Ellie POV


    I returned to the apartment, still turning over the memories in my mind. Cassian was inside, watching over the twins.


    He was sitting on the floor in the living room withn on hisp while August scooted on his belly nearby, giggling at the little carved wolf teether he loved.


    The sight sent a wave of warmth through me that eased the anxiety I''d been carrying since lunch. Cassian turned his head when he heard mee in.


    "Look at that,n, who''s here?"


    Iughed and joined them on the rug.


    "How were they today?"


    "They''re always great," Cassian replied easily. "You look stressed."


    He said it like he was stating a fact. I sighed and rolled my eyes at him. "Why do you


    always do that? Like I''mpletely transparent."


    "You''re deflecting. Was it another vision?"


    "You''re so annoying."


    "That''s my job, I''m your big brother."


    I stroked August''s hair and considered my next words carefully. There wasn''t any good way to bring this up.


    "What did you remember?" Cassian asked, his voice softer.


    "I remembered the day I got lost," I answered without looking at him.


    He didn''t respond right away, but I heard the slow, deliberate intake of breath.


    "You remembered all of it?"


    "Pieces of it. We were ying near the road, and then... there were rogues. They tried to take something from me. My ne." I swallowed. "You tried to stop them."


    Cassian took a slow breath, his gaze dropping to the floor before lifting to meet mine again. “I didn''t remember the ne," he admitted. “Just the sound of you


    screaming. I tried to fight them, but they were too big. One of them threw me against


    a tree. When I woke up, you were gone.


    I looked up to see him running a finger along the scars on his forearms. His


    expression was distant, like he wasn''t even aware of the motion.


    I remembered the sh of red from the vision, Cassian holding his arms up to shield us. Were his scars from that day?


    My throat tightened. "You thought I was dead? Is that why you didn''t..."


    My words trailed off uncertainly. I wasn''t sure what I wanted to ask. I knew that they had searched for me. ric


    Chapter in


    and Cassian had told me more than once. ric had even shown me the scrying orb they used to search


    "I didn''t know what to think," he said hoarsely. "There was blood on the ground Your blood ric... he was devastated. We had just lost mom, and-" his voice caught for a moment, and when he continued, I could hear the strain. “And you were gone too."


    I felt a lump in my throat. My memories were still mixed up. I hadn''t realized the timeline. I could only imagine the pain they had endured losing me while they were still grieving


    Cassian''s eyes glistened. "We came to Silver Fang because we''d heard rumors. About a rogue woman married to the alpha. Said she didn''t have a wolf, that she''de from nowhere. I remember thinking it couldn''t be true- and then I saw you."


    I pressed a hand over my mouth.


    Imad


    "I didn''t want to believe it at first," he continued, his voice rough "It felt like a cruel joke to think that you been so close to home the entire time. You looked exactly the way I pictured. There was something about you - the way you spoke, the way you carried yourself. It reminded me of her. Of mom. You have the same eyes. I kter that it had to be you. That''s why I approached you that day on the street...”


    I had nearly forgotten. It wasn''t long after Cassian had arrived in Silver Fang and he had approached Bee and me on the street. He''d had such an intense look on his face as he grabbed my arm.


    "You were trying to see if I was your sister,” I said. “You scared the hell out of me."


    "I can''t imagine how weird it seemed from your point of view, but my emotions overwhelmed me for a moment and I couldn''t help it,” he exined.


    "It''s okay, I get it now."


    "You don''t," he insisted. “Ellie, I thought I failed you," he whispered. “All this time, I thought if I''d been stronger, faster-"


    "You were a child," I said softly. "We both were. None of it was your fault."


    He shook his head, his voice breaking. “But I promised I''d protect you. And then you were gone.


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