Chapter 8 - Alysa

The morning sun pierced through the curtains, casting a warm glow across Alysa's face. She groaned, burying her head deeper into the pillow. Another day of pretending. Another day of stolen glances and lingering touches that meant nothing. Or did they?

Get it together, Alysa. This isn't real.

She dragged herself out of Cassius’s bed, padding toward the kitchen. The scent of freshly brewed coffee hit her nose, and she found him already there, Aurora balanced on his hip as he poured himself a cup.

"Morning," he mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep.

Alysa's heart skipped a beat. Cassius's hair was tousled, and his shirt was rumpled. He looked… domestic—like this was their real life together.

It was the weekend, so Abigail would not be coming to the estate. It was just her and Cassius and Aurora today.

Great.

"Morning," she replied, reaching for her own mug. Their fingers brushed, and she jerked back, nearly spilling coffee everywhere.

Cassius caught her wrist, steadying her. "Careful," he murmured, his touch sending sparks up her arm.

Alysa cleared her throat. "Thanks. Um, about yesterday…"

"The ceremony?" Cassius raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. I was thinking… maybe we should talk about how long we're going to keep this up."

Cassius set Aurora in her highchair, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"

"Well, the deal's done. Shouldn't we… I don't know, stage a breakup or something?"

The words tasted bitter on her tongue, but she forced them out anyway. It was the logical thing to do, wasn't it?

Cassius's jaw tightened. "It would look strange if we suddenly split right after the ceremony. Marcus is already suspicious. We need to keep this going, at least for a while longer."

Alysa's stomach churned. More pretending. More torturing herself with what-ifs and maybes. But she nodded, plastering on a smile. "Right. Of course. We wouldn't want to raise any red flags."

Just a few more weeks of this. You can do it. You have to.

Alysa knew he was right. Yet, pretending for even one more day made her insides twist with frustration. Her gaze flicked to Aurora, who was strapped comfortably to Cassius’s chest, babbling innocently. Alysa's heart softened, but that only made it worse.

I can’t keep pretending this is just an act. Not when it feels so real.

“I get it,” she muttered, keeping her voice steady. “But the longer we keep this up… the harder it’s going to be.”

Cassius didn’t respond immediately, his blue eyes locking ahead. There was a tension in his jaw she hadn’t noticed before.

Was he feeling it, too?

As the days wore on, Alysa found herself slipping deeper into the charade. It was the little things that got to her. The way Cassius's hand would find the small of her back when they walked together.

The soft smiles he'd shoot her way when she made Aurora laugh. The late-night conversations that stretched into the early hours of the morning, filled with shared hopes and fears. But each day, it felt less like a performance and more like she was genuinely connected to him.

Alysa hated it. She hated how her heart skipped when Cassius smiled at her or when their hands brushed and she caught his scent—a mixture of pine and something warm, comforting.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

She stood by the window one morning, watching as Cassius trained his warriors outside. He moved like a predator, sharp and precise, every shift of his muscular frame calling to something primal inside her. Her chest tightened at the sight.

Stop. You’re being ridiculous.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t turn off her feelings. They were growing, seeping into the cracks of her resolve like ivy creeping over stone.

That evening, as they sat on the porch watching the sunset, Aurora asleep in her playpen nearby, Cassius turned to her with a serious expression.

"Thank you," he said softly.

Alysa blinked. "For what?"

"For all of this. For helping with Aurora, for going along with this crazy plan. I know it can't be easy for you."

If only you truly knew…

She shrugged, forcing a laugh. "What are friends for, right?"

Cassius's eyes lingered on her face, and for a moment, Alysa thought she saw something flicker in their depths.

Pain?

But then he looked away, and the moment passed.

"Right. Friends."

The word hung between them, heavy with unspoken things.

Alysa began to notice subtle changes in Cassius's behavior with each passing day. He seemed more attuned to her presence, his eyes following her movements when he thought she wasn't looking. Sometimes, she'd catch him staring at her with an intensity that made her breath catch.

Saturday afternoon, as she was playing with Aurora on the living room floor, Cassius walked in and froze. Alysa looked up, confused by his sudden stillness.

"What?" she asked, self-consciously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Cassius shook his head, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Nothing. It's just… you're really good with her, you know that?"

Warmth bloomed in Alysa's chest. "She makes it easy. She's a great kid."

"Yeah, she is." Cassius's voice was thick with emotion. He crossed the room, kneeling beside them. His hand came to rest on Alysa's shoulder, and she felt the heat of his touch even through her shirt.

