Elara's pov
The air in the war room was thick enough to choke on. It was almost like everyone had suddenly forgotten how to breath at the same time.
"Cassian Virel," one of the enforcers whispered, as if saying the name out loud might make it less real.
Cassian didn't react to the tension the way I expected. He didn't look relieved, or bitter, or even cautious. If anything, he looked… mildly entertained.
He rolled his shoulders like he had just woken from a long nap instead of surviving whatever the mountain had done to us. Then his gaze swept across the room slowly, taking everything in without urgency and fear.
"You're all staring," he said lightly. "It's a little unsettling."
No one laughed.
One of the enforcers stepped forward, his posture stiff. "The Alpha of the Eastern Ridge is dead. His second son took the title years ago. Cassian Virel was declared dead with him."
Cassian tilted his head slightly, considering that. "Ah. So my brother finally got what he wanted."
There was no grief in his voice. Not even irritation.
"Father must have been insufferable until the very end," he added with a faint smile. "Stubborn old man probably died of heart attack trying to find a replacement that didn't hate his guts as much as I did."
A few of the wolves shifted uncomfortably.
"You know," he continued, glancing around the room again, "I always thought I'd outlive him just to spite him. Turns out I skipped the boring part and went straight to being declared dead. Efficient, if nothing else."
Still, no one spoke.
"I suppose you're wondering how Malakor caught me," Cassian said, leaning back against the heavy oak table. "It was a classic blunder, really. I had slipped away from the pack for a solo run. I always did hate the sound of fifty wolves panting in my ear. I was near the border when I spotted her. A beautiful lady, quite a sight, really. Dark hair, blue eyes, and... well, she was remarkably well-endowed."
He chuckled, though the sound was hollow.
"I thought it was my lucky day. I was mid-sentence, working my charm on this busty goddess, when the world went black. I didn't even see the needle."
He took a breath, then continued.
"When I finally woke up, she was gone and I was in a cage. Malakor has a cruel sense of humor, using a pretty face to bag a prince."
"How did you survive for so long, Cassian?" Lucian asked.
Cassian's smile thinned just slightly. "My Charm, Lucian. I clung to my personality."
Silence stretched again.
"But the truth is Malakor wasn't just collecting strays," Cassian went on, his tone still conversational, like he was discussing something mundane. "My theory is, he was targeting bloodlines. People who would matter if they disappeared."
"That will be all for now," Lucian said, his voice calm but final. "We'll continue this later."
No one argued. Chairs shifted, boots scraped lightly against the floor, and the tension began to unravel in controlled silence.
Erin gave a small, awkward wave before looking away and heading out with the others.
I couldn't stay, I was tired and my whole body was in pain.
I turned and walked out, my head spinning.
I made it halfway down the corridor before a voice called out.
"Elara. Wait." Killian said hurrying over to me.
I stopped closing my eyes.
I wanted to yell at him for leaving me, or maybe just finally break down, but the words wouldn't come.
"Can we talk? I won't take longer than a minute."
I nodded faintly, shifting my weight, my legs didn't feel reliable beneath me.
"Actually," a voice interrupted.
Cassian stepped out from the war room, moving with a grace that didn't match his ragged clothes.
"I think Elara should talk to me instead."
Killian's face darkened. "This doesn't concern you, Virel, if that's truly who you are."
Cassian didn't even look at him. "It looks like she needs help standing and you're about to question her again."
"I said not now," Killian repeated, his tone firmer.
Cassian finally glanced at him, something faintly amused flickering in his eyes. "And I said later would be better."
"It's fine, Killian." I said softly.
Killian exhaled through his nose, then stepped back slightly. "Later,"
"Walk with me, Elara. Before you collapse." Cassian said.
I felt a strange sense of relief. I nodded leaving Killian standing there.
We walked in silence until the noise of the mansion faded.
"So," Cassian said, breaking the quiet. "You're an Anchor. I didn't realize that in the mountain. I just thought you were... unusually stubborn. It explains why Lucian is acting like a dog with a bone."
I didn't want to talk about the Valerius twins, so I redirected it.
"I'm still calling you Hush. I don't know who this Cassian Virel is."
Cassian smiled at that. "Hush. I missed that name."
He stopped walking and turned to me. The amusement on his face replaced by something raw.
"I can see it, you know," he said. "You're walking around like everything is alright. You're answering questions and acting like what happened was nothing."
I gripped my arms, feeling the bandages through the thin fabric of my dress. "I am fine."
"You're not," he countered. "And that's okay. I was in there longer than you, Elara. If you ever need to talk, about the mountain, about the things you saw that they wouldn't understand, you come to me."
I looked at him, confused. "But you look so relaxed. You're joking about your family. You look like you're completely fine."
Cassian leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "That's just the mask, Elara. You learn how to wear them properly after a while."
I felt a shiver run down my spine and for the first time since waking up, i felt like someone actually saw me.
"I...don't need a partner in trauma, Hush."
"Maybe not," he murmured. "But you also need someone who doesn't want to use you."
"I'll think about it but I need to go."
I turned to flee to my room, only to find Lucian standing at the end of the hall, his gaze fixed squarely on Cassian.
Cassian didn't look bothered. He just waved lazily at the Alpha.
"Nice house, Lucian. Terrible lighting."