The weight we carry
825 Words
Zander’s Point of View
The morning sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Alpha wing, bathing the dark wood and stone walls in a soft glow. Zander stood at the edge of the balcony just outside the office, his amber eyes scanning the expansive pack grounds below. Warriors were already training. Wolves sparred in human form on the main field, their shouts echoing faintly in the wind. It was all routine, structured…safe.
But nothing about his heart felt safe lately.
A few months had passed since Cassidy arrived—broken, haunted, carrying life inside her despite the hell she’d endured. And now, she lived in their home, shared their space, their air… and, unknowingly, their hearts. He could still taste her lips from last night, soft and hesitant but willing, like she was reaching out of the shadows and trusting him to catch her. And gods help him—he wanted to be that for her. More than he’d wanted anything since losing Lyra.
Zayden entered the office behind him, a fresh report in hand. “New shipment of tactical gear landed at the docks this morning. Zavier’s headed to oversee customs, make sure nothing gets held up.”
“Good,” Zander said quietly. “We’ve got that contract with the Canadian rogues next week. Everything needs to be tight.”
“Mm,” Zayden murmured, eyeing him sideways. “You didn’t sleep much.”
Zander gave a dry laugh, turning his gaze back to the grounds. “Did any of us sleep after last night?”
“No,” Zayden admitted. “But you—you kissed her.”
He didn’t deny it. “She let me.” His voice was low, reverent, almost disbelieving. “I think she needed it just as much as I did.”
Zayden leaned against the edge of the desk, arms crossed, his scent of clove and smoke grounding the room. “We all feel the bond, Zan. But she’s drawn to you in a different way. Maybe because you’re the quiet one. You let her lead.”
Zander’s jaw flexed. “And I’ll keep doing that. She deserves choice, not pressure. Especially after what he did to her.”
The name Carl still made his blood burn. The memories of finding Cassidy barely alive, her stomach tight with Zack still growing inside her, haunted him. Marking her had been the only way to save her life. Now, the marks bound them all, but the mate bond was still a storm she didn’t fully understand.
He hadn’t dared ask her what she felt when they touched. But he knew what he felt. Cherrywood and vanilla clung to his senses whenever she was near. Soft, sweet warmth—home. His second chance.
“Zarina wants to bake cookies with Cassidy later,” Zayden added, breaking the silence. “She said ‘Miss Cassidy’ promised. Think she’s ready?”
Zander nodded. “She’s trying. That’s all we can ask.” He pushed away from the railing. “We’ve got to be patient. Earn it.”
“Or at least don’t scare her off,” Zayden grinned. “You’re brooding harder than usual. You’ll make the woman think she offended you.”
“She kissed me,” Zander muttered. “I’m allowed to brood about that.”
They both laughed quietly—something they hadn’t done much of since Lyra died. It felt strange. Good. Healing.
Later, when he walked back into the main living space of the Alpha wing, the scent of warm sugar and flour drifted from the kitchen. Cassidy stood at the counter with Zarina on a step stool beside her, the seven-year-old gleefully mixing dough with her small hands. Cassidy wore a loose hoodie and leggings, her brown-and-green eyes softer than he’d ever seen them. A smear of flour dusted her cheek.
She looked up and saw him.
Her eyes widened just a little, and her hand briefly paused. But then she smiled—shy, uncertain, but real.
Zander’s breath caught in his chest.
Zaylen, their nine-year-old, sat nearby doing homework and keeping an eye on Ellie, who toddled around the rug with a stuffed wolf in her arms. Zack, still tiny and new to the world, slept in a portable crib close by.
This—this was life again.
Zander stepped forward, his heart thudding hard. “Need another pair of hands?”
Cassidy hesitated for just a second, then nodded. “We’re making the chocolate chip kind. Zarina insists they’re the best.”
“They are the best,” Zarina chimed in confidently.
“Then I’m honored to be included,” Zander said, slipping into the space beside them. Her scent brushed against him again—sweet, grounding. His pulse calmed.
Cassidy glanced up, and in her gaze he saw the shadow of what had been and the quiet blooming of what might be.
They didn’t need to say anything more.
Not yet.
- Writer
