Chapter Six Cassius

CASSIUS

I’ve exhausted all my efforts to reach out to Xeraphina since all that went down yesterday. But as soon as she catches a whiff of my presence, she scurries away in the opposite direction. Among all the events that unfolded, Xeraphina’s rejection stung the most. Thankfully, she didn’t outright reject me as her mate. That alone was a slight relief. However, since she slammed her door, shutting us out, Talon and I have been in disarray, feeling like death ran over twice on the highway.

Xeraphina’s words linger in my mind, piercing like a winter wind. Her voice had held the weight of countless shattered dreams. Talon’s howls in my head reflect the turmoil in my heart; they are never ending and I don’t blame him. I wish I could yell to the universe my current anguish, but I can’t.

Deep down, a knot tightens in the pit of my stomach, as if warning me of the rejection that awaits me once Xeraphina forges a bond with her wolf. The mere thought of it sends a shiver down my spine. But despite the trepidation, a flicker of determination ignites within me.

I refuse to accept this fate, to let her slip away like sand through my fingers. My mind races with memories of laughter and shared moments, as if they were threads of a tapestry that weaves us together. I believe, with every fiber of my being, that Xeraphina should grant me the chance to make amends, to mend the wounds that have torn us apart. We can be happy with one another, if she will allow us to be.

Talon can feel my pain. His eyes, brimming with unwavering devotion, reflect the profound sorrow within me. We are fully aware, with no shred of doubt, that our existence would lack fulfillment without her. The mere notion of a tomorrow without her by our side paints a desolate panorama, drained of vibrancy and happiness.

I cannot bear the thought of losing her forever. I will persist, against all odds, until I can prove that my love for her is steadfast and true. For Xeraphina, for Talon, and for the hope that lingers in the depths of my heart, I will not surrender to her rejection.

Yesterday, my troubles felt distant, like faded memories on the horizon. However, they now hang over me, casting a dark cloud that refuses to disperse. The gentle breeze, once carrying whispers of hope, now carries a heavy burden because of Charity’s interference. Prior to her intrusion, Xeraphina and I were rebuilding our friendship, finding solace in each other’s company like two lost souls. However, Charity’s arrival shattered this delicate balance, leaving me feeling incomplete, like a shattered mirror reflecting fragments of my former self. The weight of this anguish presses on my chest, making every breath a struggle. As I navigate this treacherous emotional landscape, I can’t help but dread the inevitable pain of Xeraphina’s rejection.

As I rearrange some tables and chairs, like Luna Sarah had requested, I glance up to see her coming my way. She gives me a sympathetic glance before motioning for me to come to her. “We need to talk, Cassius. Follow me to the study. I’ll only keep you for a moment. There is still much to be done,” she says, walking off.

She motions for me to be seated as she sits in Alpha Joseph’s chair across from me behind his desk. “All that happened yesterday was insane, wasn’t it? With all of what happened with Charity, I mean. Are you feeling alright? You’ve seemed out of sorts today, Cassius.”

“Yes, Luna. There’s a lot going through my mind right now. I feel remorseful for everything that was said and done. I’m so sorry,” I say, bowing my head in shame.

Luna Sarah’s sympathetic smile remains intact as she reaches for a pen, tucking it into her dark hair and twisting it into a haphazard bun on top of her head. Letting out a sigh, she exhales and shakes her head. “You guys were loud, and we overheard everything that went down between you all. Even the conversation between you and Xeraphina,” she remarks, raising an eyebrow.

I couldn’t keep from cringing, and I closed my eyes, placing my hand on my heart as it seemed to break more than it already had. “She’s my mate.”

“Why didn’t you come to me when you realized Xeraphina was your mate?”

“She was eleven years old when I realized she would be my mate, much too young for such a revelation. I believed I could endure the seven years until she reached the appropriate age and connected with her wolf. However, I was a dumbass and got married. My intention was to break the one-sided bond I shared with Xeraphina by marking a chosen mate. Yet, when the time came to mark Charity after our marriage, neither of us could bring ourselves to do it. We both desired to wait for our true fated mates. Charity, however, was unaware that Xeraphina’s my mate.”

Luna Sarah shakes her head and exhales. “If you desire Xeraphina as your mate, Cassius, you’ll have to go to great lengths to earn her trust,” she states, pausing momentarily before asking, “Do you want her as your mate?”

“I want her as my mate above all else in this world. She has always been a constant presence in my life. Once I formed a connection with my wolf, my emotions became chaotic, especially considering her young age. These past seven years have been perplexing to me. Typically, mates have a mere couple of years’ difference between them. But our bond is unlike anything anyone has ever experienced.”

“That’s why you should have approached me with this news, Cassius. Although the significant age difference is not common, it has happened before. Joseph, your parents, and I could have supported you through these tough years. You wouldn’t have married Charity, and we could have avoided all this unnecessary drama.”