Cassiopiea NyxThe journey back to moonstone was nothing but quiet, Hera growled at me all the way back, her anger was slowly seeping into the cracks of my soul, and suddenly I found myself getting angry too.Why did I have to take her in?She let me suffer, didn't she?I should let her suffer.But yet again, another part of me,the inner and dumb part of me spoke up, she was my sister, I couldn't let father do the same to her, what if he vented out all his frustrations on her..."Your kindness would be your own undoing, Human" Hera sighed, receding back into her place, the distant corners of my mind.Xeros pulled me flush into him as the car bumped up and down the road, His arm tightened around my waist, offering a silent wave of comfort. I could sense his unease—his protective instincts were heightened, especially now that Demetria was trailing behind us in a seperate car with Anakin. He didn’t trust her, and honestly, I wasn’t sure if I did either.But I couldn’t just leave her. I c
Cassiopeia NyxThe sunlight filtered through the windows as I glanced around the room drowsily. Another yawn escaped me as I sat up, the clock on the other side of the room speaking to me.7:53 a.m.How did I sleep through yesterday up until today? That was almost twelve hours. Where was Xeros?His side of the bed was empty, almost as if he hadn't even lain there. Immediately, my mind went back to the dungeons, and I almost bolted off the bed."Calm down, human. He went for a run," Cassie whispered, eliciting a sigh of relief from me.He was okay.I stretched slowly, my body still feeling the weight of exhaustion. With a sigh, I slipped out of bed and padded across the cool floor to the bathroom. A hot bath sounded like a good idea, something to help me wake up and calm the swirl of emotions inside. As I settled into the warm water, I closed my eyes, letting the heat relax my tense muscles.For a few minutes, I allowed myself to just be. No memories of the past. No thinking about the
Xeros RomanovMy impatience was palpable as I sat before the court, listening to the boring and monotonous voices of the elders as they spoke about trade, rogues, and whatnot. None of that seemed to interest me. Instead, all I could think about was the dark-haired beauty nestled in the corners of my heart.Cassie.I physically itched to run back to the room and gather her into my arms, bury my face into her neck, and drown myself in her sweet scent. I wouldn’t mind dying if that was the last thing I ever smelled. If her round and beautiful eyes were the last thing I looked into as I closed my eyes into a state of serenity, that wouldn’t be death anymore, but rather heaven.Since I saw her, claimed her as mine, I had never voluntarily spent more than an hour away from her. Even if I wasn’t with her physically, I could still smell her scent from outside the door, still hear her ruffle with the blanket as she always did when she was nervous.Every moment away from her felt like an eterni
Cassiopeia NyxHis brows furrowed as he stared down at me, gazing into my eyes in shock, taking in my question with a mixture of confusion and intrigue."Feel his presence?"He repeated, cocking his head to the side. His hold on me slackened, and I could see the wheels in his head turning, trying to understand what I had asked.I shifted under his gaze, the weight of his silence growing heavier with each passing second. Finally, he blinked, his brow furrowing deeply.“You can feel Nox's presence?” he asked again slowly, as though testing the weight of his own words.I nodded, biting my lip as I tried to explain. “I... it's just today, when you were away. I could feel him like he was walking behind me. It's like this... presence. It’s not mine, but it’s familiar. And I know it’s him. I know it’s Nox. I can feel it.”“That... shouldn’t be possible,” Xeros breathed, trying to piece the puzzle together. “Nox is... he’s a part of me. You shouldn’t be able to feel him on your own.”“But I d
Cassiopeia NyxTime was a very funny thing, it made you think that everything was hopeless and without a cause, but when it suddenly starts to go on, you would be so surprised how things you once thought were impossible could happen right before your eyes.I didn't notice it at first. It was subtle, like the soft glow of the night sky, spreading all over a distant city. A gradual demolition of the walls that I had surrounded myself with. I had spent so many days keeping to myself, hiding in the shadows of the palace, speaking only to Xeros, Anakin, and the maid who came to bring my food. The rest of the palace was a blur of faces, individuals I barely acknowledged as I passed by them, always in a hurry.But one day, everything seemed to suddenly change.It started with something small—an accidental meeting in the kitchens. I had gone down there, not to socialize, but to calm Hera down, who was hell-bent on killing me for subjecting her to the four corners of our bedroom. I wanted to ge
Cassiopeia Nyx Hera's longing howl echoed in the back of my mind and I sighed again, half expecting her to cry at this point. I could relate to how she was feeling though.Ever since we came back from Nightwolf pack, Xeros had been busy, he barely had time to spare with me and then he got sent off to another pack for a week. Nox's presence was here as always, beside me like a guard but that did nothing to calm Hera's whining down, instead it fuelled it. She missed him. I..I think I miss him too.He wanted to take me along at first but Anakin dissuaded him, Sane rogues had been rampant around that pack and if they even have a whiff or smell that the Luna Queen was there, they would go crazy for my blood.I didn't understand how that worked but ...Xeros agreed. He then ordered Anakin to keep me company and to attend to my every needs and keep me safe from any harm. Anakin seemed to have taken Xeros's words to heart—he made sure to check up on me twice a day, to get me a book to read f
Xeros RomanovMy blood pounded in my ears, each pulse stronger than the last as I tore through the trees, their towering forms blurring into shadowy figures as I raced past. Only one thought blazed in my mind, louder than the wind rushing through my fur, louder than the sound of my paws tearing into the earth.Cassie.The moment I caught the scent of Moonstone’s territory, Nox howled in triumph inside me, his joy mirroring my own. Five days. Five excruciating, endless days without her. If half a day felt like an eternity, then these past five days had been nothing short of hell. I had gotten used to her, seeing her and reveling in her scent, and now a few days without her felt empty.As the palace gates appeared ahead, shimmering under the moonlight, I pushed harder. My muscles screamed in protest, but I ignored the burn, my focus singular. Nox urged me on, desperate to close the distance. His impatience and mine were intertwined, like fate and destiny.I bounded through the gates wit
