Chapter Five

CASSIAN. 

My eyes flew open.

A sharp breath tore from my lips as I stared at the ceiling, my heart slamming against my ribs.  

Slowly, I sat up, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed.  

My hand pressed against my left pec, right over my heart.  

It ached

A strange, deep ache.

My gaze wandered over to the window, the soft moonlight creating long shadows on the floor.

I glared at nothing, his thoughts a storm.

Could it be…

Was it her?

My stomach turned, an old, almost primal sense settling heavy in my belly.

If my gut was correct…Then I was about to see her soon.

My heart revved up a gear. Excitement. Dread. Anticipation. Fear. Pain.

It all twisted into a living, breathing thing, curling in my chest like a tempest waiting to break.

I released a rough breath, shoving my hand through my hair. No time for wallowing.

I shrugged my shoulders, cracking mu knuckles before I headed into the bathroom.

By the time I came out of my room, I was all business.

After all, he wasn’t just anyone.

I was the Alpha of the Rogues.

---  

The moment I stepped into the boardroom, the air shifted. 

The men inside immediately stood, angling their heads in submission.

I walked to the head of the table,my sharp gaze dropping to the massive map spread before me. Figurines, pins, and marks were scattered across it, indications of our targets, movements, and territories.  

The meeting began immediately .  

My Beta, Mikal, leaned forward. "Pack affairs are steady. We’ve taken in three new wolves—former warriors from Ashenridge. They’re skilled, but untested under your command."

I nodded curtly. "Train them. Ensure that they know our rules."

Another member of the official cadre interrupted. "Relations with the other packs continue to be strained. Our spies inform us that Shadowfang has aligned with Crescent Howl, probably in retaliation for our recent raid. They're strengthening their borders."

My lips lifted slightly.

Expected.

"Let them reinforce," I whispered. "It won't save them."

We discussed some further issues, patrol routes, equipment, and fresh news from the packs they'd been observing.

And then, attention returned to the map. This was the top priority.

As the Rogue Alpha, I bore a  greater burden than most. 

I wasn't just responsible for a pack of misfits.

I was the lost heir of the Silverbark Pack, the only survivor of a massacre that wiped out my family. 

It had been treason.  A conspiracy among the other packs.

They had wanted power.

So they’d slaughtered my entire bloodline.  

I gritted my teeth.

I’d spent years building Nightbeam Pack.  A have for those who had been cast out.  Now?

My influence was unshakable. My army was immense. My name was feared.**  

And I would never stop. 

Not until every traitor responsible for my family’s death had fallen.

I had already found one of them. The son, actually.

Kieran.  

Alpha of Moonveil. 

Coincidentally, The second man involved in the curse.  

Now, I just had to find her. 

The curse was already at work, I could feel it.  

But this time, I had no idea how our story would play out.  

That terrified me.  

"Alpha?"  

I blinked, returning to the present.  

One of my men looked at me expectantly.  

"What’s our next target?" 

My gaze dropped to the map.

We’d been exerting pressure, pushing the hands of the large packs through sustained attacks and raids.

We never hurt civilians.

But we kept the packs in a state of unease.

Mikal knocked on a particular spot. “We should attack Hollowmist next. They're thin and— "

I hardly listened.

My gaze kept straying to a different pack.Moonveil.

Kieran’s pack.

My fingers tightened around the edge of the table.  

Would this life be different?  Would I lose her again? 

I exhaled, then spoke.

"Moonveil."  

Silence fell.  

Mikal hesitated. "You’re sure?"

My jaw ticked.  "We attack tonight."

---  

Moonveil was on high alert.

They had been expecting us.  

Guards patrolled heavily. Defenses had been reinforced.

None of that mattered. 

Me and my men snuck in under the cover of darkness.

A minor commotion was caused at the eastern periphery, a sneaky diversion that drew Kieran and his warriors off guard.

While they fought ghosts, I and the rest of  the crew sneaked into the packhouse.**

We moved silently. Shadows muffled our footsteps.

Our mission? To retrieve confidential kingdom information that Kieran had hidden.  

Inside the Alpha’s office, we moved quickly, searching through shelves, drawers, and locked cabinets.  

My fingers brushed over a leather-bound file. 

There.  

I snatched it up,flipping through the contents.  

Perfect.  I turned, pressing it into Mikal’s hands. *"Take it. Get out."

Mikal gave a quick nod, and the team moved toward the exit.  

I was right behind them until I paused.

A strange tug yanked at my senses, making me halt.

It was familiar.  

Powerful.  I knew this feeling.

Mikal noticed and frowned. "Alpha?"

My gaze darkened.

"Go on without me."

---  

The pull led me through empty paths, past the outer houses.  

Until I stopped in front of a small farm shed. 

Inside, a woman crouched, hands fidgeting and biting her lip.  

My breath caught.  

Even in this lifetime, she was breathtaking.  

Loving her had always been easy. Losing her had always been unbearable.

She must have sensed me because she jerked up, eyes wide. 

I held up my hands. "I’m not here to hurt you." 

She hesitated. Her gaze flickered to my peculiar eyes, one silver, one black. Something like shock and recognition was in them. 

"What’s your name?" I asked softly.  

She hesitated. Then, cautiously said, "Selene."

I repeated it under my breath.  Selene. I exhaled. "I’m Cassian."

She nodded, but her body remained tense.

My mouth moved on its own. "I’ve been looking for you in this lifetime."

Her brows knitted. "What?" 

I extended my hand. "Come with me."  

Sheinched back. "Hell no. I don’t even know you."

Before I could say anything, a signal flare lit the sky.  

Mikal.  Time was up.

I sighed, frustration roiling in my chest.

I met Selene's eyes, voice stern. "I'll find you again. Look out for me."**

And then I disappeared into the night, melting into the shadows until I was at the forest where my men were waiting.

Mikal scrunched his brow. "What were you doing?"

I smirked slightly. "I had to check on something very important."

I walked past him before he could press and we started the journey back home.