Cassian's POV
The night was cool amd perfect for training. Mira stood before me, breathing heavily, while taking orders from me, strands of her dark hair sticking to her damp, rich skin.
She was undoubtedly progressing - no, she was transforming. She was evolving into something else. Something dangerous. And I couldn't seem to take off my eyes off her.
"You're improving fast," I said, tossing her the waterskin to distract myself in the process. She grinned widely, wiping her brow.
"That almost sounded like praise."I scoffed at her joke, folding my arms.
"Don't expect it too often."
The truth was, I wanted to say more, to express more. I wanted to tease her, to tell her how impressed I was, how I could feel the new fire burning inside her. But I said nothing, I kept it all to myself. I couldn't speak, not when it felt like I was crossing the line, losing grip on feelings I should never have embraced in the first place.
The first time I accidentally touched her while adjusting her stance, everything changed. Just training, nothing more, I told myself. But recently, something kept pulling me, something had changed..
Every time her skin mistakenly brushed against mine, it sent a jolt of through me - a sharp rush if feelings. My heartbeat would skip, the beat accelerating, my body tightening in unfamiliar ways. And I frustrated me. Deeply. I wasn't meant to feel or experience all of these.
Mira was here for one thing, and that was vengeance, for strength. I was here to give her direction, to instruct her, to equip her. That was it. Nothing more. So why was I always feeling strange, even drawn to her? Why do I feel this overwhelming need to fight and protect her from everything - even myself?
"Why are you concerned about me, always helping me, Cassian?" she asked, suddenly pulling me out of my thoughts.
Her question was unexpected. I forced my expression to remain calm and not betraying the rush of fellings beneath the surface. "Because I know what it feels like to be wrongly exiled. To lose everything."
She frowned at my answer. "What happened to you exactly?"
For a moment, I considered brushing it off. But something in her intense gaze urged me to speak.
"I was once powerful - next in line for Beta."
Her eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise. "You mean.... you?"
I chuckled at her expression, shaking my head. "It's hard to believe, isn't it? I was strong, more than capable. But Elder Varen had managed to persuade the Alpha that I was a danger, a great threat. That I might one day grow wings and challenge his power."
Her fists tightened at the mention, as if ready for a fight.
"Varen, that …"
I nodded, my voice still low. "He framed your father too, Mira. He was the mastermind behind swaying the council against him."
Her face paled, her lips parting in astonishment.
"My mother… she visited me and revealed that in a vision. She explained that my father was innocent."
"Then she wasn't far from the truth," I affirmed. "Varen wanted everyone in your family destroyed."
The same new fire that had been dangerously igniting in her over the past weeks blazed brighter now. And, may the Moon Goddess help me, I found it captivating. I forced myself to divert my gaze elsewhere. Her voice was soft yet steady.
"So what happens now?" I met her intense gaze.
"We would uncover the truth. And when the moment arrives… we reclaim what was taken from us."
She nodded, and something warm settled in my chest.
"Together ," she said more to herself
And just like that, my control slipped away, Her fingers lightly brushed against mine, just for a moment but it was enough to spark danger. My heart raced uncontrollably, warmth flooding through me. I balled my fists, trying to force my body to remain calm, not to respond. But it was almost impossible.
Damn it.
This wasn't meant to happen.
Before I could gather my thoughts, a rustling sound in the trees pulled me back to reality. I was on my feet immediately, dagger in hand, before anyone could react. Mira followed, her body tensed at the sudden presence.
A huge figure emerged from the shadows, and my grip tightened as recognition hit me.
It was Ryker.
His green eyes never wavering but fixed on Mira's, completely ignoring me. My wolf wrestled to stay calm, the urge to place myself between them and tear him apart was intense. Why had he come, could he be seeking for a second chance at love with my Mira?