Page 44 of The Alpha's Pretend Mate

“You know you love it,” Articus shot back, his grin widening as he clapped Cassius on the back.

As the group split off into pairs, Cassius found himself walking alongside Articus, their strides long and unhurried. The cold, crisp air stung his skin, but it didn’t bother him. His thoughts were elsewhere.

"So," Articus said, his voice low enough that only Cassius could hear, "want to tell me what's really on your mind? You look like you're carrying the weight of the mountain on your shoulders."

Cassius glanced at his cousin, weighing his words carefully. "It's nothing," he said finally. "Just… Pack business."

Articus raised an eyebrow, his pale blue eyes knowing. "Pack business. Right. And I suppose this 'Pack business' has nothing to do with a certain curvy brunette who's been living in your house?"

Cassius nearly tripped over a root, catching himself at the last second. "I don't know what you're talking about," he muttered, quickening his pace.

Articus matched his stride easily. "Come on, Cass. I've known you since we were pups. You can't hide from me."

“And we only saw each other once or twice when we were pups before I saw you again last year. Don’t presume to know me that well, cousin,” Cassius replied.

They walked in silence for a few moments, the sounds of the forest filling the space between them.

Finally, Cassius sighed. "How's Wren?" he asked, changing the subject. "The baby's due soon, right?"

A soft smile spread across Articus's face, his eyes lighting up at the mention of his mate. "She's doing great. The baby's due next month. I won't be leaving her side then, that's for sure."

"That's fantastic, Art," Cassius said, genuinely happy for his cousin. "Have you thought of names yet?"

Articus nodded, his smile widening. "We have, actually. If it's a boy, we're thinking of naming him Ash."

The name hit Cassius like a punch to the gut, memories of his own childhood flooding back. Summers spent with his grandfather, the old Alpha teaching them about their heritage, about the sacred ash trees that grew on the mountain. "Ash," he repeated softly. "It's perfect."

"We thought so too," Articus said, his voice gentle. He studied Cassius's face for a moment before adding, "It's made me think a lot about family lately. About the future."

Cassius's thoughts immediately went to Aurora, his chest tightening with a mixture of love and fear. "Yeah," he said roughly. "I know what you mean."

"It's not easy, is it?" Articus mused. "Being a father, an Alpha… trying to balance it all."

Cassius shook his head, a humorless laugh escaping him. "You have no idea. Some days, I feel like I'm drowning, Art. Like I can't keep my head above water."

Articus laid a hand on his shoulder, his touch grounding. "That's why we don't do this alone, Cass. We have our Packs, our families… our mates."

The word 'mate' sent a jolt through Cassius, Alysa's face flashing in his mind. He swallowed hard, trying to push the image away. "I may not have time for a mate. Alysa and I are ending things," he said gruffly. "Aurora needs me. The Pack needs me."

"And who's there for you?" Articus asked softly. When Cassius didn't answer, he pressed on. "I saw the way you look at Alysa, Cass. And the way she looks at you. Why are you fighting it so hard?"

Cassius stopped walking, turning to face his cousin. The others had moved ahead, leaving them alone in a small clearing. "Because it's not that simple," he growled. "She's Aleksander's sister. She's Aurora's nanny. She's… she's…"

"She's what?" Articus prompted gently.

"She's too good for me," Cassius whispered, the admission tearing from his throat. "She deserves better than an Alpha with more baggage than he can carry."

Articus's eyes softened with understanding. "Is that what you think? Cassius, you're one of the strongest wolves I know. You've been through hell and back, and you're still standing. You're an amazing father to Aurora, a respected Alpha… Any wolf would be lucky to have you as a mate."

Cassius shook his head, unable to accept the words. "You don't understand. I just don’t think I should be feeling this way. And then I feel guilty for feeling guilty because she’s so perfect…"

Articus smiled knowingly. "You can lie to yourself all you want, cousin. But your heart knows the truth. The question is, what are you going to do about it?"

“Art…” Cassius started, his voice low, “What if I can’t protect her the way I should? What if I lose her too?”

Articus’s hand clamped down on Cassius’s shoulder, his grip firm. “You won’t; Alysa’s strong. And you, cousin, you’ve been through worse. Don’t let fear stop you from living. You deserve to be happy, don’t you?”

Before Cassius could answer, a howl cut through the air—the hunt was on. With a last meaningful look at Cassius, Articus shifted, his white fur gleaming in the dappled sunlight. Cassius followed suit, his own golden coat rippling as he dropped to all fours.

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