Page 11 of The Alpha's Pretend Mate

But the nagging voice in his head wouldn't shut up. This was Aleksander's sister. His best friend's little sister, for fuck's sake. And he was inviting her to live in his home, to care for his daughter.

He had spent the morning organizing his affairs, going through old documents, and checking in with his Pack's enforcers. It was a routine he had grown accustomed to, a structured life that left little room for distractions.

But today wasn’t routine. Alysa Volkov was arriving to help with Aurora. He knew he needed the help—hell, he’d been barely surviving as a single father—but the idea of having her in his home was… unsettling.

He shook his head, trying to push away the nagging feeling creeping at the edges of his mind. Boundaries. He’d have to set them.

Professional boundaries. That's the key.

He ran a hand through his hair, messing up the careful styling he'd spent an embarrassing amount of time on this morning.

It's not like you're trying to impress her. She's an employee. A nanny. Nothing more.

He had seen Alysa a handful of times over the past few years, always at Pack events or during his occasional visits to the Iron Fang territory. Although he hadn’t seen her for the past three years when she started studying and then he took on more duties before becoming Alpha.

He still did his best to keep up with her through Aleksander. They had known each other since childhood, but things were different now.

She wasn’t the young girl who trailed behind Aleksander, trying to keep up with their antics. She was a grown woman. Beautiful.

Stop.

She’s here to help with Aurora. That’s all that matters. Cassius ran a hand through his blonde hair again, the usual calm, collected demeanor he wore like armor wavering for a brief second.

You’ll keep things professional. For Aurora. For Aleksander.

The sound of tires on gravel snapped him out of his thoughts. Cassius moved to the window, watching as a grey cab pulled up the driveway.

Shit. She's early.

Cassius strode out onto the front porch, his face a mask of calm authority. The car door opened, and Alysa stepped out.

His breath caught in his throat.

Fuck me.

She was… different. She had fully blossomed into a woman since he last saw her. Her chestnut hair, streaked withcaramel highlights, cascaded over her shoulders. Warm honey-brown eyes met his, a hint of nervousness in their depths.

Stop staring, you idiot.

"Alysa," he said, his voice gruffer than he intended. "Welcome."

She smiled, the gesture transforming her face. "Cassius. It's good to see you."

He moved to help with her bags, their hands brushing as they both reached for the same suitcase. A jolt of electricity shot up his arm.

Professional boundaries, remember?

"Let me get those," he said, stepping back. "I hope your drive wasn't too bad."

"It was fine," she replied, following him into the house. "The mountain views were beautiful."

She seemed poised, as if she was assessing her new surroundings, ready to settle in without hesitation. The air between them held a slight tension, a subtle shift that neither seemed willing to acknowledge.

Cassius nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Her scent filled his nostrils—vanilla and something wilder, uniquely Alysa.

Focus, dammit.

He led her to the living room, gesturing for her to sit. "Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee?"

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