. But if I hadn’t, Marcus would’ve taken you, and I couldn’t—” He stopped, clenching his fists at his sides. “I won’t let anyone take you. Ever.”

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, the fire in her eyes flickered with something softer, something uncertain. But then her defenses went back up, and she folded her arms tighter across her chest.

"No one will think less of you," Aleksander said softly. "If anything, they'll probably wonder what you saw in this idiot." He jerked a thumb at Cassius, trying to lighten the mood.

Alysa didn't smile. She looked between the two of them, her expression unreadable. "I need some time to process this."

Cassius nodded, his chest tight. "Of course. Take all the time you need. We can figure out the details later."

Aleksander stood, clearly sensing it was time to leave. "I should head home. Alysa, do you want me to stay?"

Alysa shook her head. "No, I… I think I’m fine."

"Of course," he said quickly. "You have your room. Or… or my room, if you prefer. For appearances' sake."

A faint blush colored Alysa’s cheek. "My room is fine. Thank you."

Aleksander nodded, heading for the door. He paused, looking back at his sister. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Alysa managed a small smile. "I'm fine, Aleks. Really. I just need some time to think."

With a final nod, Aleksander left, the sound of his car starting up and driving away filling the sudden silence.

Cassius and Alysa stood in the living room, the air between them thick with unspoken words and emotions. Cassius opened his mouth to speak, but Alysa held up a hand.

"Not now, Cassius. Please. I just… I need some space."

He nodded, his heart heavy. "Of course. You know where everything is. If you need anything…"

"I know," she said softly. "Goodnight, Cassius."

As she disappeared up the stairs, Cassius sank onto the couch, his head in his hands. The scent of her lingered in the air, a constant reminder of what he'd done and what he stood to lose.

What have I gotten us into?

The next two weeks stretched out before him, filled with uncertainty and the tantalizing possibility of something more. But as he listened to Alysa's soft footsteps above, one thought overshadowed all others:

Please, don't let this ruin everything between us.