Chapter 4: Crossing a line

Elara’s pov

---

After taking a shower, I slipped into my nightgown and prepared myself for bed.

I moved toward the bed and slowly lay down, pulling the covers over myself.

The night was quiet.

A gentle breeze drifted through the slightly opened window, causing the curtains to sway softly. The insects chirped somewhere outside, their distant sounds blending with the peaceful rhythm of the night.

Everything around me was peaceful.

Yet inside my head, it was a storm.

There was no peace.

My thoughts were at war with one another.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, desperately trying to force myself to sleep, but my mind kept drifting back to the awkward moment I had shared with Cassian earlier.

The memory refused to disappear.

The way his eyes had looked at me.

The strange sensation that had coursed through me when he held me.

And the way when I felt his body on mone brought so many strange thoughts into my head that I didn't know why

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Why was I thinking about it so much?

It had been nothing.

Just a hug.

A simple, innocent hug between two people who had known each other for years.

So why did it feel like something more?

I turned onto my side.

Then tossed and turned on he bed.

But no matter how many times I changed positions, I couldn't fall asleep.

My thoughts continued spiraling until I found myself staring into the darkness, questioning a feeling I didn't even understand.

Eventually, exhaustion overcame me.

---

I woke up the next morning to the melodious chirping of birds outside my window.

The scent of morning dew lingered in the cool air, while warm rays of sunlight slipped through the curtains and fell across my face, gradually pulling me from my sleep.

I blinked several times before sitting up.

My body felt heavy.

I had barely slept throughout the night, and I was still weak.

But I couldn't afford to stay in bed.

There was too much to do.

With Kieran's succession only days away, I needed to help with the preparations as much as I could.

I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed, freshened up, and got dressed before making my way to the Thorne Mansion.

---

When I arrived at the mansion, I approached one of the staff members.

“Excuse me. Do you know where I can find Kieran?”

“Alpha Kieran is upstairs in his room,” the staff member replied.

I paused.

Alpha Kieran.

It still felt strange hearing him addressed that way.

But it wasn't exactly surprising.

The succession ceremony was drawing closer, and the way people addressed him was naturally beginning to change in preparation for his new position.

Soon, he wouldn't simply be Kieran.

He would be the Alpha of the Thorne Pack.

And I would have to get used to it.

I thanked the staff member before making my way upstairs.

As I walked along the corridor toward Kieran's room, something caught my attention.

A shadow.

I slowed my steps.

One of the doors was slightly opened, and a figure moved inside.

Curiosity got the better of me.

I glanced through the opening.

And froze.

Cassian.

My breath caught in my throat.

He stood inside the room with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, his skin still glistening with droplets of water as though he had only just stepped out of the shower.

His dark hair was damp and messy, several strands falling carelessly across his forehead.

My eyes moved involuntarily over him before I could stop myself.

His broad shoulders.

His defined chest.

The contours of his physique accentuated by the remaining droplets of water on his skin.

I immediately realized I had been staring.

My cheeks grew warm.

I quickly looked away.

Why was I even looking at him?

This was Cassian.

Kieran's younger brother.

Someone I had grown up with.

Someone I had no business looking at like this.

I took a quiet breath and tried to compose myself.

Perhaps I should simply walk away.

That would be the sensible thing to do.

But for some inexplicable reason, my feet remained rooted to the floor.

And then—

“Are you planning on standing there all morning?”

My heart nearly stopped.

My eyes widened.

Cassian was looking directly at me.

He had noticed me.

I quickly left there and made my way to Kieran's room.

I reached Kierans room.

I opened the doer and there he was.

Laying so peacefully.

finally having time to rest after all the stress on him this past few weeks

I quietly walked over to him and leaned down carefully giving him a kiss on the head.

I didn't want to disturb him because he needed the rest.

but just as I was about to leave.

I felt a hand grab me back.

“And why are you leaving? “

Kieran had woken up and grabbed me pulling me closer to his chest.