The Alpha's Last Witness

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

The First Lie

I didn't destroy the record.

I didn't even consider it.

The Council official's footsteps had barely faded before I closed the ancient book and held it against my chest.

"You're not actually going to do that, are you?" Cassian asked.

I looked at him.

"Do I look like someone who enjoys burning historical documents?"

"At the moment, you look like someone considering it."

"Then you're not paying attention."

He almost smiled.

Almost.

But his eyes dropped to the book in my arms.

"What exactly did you find?"

I hesitated.

That was the problem with Cassian.

Every time I looked at him, I remembered the strange memory from the ceremony.

His younger face.

My father.

The symbol.

And the question I still couldn't answer.

Does Cassian know?

"I found a record about the Witness system."

"I know that."

"It wasn't supposed to be there."

"Clearly."

"And someone doesn't want me reading it."

Cassian stepped closer.

"That doesn't answer my question."

"It answers enough."

His eyebrows lifted.

"You don't trust me."

"I've known you for four days."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting."

He studied me.

For some reason, his silence was worse than an argument.

"You're investigating my family," he said.

"Your family keeps appearing in everything I find."

"That's not the same thing."

"Isn't it?"

His jaw tightened.

"You should have brought the record to me."

"And then what?"

"I would have protected it."

I laughed.

"You mean you would have locked it away."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

He stepped closer.

"You're assuming things about me."

"And you're avoiding my questions."

"Because you haven't asked the right ones."

I stared at him.

"Fine."

I lifted the book slightly.

"Why does your ancestor look exactly like you?"

His expression went blank.

There.

I'd hit something.

"I don't know."

"That's a lie."

His eyes narrowed.

"You think I'm lying?"

"I think you know more than you're telling me."

"And I think you're becoming obsessed with finding something that may not exist."

"Then why are you so worried?"

He didn't answer.

I stepped closer.

"You told me your father knew my name before I was born."

His face changed.

Only slightly.

But I saw it.

"You haven't explained that either."

"My father kept records."

"Of me?"

"Of your father."

"That's not what I asked."

He looked away.

I folded my arms.

"Exactly."

He exhaled slowly.

"Mara."

"What?"

"You need to be careful."

"I've heard that before."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

His eyes met mine.

"You don't understand what you're getting involved in."

"Then explain it to me."

"I can't."

"Won't."

He paused.

"Won't."

I stared at him.

At least he was honest about that.

For the first time since meeting him, I saw something behind his controlled expression.

Fear.

Not for himself.

For me.

And that frightened me more than his anger ever could.

---

I returned to the archives that evening.

The record was hidden beneath three ordinary volumes in a locked cabinet.

I had no intention of destroying it.

But I also had no intention of letting anyone else find it.

I had just finished copying the most important pages when the archive doors opened.

I didn't look up.

"I told you we're closed."

"You're terrible at pretending you don't know I'm here."

I sighed.

Cassian.

I turned around.

He stood beside the doorway, holding something behind his back.

"What do you want?"

"To see what you found."

"No."

"Mara."

"No."

"You really enjoy saying that to me."

"Because you really enjoy ignoring it."

He walked toward my desk.

I watched him carefully.

"What are you hiding?"

"Nothing."

"You're a terrible liar."

"So I've been told."

He placed his hands on the desk.

"Show me the record."

I shook my head.

"Why?"

"Because if I show you, you'll tell me to stop."

"I might."

"Exactly."

He stared at me for several seconds.

Then he sighed.

"Fine."

I blinked.

"Fine?"

"Don't show me."

I wasn't expecting that.

He stepped away from the desk.

"But if you're going to investigate, you need protection."

"I don't need a guard."

"I didn't say you did."

"Then what?"

He reached behind his back and placed a small silver key on the desk.

I stared at it.

"What is this?"

"The restricted archive key."

My eyes widened.

"You're giving me access?"

"Temporary access."

"Why?"

"Because you were going to investigate anyway."

He looked at the hidden cabinet.

"And I'd rather you do it legally than break into places and get yourself killed."

I frowned.

"That's almost sweet."

"Don't get used to it."

I smiled despite myself.

He noticed.

His expression softened.

For a moment, we simply looked at each other.

Then he said quietly,

"You have every right to investigate the history."

I wasn't expecting that.

"But?"

"But don't assume the truth will make you feel better."

My smile disappeared.

"Did it make you feel better?"

He didn't answer.

That was answer enough.

---

I picked up the key.

"Thank you."

He nodded.

Then he turned toward the door.

"Wait."

He looked back.

"Why are you helping me?"

His expression became unreadable.

"I told you."

"That's not an answer."

"You're becoming annoying."

"I was annoying when we met."

"True."

I smiled.

He shook his head.

Then his eyes dropped to my hands.

"You still have ink on your fingers."

I looked down.

Black ink stained my fingertips.

"So?"

He reached for my hand.

I froze.

His fingers lightly brushed mine as he examined the stain.

Neither of us spoke.

The moment lasted only a second.

Maybe two.

But it felt longer.

He released my hand.

"You missed a spot."

My heart was beating far too fast.

"I can clean it myself."

"I know."

He walked toward the door.

Then stopped.

Without turning around, he said,

"Mara."

"Yes?"

"Whatever you find..."

He paused.

"Don't hide it from me."

I looked at the ancient record.

Then at him.

"I'll think about it."

He turned.

"That's the closest thing to yes I've gotten from you."

"Don't get excited."

A faint smile appeared.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

He left.

I waited until the door closed before looking down at the key in my palm.

For the first time, I wondered if perhaps Cassian wasn't the person I needed to fear.

Maybe he was the person I needed to understand.

And that thought was far more dangerous.