CHAPTER FIVE:WHEN THE STORMS BREAK
1267 Words
ELARA — POV
The bonfire ended early.
Storm clouds gathered fast! too fast covering the stars, swallowing the moon, turning the cheerful pack celebration into restless murmurs and a scramble to get inside.
By the time Harper and I reached the lodge doors, snow was whipping across the mountain like icy knives.
Wolves hurried children inside. Warriors formed groups to secure the borders. The storm wasn’t normal; even I felt that.
Harper glanced up nervously. “I hate when the weather turns like this. Dad’s going to be on edge all night.”
I swallowed.
Cassian was already on edge because of me.
We stepped inside, shaking snow from our hair, and immediately felt it:
The tension.
The heat.
The Alpha.
Cassian stood near the fireplace with Kael and three warriors, his expression carved from pure command. His presence filled the entire room—broad shoulders, tense jaw, dark eyes observing everything.
And as if sensing my thoughts, he turned.
His gaze slammed into me.
Hard.
Hungry.
Uncontrolled.
My lungs stilled.
Harper frowned slightly and nudged me. “See what I mean? He gets weird when storms hit.”
I forced a nod.
Weird wasn’t the word.
Barely contained was.
The lodge lights flickered once… twice…
Then died.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Children gasped. Warriors cursed. Wolves shifted uneasily.
And Cassian’s voice cut through the dark like thunder.
“Everyone stay calm. Emergency lanterns—NOW.”
Males scrambled. Feet shuffled. Wolves growled softly. I felt Harper’s hand find mine.
“Elara, stick with me.”
But someone else found me first.
A strong hand wrapped around my wrist in the dark.
Large. Warm. Familiar.
My breath caught.
“Cassian?” I whispered.
His grip tightened confirmation.
Before I could say anything, emergency lanterns flared softly to life, casting golden shadows through the room.
Harper was still beside me, but she was distracted, looking around for her phone. She didn’t see Cassian’s hand drop from mine a second too late.
But I saw it.
And the look he gave me
Fire and fury and longing all at once.
Kael approached. “Alpha, the generators are down. Frozen. Warriors are trying to clear the vents, but the storm is worsening.”
Cassian cursed under his breath. “How long?”
“Hours. Maybe more.”
Cassian’s eyes swept the room, assessing danger, calculating safety.
Then they landed on me again.
Harper saw it this time.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Dad… why are you staring at Elara?”
The world froze.
Cassian didn’t flinch. “I wasn’t.”
But Harper’s suspicion sharpened.
Because he didn’t even look at her when he said it.
He looked at me.
Harper slowly let go of my hand. “I’m helping with the kids. Elara, stay here. I’ll come back.”
She didn’t wait for an answer.
Cassian’s jaw clenched.
Kael stepped closer. “Alpha, border warriors need support. Something is moving out there maybe prey shifting between territories, maybe not.”
Cassian’s wolf surged beneath his skin. “I’ll handle it.”
Kael hesitated. “The storm is too strong. Take someone with you.”
Cassian’s eyes flicked toward me. Just for a breath.
Barely noticeable.
But Kael noticed.
Everyone noticed.
Cassian turned away abruptly. “Get the elders to safety. I’ll check the east ridge.”
Kael nodded and rushed off.
Cassian didn’t move.
He stood with his back to me, shoulders rising and falling like he was breathing too hard.
Lightning cracked outside.
The storm rumbled the walls.
A shiver ran through me.
He sensed it instantly.
“Elara.” His voice was too close.
I turned.
He had crossed the entire room without sound.
He stood only inches away, lantern light turning his eyes molten gold.
“Come with me.”
My heart dropped. “Cassian…I—”
“Not out into the storm.” His voice softened but vibrated with tension. “There’s too much chaos in here. You’re freezing. You’re overwhelmed.”
I didn’t deny it.
“The quiet rooms down the west hall are still warm,” he added. “No drafts. No crowd.”
“You think I should be alone right now?”
“No.”
He swallowed.
“I think you should be with me.”
Those words…
God, those words…
My breath stuttered.
“Because it’s safer,” he added roughly, as if trying to chain the truth he almost gave away.
Before I could respond, a loud crash shook the lodge.
Children screamed.
Parents rushed forward.
Snow blasted through the back entrance one of the doors had blown off its hinges from the force of the storm.
Warriors scrambled to secure it.
Cassian turned to Kael, who had come running. “Get that door sealed!”
Kael nodded, but he was already shouting, “Alpha—the storm is pulling the barriers. It’s forcing open the west windows!”
Cassian’s eyes snapped to me instantly.
“Elara, move!”
Hands grabbed me, his handspulling me to his chest protectively as another gust shattered one of the smaller hallway windows.
Glass sprayed.
Wind howled.
Lanterns flickered dangerously.
Cassian’s body shielded mine without hesitation.
My fingers clutched the front of his coat as the storm roared around us.
His breath hitched with the contact.
“Elara…” His voice was a low groan in my ear. “You smell like”
He cut himself off, jaw trembling as his wolf surged.
I felt it.
He wasn’t just protecting me.
He was losing control.
“Cassian,” I whispered, “your eyes”
“I know,” he rasped. “I can’t—damn it—Elara—step back—”
But I didn’t step back.
I stepped closer.
And his restraint broke.
His hand fisted in the back of my sweater, pulling me against him as if he couldn’t stop himself.
His forehead dropped to mine, breath shaking.
“Elara… I’m trying I’m trying so damn hard”
Electricity crackled between us stronger than the storm.
My lips parted.
So did his.
Then
A sharp voice pierced the tension like a blade.
“Dad?!”
We tore apart.
Harper stood five feet away, drenched from helping with the children, eyes wide, confused… and hurt.
Her gaze flicked between us between my flushed face, Cassian’s wild eyes, and the fact that his hand was still half-raised toward me.
“Why…" Why were you holding her like that?” Harper whispered.
Cassian forced his voice steady. “I was protecting her.”
Harper shook her head slowly. “That didn’t look like protection.”
Cassian’s jaw clenched. Hard.
Harper stared at me now, her voice barely audible.
“Elara… what’s going on?”
I opened my mouth.
Cassian stepped between us instantly.
“Enough,” he said sharply. “Not now. We have a pack emergency.”
Harper flinched.
Cassian’s voice softened immediately.
“Harper… we’ll talk later. I promise.”
But the damage was done.
She backed away slowly, confusion and betrayal swirling in her eyes.
Cassian closed his eyes for a painful second.
When he opened them…the hunger was still there. So was the guilt.
“So,” I whispered shakily, “what now?”
He stepped closer again, barely an inch, but enough to feel the heat radiating between us.
“Now,” he said quietly, “you stay where I can see you.”
His eyes dipped to my lips.
“And gods help me, Elara… not too close.”
The storm raged outside.
But the real storm the dangerous, forbidden, unstoppable one
was happening right here.
Between us.
- Writer
