Page 91 of The Fate of Eternity

Cassian shakes his head, blood staining his clothes as he tries to take a step back, but he’s quickly blocked off by the wolves circling around him. If I didn’t have the context for this moment, I would think he was in danger, but the air is filled with silent pleas and unanswered promises of a better future.

“Over. My. Dead. Body.” The words are called out on a snarl, garnering everyone’s attention and swinging the focus to Dalton, who is still pinned beneath the black wolf. His gaze is locked on Cassian’s, the darkened edges of his pupils replicating the sinister promise, just like Kenner’s always did.

“With pleasure,” Janie snarls, knocking me back into waiting arms as she charges toward the man in question.

I barely have time to register that it’s Raiden who prevents me from falling over before she’s pummeling the man with her bare fists while the wolf holding him in place doesn’t move.

“Fuck. Janie!” Cassian yells, trying to interject, but he doesn’t manage a single step with the wolves surrounding us holding him captive.

I gape, wide eyed, completely out of place as the pounding of flesh on flesh echoes through the night air. Janie finally stands after what feels like an eternity, blood coating her knuckles and splattering across her t-shirt to match. The second she’s out ofthe way, the black wolf finishes off the job, ripping and tearing at Dalton’s flesh with his teeth until there's little to recognize the man by.

A satisfactory smile spreads wickedly over Janie’s face as she turns to look at Cassian. “What? Don’t give me that look. He said over my dead body and I was happy to oblige.” Her smile grows from ear to ear as she shrugs like the badass bitch she is.

“Janie,” Cassian says with a sigh, swiping a hand down his face as he looks at her helplessly.

Her shoulders slump as she takes a tentative step toward him. Like magic, the crowd of wolves create a path for her, solidifying what we all know.

They want Cassian as their alpha.

“It has to be you, Cass,” she breathes when she’s right in front of him, the truth empowering her words as he shakes his head, but his defiance is growing weaker. He knows it as much as she does, he’s just not willing to admit it.

“I can’t deal with this right now,” he murmurs, groaning into his hands before his eyes find mine.

My body is moving of its own accord. My hands are at his neck, slipping through the hair at his nape as he instinctively rests his forehead on mine.

“It’s okay.” I don’t entirely knowwhatis okay, I just know he needs to hear it from me. I can feel it in my veins.

He sighs, his muscles easing a fraction as I inch closer, standing flush against him so we’re chest to chest.

“We should go,” Raiden states from behind me, reminding me we’re not alone; far from it.

“He can’t. Not yet,” Janie answers, and I look deep into Cassian’s eyes seeing the resolution clearly for the first time.

A soft smile curves my lips. “I swear, if you think I’m going to start calling you Alpha, you’re in for a rude awakening,” I muse, trying my best to lighten the situation, and he scoffs.

“You’ll always be my alpha, Addi.” His lips ghost over mine in the next breath, leaving me light on my feet as I sway in his grasp. “Are you sure about this?” he whispers against my lips, and I shrug.

“It’s not for me to be sure of, Cassian. This is for you. If you want this, then take it. If you don’t, then I’ll stand shoulder to shoulder with you against everyone who tries to say otherwise. It’s as simple as that.”

“As simple as that,” he repeats, eyes searching mine. For what? I’m not entirely sure, but he seems to find it a moment later.

“I want it. They deserve it.”

I nod. “So do you.”

His fingers squeeze at my waist, clinging to me for a moment longer before he steps back. “You should head back. I won’t be far behind you.”

I don’t want to leave him, I don’t want a moment apart, not after this, but there’s a sense within me that vibrates from him, confirming that it’s what he needs, and I meant it when I said this isn’t about me. It’s about him.

“My mother?”

“She’ll be laid to rest as a respected member of the pack,” he answers without missing a beat, and I smile, not really sure how to respond. He must sense the uncertainty warring inside of me because he places a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth before he steps back. “Go. The pack needs me, but the kingdom needs you more.”

45

ADRIANNA

My heart aches, the worry only heightening as Brody transports us, the outline of the main academy building visible in the distance as the familiar water fountain appears at our sides.

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