Xeros Romanov"Xeros."I hummed drowsily, totally entranced by the euphoria running through my veins. She patted me softly, pushing at my chest to get my attention, but I didn’t answer—couldn't answer. I had missed this so much that I needed a few more minutes to ground myself, to pull myself back into reality. I had to literally pry myself away from her to take a shower and have dinner, and the moment I was done, I couldn’t help it—I pulled her straight into my arms again."X... Xeros," she whispered again, pushing at my chest with more insistence. With a sigh, I let her go reluctantly, taking a few steps back to look at her. Her face was flushed, and her fingers toyed with the hem of her shirt as always. "My legs hurt."My eyes widened at her words, and I glanced down at her thighs. She had been standing to hug me for the past ten minutes; of course, her legs would hurt. She was still weak and hadn’t fully regained her strength. "I’m sorry, angel. I must have been crazy. Does it hur
Cassiopeia Nyx"You can’t handle it."My heart constricted painfully in my chest as I leaned against the wooden door of his office. I wanted to run back into the room and implore him to tell me he didn't mean what he said, but the way he enunciated it, without hesitation… it made me believe that he really meant it.I had assumed that he didn't care that I wasn't strong enough, that his love for me had absolved me from all guilt, but now I see that wasn’t the case. It took a lot for him to slip up and show his true feelings.I thought I knew pain. I thought I had endured everything that could be thrown at me. But this? This felt different.It wasn’t physical, like the scars that marred my skin. It wasn’t something I could fight with persistence or defiance. It was deeper, more personal—a wound to the very core of who I was.I could handle him.But he didn’t believe that.Fuck. Even I didn't believe it. I was trying so hard to be strong, and his support made everything feel easier, but
Xeros RomanovThe moment she nestled into my arms, everything unraveled. The heat of her body, the soft tremble of her fingers as they wrapped around my torso, the scent of her filling my senses—it all became too much. Cassiopeia. My mate.My queen.Immediately, I recognized Nox's desire. I tried to run away, to put some distance between us, but it was futile. She was a force I couldn’t resist, pulling me in, tearing apart every shred of resolve I had left. And now, she was here, standing in front of me, despite me telling her to stay away... looking up with those eyes—filled with longing, trust, and something else… something dangerous.Desire.I could feel the heat radiating off her, searing my skin as if it were my own. My wolf, the primal force within me, roared in approval, clawing at the edges of my mind, desperate to claim what was ours. To mark her, to bind her to me in every way.But I couldn’t.The images flashed through my mind, unbidden and relentless—the scars that marred h
Cassiopeia NyxSomething was wrong.Not with Xeros—but with me.An unusual burning sensation spread through my entire body, starting from my lower abdomen. It was beyond what words could describe. It spread like a raging prairie fire, doubling in intensity with every wave of the wind and every second I remained still, threatening to swallow me whole. I could barely think straight as I watched the elders file out of the meeting hall, still whispering amongst themselves about Xeros's sudden and urgent disappearance.At the thought of him, my body began to ache even more. Hera growled ferociously from her position at the back of my mind. It was more feral than anything she had ever expressed to me, even when she tried to take over my body. The more she growled and pushed at me, the more the pain increased.My knees shook as I pushed myself up from the seat, beads of perspiration trickling down my chest and stomach.Where was Xeros?A groan tumbled from my lips as I forced myself to my fe
Cassiopeia Nyx"Who could be so daring to attempt an attack on the king's private quarters" Elder Yousef asked, his dark face marred with worry lines, Whispers floated all through the large space of the meeting room. They looked apprehensive, this was the first time someone had brazenly attempted an attack on the king's private quarters.Xeros and i remained quiet as we watched them mull over the information we just shared, there was nothing more to say, Xeros was unconcerned but i seemed to drift towards the worried questions the elders seemed to throw at one another.Who could it be? What made them so fearless? Could it be an uprising?The more they spoke the more my anxiety levels spiked. Xeros's grip around my wrist was firm and comforting but he was distracted, his calloused thumb circled around the soft skin of my wrist. I didn't know what exactly had consumed his thoughts. His eyes were focused on me but they were dazed."Xeros" i whispered, shifting in my seat beside him. He b
Xeros RomanovI slipped through the door with pristine agility only to be met with Cassie’s terrified gaze. She stood right before me, her eyes widened in shock before morphing into relief. Her grip around the candle stick was fierce, as if she’d been ready to fight off whatever threat she imagined might follow me in here.A sigh left me as I took in her stance, her anxiety, and the hint of fear in her gaze. My eyes swept over her form, checking for any sign of injury even though I knew without doubt she’d been safe here. Finally, my gaze settled on the candle stick, and despite the situation, a flicker of amusement surfaced.“You were going to come after me?” I asked, my voice soft but edged with amusement.Cassie nodded, her expression shifting as she let out a breath she’d been holding. “I… you were taking so long, so I thought… something had happened to you.”Without hesitation, I crossed the room in a few quick strides, reaching out to gently ease the candle stick from her hands.
