Chapter 20

Cassian’s POV 

I don’t know when I yanked her onto my lap, but I did and I didn’t regret it. 

My wolf stirred inside me, content in a way I hadn’t felt in years. Ever since I met her, there’s been no moment when my wolf is happier than when she’s near. It’s like her presence soothes something wild in him, something restless in me. I don’t fully understand it, but I need to be close to her. I need to know why.

She shifted on my lap, and my wolf tried to urge me forward, tried to make me hold her tighter, but I held back, keeping my grip gentle but firm. Even though I was completely hard, I didn’t care. Let her feel it.

“Cassian, please… please, let me go,” she whispered. Her voice trembled, not just with anger, but something deeper. And damn it, even that tone was addicting. It suited her sweet, firm, and broken all at once.

“Calm down,” I muttered lowly. “Make any noise and everyone’s going to look this way. You don’t want that, do you?”

She stiffened slightly, but I felt her body relax after a moment. That was good. That meant she was listening.

“Can you stop ignoring me now?” I asked, my eyes fixed on her.

She didn’t reply.

“Drasa, can you answer me?” I repeated, softer this time.

She shifted again. “Maybe if you let me sit properly and feel comfortable, we can talk. But while I’m sitting here on your lap, sorry…I don’t have anything to say to you.” Her voice was sharp this time around, cutting something deeper inside me. 

“Okay, then let’s see who gets tired first, me or you.” I smirked. 

Her eyes narrowed. “Cassian, please stop this. I don’t like what you’re doing.”

“Then stop yelling,” I whispered. “Stop shouting. My voice is low. Yours should be too.”

Her eyes locked onto mine, and her next words made my chest tighten.

“I don’t even know what you want from me. You called me a slut in front of your friend yesterday just because I agreed to be your girlfriend. And now you’re here… acting like you care?” she asked, her voice rising with emotion. “Are you serious?”

I sighed, deeply. I expected her to be mad. Hell, she had every right to be. But I hadn’t meant it that way. I was joking, stupidly joking and the moment she left my side, I wanted to run after her. I tried, but Kai stopped me, said it was too late, that she’d get home fine. But I should’ve ignored him. I should’ve followed her. I felt responsible not just because I drove her there, but because I made her feel small.

I never regret my words. I usually mean them. But not this time. This time, I hated everything I said. The regret has been clawing at me all night. I couldn’t even sleep. I’ve been replaying it in my head, wondering when I became this person, someone who says things just to push people away.

“Let me go, Cassian,” her voice snapped me out of my spiral.

I blinked, focusing back on her. “Drasa,” I murmured. My voice was a whisper now, almost unsure. “I don’t know if this fixes anything… but I’m sorry.”

The word felt foreign. Heavy. It didn’t sound like me and maybe that’s because it rarely ever came out of my mouth. I don’t say sorry. Not unless it means something. And this time, it did.

“If you’re really sorry… then let me go. Let me sit down properly. I can’t even breathe the way I’m sitting,” she said.

I nodded. Gently, I lifted her and helped her settle beside me. She didn’t look at me again, just started gathering her books like she was going to walk out. But then another  lecturer entered, and the whole class fell silent.

She paused, glanced at me, and sat back down.

“Good morning, students,” the lecturer said, placing her materials on the desk.

“Good morning,” the class echoed in reply except Drasa and me. We just sat there, stealing awkward glances at each other.

“Sorry for missing class yesterday,” the lecturer continued. “I was caught up with something else. I’ll keep today’s session short, but I want to get something across quickly.”

She looked around the room, her eyes scanning the class.

“Instead of waiting for a free schedule to work, catch up on the missing class. I’ve decided to split you into groups now. You’ll research on the topic and submit your findings next week. Understood?”

There was a beat of silence, and then the class mumbled, “Yes, ma’am.”

“I’ll be assigning groups by count, so stay seated. Don’t move.”

She began counting down the rows, creating groups of seven. I tried not to look at Drasa. I didn’t want her to see me hoping for something. But inside, I was praying we’d be in the same group. Just one more reason to talk to her again to fix things.

When the lecturer reached our row and called out the numbers, she placed Drasa and me in the same group.

“Yes!” I blurted out, too loud.

Heads turned. Students nearby looked at me like I’d lost it.

“Cassian,” the lecturer called, her eyes narrowing. “Is there a problem?”