Page 73 of The Alpha's Pretend Mate

“I was thinking,” he began, breaking the silence, “we haven’t really talked about you. About what you did after leaving school.”

She looked up, surprised by the sudden shift in conversation. “Oh, it wasn’t that interesting,” she said with a small shrug, but there was a flicker of something behind her eyes—something Cassius was determined to uncover.

“Try me,” he challenged, leaning back in his chair, his gaze steady on hers. “You’ve traveled a lot, haven’t you?”

Alysa laughed softly, the sound light but genuine. “Yeah, I guess I have. I spent a couple of years on the Light Side, mostly working odd jobs. Nothing glamorous.”

Cassius tilted his head, his interest piqued. “Odd jobs? Like what?”

She paused, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “Everything from waitressing to teaching English to kids in small villages. I even worked as a tour guide for a while.”

He couldn’t help but grin. “A tour guide, huh? I can’t picture you doing that.”

She laughed again, this time more freely. “I was terrible at it. I got lost more often than the tourists did.”

Cassius chuckled, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. “I bet you were great at it.”

Their conversation flowed easily after that, laughter weaving through the room. Cassius found himself captivated by her experiences, by the depth of her character that she rarely let anyone see.

With each story, he felt like he was discovering a new side of Alysa—adventurous, resourceful, and far more worldly than he'd realized.

"I had no idea you'd done all that," he said when she finally paused for breath. "Why didn't you ever mention it before?"

Alysa shrugged, a hint of shyness creeping back into her demeanor. "I didn't think you'd be interested. You were always so focused on Pack business, and I was just… well, just Alysa."

Cassius frowned, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "You've never been 'just' anything, Alysa. I'm sorry if I ever made you feel that way."

Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the air between them crackled with tension. Cassius leaned in slightly, drawn by an invisible force. Alysa's lips parted, her breath catching in her throat.

The shrill ring of the room's phone shattered the moment. Cassius cursed under his breath as he answered it, dealing with a minor Pack issue that couldn't wait until morning.

When he hung up, Alysa was standing by the window again, her arms wrapped around herself. Cassius approached her slowly, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry about that," he said softly.

Alysa turned to face him, a small smile on her lips. "It's okay. You're an Alpha. It comes with the territory."

Cassius nodded, grateful for her understanding. An idea struck him, and he grinned. "How about we get out of here for a bit? There's something I want to show you."

Curiosity sparked in Alysa's eyes. "What is it?"

"You'll see," Cassius replied, taking her hand and leading her toward the door.

They made their way through the hotel, Cassius nodding to the staff they passed. Finally, they reached a set of ornate glass doors. Cassius paused, turning to Alysa with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Close your eyes," he instructed softly.

Alysa raised an eyebrow but complied, her lashes fluttering shut. Cassius opened the doors and guided her forward, his hand steady on the small of her back.

The scent hit them first—a symphony of floral fragrances, earthy and sweet. Cassius watched Alysa's face, savoring the moment of anticipation.

"Okay," he murmured, his lips close to her ear. "Open them."

Alysa's eyes fluttered open, and a soft gasp escaped her lips. They stood at the entrance of the hotel's botanical gardens, a sprawling oasis of greenery and blooming flowers. The moonlight filtered through the glass ceiling, casting everything in an ethereal glow.

"Cassius," Alysa breathed, her eyes wide with wonder. "It's beautiful."

Pride swelled in Cassius's chest.

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