Cassiopeia Nyx The room was quiet. The kind of quiet that made even the slightest sound amplified. i was curled into Xeros’s chest, my face pressed into his bare skin and his arms wrapped tightly around me. Normally, nothing brought me as much comfort as this,but as much as I tried to relax into his embrace, sleep danced just out of reach, like a strip tease, no matter how hard I tried to reach out for it, it eluded me.Something felt… wrong.My skin prickled, the hair on my body standing on edge. A strange sensation crawled its way up my spine, making the air in the room feel heavier, pressing down on me. It was just my mind playing tricks on me, maybe it was because tonight had been emotionally exhausting. But the feeling wouldn’t leave; it only grew more intense, like invisible eyes watching from somewhere in the shadows.I shifted in Xeros’s arms, careful not to wake him. His breathing deepened, but even in sleep, his arm tightened slightly around my waist, as if some part of him
Cassiopiea Nyx"It's me, Demetria." "What is she doing here?" Hera growled, her anger pushing through.Demetria nervously poked her head through the door, her dark hair cascading around her shoulders as she spotted me. Her eyes widened when she noticed who was at the door, and she took a few steps back in surprise." uhhh, good evening, your majesty," she bowed in apprehension.Xeros scowled, his eyes flashing red before he sighed, turing around to glance at me.I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to act around her. "The queen is very tired after having a long day. She doesn't want to see anyone," Xeros gritted, ignoring her greetings. Demetria nodded in understanding, but i couldn't help but notice that her shoulders drooped in dissapoinment, and her eyes grew clowdy. I hated this part of me, the one that just couldn't ignore."I'll come back some other time," She mumbled before bowing to Xeros and then to me."Goodnight Alpha, Goodnight Luna."She turned around to leave,
Cassiopeia Nyx My knees wobbled as Xeros led me back to the room. I could barely keep up, my body slumped against his as we walked. I had tried so hard to hold on during dinner, I tried not to cower away, I forced the food down my throat. The only thing helping me was Xeros, his grip around my hand grounded me, like he was sending surges of confidence through my skin. The problem wasn't the pack members or the food or the role itself, I was the problem. I just couldn't detach myself from the anxiety hovering around me.These past few days, I realized that whenever I was anxious , I seemed to close up my mental barriers. I shut Hera out. I couldn't help it, I didn't realize I was blocking her out until a few moments ago, when I wondered why she had been silent for so long. That was the same thing that was happening to me, the anxiety that I had pushed at bay, the uncertainty swirling around me—everything threatened to hold me down,to choke me. We finally reached the door and the
Xeros RomanovThis was the last step and the most difficult of all for Cassie. The first dinner. More like an introduction.The smell of spice, roasted meat and gravy wafted throughout the air as we made way towards the dinning hall. The pack members strictly adhered to rules i had set regarding Cassie but now that she was the Luna, i couldn't give them any excuse as to why they couldn't meet their Luna without tarnishing her image. Cassie’s hand shook softly in my grasp as we pushed through the doors and stepped into the dinning area, i knew she was doing her best to keep her head upright and her gaze levelled. I could tell she wanted nothing more than to cower behind me, hide away from their expectant gazes. Tonight would be our first real appearance together, a chance for Cassie to show herself to the pack, to become part of the world I’d grown up in. They all stood up as we approached, i spotted Anakin at the far end of the room, a small smile on his face. “Don't be scared,”