Alpha of her Heart

CHAPTER 19

THE NEXT MORNING, Seris woke up with Cassian by her side, with his one arm resting protectively near her waist. She looked at the drawn curtains, and she could see through the glass window that it was already dawn. The storm had passed, leaving the air cool and heavy with the scent of after rain.

For a moment, Seris found herself watching Cassian. And at that moment, she didn’t feel any danger. Instead, she felt comfort and security. The feeling that was deprived when she was in the Black Tower.

Her hand lifted, and she was tempted to trace her fingertips on Cassian’s jaw.

Cassian stirred, and Seris immediately withdrew her hand.

Seris pretended to be asleep and turned around, her back facing Cassian.

Cassian opened his eyes. A smile formed on his lips seeing Seris beside him.

How good was it to see his mate beside him when he woke up? He was hoping that this was not the last time.

With the thought that Seris might still be asleep, he pushed himself towards Seris, tightening his arms around her.

Seris gripped the edge of her blanket, feeling the closeness of her and Cassian. For some reason, she didn’t think anything but felt awkward. Pretending to be asleep, she didn’t move and let Cassian hug her from behind. She could feel his breath fanning on her neck, sending a tingling sensation, and his skin brushed against hers, sending sparks throughout her body.

“Little girl, stop pretending. I know you’re already awake.”

Seris opened her eyes.

Cassian chuckled, and his chest vibrated. “Come on, little one.”

Seris turned and felt more awkward seeing Cassian up close.

Cassian smiled and kissed Seris on her forehead. “Good morning, baby. How’s your sleep?”

Seris suddenly felt shy, and she covered her face with the blanket. “Sorry,” she muttered. “I occupied your bed without your consent.”

“No need to apologize, Baby. In this mansion, you can do whatever you want.” Cassian pulled the quilt down to see his mate’s beautiful face. “And you can sleep in my room anytime you want. No one will get mad. And no one will stop you. Feel free to do anything you want.”

Seris nodded.

Then Cassian’s eyes looked at his mate’s lips. He gulped as he felt the urge to kiss her.

“What?” Seris asked.

Cassian leaned toward Seris and was about to tease her, but before he could act, he heard the hurrying footsteps outside the room. Then a firm knock echoed through the door.

“Alpha.”

Cassian looked at the door. “What is it?” he asked with his Alpha voice.

“Alpha, we found someone,” Noah said.

Cassian’s brows furrowed. “Who?”

“A girl,” Noah said. “About seventeen years old.”

“Rogue?” Cassian asked, wondering if it was a Rogue or someone who belonged to a pack spying on them.

“No, Alpha,” Noah answered. “According to her scent, she belongs to a pack.”

Cassian sat up. He swung his legs off the bed. “Where was she?” he asked.

“At the infirmary, Alpha. She was unconscious when we found her near our border.”

Cassian glanced at Seris, who had pushed herself up.

“I’ll go to the infirmary,” Cassian said. “Sleep more. It’s still early.”

Seris nodded.

Cassian smiled and grabbed his black shirt from the chair, pulling it over his head in a swift motion, but his haze lingered on his mate. “Stay here,” he said in a soft voice. “I’ll be back.”

And with that, he strode out of the room, leaving Seris, who went back to sleep.

INFIRMARY.

The scent of antiseptic mixed with herbs filled the infirmary as Cassian entered. His towering frame darkened the doorway, drawing the attention of Elena—who was early in the infirmary as she was called by the Beta—and a young girl sitting on the edge of the bed with her arms crossed.

“Alpha,” Beta Noah greeted, bowing his head slightly.

“Who are you?” Cassian asked. His voice was calm but commanding.

The girl tilted her head, refusing to answer.

Cassian arched his brow and sat on the stool. “No name? Or no manners?”

The young girl pressed her lips together before she finally muttered, “Cassara Castellano.”

Cassian stilled. Cassara. The name clicked like a lock in his mind. “The Alpha King's only daughter?” His tone carried both surprise and irritation. “You ran away from home?”

Cassara’s eyes darted towards the man in front of her, but this man might be the Alpha of this Rogue Pack, where she was now. “How did you know?”

