Chapter 121: An Empty Welcome

Cassian's Perspective

I roll my shoulders, letting the familiar warmth of the house wash over me as I step inside.

I shake out my arms, trying to flush out the restless energy buzzing under my skin. I don't just want to see Nova—I genuinely need to see her.

"Welcome back, Alpha, Luna," Ella, one of our housekeepers, says with a polite bow. "May I take your bags?"

Violet walks in right behind me, rubbing her tired eyes. She looks completely drained. Overall, the trip had its ups and downs. Imogen didn't have any new leads on who targeted Nova, but at least we managed to smooth things over and repair our alliance.

"Thanks, Ella," I say, setting my heavy travel bag on the floor and letting her handle Violet's luggage first.

"Cassian? Violet? You guys are back early!" a voice calls out from the main staircase.

Alex comes rushing down the steps toward us, offering a faint smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. She looks surprisingly nervous, but my eagerness to see Nova completely distracts me from looking into it.

"Yeah, I pushed to wrap up our business early so we could hit the road. I was pretty restless," I admit, rubbing my palms together.

I glance over at Violet, who is standing there blinking sleepily, she was practically out cold for the entire drive home.

Violet manages a small, teasing smile. "What he means is, he couldn't wait another second to see Nova."

"Oh, like you haven't been counting down the minutes to see Ariel every single day we've been away?" I counter, raising an eyebrow at her.

A soft blush creeps onto her cheeks, and she gives a quick, quiet nod. Falling in love has made Violet a lot softer and more relaxed, though I know it secretly kills her that she can't officially be with the person she loves either.

"Fair point. I'm going to go find her right now," Violet says, practically taking the stairs two at a time without looking back.

I can't help but smile as I watch her go. Violet is truly a good person. She deserves real happiness as much as anyone, and I hope I can give her that freedom someday soon. I just need to figure out the right way to handle the pack politics first.

"Alright, I'm heading up to find Nova," I announce, turning toward the stairs.

Before I can take a single step, Alex darts straight into my path, throwing her hands up to stop me. "Wait, Cassian... hold on a second!"

I stop dead in my tracks. "What?"

"I think your mother has a few urgent pack matters she really needs to talk to you about first,"

Alex says, her fingers gripping the wooden banister so tightly her knuckles turn white. She's standing right in front of the bottom step as if she's trying to physically block my path.

I frown, rubbing the back of my neck. I know Alex is just trying to do her job as my mother's new assistant and make a good impression, but there is absolutely nothing on earth that's going to keep me from heading upstairs right now.

"Tell her I'll catch up with her tomorrow morning," I say, stepping around her. "I've already got the whole evening planned out for Nova."

I push past her and take the stairs two at a time. Alex turns right around and rushes up behind me, her sneakers squeaking against the wood.

"Oh, really?" her voice quivers, thick with nervous anxiety.

"Yep. I'm taking her out for a late picnic down by the lake, and then I'm going to sit there for hours listening to her ramble about plant leaves and forest patterns... or whatever else she wants to talk about," I say over my shoulder as I turn down the hallway.

"After that, we're playing cards until she gets sleepy, and then..... well, I'll spare you the details of what happens after that."

I've just spent weeks away from her, completely miserable. I have zero intention of holding back tonight.

"That... that sounds really sweet," Alex stammers, trying to double her pace to cut me off at the top of the landing, but my longer stride easily keeps me ahead of her.

"But seriously, Cassian, I think you really, really need to go talk to your mother first."

"I'll see her in the morning."

"It's really important!" she insists, her voice rising in panic as she trails a step behind me down the corridor toward Nova's room.

"Nothing is more important than Nova," I say firmly.

I reach out, turn the knob, and swing her bedroom door wide open, scanning the dark room.

"Huh. She's not in here," I murmur, crossing my arms.

"She's probably hanging out with Diane, or maybe she went down to the barn... or into the woods."

The bed is made, but a few shirts are tossed messily over the chair, and the closet doors are standing wide open.

That instantly catches my attention, Nova has always been stubborn about keeping her own room spotless instead of letting the housekeepers do it for her.

I turn back toward the doorway and freeze. Alex is standing right in the frame, both of her hands pressed firmly against the doorjambs to block me inside.

"She's not down at the barn, Cassian," she says, her voice breaking as her face twists into a look of pure dread.

My brows draw together into a hard crease. "Okay... then where is she?"

"She's not on the estate grounds at all," Alex whispers, swallowing hard. "She left."