LOGINCASSIUS VALE POV
“What’s going on here?“ I asked as she flinched.
I hate when she reacts to me like that.
She was out of her room and I didn’t like that, I only wanted her out when I’m with her, Ravenwood pack wasn’t safe for her, the werewolves would easily sense that she’s human and might harm her.
The safest place for her was her room and with me.
“I… I only wanted to move around, I have been inside for too long.” She mumbled with her head lowered.
“Come with me…” I said, stretching my hand to her, she hesitated taking it for a second before she carefully placed her hand on mine, and I led her to the elevator.
Was she really about to follow the stairway of a six floors building?
I scoffed a laugh at the thought of that.
The elevator door slid close and I clicked the button to the first floor, the ride was a bit quiet and awkward.
My eyes drifted to her hand to see her fiddling with it, she does that when she’s anxious or nervous.
“Are you okay, Sweetness?” I asked as soft as I could, she nodded and shifted a bit away from me.
I didn’t want to press further so I let her be, I couldn’t afford creeping her out, not this morning.
The elevator doors opened and I led her out, placing my palm against her lower back guiding her out of the mansion.
I was about to take her to my vineyard and maybe to the garden.
A tricycle ride stopped in front of us and we entered. “Take us to the vineyard.” I instructed.
“You own a vineyard?” She finally spoke up, her eyes wide in disbelief, I smirked and nodded.
“Sweetness, I own more than one, I own a winery too.” I added with a light smile, I loved her reactions. She didn’t try to hide how amazed she was.
“I hate to admit it, but you’re doing amazing! Is this a benefit that comes with being a supernatural creature?” She asked as I let out a small laugh, she was effortlessly funny. She was clearly judging my kind by what she read in fiction novels.
“There is no success benefit in being a supernatural being, Sweetness. I’m only 32, I worked hard to achieve these.” She nodded, her eyes fixated on the pretty view of my large manor, a fixed smile on her lips.
She looked so bright and excited that all I could think of was how to keep it that way, I wanted her to see my home as her new home. I wasn’t going to let her go… She was mine forever.
“You have a really large estate here with beautiful view, I didn’t think it was this large from my room.”
“It’s best referred to as a community, some of my pack houses are here, so werewolves with no home stay here too.”
And that was another reason she wasn’t safe coming out alone, no one knew her, I hadn’t introduced her as my mate, and it was too early.
I wasn’t ready to tell her she was my mate either.
“So, you have a kind heart?” She Jeered as I smiled, knowing what she was trying to do.
“No, Sweetness. I am only nice to you.” I hadn’t spoken this much in a long time, the only time I spoke at length was when I addressed my pack. But I was willing to switch for her every once in a while.
“You’re nice to me?” She sneered with an eye roll. “Oh, okay. If this is your definition of being nice.” She said and turned away.
I looked down at her exposed laps, so smooth and soft that my wolf almost forced himself to feel it. I was in my best behavior, I was holding myself from hurting her.
I wasn’t soft, I didn’t know how to handle a woman softly during intimate moments. I didn’t want to traumatize her, she was a virgin. Pure and untouched, I wanted to have her only when I knew it was right.
I haven’t known her for long, and I was already a mess of emotions.
Soon, we got to the vineyard, I came down from the tricycle and held my hand out for her, this time she didn’t hesitate and I could tell that it was a subconscious response.
I held her tiny fingers protectively, making sure she felt safe. I needed her to know that I was more than the monster she saw that night.
I wanted her to know that she was an asset I wouldn’t toy with.
We stood next to each other as we took in the view of the neatly planted rows of grapevines that stretched down to a far end, the morning sun beaming over it… It was a 20 acre vineyard, completely filled.
“Oh my goodness, this is perfect!” She uttered, totally astounded, her eyes wide open in fascination.
“It is, that’s the winery. Let’s go get some wine.” I offered, leading her to the large winery building.
This was the best morning of my life, I felt appreciated in a genuine sense and not in an obliged way for the first time.
“Where are your parents?” She popped the question I hated so much, catching me off guard.
“You’re getting too comfortable, Sweetness. You shouldn’t know too much for your own good.” I cautioned calmly as she lowered her head in embarrassment.
“I’m so sorry for invading.”
“It’s okay, Sweetness.” I hated talking about them, they weren’t worth it. “I have rogue parent's, so they are what humans consider deadbeat.” I gave the simplest explanation I could think of, hoping she wouldn’t ask further questions.
“I’m so sorry…” She whispered, I could smell her concern, I hated being pitied.
“They are both doing okay, so all is fine.” I added with a small smile as we entered the building.
The smell of vintage wine filled my nose on stepping in as I turned to her with a small smile on my lips… She liked the things I liked and that made me even more obsessed. The dimly lit winery gave that ageless vibe, the people around were people that understood the aura.
The quietness, the light clicking of glasses were like music to my ears.
“I love it here.” She whispered, more to herself, all I could do was smile.
She was tapping on the side of me I never knew I had.
“Ever had a good vintage wine?”
“I have had a $20 dollar wine?” She replied as I let out a small laugh.
