Page 7 of Heart of the Rebel Mate

I shouldn't be here.

But then again, that's been true for a while now.

This isn't the kind of space I'm meant to inhabit—a university campus buzzing with idealists who still think the world can be changed through blueprints and speeches. The air hums with conversation, students moving in clusters, their words laced with optimism. It grates against me, a stark contrast to the shadows I've learned to live in.

But I couldn't stay away.

Not from her.

I track her movements, the sure, steady rhythm of her steps. She doesn't look around and doesn't check her surroundings. Either she's too focused or she believes she has nothing to fear. The thought tightens something in my chest.

Then, the scent hits me.

Sharp pine and cold steel. It's subtle but unmistakable, threading through the air like an invisible warning. My muscles go taut before I even spot him and my body reacts on instinct—trained over years of knowing exactly what he is capable of.

Cassian Veyne.

He steps into view from a side path, merging effortlessly with the shifting tide of students, but his presence is like a drop of ink in clear water—spreading, staining the space around him. He's dressed for control, every detail of his appearance calculated: the tailored dark suit that moves with him, the crisp white collar resting just so against his throat, the silver streaks in his hair catching the sunlight at precise angles. His eyes, sharp and glinting like honed steel, home in on Elara.

Cassian has always been a problem.

Cassian Veyne isn't just a name whispered in dark corners—he's a force that moves just beneath the Council's reach, threading through their carefully maintained order like a fracture waiting to split.

We've crossed paths before. More times than I care to count.

The first time, it was at the Velmar Summit—an invitation-only gathering where industry leaders, influential figures, and policymakers—both human and werewolf—meet to discuss advancements in technology, trade, and governance. Cassian had slipped in like he belonged, shaking hands with figures the Council kept on watch lists. I'd seen him talking to Rian Kade, a known rebel strategist who vanished a month later without a trace.

Then there was the supply raid outside Blackmere, a fortified outpost on the outskirts of Council-controlled territory, serving as a key distribution hub for restricted resources—technology, weapons, medical supplies, and classified research materials. A so-called "accident" had occurred, resulting in a warehouse of restricted tech going missing.

A week later, an anonymous shipment surfaced, linked to one of Cassian's shell companies. No direct evidence tied him to the theft, but the timing was too perfect. The Council suspected his involvement but lacked the proof to act.

But it was enough for the Council to consider him a problem they haven't yet figured out how to solve. Too public to silence, too connected to corner, Cassian plays the game with ruthless precision, balancing influence and ambiguity to remain untouchable.

And now, he's set his sights on Elara.

I can't let that happen.

And now, he's here. Talking to her.

My wolf stirs, restless beneath my skin, teeth bared in silence. I force my hands to unclench, exhaling slowly. Cassian is too smooth and controlled. He doesn't fumble or make careless mistakes. Every move is intentional, and that makes him dangerous.

Their voices drift toward me, carried by the faint afternoon breeze.

"—wanted to make sure everything is on track," Cassian says, his tone smooth, conversational, practiced.

Elara stops, weight shifting onto her back foot, just a fraction. "You're the one funding this phase?"

"I am," he replies easily, his smile appearing slow and measured. "Thought it might be a good time to check in. This project of yours... it's ambitious. It deserves the right kind of support."

Support. That's what he's calling it now.

A muscle ticks in my jaw.

Elara grips the folder tighter. Her wariness is visible in the slight furrow between her brows. "And what's in it for you?"

Smart. She doesn't take things at face value. But Cassian enjoys challenges, and Elara is one he'd love to win.

Cassian exhales a small chuckle, shaking his head. "Not everything has to be transactional, Elara." He leans in just enough, lowering his voice, making it something private between them. "Sometimes, a good idea is worth standing behind. And what you're building here? It's more than just architecture. It's a statement. A bridge between two worlds."

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