Aria’s POV
I stood in the kitchen, staring at the kettle like it held all the answers to the universe. It didn’t. It just sat there, cold and useless, while my mind replayed the scene at the school gates over and over.
I gripped the edge of the counter. Hard.
"Aria?"
Cassius’s voice cut through the fog in my head. I blinked. Looked up.
He stood in the doorway, watching me with those calm gray eyes. Always so calm. So steady. Like nothing could shake him.
"You’ve been standing there for ten minutes," he said gently. "The kettle’s not going to boil itself."
Right. The kettle.
I’d meant to make tea. That was... that was the plan.
"Sorry." I shook my head. Forced a smile. "Got distracted."
Cassius didn’t push. He never did. Just walked over, filled the kettle himself, and set it on the stove.
"Want to talk about it?"
No. Yes. Maybe.
"There’s nothing to talk about." The lie tasted bitter. "I handled it."
"You did." He leaned against the counter beside me. Close but not too close. "You were incredible, actually. I’ve never seen anyone shut Finn down like that."
A laugh escaped me. Hollow. Wrong.
"Incredible." I repeated the word. Tested it. "Is that what we’re calling it?"
"What would you call it?"
I thought about it. Really thought.
"Necessary." The word came out flat. "It was necessary."
Cassius was quiet for a moment. The kettle started to whistle. He poured the water into two mugs. Added tea bags. Pushed one toward me.
"And Lilith?"
My hand froze halfway to the mug.
"What about her?"
"Aria." His voice was so gentle it hurt. "You don’t have to pretend with me."
"I’m not pretending."
"You’re shaking."
I looked down. He was right. My hands were trembling. When had that started?
"She made her choice," I said. The words felt rehearsed. Because they were. I’d been repeating them in my head the entire drive home. "Three years ago. She chose Celestia. She chose to hate me."
Cassius set down his mug. Turned to face me fully.
"You’re allowed to be hurt, Aria."
"I’m not hurt."
"You’re allowed to grieve."
I pressed my palms against my eyes. Tried to breathe.
"I can’t," I whispered. "I can’t fall apart over this. I have Lina now. I have a life. A good life. I can’t let them drag me back into that mess."
"No one’s asking you to fall apart." Cassius’s hand found my shoulder. Warm. Steady. "I’m just saying... it’s okay to feel things. Even the ugly things."
I dropped my hands. Met his eyes.
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment. The fire crackled softly. Outside, the night was dark and still.
Then reality crashed back in.
"I need to find a job," I said suddenly.
Cassius raised an eyebrow. "That was abrupt."
"I’ve been thinking about it all day." I sat forward. Elbows on my knees. "I can’t keep living off your generosity, Cassius. It’s not fair to you."
"I told you—"
"I know what you told me." I cut him off gently. "And I appreciate it. More than you know. But I need to contribute. I need to build something here. For Lina. For myself."
He studied my face for a long moment. Then nodded slowly.
"Okay. What kind of work are you looking for?"
"Anything, honestly." I shrugged. "I have experience as an assistant. Administrative work. Office management. That kind of thing."
Cassius was quiet. Thinking. I could almost see the wheels turning behind those gray eyes.
"Actually," he said finally. "There might be something."
"What?"
"There’s a company. The biggest one in the territory." He leaned back in his chair. "They’ve been looking for assistants for weeks. Good pay. Good benefits. Very professional environment."
My heart lifted. Just a little.
"Really? I didn’t know there was a big company in wolf territory."
"It’s relatively new." Cassius picked up his tea. Took a sip. "Started about two years ago."
"Two years ago?" I frowned. "What happened two years ago?"
"The Nightfang empire collapsed."
Oh.
Right.
"After that, the territory’s economy took a hit," Cassius continued. "A lot of businesses that depended on Nightfang money went under. Jobs disappeared. People struggled."
"So someone decided to fill the gap?"
"Exactly." He nodded. "The Alpha decided the territory needed a new economic anchor. Something stable. Something legitimate. So he established Blood Crown Industries."
Blood Crown Industries.
My stomach dropped.
"Wait." I held up a hand. "The Alpha established it?"
"Yes."
"As in... Kael?"
Cassius’s expression flickered. Just for a second.
"Yes," he said carefully. "Kael Blood Crown. The Alpha King."
No.
No, no, no.
"I can’t work there." The words tumbled out before I could stop them. "Cassius, I can’t. If it’s his company—if there’s any chance I might run into him—"
"Aria." Cassius set down his tea. Leaned forward. "Listen to me."
"I can’t see him." My voice was rising. Panic clawing at my chest. "I can’t. After everything that happened—"
"Aria." His voice was firm now. Commanding. "Listen."
I stopped. Forced myself to breathe.
"Kael doesn’t go to the company," Cassius said slowly. Clearly. Making sure each word landed. "I’ve heard from multiple sources. He’s never there."
"Never?"
"Never." He shook his head. "He’s too busy with pack matters. Council meetings. Territory disputes. The day-to-day operations of Blood Crown Industries are handled entirely by his management team."
I stared at him. Wanting to believe. Afraid to hope.
"How do you know that?"
"Because I’ve treated several employees from the company." He smiled slightly. "Healers hear things. People talk when they’re on my table."
"And they all say the same thing?"
"Every single one." He nodded. "Kael Blood Crown is famously absent from his own company. He set it up, appointed managers, and walked away. The employees have never even seen him in person."
My heart was still pounding. But slower now. Less frantic.
"You’re sure?"
"I’m sure." Cassius reached across the space between us. Took my hand. "Aria, I wouldn’t suggest this if I thought there was any risk. I know what he did to you. I know how much he hurt you."
The sincerity in his eyes was almost painful.
"Aria." Cassius’s voice was gentle again. "You don’t have to decide right now."
"No." I dropped my hands. "No, I need to think about this."
His hands found my shoulders. Steadied me.
"You are the strongest person I know. And you don’t need to be afraid of Kael Blood Crown. Not anymore."
My eyes burned. I blinked rapidly.
"What if I’m not strong?" The words came out small. Vulnerable. "What if I’m just... pretending?"
"Then you’re the best actress in the world." He smiled. Warm and real. "Because you’ve fooled everyone. Including yourself."
A wet laugh escaped me. Half sob, half actual amusement.
"You’re annoyingly good at pep talks."
"Years of practice." He squeezed my shoulders gently. "So? What do you say?"
I thought about Lina. About the life I wanted to give her. About the future I was trying to build.
I thought about Finn’s smug face at the school gates. About Celestia’s fake smile. About Lilith’s desperate tears.
I thought about all the people who had ever told me I was nothing. That I was worthless. That I didn’t deserve good things.
And then I thought about proving them all wrong.
"Okay." The word came out stronger than I expected. "I’ll do it."
Cassius’s face lit up. "Really?"
"Don’t make me regret this." I pointed at him. Trying to look stern. Probably failing. "If I run into Kael Blood Crown even once—"
"You won’t."
"But if I do—"
"You won’t." He was grinning now. That rare, full smile that transformed his entire face. "Trust me, Aria. This is going to work out."