Page 63 of The Alpha's Pretend Mate

"Alysa." His voice was gentle, coaxing her to meet his gaze. "Are you alright?"

The question nearly undid her. How could he be asking about her well-being when he was the one facing a potentially lethal magical oath?

"I don't understand," she whispered, the words escaping before she could stop them. "How can you be so calm? Cassius, if the oath… if you're wrong…"

He reached out, his fingers brushing her cheek with impossible tenderness. "I'm not wrong," he said, his voice filled with quiet certainty. "I love you, Alysa. And tomorrow, the oath will prove exactly that."

Alysa's eyes burned with unshed tears. She wanted to believe him. Gods, how she wanted to believe. But doubt and fear still gnawed at her.

"Then why does it feel like you're saying goodbye?"

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with accusation and hurt. Cassius's hand fell away from her face, and Alysa immediately missed its warmth.

He took a step back, running a hand through his hair. For a moment, he looked lost, vulnerable in a way Alysa had neverseen before. Then his expression hardened, resolve settling over his features like a mask.

"I'm not saying goodbye," he said firmly. "I'm making sure Aurora knows how much I love her. Just in case."

The admission sent a chill through Alysa. "In case of what?" she pressed, even though she dreaded the answer.

Cassius's jaw tightened. "In case something goes wrong," he said quietly. "The oath… it's unpredictable. Even if I'm telling the truth, there's always a risk."

Alysa felt the blood drain from her face. "But you said… you were so sure…"

"I am sure," Cassius insisted, taking a step closer. "Alysa, I love you. I know that with every fiber of my being. But I'm not naive. Magic is dangerous, and I have to be prepared for every possibility."

The room spun, and Alysa gripped the back of the couch to steady herself. Everything she'd feared, everything she'd tried to deny, came crashing down around her.

Cassius moved toward her, concern etched on his face. But Alysa held up a hand, stopping him in his tracks.

"Don't," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Please, just… don't."

She couldn't bear his touch, his comforting words. Not when he might be torn away from her at any moment. Not when it was all her fault.

Cassius's face fell, but he respected her wishes, keeping his distance. The space between them felt like a chasm, impossible to cross.

As the silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words and conflicting emotions, a single thought crystallized in Alysa's mind. It echoed through her, growing louder with each passing second.

If he is really spending his last moments with those he loves, why not spend any with me?

The realization hit her like a physical blow. Despite his declarations of love, despite the risk he was taking for her, Cassius had chosen to spend what might be his final hours with Aurora. Not with her.

Alysa's heart clenched, a dull ache spreading through her chest. She wanted to be understanding, to recognize the bond between father and daughter. But a small, selfish part of her couldn't help but feel hurt. Rejected.

As she stood there, torn between her warring emotions, Alysa realized that no matter what the witch oath revealed, things between her and Cassius would never be the same. For better or worse, everything was about to change.

And all she could do was wait, her heart in her throat, for the dawn that would bring either a new beginning or a devastating end.

Chapter 17 - Cassius

The wind sliced through the dense forest, cold and sharp like a blade against his skin. Cassius inhaled deeply, his chest rising as the crisp air filled his lungs. Every step closer to the ritual felt heavier than the last, yet his resolve was ironclad.

His face, often marked by the carefree charm of an Alpha, was now a mask of steely determination. Today would determine everything. His heart thundered in his chest, each beat a reminder of what was at stake.

This is it. No turning back now.

He clenched his fists, nails biting into his palms. The pain grounded him, cutting through the fog of anxiety that threatened to cloud his mind. Cassius took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the earthy scent of the woods.

For Alysa. For us.

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