Page 36 of The Alpha's Pretend Mate

When they finally pulled up to the house, Cassius was out of the car in an instant, helping Alysa down and ushering them inside. He locked the door behind them, then did a quick sweep of the house, checking every room.

Alysa stood in the living room, still holding Aurora close. The baby had woken up during the drive but seemed blissfully unaware of the danger they'd been in.

Cassius returned, his expression grim. "It's clear. You two should be safe here."

"What about you?" Alysa asked, noticing the way he said, 'you two.' “Where are you going?” The words escaped her before she could stop them.

Cassius ran a hand through his hair, leaving streaks of dirt and blood. He paused, his eyes meeting hers for a long, silent moment. “I have unfinished business.”

Fear gripped Alysa's heart. "You can't go alone. What if there are more of them out there?"

"I'll be fine," Cassius assured her, but his eyes were hard. "I need you to stay here with Aurora. Keep her safe."

He crossed the room in two long strides, cupping Alysa's face in his hands. For a moment, she thought he might kiss her. Instead, he pressed his forehead to hers, his breath warm on her skin.

"I'll be back soon," he murmured. "I promise."

Then he was gone, the sound of his car engine fading into the distance.

Alysa stood at the window, watching the taillights disappear down the road. Her emotions were a tangled mess—fear for Cassius's safety, lingering terror from the attack, and underneath it all, a fierce protectiveness for the child in her arms.

Please, just come back safe.

With a heavy sigh, she turned away from the window. There was nothing she could do now but wait. And hope.

Aurora stirred in her arms, letting out a soft whimper. Alysa looked down at the baby, forcing a smile onto her face.

"It's okay, Sweetheart," she whispered, bouncing Aurora gently. "Your daddy will be home soon. And until then, I've got you. I promise."

Chapter 9 - Cassius

The night air hung thick with tension as Cassius stalked back to the treehouse. His muscles coiled tight, ready to spring at the slightest provocation. The vampire's scent still lingered, a sickly-sweet stench that made his wolf snarl with rage.

I'll make that bloodsucker wish he'd never set foot in my territory.

As he approached the tree, he heard the faint clink of chains. The vampire was stirring, its wounds already beginning to heal. Cassius's lip curled in disgust.

Not enough.

Without hesitation, he scaled the tree, his movements fluid and predatory. The vampire's red eyes gleamed in the darkness, a mixture of fear and defiance in its gaze.

"You made a big mistake coming here," Cassius growled, his voice low and dangerous.

The vampire spat, a glob of blood landing at Cassius's feet. "I'll kill you all, Wolf. Your mate, your pup—"

Cassius didn't let him finish. With a roar that shook the treehouse, he grabbed the vampire by the throat, lifting him off the ground. "You don't get to speak about them, you piece of shit."

In one swift motion, Cassius brought his knee up, shattering the vampire's leg. The crack of breaking bones was sickeningly satisfying.

The vampire's scream echoed through the forest, but Cassius felt no pity—only cold, hard rage.

This is for daring to threaten my family.

Another break—this time the kneecap—just to make sure the bastard wouldn’t try running again. He dragged the now-whimpering vampire down from the treehouse, the chains rattling with each step. The trunk of his car was waiting, open and ready.

Cassius hefted the vampire's limp form, tossing him into the trunk like a sack of garbage. The chains clinked as the vampire tried to move, but Cassius had made sure they were tight. There would be no escape.

The forest around them was deathly quiet, the trees indifferent witnesses to the violence he carried with him. Cassius didn’t care about the blood or the smell of the vampire’s rotting flesh as he shoved him into the trunk of the car.

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