Shadow Realm

19

Cassie's closing in, reducing the distance that separates them "I mean you're still sleeping here."

The boy's eyes widened. Did Cassie really ask him to stay after the way he treated her when they were at Robert's house?

"You also know that going home now is a very bad idea, especially after what just happened!"

Nathan took off his jacket and looked around "Where am I sleeping?"

"You can also sleep there with me if you want ..." Once again there was a bit of embarrassment in Cassie's voice and this also made Nathan shy of "Sorry" Cassie hurriedly said "I've gotten used to sleeping with someone by my side who..."

"I'm fine" Nathan said quickly. Of course it was okay, who was the fool who refused such an invitation? It was just a matter of sleeping with him, but at the time Nathan didn't want anything else, especially tonight. He already regretted breaking off the kiss and hurting Cassie, somehow he wanted to fix it.

The girl smiled "Then follow me!" Cassie closed the door and made her sit on her bed. It was only when Nathan walked in did he realize that he was a little tense. She had never shared a bed with anyone just to sleep, it was her first time. They share a room, but it's not the same.

Cassie took off her shoes and shirt and slid under the blanket. He looked at Nathan with his magnetic eyes and the boy thought he saw a spark inside, the same spark he saw before Cassie kissed him. The thought of Cassie's lips made her stomach nauseous and she wanted to leave before the irrational part took over.

"I'm going to the bathroom to change" And Nathan disappeared in the hallway for a few minutes. When he returned, he wore a short t-shirt and pants, as usual. Nate forced himself to look down so that his brazen thoughts would stop buzzing in his head, but before doing so he turned off the lights and went under the covers.

"Sorry."

"How many times have you apologized since we met?" That day Cassie apologized many times for things she didn't do. Is he also tense? The answer came sooner than expected.

"I'm actually a little embarrassed..."

"I don't know if you're aware of it, but this isn't the first time I've seen you in pajamas"

"So look at me! I think you turned when ..." Cassie could not see Nathan's expression but she imagined it and decided not to add anything to avoid making it more embarrassing.

"Again, it's not the same ..."

"In what sense?" Nathan closed his eyes and after a few seconds he felt the closeness of Cassie's face. Just like before, their distance was only a few inches.

"Forgetit... Good night, Nate!"

Cassie moved away from Nathan and Nathan did the same. If Nathan won't tell him, he definitely can't force it.

"Good night Cassie"

Only later did Nathan remember that, before the troupe arrived at the girl's house, Cassie told him something.

"Cassie's? Are you awake?" There was no answer, but he tried again.

"What did you tell me before your mother's flock arrived?" Nathan waited a few minutes but there was no response. Cassie's probably asleep.

Cassie turned to Nathan and Nathan almost jumped when she found Cassie's face so close. Cassie smiled and rubbed Nathan's cheek.

"Ah, what are you doing to me!"

Nathan closed his eyes and fell into a peaceful sleep. It might all be wrong, but the effect Cassie's presence had on her was indescribable.

Cassie awakens feeling that she has only slept for five minutes, but the old clock on her bedside table shows eleven o'clock in the morning. The curtains in his room opened and he saw no sunlight outside and the rain was still pouring down like that night.

Nathan didn't move an inch. He was still lying in the same position when he had fallen asleep the night before, shortly after asking what he would say when his mother's friends came, yes, because to his mother they were not "married" but "friends".

Cassie's mother has never said a word about them, but Cassie knows that, all along, they have helped them in any way possible, even as they moved from one human city to another. He knew this because one day he found some letters and photos, although after that he felt guilty for looking through his mother's belongings, he was happy to read them and especially knowing that his mother was not alone, that they took care of him.

Cassie remembers the wolf talking to Nate before she left. The wolf acted as if he had known Nathan for years, but Cassie had a different feeling that this was the first time they met.

The boy's phone started ringing wildly and Cassie rushed to answer before Nathan woke up. It was also a bad night for Nathan, and he deserved to rest longer.

"Cassalia!" answering a familiar voice on the other end of the phone "I'm very worried about you. Howareyou? Everything okay?"

Robert behaves like a loving father to Cassie, despite everything, Cassie likes this "Yes, I'm fine, we're fine .. But..."

"Something's happened?"

"Maybe it's better if we talk directly."

"I hope it's not urgent because I'm at the Academy now and you have to be here as well" Robeet said.

"You're right! I'm sorry. It's just..."

Robert sighed "See you later at home. We have a lot to talk about!"

"All right..."

"Cassie?"

"Yes?"

"Never go out in the middle of the night again, okay?"

That made Cassie smile. It's official Robert is acting like a real father! "It's okay, I promise."

Cassie remained silent for a few seconds with her phone in hand before realising she was not alone in the room.

"Good morning" Cassie suddenly turned around.

Nate's eyes widened in shock "How do you know I'm here?"

"My kiss..." It's amazing how people like Cassie can develop their senses. Normal wolves do not have a strong sense of smell like Cassie or Nate do, and they can never associate a scent with someone. In reality, Cassie never really associated scents with anyone, only Nate.

Cassie immediately remembered what had happened the night before and Nathan's question seemed irrelevant. Now all he thinks about is when they kiss and the way Nathan refused. Only at the right moment did he realize how foolish he was to let Nathan sleep with him and he did not understand why Nathan had accepted him. Sleeping next to Nathan wasn't easy. Cassie was shaking like a leaf and not from the cold! He had been with other men but he had never felt ashamed of any of them because, to be honest, he did not care much about what they thought or how they felt about him. He knew it was small, but He could not hold it, it was something He could not control, a feeling He did not know. To put it simply, she was not the type of girl who was easily broken-hearted, but had been heartbroken, and although not much, she still felt guilty. The only man she's ever really come into contact with is Cameron, but with Nathan it's different, she knows it now. Cameron is his family!

"I heard you talking to Robert."

"Yes, he wants to know how we are and I told him that we should talk to him."

Nate nodded but seemed lost in thought "So it's better if we fix everything here and go home.?

Cassie looked around and saw what she meant. The floor is covered with dirt and lots of things are scattered around the house. Without saying a word, he walked past Nathan and headed to his room, but before he could enter, Nate blocked his arm.

"Are you okay?"

Cassie looked at Nathan and for a moment she almost thought of nodding but... is she really like that? Is he really okay? No, that's not true. Her long-awaited peace of mind has been disrupted and now she finds herself having to deal with things she never imagined. He shook his head and released himself from the grasp of the boy.

In other circumstances, Nathan would ask him what went wrong, if there was anything he could do, but Nathan didn't do it and Cassie thanked him. Cassie doesn't want to talk about it, not Nathan or anyone else. Cassie just wanted to think that it was all a nightmare, that at any moment her mother would step into her room while yelling at her to get up because she was late for school, but that would not happen. It's not a dream, it's reality. The bitter and bitter truth. And he just has to face it.

🌺🌺🌺

Some sounds in the kitchen. Cameron's father and mother were talking about Cassie's mother, and it turned out that the conversation was also unaware of her presence. Cameron slowly went down the stairs and hid behind the door. Glancing quickly around the room, he saw his mother, busy preparing breakfast, and his father, sitting awkwardly on a chair with an expression that showed his usual calmness.

"But it's been years since he became part of the group!" Mother Cam was quite worried, she who managed to stay calm at all times, seemed to lose control.

"Oh come! You also know that the herd never leaves you. If something happens to any of us, they'll come to our rescue, be careful for our children..."

"But nothing will happen to us" replied Cam's mother flatly.