POV: Cassian Volkov
Matteo De Luca arrived smelling like betrayal. Cassian recognized it before the fortress gates even opened.
Fear, sweat, political desperation wrapped beneath expensive cologne. The scent invaded the snowy courtyard while armed Volkov wolves surrounded the arriving convoy with silver rifles already raised.
Nobody trusted De Luca men inside Volkov territory. Especially tonight, especially after Kozlov’s attacks.
Cassian descended the fortress staircase slowly beside Alessia while snow spiraled violently around them beneath the black night sky.
His wolf remained dangerously close to the surface. Still restless from the corridor, still furious from touching her, still obsessed.
Mate.
The possessive instinct struck again the second freezing wind carried Alessia’s sce
