Page 15 of The Alpha's Pretend Mate

Alysa nodded, something flickering in her eyes before she smiled. "Of course. Goodnight, Cassius."

"Goodnight, Alysa."

As she disappeared down the hallway, Cassius leaned against the nursery doorframe, his heart pounding.

What the hell are you doing?

He didn't have an answer. But as he made his way to his own room, one thing was clear—having Alysa here was going to be far more complicated than he'd bargained for.

Chapter 4 - Alysa

The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the crisp morning breeze that drifted in through the open kitchen window. Alysa's fingers curled around her mug, savoring the warmth seeping into her palms.

One week down, and I still feel like I'm walking on eggshells.

She took a sip, relishing the bitter taste on her tongue. Alysa set down her mug and moved quietly through the kitchen, her hands busy with preparing Aurora's morning bottle.

The house was larger than she was used to, yet it carried an undeniable warmth—likely due to the presence of the baby. Alysa was adjusting to the routine, though it felt strange to be living under Cassius's roof.

There was a weight that came with sharing space, especially with him.

It's temporary. I'm just here to help him and Aurora.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, growing louder with each passing second. Alysa's heart rate picked up, her body tensing involuntarily.

Cassius strode into the kitchen, his presence filling the room. "Morning," he grunted, making a beeline for the coffee pot.

"Morning," Alysa echoed, her voice softer than she intended. She watched as he poured himself a cup, his muscular back flexing beneath his thin t-shirt.

Stop staring, you idiot.

She averted her gaze, focusing intently on the steam rising from her mug. "Aurora should be up soon. I decided to try that new puree recipe today."

Cassius nodded, leaning against the counter. "Sounds good. I've got a Pack meeting this afternoon, so I'll be out for a few hours."

"No problem. We'll be fine." Alysa offered a small smile, which Cassius returned before disappearing back into the hallway.

The soft click of the front door signaled Abigail's arrival. The housekeeper bustled in, her arms laden with grocery bags. "Morning, Dear," she chirped, setting the bags on the counter. “You settling in alright?”

Alysa jumped up to help, grateful for the distraction. “As well as I can,” she replied, her gaze flickering toward the stairs. Every morning felt like a delicate dance around Cassius—trying to keep her feelings hidden.

As they unpacked the groceries, Abigail chattered away about her plans for the day. "Thought I'd get an early start today. Lots to do!"

Alysa half-listened, her mind drifting to the way Cassius's eyes had lingered on her for just a moment too long.

You're imagining things. He sees you as his best friend's little sister, nothing more.

She focused back on the bottle, shaking it gently.

Don’t overthink it

“Cassius is lucky to have you helping out with the baby,” Abigail remarked, not knowing how her words stirred something deep in Alysa. She wasn’t sure if she was helping or just making things more complicated for herself.

The little routines, the shared meals, and the moments she spent caring for Aurora were creating something fragile between her and Cassius—something that wasn’t going to last.

The baby monitor crackled to life, Aurora's soft coos filling the kitchen. Alysa's heart swelled at the sound. "That's my cue," she said, excusing herself from Abigail's company.

As she made her way to the nursery, Alysa couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking a tightrope. One wrong move and everything would come crashing down. The house was beginning to feel too small, and her emotions were taking up too much space.

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