Page 67 of The Alpha's Pretend Mate

Cassius barely heard them. His mind was reeling, the full impact of what he'd just done—what he'd just admitted—crashing over him like a tidal wave.

Cassius's eyes locked with Alysa's across the clearing. Her face was a canvas of emotions—shock, joy, love, all warring for dominance. She took a hesitant step forward, then another.

That was all it took. Cassius surged forward, his exhaustion forgotten. Alysa broke into a run, closing the distance between them.

They collided in the center of the clearing, Cassius's arms wrapping around her waist as hers twined around his neck. He buried his face in her hair, breathing in her familiar scent of apples and cinnamon.

"I love you," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "God, Alysa, I love you so much."

Alysa pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. Tears streamed down her face, but her smile was radiant. "I love you too," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "I've always loved you."

Cassius cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away her tears. Then, heedless of their audience, he lowered his head and captured her lips in a searing kiss.

The world fell away. There was only Alysa—the softness of her lips, the warmth of her body pressed against his, the taste of her tears mingling with his own. Cassius poured everything he felt into that kiss, all the love and longing he'd kept locked away for so long.

Chapter 18 - Alysa

Alysa didn't realize her feet were off the ground as Cassius lifted her up and kissed her. The world spun, a whirlwind of emotions and sensations overwhelming her senses. His lips moved against hers with a desperate hunger that matched the ache in her chest.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, the warmth of his body grounding her while everything around them unraveled. Relief surged through her, so powerful it almost knocked the breath from her lungs.

Alysa clung to him, her chest tightening as all the fear and tension from the past few days drained from her. The weight she hadn’t realized she was carrying lifted, and she let herself exhale.

Cassius pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers as he breathed heavily. She caught the flicker of emotion in his blue eyes—relief, exhaustion, and something deeper that twisted her heart.

“It’s over,” he whispered, his voice raw. His hands on her waist trembled slightly, and she leaned into him, pressing her lips softly against his again, this time slower, more tender. Her fingers trembled as they threaded through his hair.

When they finally broke apart, gasping for air, Alysa's eyes locked onto Cassius's. The depth of emotion she saw there stole her breath all over again. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, a mix of relief and joy flooding through her.

"You're okay," she whispered, her voice hoarse. Her fingers traced the lines of his face, still hardly daring to believe this was real. That he was here, alive, and that he loved her.

Cassius nodded, pressing his forehead against hers. "I'm okay," he murmured. "We're okay."

The clearing around them buzzed with activity, but Alysa barely noticed. Her world had narrowed to Cassius, to the solid warmth of his arms around her and the steady beat of his heart against her chest.

As the initial shock began to wear off, reality slowly seeped back in. Alysa became aware of the murmurs around them, the weight of eyes watching their every move. She reluctantly pulled back, just enough to take in their surroundings.

The other Alphas were dispersing, some talking in hushed tones while others cast furtive glances their way. Elder Greymane stood off to the side, a hint of a smile on his weathered face. And there, making his way toward them with measured steps, was Marcus.

Alysa tensed, her grip on Cassius tightening instinctively. But as Marcus drew closer, she saw something unexpected in his expression. Regret.

"Cassius," Marcus began, his voice gruff. "I… I owe you an apology."

Cassius gently set Alysa down but kept an arm around her waist. She leaned into him, drawing strength from his presence as she watched the exchange unfold.

"There's nothing to apologize for," Cassius replied, his tone even. "I was the one who deceived you, who threatened the alliance with my actions."

Marcus shook his head. "No, I should have trusted your word. Instead, I let my anger and suspicion get the better of me.I demanded this test, put you through that ordeal…" He trailed off, glancing at Alysa. "I'm sorry. To both of you."

Alysa's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected this, hadn't dared to hope for such a resolution. Cassius squeezed her waist gently before extending his free hand to Marcus.

"What's done is done," Cassius said. "Let's move forward from here."

Marcus clasped Cassius's arm at the elbow, a warrior's embrace. The tension in the air dissipated, replaced by a cautious hope.

As Marcus stepped back, Aleksander approached, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, I'd say that was quite the show, Brother," he said, clapping Cassius on the shoulder. "Though I could have done without the dramatic flair."

Cassius chuckled, the sound sending a warm shiver down Alysa's spine. "You know me, Aleks. Never could resist a bit of drama."

---