Page 66 of The Alpha's Pretend Mate

Watching her with Aurora, so gentle and loving. The way something in his chest had softened, a warmth spreading through him that he couldn't explain.

Their first kiss, born of fear and adrenaline after the vampire attack. The taste of her lips, the softness of her skin. The way his whole world had shifted on its axis.

Each memory was a balm, soothing the burning ache of the oath's magic. Cassius clung to them, using them to weather the storm raging through his body and soul.

The ground beneath him felt like ice, and yet his body burned from within. Sweat dripped down his brow, mixing with the dirt beneath him. Every part of him screamed to stop, to let go, to surrender—but he wouldn’t.

I can’t.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pain began to recede. Cassius gasped for air, his body trembling with exhaustion. Slowly, carefully, he pushed himself to his feet. His muscles screamed in protest.

Cassius felt as though he had been hollowed out and rebuilt from the inside. His vision was still blurred, his breathing shallow, but the magic was fading, retreating like the tide after a storm.

He lifted his head slowly, his gaze locking onto Elder Greymane, who watched him with an expression of quiet respect.

His gaze found Alysa. She stood only a few feet away now, frozen, tears streaming down her face. The sight of her gave him strength, steadying him.

"I did this because of love." His voice was low but carried through the silence like a bell. The words weren’t for the council; they were for her.

"I love her," he said, louder this time, his voice echoing in the cold air. "And I would go through this again and again just to prove it."

The silence that followed was deafening.

He paused, gathering his thoughts as memories flooded his mind. Cassius took a deep breath, gathering the last remnants of his energy. He had to speak now, had to make them understand. Make her understand.

"I know…" he began, his voice hoarse from screaming. He cleared his throat and tried again. "I know many of you doubted my feelings for Alysa. Hell, I doubted them myself for far too long."

He paused, letting his gaze sweep over the crowd before settling back on Alysa. Every moment with her had led him here, to this forest, to this truth. He hadn’t realized the depth of his feelings until it was too late, until the idea of losing her felt like it would rip him apart.

"But I can't deny it anymore. Alysa, you've become everything to me. Your kindness, your strength, the way you love Aurora as if she were your own—it's all I can think about. You've brought light into my life when I thought I'd lost it forever."

Cassius's voice grew stronger as he continued, pouring out everything he'd kept bottled up for so long.

"I was scared," he admitted. "Scared of opening my heart. Scared of the complications our relationship would bring. But I'm not scared anymore. I love you, Alysa Volkov. With everything I am."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Alysa's eyes were wide, her lips parted in shock.

"I love the way you bite your lip when you're nervous," Cassius continued, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I love how clumsy you get when you're flustered. I love your laugh, your smile, the way your eyes light up when you're happy. I love how fiercely protective you are of the people you care about."

He took a step toward her, ignoring the way his legs trembled.

"I love that you see me—really see me. Not just as an Alpha or Aurora's father—but as a man. A man who's utterly, completely in love with you."

Silence fell over the clearing as Cassius finished speaking. He stood there, heart pounding, waiting for… something. Anything.

For a long, agonizing moment, nothing happened. Cassius's stomach churned with anxiety. Had it not worked? Had he failed?

Then, slowly, the runes at his feet began to glow. The magic surrounding him shimmered, pulsing with a warm, golden light. Cassius felt it settle into his skin, a gentle warmth spreading through his body.

Relief crashed over him like a tidal wave. He'd done it. The oath had accepted his words as truth.

The witch nodded once, satisfaction evident in the set of her shoulders. "The oath is sealed," came the pronouncement. "Cassius White speaks true."

The clearing was deathly silent. Every eye was on him, a mix of awe and trepidation on the faces of the assembled Alphas. Cassius swayed slightly, fighting to stay upright.

Elder Greymane stepped forward. "The council acknowledges the truth of Cassius White's words," he declared. "Let there be no more doubt or accusation on this matter."

Murmurs of assent rippled through the gathered Alphas. Even those who had been most vocal in their anger seemed subdued now, the irrefutable proof of the witch's oath leaving no room for argument.

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