MasukCassiopeia NyxThe pack grounds were too quiet.No pups laughing, no warriors sparring, no clatter of daily life. Only the wind moving through bare branches and the low murmur of wolves who saw me coming and immediately dropped their gazes. I walked the gravel path toward the great hall with my head high and my hands curled into fists inside my sleeves. Normally, for a meeting with the council, I would have to dress formally—fancy dresses and shoes, but now, I barely even had the strength to do anything. All I could manage to put on was a pair of black pants and a sweater. By the time I crossed the corner that led to the pack hall, I saw himXeros stood at the foot of the stone steps that led up to the double oak doors. He had clearly been waiting for me.My heart lurched so violently I almost stumbled.He looked like he hadn't gotten a wink of sleep last night. His hair was scattered from all angles, shirt wrinkled like he didn't even bother checking what state it was in. His eyes
Cassiopeia NyxI woke up feeling like I had been dragged through a rose bush and then shoved down a hill.My eyelids were swollen and sticky with tears, I could barely even feel my own throat. It was raw and scratchy, like I had swallowed all the sandpaper in this world. My fingers pressed against the damp pillow, warm from my tears. Xeros scent still clung to everything: the sheets, the air, my skin, my hair. I had buried my face in his side of the bed and cried until there was nothing left, and still his smell wrapped around me like a punishment I couldn’t escape.Sunlight crept through the space between the curtains before settling deliberately on a golden tray perched on the bedside table, its light glinting off the edges and giving it a faint, ethereal glow.On the tray was a plate.Creamy scrambled eggs flecked with chives. Two buttered croissants arranged like little wings. A tiny glass bowl of sliced strawberries glistening with sugar and a glass of water.There was no note.
Cassiopeia NyxI walked mainly because if I stopped, I would fall apart.The forest path back to the pack grounds was a grey blur through my tears. Dried leaves and twigs crunched beneath my boots as the cold air nipped at my lips and fingertips, but I barely felt it. Every breath tasted like salt, rage, and heartbreak. My chest hurt so badly I had to press a hand over my heart just to try to contain it.Unlike me, Hera was ruled by animal instincts, she couldn't stand the wall I was putting up between Xeros and I right now. All she cared about was her mate. Sure, she was upset before, but she had gotten over it. She made me feel like I had no valid reason to be angry, but I did, I knew deep down just how much he had hurt me."Mate has apologised already, just forgive him." “No,” I snapped out loud, voice cracking. “Everything doesn't just get fixed like that right now. He gets to feel this. He wanted to die, then he should know how I felt.”She curled into a miserable ball at the ba
Xeros Romanov.I had never been afraid of anything in my life. Not war. Not death. Not the gods themselves.But the sight of her on her knees at the border, sobbing into the dirt like her entire world had ended, terrified me down to the marrow.I couldn't hide the fact that I was beyond enraged that Anakin had disregarded my orders and brought her right into the heart of danger. He would answer to me later.But right now, the fear in my bones overshadowed the anger.Her sobs tore through me like a knife right to the chest.For one heartbeat, the relief in her eyes was so bright it nearly brought me to my knees. I just stood there, unable to move, unable to tear my mind from her face, unable to push back the harrowing fact that she had found out the truth.She knew everything.That was the thing about truth, the more you tried to hide it, the more it slipped like sand from your fingers right into the open.The relief on her face died as fast as it came.Replaced by something that lo
Cassiopeia Nyx My heart felt like it was being crushed inside my chest, but I couldn’t fall apart. Not yet.I turned to Anakin, gripping his arm so hard I’m sure it hurt him. “Tell the healers to let Demetria examine the children,” I said, forcing my voice to stay clear even though it wanted to break. “She knows the poison. She can start the antidote right now. Do it, Anakin. Please.”He stared at me for a long second, jaw tight, eyes full of conflict. I could see the war inside him— We both knew about Xeros evident distrust for Demetria, he would never have agreed to let her go near the children. But this was the only lead we had. If she could cure the children then Xeros wouldn't nee dto make any deal with my father. He gave in.“Healers!” he barked, voice echoing across the room. “Clear a path. Let Demetria through. Luna’s orders. Just..just keep an eye on her.”The nearest healer opened her mouth to argue, but one look at my face and she stepped aside. Demetria didn’t wait for
Cassiopeia NyxI woke up alone.The sheets on Xeros’s side were cold, the pillow still dented where his head had been, but he was gone. The room was quiet except for the soft crackle of the dying fire. I lay there for a long time, blinking at the ceiling, trying to catch the last thread of a dream that felt more like a memory— his lips brushing my forehead, lingering, the way someone does when they’re memorising the shape of you. A kiss that tasted like goodbye.My stomach twisted horribly, and I felt whatever remnants of the dinner I had eaten float up my throat. Maybe I was just overthinking. It had been so long since I had felt and settled into a peaceful environment. My mind could just be playing tricks on me.Yeah, take it easy. Cassiopeia.I sat up slowly. The room looked the same as always: heavy curtains half-drawn, his scent still clinging to the pillows, my nightgown folded neatly on the chair where I’d left it last night. Nothing was out of place.I showered because it was