Oh God.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," he murmured.

Alysa's heart raced. She turned to face him, their faces inches apart. For a breathless moment, she thought he might kiss her. But then Aurora let out a happy squeal, breaking the spell.

Cassius cleared his throat, pulling back. "I, uh, I should get dinner started."

He retreated to the kitchen, leaving Alysa with a jumble of confused emotions.

This isn't real. Remember that. It can't be real.

But in time, the line between pretense and reality blurred more and more. Cassius started seeking her out for no reason, just to talk or share a quiet moment. He'd bring her coffee when she was still in his bed in the mornings, remembering exactly how she liked it.

When Pack members visited, his arm would snake around her waist, pulling her close in a gesture that felt far too natural. The nights were the worst, as she could barely bring herself to sleep beside his muscled, toned, hard body, even though all she felt of him was the head.

The bed was that BIG!

And although he kept his distance in the bed, she wondered how he could fall asleep so easily when there were only inches of space beside them each night.

One night, as they cleaned up after dinner, Cassius suddenly said, "Hey, I was thinking… there's somewhere I'd like to show you and Aurora."

Alysa looked up from the dish she was drying. "Oh? Where's that?"

A boyish grin spread across Cassius's face. "It's a surprise. But I think you'll like it. We could go tomorrow evening—watch the sunset. What do you say?"

The excitement in his eyes was infectious. Alysa found herself nodding. "Sounds perfect."

The next evening, they piled into Cassius's car, Aurora securely strapped into her car seat. As they drove, Alysa watched the scenery change from manicured lawns to wilder, more untamed forest.

"Where exactly are we going?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

Cassius's eyes twinkled with mischief. "You'll see."

Finally, they pulled off onto a narrow dirt road. Cassius parked the car and came around to help Alysa out, Aurora already in his arms.

"It's just a short walk from here," he said, leading the way down a winding path.

As they rounded a bend, Alysa gasped. There, nestled high in the branches of an ancient oak tree, was a treehouse. It was bigger than she'd expected, its wooden planks weathered but sturdy.

"Is this…?"

"My childhood treehouse," Cassius confirmed. "My dad and I built it when I was ten. I used to come here all the time to think or just to escape for a while. No one but Aleksander knows of it."

Alysa's heart swelled at the thought of a young Cassius finding solace in this hidden sanctuary. "It's beautiful."

They climbed up, Cassius going first with Aurora, then helping Alysa navigate the ladder. Inside, the treehouse was cozy, with cushions scattered on the floor and strings of lights twinkling along the walls.

"I come here sometimes to clear my head," Cassius admitted as they settled in. "I thought… well, I wanted to share it with you."

The sun was just beginning to set, painting the sky in brilliant hues of orange and pink. They sat in comfortable silence, watching the colors change and deepen.

Aurora babbled happily, pointing at the sky. Alysa laughed, tickling the baby's tummy. "That's right, Sweetheart. Pretty colors."

She felt Cassius's gaze on her and turned to find him watching her with an expression she couldn't quite decipher. There was warmth there, and something else… something that made her pulse quicken.

"I'll be right back," Cassius said suddenly, getting to his feet. "I left something in the car. Mind watching Aurora for a minute?"

Alysa nodded, pulling the baby closer. "Of course. We'll be fine, won't we?"

As Cassius's footsteps faded, Alysa leaned back, letting out a contented sigh. This moment, right here, felt perfect. If only it could last forever.

The peace shattered in an instant.

A dark shape hurtled through the treehouse entrance, moving faster than Alysa's eyes could track. Her wolf senses screamed danger, and she instinctively curled her body around Aurora, shielding the baby.

Crimson eyes gleamed in the fading light. Vampire.

Terror clawed at Alysa's throat, but she pushed it down. She had to protect Aurora.

The vampire lunged, teeth bared. Alysa rolled, narrowly avoiding its grasp. She scrambled to her feet with Aurora clutched tightly to her chest.

"Cassius!" she screamed, backing toward the far wall.

The vampire advanced, a predatory grin stretching across its face. "Hand over the child, Wolf," it hissed. "And I might let you live."

Alysa's eyes darted around, searching for an escape route. There was none. They were trapped.

"Never," she snarled, her own wolf rising to the surface.

The vampire's eyes narrowed. "Then you die."

It sprang forward. Alysa braced herself for the impact, turning to shield Aurora with her body. But the attack never came.

A furious roar shook the treehouse. Cassius burst through the entrance, his eyes blazing with rage. He slammed into the vampire, sending them both crashing through the wooden wall.

