training grounds. Her heart beat faster as she caught sight of Alp

he moved, the way he commanded respect from his packma

ally gathered the co

called out, her voi

ld and calculating. Cassandra hesitated for a

and stepped forward, determine

you...in private," she said,

assessing her worth. Cassandra felt h

urtly, his voice l

d hard, trying to

And I believe we have a connection, a...a

eyebrow, his exp

y do you mean by that?" he asked,

p breath, searching

on that goes beyond pack loyalty or respect. I feel...drawn to you

ow growl, his eyes

ber, have the audacity to declare a connection with your Alpha

words, feeling the weight of h

st...I thought that maybe we could have something special, som

ld laugh, his eyes g

ng machine, Cassandra. Your sole purpose is to serve the pack, to

his words hit her. She had neve

't mean to disrespect you or the pack. Pleas

n unreadable. Then he turned on his heel and str

wash over her. She had hoped for something m

the crushing realization that her Alpha would neve

d rejected her, but the pain was still there, raw and throbbing. She had tried to throw herself into h

obably her best friend, Jade. She didn't want to talk to an

she called

assandra's bed. "Hey," she said, her

r eyes. "I don't know how much longer I can do this," she whis

u don't have to keep pretending everything's okay," she said. "It's

e's hand in return. "Thank you," she said qui

nd Cassandra felt the weight of her emotions easing

Dominic at all?" Jad

No," she said, her voice barely abo

e some time," she said. "When you're

s unwavering support. She knew that she woul

*

threw herself into training and pack duties, determined not to let her heartache keep he

room after a particularly grueling train

id, and she stiffened, re

feet away, his expression unreadable. "Alpha," s

t notice how the sunlight glinted off his dark hair. She forced

nd make sure you're doing ok

faction of knowing how much he had hurt her. "I'm fin

ween us," he said. "But I want you to know that I still care about you. You're a val

ion neutral. She knew that Dominic was just trying to be kind, but i

y. She didn't want to encourage him, but she couldn't d

*

he complicated history between them, but they managed to keep things civil. Every meeting left Cassandra fe

uncil meeting when she heard footsteps behind her. She

aid, his voice lo

spiked, and she nodde

I hurt you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "And I'm sorry for that.

o spill over. She had known all along that Luna was the one Dom

id softly, her voice b

hing her face. "I still care about you, Cassandra," he said. "

in. She knew that being friends with him would be

managed to say,

iving it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you,"

he felt like she had just been gutted - she was happy that they could be friends, bu

.

uld occasionally talk, usually about pack business or training, but the conversation never s

ing session when they heard a commotion coming from the main hall.

wing dangerously. Cassandra's hand went automatically to the knife strappe

tching wolves with lightning-fast speed. Cassandra followed h

t casualties. Cassandra heard someone moaning and rushed over t

- Jade was like a sister to her, and the tho

d, tears streaming do

e wound. "We need to get her to the infirmary," he said, an

mediately took over. Cassandra paced back and forth, her

m, Cassandra rushed over to her. "Is she oka

She's stable," she said. "But she's

g over her in waves. She turned to Dominic, who

her voice thick with em

need to thank me," he said. "We're a

become her family. She knew that she would do anything

ed something - she still loved Dominic, despite everything. But she didn't

going to be harder than ever - but for th