THE ALPHA'S PATH

The howls were getting closer, filling the air with a heavy sense of dread. My chest heaved with each breath as Cassian pulled me forward, weaving us through the dense forest. Behind us, Theo’s voice rang out, sharp and cutting.

“If you go with him, Sienna, you’ll regret it!”

My legs faltered for a moment, the weight of his words pressing down on me. For a split second, I thought about turning back, but Cassian’s voice broke through my hesitation.

“Don’t stop. Don’t look back. There’s nothing left for you there.”

The conviction in his voice was a punch to the gut. Deep down, I knew he was right, but his certainty stung more than it should have. Anger bubbled up in my chest, cutting through the haze of fear as we pushed forward.

“You don’t get to decide that for me,” I snapped, struggling to keep up with his long strides.

“Then why didn’t you stay with him?” he retorted without looking at me, his tone sharp with challenge.

The question hit me harder than I expected. I wanted to respond, but my throat tightened. Why didn’t I stay?

“I don’t trust him anymore,” I finally said, my voice barely audible.

Cassian let out a low, humorless laugh. “With good reason.”

Something about his tone made me stop. He noticed and turned to face me, his glowing red eyes cutting through the darkness. “Why don’t you trust him, Sienna?”

My frustration boiled over. “Because he betrayed me! Theo was supposed to be my mate, but he chose Celine. He abandoned me, like I was nothing.” The words spilled out, raw and unfiltered, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

Cassian’s gaze lingered on me, unreadable. There was no pity in his expression, only something deeper, heavier. “So why do his words still bother you?”

“I don’t know!” I shouted, my voice breaking. “Maybe because I wanted him to fight for me. Maybe because I still hoped he’d regret it.”

Cassian stepped closer, his presence suffocating but strangely grounding. “And now? Do you still want to go back to him?”

I shook my head slowly, tears burning at the corners of my eyes. “No. There’s nothing to go back to.”

He nodded, his lips curving into a faint, almost satisfied smirk. “Then stop looking behind you. Look ahead.”

Before I could respond, he grabbed my hand again, his grip firm and steady as we continued forward.

We reached a clearing where a black jeep was hidden under a canopy of branches. Cassian cleared the debris quickly, wasting no time opening the door.

“Get in,” he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I hesitated, glancing back into the darkness. Theo’s words still echoed in my mind, but they felt distant now, like a memory that no longer carried weight.

“Sienna,” Cassian’s voice was sharper this time. “Get in.”

I obeyed, sliding into the passenger seat. He slammed the door shut and started the engine, the roar of the motor breaking the eerie stillness of the forest.

The drive was silent, the tension between us heavy but unspoken. Cassian’s focus was on the road, his hands gripping the wheel tightly as he navigated the uneven terrain.

“What does the Council want with me?” I finally asked, breaking the silence.

“They see you as a threat,” he replied, his voice calm but laced with something darker. “The bond you created with me isn’t like the others. It’s stronger. They can’t control it, and what the Council can’t control, they destroy.”

“Stronger how?”

He glanced at me briefly, his red eyes gleaming in the dim light. “Stronger as in no one knows what it’s capable of—not even me.”

A shiver ran down my spine, but I pushed through my fear. “And you? What do you want with me?”

He sighed, his grip on the wheel loosening slightly. “I want to make sure you survive. That’s it.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You don’t want to use me?”

“If I wanted to use you, Sienna, you’d already know,” he said, his tone sharp. “I’m not a saint, but I’m not the enemy here.”

His words silenced me, but my mind continued to spin. I wasn’t sure I believed him, but there was something about the way he spoke—calm, certain—that made me want to trust him, even if only a little.

After what felt like hours, Cassian pulled the jeep into a secluded clearing. A small cabin stood at its center, its wooden exterior weathered and worn.

He stepped out first, scanning the area with a hunter’s precision before opening my door. “Come on. Inside.”

I followed him reluctantly, stepping into the cabin. The interior was as simple as its exterior—a cold fireplace, a wooden table, and a single bed in the corner.

“For how long?” I asked, crossing my arms.

“For as long as it takes,” he replied, locking the door behind us with several bolts.

“Great,” I muttered, sarcasm dripping from my tone.

“You should rest,” he said, ignoring my attitude.

“Rest?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Do you really think I can sleep after all this?”

Cassian shrugged, moving toward the fireplace. “You’ll have to try. If you’re not at full strength, you’re a liability. And I’m not carrying you.”

My temper flared. “Carrying? You dragged me into this! I didn’t ask to be marked, I didn’t ask to be hunted by the Council, and I definitely didn’t ask to be stuck with you!”

He turned to face me, stepping closer until I had to crane my neck to look up at him. His eyes burned with intensity, but this time, there was no malice. Instead, there was something softer beneath the surface—something protective.

“You’re right,” he said quietly, his voice almost gentle. “You didn’t ask for this. But now, it’s your reality. And whether you like it or not, we’re in this together. I’ll make sure you survive, even if you don’t trust me.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the weight of his words—and the way he looked at me—stopped me. My breath hitched, and for the first time since this nightmare began, I felt… safe.

Cassian’s gaze dropped to my lips for the briefest moment before he pulled away, turning back toward the door. “Get some rest. You’ll need it.”

The cabin fell silent as he disappeared outside, leaving me standing in the middle of the room with my heart racing for reasons I couldn’t explain.