“I just got the news,” Cassian replied. He was on his way to the infirmary when the Beta of the Alpha King called him via his phone, informing him about the missing princess. And he could feel a presence near the border. “The future beta of your Moonlight Crown Pack, which was your mate, was looking for you. And he’s already close to the border.”

Cassara looked away. “I don’t care.”

Cassian gave a dry chuckle, his ash-gray eyes glinting like steel. “You have a temper, young lady.”

Then he looked at Noah, who was standing silently near the door. “Feed her,” he ordered, “and I’ll take her to the border later.”

“What?!” Cassar shot up from the bed, her face flushed with anger. “You’re giving me back?”

Cassian’s brow rose in amusement at the princess's audacity. “What do you think, your highness?” He rolled his eyes, and her lips curved into a mocking smile. “I don’t want to be accused of k********g a royal. I can’t afford to offend your father. And I don’t want to be beheaded by him. I still have my mate waiting for me.”

The princess just tsked, crossing her arms again. “I don’t want to go back.”

Cassian smiled, sharp as a blade. “It’s not up to you to decide, your highness,” he said, losing any trace of amusement as his words held with dominance. Then his smile disappeared. “I don’t want to have a conflict with your father. So, you'd better be good. Eat,” he said, “and I’ll take you back to your mate.”

Cassara glared at the man, eyes burning with rebellion, but something in the man’s gaze made her feel something—she didn’t know what it was. But something really stirred inside her, as if a bond with a family was awakened.

“What is your name?” Cassara asked.

Cassian looked at the princess. “Cassian.”

“It’s really you,” Cassara said. “The ruthless rogue Alpha. I finally met you.” Her eyes even widened.

“Don’t believe in the rumors too much, princess,” said Elena. “Sometimes, rumors are just rumors.”

Cassara’s eyes darted towards Elena. “You don’t smell like a werewolf. You’re a witch. But werewolves and witches are enemies—”

“That applies to your law, not to us,” said Cassian. Then he looked at Noah. “Bring her some clothes and guide her to the dining hall.”

Noah nodded, but was curious. This was the first time that Alpha Cassian treated an outsider like a family member.

Elena and Noah exchanged looks.

Elena shrugged, saying that she didn’t know what Alpha Cassian was planning.

Noah just sighed and followed the Alpha’s order.

“COME WITH ME.”

Cassara looked at the man in front of her—the Beta. She nodded her head and stood, following the Beta.

She was guided to the dining table, where she heard the hall buzz and laughter. Long wooden tables stretched across the room, and the scent of roasted meat, fresh bread, juice, and fruits filled the air.

At first, Cassara was hesitant, with her eyes darting everywhere. This was a Rogue Pack, and she was an outsider.

But it wasn’t what she expected when she entered the dining hall. Though the pack members looked at her, they didn’t look at her like she was an outsider—they even gave her a polite smile and nodded their heads like she said she was welcome.

“Your highness, please sit here,” Cassian said as he gestured with his hand to the seat on his left side.

Cassara nodded and walked towards the seat. As she sat, she met a woman—the Luna. She assumed the beautiful woman in front of her was the Luna because the Alpha treated her with gentleness, care, and affection. One thing that she noticed on the Luna was her hair—silver strands were visible.

“Feel at home,” Cassian said to Cassara.

Cassara looked at the food in front of her. Then, slowly, she took some bread and placed it on her plate. She was stunned when the Luna handed her a piece of meat with a smile on her lips. The Luna didn’t say anything; she just smiled.

Cassara looked around as her heart thudded with confusion. All she had ever heard were horror stories about the Rogue Pack—savage, lawless wolves who thrived in chaos. But here she saw men and women sitting shoulder to shoulder, teasing and bickering. Though it was the same in her father’s pack, in this Rogue Pack it was different. She can see the closeness of each other. The teasing and funny bickering were not new to her, but here in the Rogue pack, she couldn't believe that they actually liked this.

All she could hear from rumors was that the Ashcrest Rogue Pack only knew killing, and they were ruthless. But looking at them now, it was different from the rumors. Then her eyes settled on the Alpha and Luna. There was something on the Rogue Alpha she couldn’t tell.

Unbeknownst to Cassara, the man sitting at the head table—the Rogue Alpha feared by all-was not just a stranger. But her eldest brother. The one who will one day inherit the title and the throne of the Alpha King.