Alysa gasped, clutching Aurora tighter as splinters rained down around them. She rushed to the gaping hole, heart pounding.

Below, Cassius and the vampire were locked in a brutal fight. Cassius's clothes were torn, his skin already marred with cuts and bruises. But his eyes burned with a fury Alysa had never seen before.

The vampire was fast, but Cassius was stronger. He caught the creature's arm as it swung at him. With a sickening crunch, he tore it clean off.

The vampire's howl of pain echoed through the forest. Cassius didn't hesitate. He didn’t stop. His eyes glowed with the intensity of his wolf, his hands unrelenting as he chained the vampire to a nearby tree, securing it with silver restraints.

Alysa exhaled shakily, her knees buckling as the adrenaline coursing through her veins started to wane. She slid to the floor of the treehouse, cradling Aurora against her chest, whispering soothing words into the baby’s hair as she watched Cassius secure the vampire. Her mind raced with the events that had just unfolded, her body still trembling.

Slowly, Cassius turned to look up at her. The rage in his eyes faded, replaced by concern.

"Are you okay?" he called up. "Aurora?"

Alysa nodded, unable to find her voice. Aurora, miraculously, had fallen asleep during the chaos.

Cassius climbed back into the treehouse, his chest heaving and his face set in grim lines. There was blood on his hands, and his blue eyes were darker than she’d ever seen them. Without a word, he knelt beside her, his gaze softening as he reached out to touch Aurora’s cheek, making sure she was okay.

"She's fine," Alysa managed to croak out. "Not a scratch."

Relief washed over Cassius's face. He pulled Alysa into a fierce hug, mindful of Aurora between them.

"Thank God," he murmured into her hair. "If anything had happened to either of you…"

Alysa melted into his embrace, the adrenaline slowly seeping out of her system. She was safe. They were all safe.

“Let’s get out of here.” Cassius stood and helped Alysa to her feet, his touch gentle yet firm. They made their way down the ladder, and Alysa’s legs felt unsteady beneath her, her body still rattled from the attack.

The walk back to the car was tense, the silence between them filled with unspoken words. Cassius held Aurora now, his hand gripping Alysa’s as if he needed to reassure himself that they were both safe.

When they reached the car, Cassius carefully placed Aurora in her seat and closed the door with a soft click. He turned to Alysa, his gaze intense, searching her face. “I should’ve been here sooner.”

“It’s not your fault,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “You saved us.”

But even as she said the words, Alysa could feel the weight of everything that had happened settling on her. The attack, the fear, the realization that she was starting to care about Cassius more than she should—it was all too much.

I’m falling for him.

The drive back to the house was tense and silent. Cassius's knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched tight. Alysa kept glancing in the rearview mirror, half-expecting to see more vampires chasing them.

When they finally pulled up to the house, Cassius was out of the car in an instant, helping Alysa down and ushering them inside. He locked the door behind them, then did a quick sweep of the house, checking every room.

Alysa stood in the living room, still holding Aurora close. The baby had woken up during the drive but seemed blissfully unaware of the danger they'd been in.

Cassius returned, his expression grim. "It's clear. You two should be safe here."

"What about you?" Alysa asked, noticing the way he said, 'you two.' “Where are you going?” The words escaped her before she could stop them.

Cassius ran a hand through his hair, leaving streaks of dirt and blood. He paused, his eyes meeting hers for a long, silent moment. “I have unfinished business.”

Fear gripped Alysa's heart. "You can't go alone. What if there are more of them out there?"

"I'll be fine," Cassius assured her, but his eyes were hard. "I need you to stay here with Aurora. Keep her safe."

He crossed the room in two long strides, cupping Alysa's face in his hands. For a moment, she thought he might kiss her. Instead, he pressed his forehead to hers, his breath warm on her skin.

"I'll be back soon," he murmured. "I promise."

Then he was gone, the sound of his car engine fading into the distance.

Alysa stood at the window, watching the taillights disappear down the road. Her emotions were a tangled mess—fear for Cassius's safety, lingering terror from the attack, and underneath it all, a fierce protectiveness for the child in her arms.

Please, just come back safe.

With a heavy sigh, she turned away from the window. There was nothing she could do now but wait. And hope.

Aurora stirred in her arms, letting out a soft whimper. Alysa looked down at the baby, forcing a smile onto her face.

"It's okay, Sweetheart," she whispered, bouncing Aurora gently. "Your daddy will be home soon. And until then, I've got you. I promise."