Legacy Wolves

Chapter 20: Dangerous Accusations

Cassian shifted against the rough bark of the tree he was leaning on, watching the faint hues of dawn creep over the horizon. The pain in his arm had dulled to a manageable throb, though the stiffness still made every movement a chore. The forest was quiet now, the world teetering between night and day.

Cassian looked down at Scarlett, nestled in his arms, her body warm and soft against his own. The steady rise and fall of her chest as she slept was mesmerizing, a quiet rhythm that somehow managed to soothe the storm constantly raging inside him. 

He tightened his grip on her slightly, as if he was afraid she might slip away even in her slumber.

Her brown hair cascaded over his arm like liquid sunlight, the early morning rays catching the golden undertones hidden in her dark locks. Strands clung to her cheek, and he resisted the urge to brush them away, afraid to disturb the serene expression on her face.

Scarlett's skin, pale but dusted with freckles, seemed to glow in the dawn light, a delicate canvas that made her look both fragile and impossibly strong.

Cassian's gaze lingered on her face, her features softened by the innocence of sleep. Her long lashes fluttered faintly, casting shadows against her freckled cheeks. He noticed the way her lips, slightly parted as she breathed. They still carried the faintest hint of the kiss they had shared. 

That kiss. 

The memory of it ignited a dull ache in his chest—a mix of longing and fear. He didn't deserve her. Not after everything he had done to his parents and Addy. Goodness wasn't what he should have. Especially in the form of love. It felt selfish after all the suffering he had caused. 

Worse still, she looked so peaceful, so utterly unguarded, and it broke his heart that it was she who his wolf had chosen. Scarlett the Hunter—a dangerous, determined warrior trained to kill his kind. 

And yet here she was, resting against him like they were two pieces of a puzzle that had finally clicked into place. She didn't look like a hunter now, with her guard down and the weight of the world momentarily lifted from her shoulders. She looked like a girl—a beautiful, complicated girl who had somehow managed to claim his heart without even trying.

The freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks captivated him all the same. They were small and subtle, yet somehow they made her seem more real. He traced them with his eyes, committing them to memory, knowing that they were uniquely hers—just like the fire in her eyes and the defiance in her voice.

Her breath warmed the spot on his chest where her head rested, her breathing perfectly in sync with his own. The steady rhythm grounded him, reminding him that for this fleeting moment, she was safe, and she was his. 

Cassian planted a small kiss on top of her head, inhaling the faint, earthy scent of her hair.

If he closed his eyes, he could almost imagine they were just a boy and a girl lying together as the dawn broke over the world. No pack, no hunters, no blood-soaked prophecies. 

Just them.

But reality was never so kind.

Still, as he held her, Cassian allowed himself this moment. Because despite everything, despite the danger and the betrayal that loomed over them, Scarlett was here. 

A distant howl echoed through the forest. He tensed, his ears pricking up. The wolves! He'd forgotten all about them. Were they looking for him? If they found him here, what would they do?

He looked down at Scarlett. He couldn't let them hurt her. 

A twig snapped, making his head snap up.