Page 62 of The Alpha's Pretend Mate

"Cassius…" she started, unsure of what to say.

He stepped forward again, his hand cupping her cheek, the warmth of his palm sending a shiver down her spine. “I know,” he murmured, his voice soft, tender. “I spoke true when I declared my love for you. That’s the only truth that matters. And the council will see that.”

She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust in his confidence, in his certainty. But the fear gnawed at her, a relentless beast that wouldn’t let go. She leaned into his touch, savoring the moment, but her heart screamed that it wasn’t enough.

What if he’s wrong? What if he’s lying to himself?

The thoughts circled in her mind, refusing to quiet.

He squeezed her arm gently. "I know it's a lot to take in. But you don't need to worry about taking care of Aurora tonight. I want to spend the evening with her. I've been neglecting her of late."

Alysa nodded numbly, watching as Cassius moved toward the nursery. “Cassius…” Her voice was barely a whisper.

He didn’t respond, didn’t hear, and was already moving toward the door. As the door closed behind him, a chill ran down her spine.

He's acting like a condemned man.

The thought hit her with brutal clarity. Cassius's calm demeanor, his insistence on spending time with Aurora… it all pointed to one horrifying conclusion.

He doesn't expect to survive the oath.

Alysa's legs trembled, and she sank onto the couch. Her mind raced, trying to reconcile Cassius's words with his actions. He'd said he wasn't scared, that he truly loved her. But if that were true, why was he behaving like a man facing his last night alive?

She sat there, frozen, as the minutes ticked by. The sound of Cassius's low voice drifted from the nursery, punctuated by Aurora's delighted giggles. It should have been a heartwarming scene. Instead, it filled Alysa with dread.

Unable to bear it any longer, Alysa rose and crept toward the nursery. She paused at the doorway, her heart clenching at the sight before her.

Cassius sat on the floor, Aurora cradled in his lap, his smile soft, his blue eyes alight with love. He was reading to her, his deep voice soft as he recited a fairy tale. The little girl's green eyes were wide with wonder, her tiny hands reaching out to pat the colorful pictures.

Tears pricked at her eyes again, but she didn’t dare move, didn’t dare disturb the moment.

As Alysa watched, Cassius paused in his reading. He gazed down at Aurora, a look of such profound love on his face that it took Alysa's breath away. Gently, he pressed a kiss to the top of the baby's head, inhaling her scent as if trying to memorize it.

The intimacy of the scene made Alysa feel like an intruder. She started to step back, but a floorboard creakedbeneath her foot. Cassius's head snapped up, his eyes meeting hers.

For a heartbeat, Alysa saw something raw and vulnerable in his gaze. Then it was gone, replaced by a gentle smile. "Hey," he said softly. "Want to join us?"

Alysa hesitated, then shook her head. "I don't want to interrupt," she murmured, retreating from the doorway.

As she moved away, her mind whirled. That look in Cassius's eyes… it had been filled with so much emotion. Love for Aurora, certainly. But there had been something else. Regret? Fear?

What is he hiding?

Alysa paced the living room, her thoughts a tangled mess. She'd spent months convincing herself that Cassius couldn't possibly have feelings for her. That their fake relationship was just that—fake. A necessary deception to protect her from an unwanted marriage.

But now, faced with the possibility that Cassius truly loved her, Alysa found herself questioning everything she thought she knew.

Had she misinterpreted his actions all this time? The gentle touches, the way his eyes softened when he looked at her… had it all meant more than she'd allowed herself to believe?

Or was this all an elaborate act? A final, desperate attempt to save face and preserve the alliance?

Alysa's head ached from the constant back-and-forth. She wanted so badly to believe in Cassius's love. But the stakes were too high. What if she was wrong? What if she let herself hope, only to have it ripped away?

The sound of Cassius's footsteps pulled her from her spiraling thoughts. She turned to see him emerging from the nursery, quietly closing the door behind him.

"Aurora's asleep," he said, his voice low. There was a softness to his features, contentment that made Alysa's heart ache.

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Cassius moved closer, and she had to fight the urge to step back. To protect herself from the intensity of his presence.

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