Cassie's POV
The hand over my mouth loosened once the danger passed. I twisted out of the stranger's grip and whirled to face him, heart pounding, ready to defend myself if I had to.
The man before me wasn't what I expected.
He wasn't one of Mila's thugs. No, this man was tall and clean-cut, dressed in fine traveling clothes that marked him as someone from wealth.
His sharp, olive-toned features were striking in the dim light, framed by unruly dark hair that fell slightly into his storm-gray eyes.
"I just saved you from being caught," he said in a low, amused voice.
"You're welcome."
I scowled beneath my scarf, already moving toward the door. "I didn't need saving."
His brow lifted. "Could've fooled me."
I kept my face turned away, my mind racing. I didn't have time for this, I needed to get home before Mila realized anything was wrong.
"I don't have time for this," I muttered, reaching for the handle.
"Wait," he said quickly, stepping in front of me. "What's your name?"
I hesitated, glancing up just long enough for him to catch a hint of my eyes.
"No name," I replied stiffly, trying to step around him.
He grinned, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Fine, no-name, but if you're going to sneak around dangerous meetings, you should probably work on your exit strategy."
I opened my mouth to snap something back when his hand shot out, quick as a flash and grabbed the edge of my scarf.
Before I could stop him, he tugged it down.
Our eyes met and the smirk on his face faded.
In an instant, the playful arrogance in his expression crumbled into something stunned and open.
His gaze swept over my face like he was seeing something rare, something sacred.
He blinked once. "You're… gods, you're beautiful."
I felt my stomach flip and immediately panicked.
Without thinking, I shoved him back and bolted from the room, ignoring his startled shout behind me. I didn't stop as I burst out the side door into the cool evening air.
The streets were busier than I expected, a small cluster of market vendors packing up their stalls for the day. I ducked my head and pulled the hood tighter over my face, weaving through the thinning crowd.
My heart hammered against my ribs.
Foolish, reckless idiot.
I cursed myself with every step, glancing over my shoulder every few seconds, half-expecting Mila's guards or one of her cronies to appear.
The man's stunned face was burned into my mind, but I shoved it aside. That didn't matter now.
I cut down a narrow alley, nearly slipping on loose gravel, and kept moving until the outline of the Alpha's mansion loomed ahead.
Just a little further.
Inside the Alpha's mansion, the corridors felt too quiet.
I crept inside through the servants' entrance, keeping to the shadows, flinching at every creak of the floorboards.
A pair of maids passed by carrying laundry baskets, and I pressed myself against the wall, holding my breath until they rounded the corner.
My ankle ached, but I didn't slow.
When I finally reached my room, I almost wept with relief. I slipped inside and quietly locked the door behind me, my chest heaving.
The disguise came off in seconds, cloak, scarf, the worn dress, all shoved hastily into the hidden space beneath the loose floorboard behind my dresser.
I barely had time to smooth my hair and wipe the sweat from my brow before a sharp knock rattled the door.
"Cassie darling," Mila's syrupy voice called.
"Are you awake, dear?"
I swallowed hard, forcing the hammering of my heart to slow.
With what I hoped was a neutral expression, I opened the door.
Mila stood there, composed as ever, though there was a tightness to her smile. Her eyes darted around my room as if expecting to see the remnants of a disguise or some kind of clue.
"Is everything alright?" I asked smoothly, leaning casually against the doorframe.
"Oh, just checking in," she said with fake warmth.
"I had such a restless night. Thought I might stop by and see how you're doing after… everything."
She drifted past me into the room without waiting for an invitation, her eyes scanning every surface. The faint scent of her heavy perfume filled the air, making my stomach turn.
"I heard a commotion at one of the border villages earlier," she added, pretending to admire the painting on my wall.
"Such dreadful people frequent those places."
I kept my voice calm. "I wouldn't know, I've been here all morning."
"Mmm," she hummed, as if testing the truth of my words.
I watched as she drifted toward my closet.
My pulse kicked up a notch.
A fresh wave of anxiety made my skin prickle. I glanced toward the hidden floorboard, praying to the gods it remained undisturbed.
But after a long moment of searching, she found nothing out of place.
At last, Mila forced a tight smile. "Well, it seems you've had a quiet day after all. I suppose I was just being paranoid." She moved toward the door but paused in the doorway, her gaze flickering over me one last time.
"Do be careful, dear. These are dangerous times."
"Thanks for the concern," I said sweetly, not meaning a word of it.
She left, closing the door behind her.
I waited until her footsteps vanished down the hall before sinking onto the edge of my bed, my pulse still racing.
Who the hell was that man?
And what in the gods' names was he doing there?
I didn't even know his name.
But somehow, I had a feeling this wasn't the last time I'd see him.