“I’m about to give you the best.”
CASSIUS VALE POVThe cold night air kissed my skin as I leaned back on the lounge chair, my body still warm from Annelise.The pool water behind us shimmered under the soft lights, reflecting the stars above like the sky had melted into the earth.Paris was loud in the distance... Music, laughter, fireworks testing the night before midnight.But here, in this part of the house, it was just us.Just me and my girl.Just me and the woman that had somehow turned me into a man that looked forward to peace.Annelise lay on the lounge chair beside mine with a blanket lazily wrapped around her body, her curls messy, her cheeks flushed, and her lips still a little swollen from the things I had done to her by the poolside not long ago.My eyes drifted over her face and my chest tightened in a way I would never admit out loud.“What?” she asked with a small smile once she noticed my eyes on her, her voice still slightly breathless.I smirked. “You look like I ruined your bones.”She rolled her
ANNELISE POVThe next morning made every feeling I had too real.I sat in the passenger seat with both my hands pressed against my belly even though there was nothing to feel yet. Nothing had changed physically, but everything had changed neurologically.I was pregnant.Pregnant.Every time that word crossed my mind, my chest tightened.Cassius drove with one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on my thigh.What if I wasn’t ready?What if I was going to be a terrible mother?What if school became impossible?What if I lost myself?I turned to the window and watched the cold Paris morning blur past. Christmas decorations hung from lamp posts, little wreaths and red ribbons everywhere, and people walked around looking festive and alive.Meanwhile, I felt like I was floating outside my own body.“Sweetness.” Cassius’ voice broke into my thoughts. “Stop thinking too much.”I turned to him. “How do I stop thinking too much when I might be carrying a whole baby inside me?”His
CASSIUS VALE POVThe ride back home was too quiet… heavy.Annelise sat by the passenger seat, staring outside the window while the Christmas lights from the streets reflected on her face.She looked beautiful, soft… fragile and completely somewhere else.I kept stealing glances at her while driving, trying to read her expression, trying to catch what exactly had shifted in her mood since this morning.But she was doing that thing she does when she is overwhelmed.She was shutting down.She wasn’t speaking unless I asked a direct question.She wasn’t smiling the way she usually did when we passed something silly on the road.She wasn’t humming to the Christmas songs playing low in the car.She was just there…And it was starting to piss me off, because I didn’t know what was happening in her head, and I hate not knowing things.I hate not being in control.My hand tightened on the steering wheel.Was she rethinking us?That was the first ugly thought that crossed my mind and once it en
ANNELISE POVA month had passed so quickly now it was December, and Paris looked like Santa had thrown up on every single street in the most expensive way possible.Everywhere was red, green, gold, glitter, lights, fake snow, giant Christmas trees, wreaths, bows, and enough holiday music to make a person lose their mind.The city was beautiful though.Very beautiful.And somehow, I couldn’t enjoy any of it.I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, staring at my phone screen with my period tracker app opened.Late.Five days late.My stomach twisted so hard that I had to grip the edge of the sink.“No…” I whispered to myself, my voice shaky. “No, no, no…”I shut my eyes and inhaled deeply.Maybe it was stress.Maybe my body was just acting up.Maybe I was overthinking.But deep down, I already knew something was wrong.Or maybe not wrong.Just… life changing.I swallowed hard and looked at my reflection again.I looked normal.Completely normal.No one would know that my heart had been
As Anne was led carefully into the Condo by Cassius, her brain couldn’t process what she had heard about Sloan. A few days ago, she saw him in her school and he was perfectly healthy.It didn’t make sense to her how things would abruptly go wrong to the extent of him needing a home.She sat on a couch and Cassius sat across from her, staring into her face and waiting for her to snap out of her thoughts.“But… but, Sloan was young and healthy as far as I know. It…” She whispered loud enough for Cassius to hear as she stood up from the couch. “It doesn’t make sense that he suddenly needs special care?”Cassius sighed loudly and stood up too as he approached Annelise.“Right?” She asked looking into his eyes like she was searching for the truth.“I don’t think you should worry yourself with this, let’s not let another man’s problem ruin our first night together after all the drama.” Cassius said as he gently stroked her curls.“I… I know, but as much as I get that you hate Sloan, he was
ANNELISE POVI stood still in the middle of the art room, my fingers still resting on the edge of the easel as I stared at everything around me. The room was too intentional, too thoughtful, too me. The soft cream walls, the natural light pouring in from the tall windows, the organized shelves waiting to be cluttered with paint and brushes and half-finished ideas. He had thought of me while building this, while keeping this, while waiting for the right time to show me.I turned slowly to look at him.Cassius stood a few steps behind me, his gaze fixed on my face like he was trying to read my reaction and prepare himself for disappointment at the same time. His hands were tucked into his pockets but I could tell by the tightness of his jaw that he was nervous.The thought almost made me smile.“Say something, Sweetness…” he murmured, voice low and careful.I blinked back the tears gathering in my eyes and looked around one more time before my gaze returned to him. “You did all this… fo







