36 Cassian
–
The moment she walked into the room, I knew something was off. She was startled a bit at my presence before she managed a umile. “You are already here,” she said
I grunted in affirmation, watching as she walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. As she passed by me. I caught a whiff of smoke What was going on with her!
She came out again, looking better than she had before. But my throat tightened at the heavy drooping of her shoulders and the startling redness of her eyes. Ienuld tell something was wrong
She joined me in bed and turned away from me. “Good night,” she said before she began to hack a cough.
Instinctively, I reached over, rubbing her back as I grabbed the cup of water on my bedside table. I raised her, so she could sit upright and made her drink the water. Her hands trembled, and upon fumber inspection, I noticed that some of her fingernails were broker.
When she had finished the glass of water, I continued to rub her back in circles,
“How was your first lesson with Zahili?” I asked.
I felt her suddenly freeze against my t
touch, as though it was the last thing she wanted to speak about.
Her red eyes darted all around the room, and I could feel her heart rate pick up from beneath the hard I had on her back. My eyes narrowed as the replied, “It was great,” she obviously lied.
“Oh really?” I asked again, suspicion coloring my voice.
She heard the suspicion in my voice and hesitantly looked up at me. “It was,” she affirmed.
“What did you learn?” I asked. “If it was so great.”
There was a long pause before she finally blurted. “History. She taught the history of your kind.”
“Ummm,” I mixed as I continued to rub her back, her body suddenly quivering. “Will you join Zahila for another lesson! Or should I give you another teacher? lone perlups!”
She froze again, hope and relief in the brown depths of her eyes before something akin to hopelessness replaced it in an instant. “There is no need. Zahila is doing great as my teacher and I don’t want any more trouble for lone.”
“Trouble for tone!” Lasked.
Her eyes timed raw and earnest. “I know I have no right to ask you this, but what happened to lone?”
I knew she was attempting to change the topic, but I couldn’t help finding her question intriguing. “You think something happened to her?” I asked.
“I know something happened to her.” She asserted. “What?”
“You are right, something did happen.”
I saw anticipation slip into her expression, something childlike and innocent. “What happened to her?”
Something long dead and forgotten in my soul stirred. Iris always had a way of breaking down the fortress I had built around my heart with nothing but a simple gesture or a simple look. No one ever seemed to care for lone. I found it endearing that she wanted to delve into the past tragedies in my younger sister’s life. I sighed. “Ask her then,” I said. Iris’s expression crumbled in the face of my refusal. The change felt like an arrow through the gut, “I know that things have not been quite the same between both of you since that incident.”
Guilt settled on her face and she moved her gaze away from mine. But I reached out and gently grabbed her chin so she would face me. “Tone had a soft heart. She is the only sweet grape in a vine of bitter ones. I know that you can fix your bond with her. If you just try a little harder.”
She blinked at me, hope and doubt flickering in her eyes
I moved closer to her to whisper in her car. “She misses you too.”
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I saw a spark replace the fear and uncertainty that had plagued her since she walked into the room.
“I mass her too,” she whispered, her voice cracking.
g that I had seen in a while. I nodded. Then talk to her.
I was surprised to see so much feeling towards my little sister. It was the most reassuring thing that I had seen in a In and if she is not receptive, try again.”
She looked down, her fingers playing with the edge of the blanket, “I will,” she finally y said, her w voice barely audible. “Thank you.” She flashed me a
genuine smile.
It was my turn to be caught off guard. My heart thumped louder and harder in my chest as her open expression of appreciation enraptured mir had nothing for her except to encourage her to speak to my sister, but she looked at me as though I had given her the world. I broke out of my trance, ‘Good. Now try to get some rest”
She nodded and settled back into bed, her eyes already looking a bit clearer, a bit more at peace. I continued to rub her back in gentle circles until her breathing evened out, and I knew she had fallen asleep.
But even as I watched her sleep, my mind kept turning over the mystery of what had happened with Zahila. Something was definitely off, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more going on than Iris was letting on. She was hiding something.
Once I was sure she was deep in slumber, I carefully got out of bed, making sure not to wake her. I needed answers, and I knew exactly where to
36–Cassian
start I promised that I would protect her and I had every intention of sticking to my word. And since Rolan had left just that night on official busmes, I would be able to have a private chat with Zahila.
Quietly, I made my way out of the room and down the dimly lit hallway. Zahila’s and Rolan’s q noticed the door was slightly ajar. I hesitated for a moment, then pushed it open.
quanters were at the far end, and as I approached, I
Zahila was tested at her desk, deep in thought, a thick book open in front of her. She looked up, startled, when I entered. “Alpha,” the bowed.
“Zahila” I greeted back.
“You’re up late,” she remarked, her eyes narrowing slightly, “As always.” She sighed, getting up.
“So are you,” I replied, stepping inside and closing the door behind me. “We necil to talk.”
She sighed again, closing the book and giving me her full attention: “About?”
“Iris She came back from her lesson with you looking.. troubled. More than troubled. What happened?”
Zahila’s expression hardened, then she sat back down, and leaned back in her chair. “Iris is struggling. She’s trying to understand things that are very difficult for someone in her position.”
“And what exactly did you teach her today!” I asked, my tone more demanding than I intended
“The history of our kind, as she said. But also the burdens we bear, the sacrifices we’ve made. It was a lot for her to take in.”To anybody else, her words would have sounded genuine, but I knew her and her wolf
Clearly, Imuttered, running a hand through my hair. “She seemed almost… afraid and worn down And just after one lesson”
Zahila nodded slowly. “It’s not uncommon. Our history is not a pleasant one, and for someone as empathetic as Iris, it can be overwhelming.” She continued.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. “I just want to make sure she’s okay. That she’s not being pushed roo
hard”
“I understand,” Zahila said softly. “But she has to build a thick skin if she is to fully fill her position or did the Luna tell you I did something wrong! She enquired.
There was a loaded silence. “Not particularly,” I replied smoothly.
“She made no complaints about my teaching methods, Alplu?”
I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorframe, studying Zahila’s face for any hint of deception. “No, she didn’t complain directly, I admitted. “But her condition when she returned speaks volumes.”
Zahila’s expression softened, and for a moment, I same what appeared to be gemine concern in her eyes. “Alpha, you must understand that difficult position. She’s trying to fit into a world that’s entirely new to her, and the history of our kind can be a heavy burden to bear.”
Iris is in a
“I get that,” I said, my voice softening slightly to match hers. “But I need to know that you’re not pushing her too hard. She seemed more than just ovenchelmed. She seemed… broken.”
. However, it’s important that Zahil sighed deeply and nodded. “Alpha, Iris is strong, but even the strongest can falter under the weight of our past. she learns to voice her concerns directly. If she felt overwhelmed or distressed, she needs to come to you and express that.”
I frowned, my suspicion not entirely eased. “So you’re saying I should wait for her to complain before I step in?” Zahila’s eyes gleamed with a strange intensity. “Yes, Alpha. It’s crucial for her development and confidence. She must learn to advocate for herself. If you step in too soon, it could undermine her growth and development.”
I studied her for a moment longer, trying to gauge the sincerity of her word. There was something in her demeanor that unsettled me, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. “I understand your point,” I conceded, though not entirely convinced. “But know this. I will be watching closely. If I sense that something is amiss, I won’t hesitate to intervene.
Zahila nodded, her expression solemn. “Of course, Alpha, I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”
With that, I turned and left the room, the weight of the conversation still lingering in my mind. As I made my way back to our quarters, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Zahila was hiding something. But for now, I had to trust that Iris would come to me if she needed help. She had promised not to hide things from me any longer. I needed to trust her.
