Cassandra wasn't entirely sure if the whole pack already knew what had happened between her and Darius in the early hours. No one had said a single word outright, at least, not to her face, but the signs were impossible to miss. The sneaky glances that darted away the moment she caught them. Whispered conversations that stopped abruptly as soon as she walked by.
And those painfully awkward attempts at "casual" eye contact that looked more like someone trying to sneak a peek without getting caught. Honestly, she was pretty sure half the pack was quietly betting on when the inevitable fireworks would explode. She might've joined the betting pool herself, if she weren't stuck smack in the middle of this cosmic soap opera.
She caught Grace exchanging a barely-suppressed smirk with Sasha when she passed, and then Aidan quickly dropping his voice as she neared, only for Michael to glance her way and then look away with a half-smile. The pack was acting like a pack of teenagers who just witnessed the lead actors kiss in a cheesy romantic movie.
She found the whole situation amusing, at least from the side lines. From the inside, it felt like a rollercoaster whose tracks hadn't quite been finished yet.
Best of all? Darius was nowhere to be seen this morning. Thank the gods and goddesses, of all things supernatural. The thought of facing the brooding, glare-grumpy Alpha so soon after their unforgettable kitchen encounter made her want to crawl under the nearest log and hide.
"Kitchen encounter" sounded innocent enough, but it was more like two thunderstorms smashing into each other at full force. She'd never felt that kind of raw, instant passion before. Not even her ex-mate, who was about as thrilling as a soggy loaf of bread, had come close.
She remembered the way Darius' fingers had curled around her waist, how the heat of him had flooded through her veins, igniting something wild and fierce. The way their breaths had mingled, heavy and ragged, and the sharp catch in her throat when their lips met...electric, undeniable. Then, the sudden pulling back. His eyes are dark, almost haunted. And her heart dropping, confused and craving more.
The day slipped by, swirling with the usual chaos. Rumours fluttered through the pack grapevine that Darius had disappeared to attend some mysterious "important meeting." Which probably meant he was stuck in one of those endless council sessions, bickering over territory lines or arguing over who'd forgotten to refill the moonstone supplies again or perhaps avoiding her.
Cassandra exhaled in relief, at least she doesn't have to deal with him yet and threw herself back into her daily grind: chasing after pups who apparently thought life was an eternal game of tag, and laughing easily with Grace, Sasha, Aidan, Michael, and Lexie.
The pack felt unusually alive today, like a bustling marketplace filled with howls, wagging tails, and the occasional flying snack launched by an overly enthusiastic pup.
She even found herself relaxing more than usual, letting the sunlight filter through the trees as she pushed a giggling pup on a makeshift swing. The scent of pine and fresh earth filled the air, mixing with the sharp tang of wolf fur and something sweeter, hope, maybe? Or the faintest hint of possibility.
The next day fell into a comforting rhythm, the usual routine. Everyone was around, everyone except Darius. She found herself missing the grumpy Alpha's shadow lurking near the edges, his scowl like an annoying storm cloud she secretly hoped would never fully clear. There was something strangely comforting about being under the watchful eye of someone who looked like he wanted to eat her, but was stubborn or too polite enough to hold back.
She catches herself scanning the clearing more than once, half-expecting to see him step out from behind a tree, arms crossed, glaring, and looking far too intense for her own good. Instead, there was just the usual pack noise, playful howls, the slap of paws on earth, and the occasional bark or yip from the pups.
That afternoon, Cassandra was completely absorbed in watching the pups' antics. One tiny wolf cub was attempting a heroic leap onto a log and faceplanted spectacularly, prompting a chorus of delighted wolfy giggles and a collective "Awww!" from the pack. She laughed, light and easy, feeling the tight coil of worry loosen just a little.
Then, without warning, a familiar shadow falls over her. She doesn't have to look to know who it is. Darius stands right behind her, still as a statue carved from midnight itself. Her heart freezes solid, but she refuses to let it show. Not yet. Instead, she takes a deep, steadying breath and waits for him to speak.
Finally, his voice rumbles low, "I don't regret kissing you."
Her pulse thunders in her ears, probably loud enough for the pups to hear. She swallows hard, a smirk threatening to break through the tension. "Then why did you stop? Scared I'd out-snarl you?" Her tone is teasing but holds an edge of challenge.
Darius steps in front of her, fingers lifting her chin with surprising gentleness. His eyes, dark and stormy, lock on hers. "I don't know what I want," he admits, voice rough and honest. "And I couldn't do that to you. I don't want to lead you on. I'm not the commitment type." He sighs, heavy with something like regret. "I'd rather be your friend than take what I want and destroy your innocence."
"Innocence?" Cassandra's eyebrows shoot up. "What am I, a fairy tale now? Look, Alpha, I'm plenty dangerous all on my own. You don't get to decide whether I'm innocent or not." She steps back, arms crossed. "If you want a friend, maybe start by acting like one. Because this 'let's not wreck each other' routine? It's not working for me."
"That's not what I..."
"Save it," she interrupts sharply, eyes flashing. "I don't need anyone's pity wrapped in gruff honesty." She gives him a pointed look. "Trust me, I've been there, survived that."
Her boldness hangs in the air like a challenge, daring him to deny it. But Darius just shakes his head, frustration tightening his jaw. If only he could put into words the tempest inside, his wolf clawing silently to be heard, the wounds he carried from a mate lost too soon. The hollow ache he couldn't fill.
"Look, Darius," she adds, softening slightly but still firm, "I'm not looking for a hero or a tragedy. I want someone who's going to fight to stay, someone who'll be messy and complicated but honest. So if you're planning on ghosting me, at least save me the drama."
He stares at her, caught somewhere between admiration and torment.
"Besides," she says with a playful grin, "if I was innocent, I wouldn't have managed to wrestle three pups out of a raging mud pit this morning without breaking a nail. Innocence and I don't exactly mix."
The tension between them flickers, momentarily broken by her teasing.
Darius exhales slowly, the darkness in his eyes softening a fraction. Then, without another word, he turns and walks away, the shadows swallowing him as he leaves Cassandra behind, surrounded by the cheerful chaos of pups, laughter, and the faint shimmer of magic hanging in the air.
Cassandra exhales.
Well, she thinks sadly, if this is a soap opera, I'm not about to be the tragic extra.