015.

Cassie.

I felt a jolt run through me as I stumbled backward, blinking to clear my vision. 

The man I’d just bumped into stood before me, gazing down with striking blue eyes that seemed to pierce right through me. His blond hair was perfectly slicked back, though two rogue strands had slipped loose, hanging over his forehead effortlessly carelessly. 

I stared, momentarily frozen, my mind too sluggish to process what was happening. I opened my mouth to speak, to stammer out an apology, but the words died. 

It wasn’t just the man’s intense gaze; it was also the unmistakable aura rolling off him. He was an Alpha. 

Cy, stirred, cautious but curious.

The man tilted his head slightly, a strange intensity in his gaze like he was looking straight into me. I swallowed, forcing myself to snap out of it and remember where I was—and who I was. 

If this man was an Alpha, there was no way I could risk him figuring out I was a rogue.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice deep and calm, though a hint of curiosity lingered.

I nodded quickly, offering a polite smile, “Yes, I’m fine. Sorry for…uh, bumping into you.” 

I felt a flush creep up my neck as I took a step back, willing myself to look composed. 

“Thank you for… catching me,” I rushed out and scooped up the few napkins that had fallen from my hands, feeling my cheeks heat up even more under his gaze. 

He didn’t look away though, not even when I bowed slightly and made my way to the staff room. As I walked off, I couldn’t shake the feeling that his gaze was still lingering on me. I didn’t dare look back to confirm.

I made my way to the back room where I dropped my cleaning supplies, my pulse still racing. 

Taking a slow, steady breath, I tried to shake the tension that had tightened every muscle. What was an Alpha like him doing here? And why had he looked at me that way? As though he could tell I was a rogue.

Before I could gather myself, Eric entered the staff room. His eyes were wide with surprise. 

“Cassie! What happened out there?”

“I bumped into a guest. Clumsy me,” I gave a nervous laugh, with a slap to my forehead, hoping it would downplay whatever he might have seen.

But Eric didn’t seem convinced. 

“Do you know that guy? After you walked away, he was still watching you, like he was waiting for you to turn around or something.”

I laughed again, though it sounded forced, even to my ears. “No, no. I don’t know him. Probably just annoyed that I ran into him.” I shrugged, avoiding his skeptical gaze.

With narrowed eyes, Eric stared at me for a while, then he let out a short breath, shaking his head.

“I’ve known you for almost two years, but I barely know anything about you. All I know is that you’re always hiding something, and you’re always on edge, like you’re waiting for someone to catch you doing something wrong.”

I forced myself to keep smiling, though my heart thumped uncomfortably in my chest. Eric was a good friend, he’d been good to me since the moment we met. It was as though he knew I’d been through a lot, and decided to be good to me, but though I liked him, I couldn’t tell him anything about me for fear of putting him in danger.

With another deep breath, Eric rolled his eyes, changing the subject with a sigh. “So, any news on your college application?”

Relieved, I exhaled. “Not yet, but you’ll definitely be the first to know when I hear back.”

I had to admit, going to college had seemed like an impossible dream when I was still a part of Red Hollow pack, but one day, Lydia, the sweet old lady, convinced me to take online lectures, something about it being what young people were into. She’d encouraged me to believe I could be more, that I could get a better job one day. And so, I started taking online lectures, leading up to my applying to go to an actual college.

Eric nodded, giving me an encouraging smile, “Well, you deserve it. I’m sure you’ll get in.”

I thanked him before telling him I needed a quick break to clear my head. I slipped off my apron and slipped out through the back door, hoping the fresh air would calm my nerves.

As I stepped outside, I inhaled deeply, letting the cool mid-afternoon air fill my lungs. The street was just as noisy as the bustling noise of the hotel and I smiled.

I could never get used to being part of an active community. It was full of life, unlike at Red Hollow Pack’s estate.

My stomach grumbled, and I placed a hand on it, deciding to head towards the food truck I frequented during my breaks, just down the block. My stomach grumbled again and I pressed it down, peering down at it.

“I’m sorry, I’ll feed you soon,” I started saying to myself when I suddenly collided with another person, knocking out the air from my lungs.

This time, I barely registered the contact before stumbling back, a sense of dread coiling in my stomach. What was going on with me? Two run-ins with strangers in one day?

I mumbled an apology, glancing down as I caught my balance, but as I looked up, the words died on my lips. 

The man standing before me was someone I knew all too well. My heart lurched, and I could feel my stomach twist with the terrible realization.

Axel.

He was standing there, staring at me, a look of shock—and something else—etched across his face.

Before I could even process what was happening, Cy stirred within me, her presence growing strong and almost wild.

“Mate!” Cy screamed.