HADES’ POV I was finally returning to my pack after a week with Rowan.
I was worn out from the celebrations hosted there after our security talk.
I also informed him about my new mate and he was surprised just like I thought he would be.
He also promised to visit the pack to see her.
The moment I crossed the border, the sun had already set and darkness had covered the land.
I felt a shift in my wolf, something was wrong and I knew the shift was not caused by danger.
It was with myself.
The pull hit me immediately and it was stronger than it had ever been.
As I walked to the direction of my pack, it only got worse and for some reason I felt angry.
I had not experienced this in a long while and it seemed like it was just waiting for me to arrive before it takes over.
I wondered what she could be doing that would have my wolf reacting this way.
I curled my hands into fists.
“Goddess help her!” I muttered to myself.
‘Find her’ my wolf said instantly.
My jaw tightened as I moved through the fortress, ignoring the way the guards straightened at my presence, the way heads bowed as I passed.
I didn’t slow down or acknowledge their greetings.
They were at their posts and that’s all I needed from them.
“Welcome, Alpha” one of them said but u didn’t look to see who it was coming from.
My focus had already shifted and it was fixed on finding a certain someone.
‘Go to the courtyard’ my wolf said.
That is where her scent was coming from.
I had just stepped into the courtyard and I saw her.
She was laughing with someone that I knew too well Everything inside me stilled.
They were too close and they looked too comfortable.
It made me wonder what happened in just this short moment I was not around.
The thought I was having was not nice and my reaction was as instant.
My wolf surged beneath my skin, rising fast, wanting to mark his territory.
Mine.
The word didn’t come quietly this time.
It roared and my vision sharpened.
Every detail burning into place.
The way she stood near Cassian, the ease in her posture and absence of fear.
It hit me hard because that ease and softness it was never directed at me.
Not even once.
Something unfamiliar and dangerous twisted inside of me.
I forced my hands tighter, my fingers digging into my palms.
I was trying to control the surge inside of me.
Because if I didn’t….If I let it rise, it would be seen like I cared.
Did I care?
The next time I looked up, they looked frozen.
They had noticed me.
Of course they would have.
The shift in the air alone would have been enough.
Iris stood first and Cassian followed.
Her body had tensed as she looked in my direction.
I didn’t know if she could see me properly because of the darkness.
That tension and fear from her whenever I was around was back and she no longer seemed at ease like some moments ago.
It snapped something else into place inside him.
My wolf was still raging seeing her and Cassian.
They bowed.
“You are back” Cassian’s voice was steady and unshaken.
“G-greetings, Alpha” her voice was quiet and yet shaky.
I saw her hands tremble and my jaw tightened.
She was scared of me.
“What are you both doing here?” My tone was low and my voice quiet.
But the weight behind it was unmistakable.
Cassian didn’t hesitate.
“We both couldn’t sleep” my gaze flicked to him.
“And yet you’re laughing so loudly, disturbing others?” Cassian met his eyes.
“No” Cassian said without hesitation and no apology.
My gaze shifted back to her.
Iris didn’t meet it immediately.
Her eyes were still starting at the ground.
Then she lifted and for a moment, something passed between us.
It was too hard to ignore.
Her breath hitched slightly and I saw it.
“I—” she started, then stopped.
Something flickered across her face.
Uncertainty.
It looked like she was having an internal battle on whether she should explain or not.
“Good night.” The words came quickly directed at Cassian and her gaze lingered on me, then she bowed and hurried away.
I watched her leave, watched her every step, until she could no longer be seen.
Even then, the pull tightened.
I clenched my jaw.
The silence was deafening yet Cassian didn’t say anything.
I didn’t turn immediately or acknowledge his presence.
“What was that about?” The question came out quieter this time.
Cassian didn’t answer immediately.
“Nothing to warrant this attitude.
We were only talking about training.
Are you jealous?” I scoffed.
“Why would I be jealous?” “It’s written all over your face.
The anger surrounding you stems from the fact you are jealous” with my side eye, I could see his lips twitch.
“That’s enough!” I stopped him.
“That’s not what I asked you and I’m not jealous” “Keep lying to yourself” he muttered.
“Did you say something?” “No, Alpha.
I said she has started training” “I know.
I gave that order” “I’m trying to tell you I followed it” I turned slightly, just enough to look at Cassian.
“And?” Cassian held my gaze.
“So far so good, she’s improving” my expression didn’t change but something shifted inside me.
“And you’re helping her” It wasn’t a question.
Cassian didn’t deny it.
“Yes.” I contained my anger and my wolf rising.
“And you don’t like that?” My eyes narrowed.
“I didn’t say that.
You are capable of teaching her” “You didn’t have to” Silence stretched between us, thicker now and deliberate.
Cassian exhaled slowly.
“I want to ask you a question and I want you to answer honestly” “I don’t owe you any answers, Cassian.
I’m tired and I’m going to rest” “Are you jealous?” The words were direct and that was not the question I expected when he asked me to be honest.
It caused me to pause and even my wolf.
As if the question itself had cut through something deeper than I expected.
I didn’t respond immediately because I didn’t have an answer.
I couldn’t even explain how I was feeling.
I couldn’t accept it or deny it because jealousy wasn’t something I entertained.
I didn’t need to or allow it.
But what I felt standing there and watching them.
Seeing her with someone who wasn’t me.
Someone she was at ease with and could even smile at ….
My jaw tightened hard.
“Be careful, Cassian” My voice dropped low.
It was controlled but edged, not in denial or acceptance.
But a subtle warning.
Cassian looked at me carefully then nodded once.
“You definitely are” he said with a smile.
He didn’t look surprised either.
More like, he expected tho.
“Get some rest” I added and turned around but I didn’t leave yet.
I didn’t want to hear more of Cassian’s nonsense.
“Don’t think you’ve escaped this topic.
I’ll see you tomorrow” he said loudly but I ignored him.
He turned and left, leaving me in the courtyard.
Alone.
The night was quiet again but not the same quiet.
Not the kind I was used to.
This one felt disturbed and unsettled.
Like something had shifted while I was gone and it felt like I couldn’t control it anymore.
I exhaled slowly.
My hands finally unclenching but the tension didn’t leave, rather it lingered deep and persistent.
I lifted my gaze slightly, towards the direction she had gone.
The Luna’s room.
That was where she stayed.
So close to me and yet so far.
I couldn’t even remember the last time I had visited that room.
‘You keep pushing her away.
You’ll push her into the arms of another and your uncle would tell you he was saying the truth all along’ I had told myself I wouldn’t think about my uncle or his threat to have my submission until my wolf reminded me.
I knew my uncle was still planning to get the human girl.
‘Mark her.
He wouldn’t be able to do anything if you mark her’ my wolf said again.
“No.
There are greater consequences if I mark a human” I said aloud.
‘A human who is your mate and would eventually bear your pups’ he reminded me.
“Have you forgotten about the curse so easily?
She is bound to die and it’s better to keep her far away” ‘What if she doesn’t die?’ I sighed.
Here it is again!
What if’s?
I was tired of hearing it.
“There is nothing that can be done about the curse.
The earlier you accept that we’ll live forever without having a mate.
The better for you” ‘We will see.
I hope by then you are not late’ he cut the link off.
This is exactly how our talk always end and that is why I never bother arguing this either him.
He believes there is Iris is the solution to the curse and while I think there is no solution.
To know who is right and wrong, we both have to wait for the fourth moon.