Page 34

Cassandra’s POV

The sun had barely risen, but I was already wide awake. Today was my day.

Alec might think he won our little negotiation, but if he thought I was going to go easy on him, he was in for a very rude awakening.

Stretching lazily, I made my way downstairs to find him waiting in the dining hall, sipping his morning coffee like he didn’t have a single worry in the world.

“Good morning, Your Highness,” I greeted sweetly, taking a seat across from him.

He smirked over his mug. “Good morning, Commander.”

I grinned. “Ready for your orders?”

He set his coffee down, leaning forward with a lazy confidence that made me want to wipe that smirk right off his face. “Hit me with your worst.”

Oh, I planned to.

I clasped my hands together. “First order of the day: you are going to personally train the youngest group of pups.”

Alec blinked. “You mean the six-year-olds?”

I nodded innocently. “Yes. The ones who still trip over their own feet and cry when they scrape their knees.”

He stared at me for a long moment, then exhaled slowly. “You’re evil.”

I grinned. “And yet, you’re still legally required to listen to me for the next twenty-four hours.”

Alec pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath. Then, to my delight, he stood. “Fine. Let’s go.”

---

One Hour Later – Training Grounds

I leaned against the fence, watching with pure amusement as Alec tried—and failed—to get a dozen hyperactive pups to listen.

“Alright,” he said, tone strained but patient. “Everyone line up—no, don’t tackle each other—Lucas, stop biting your brother—”

I stifled a laugh as one of the smallest pups tugged on Alec’s pants. “Alpha, I gotta pee.”

Alec sighed, rubbing his temples. “Then go. You don’t need my permission to pee.”

The pup blinked up at him. “But my mom says I gotta tell an adult first.”

I lost it.

Alec shot me a glare over his shoulder, and I flashed him my brightest smile.

“Having fun?” I called.

He growled something unintelligible before turning back to the chaos that was his tiny training class.

Best. Morning. Ever.

---

Midday – Task #2

Alec finally escaped his torment at the hands of the pups, but I wasn’t done with him yet.

His next task? Taking Jack shopping.

For furniture.

Jack was thrilled.

“This is already the best day of my life,” Jack declared as we strolled through the market. “I have so many opinions on couches, and you—oh mighty Alpha King—are going to listen to all of them.”

Alec shot me a glare that promised revenge. I just batted my lashes at him.

For the next hour, I watched in absolute glee as Jack dragged Alec from store to store, debating over throw pillows, of all things.

“Okay, but does this couch scream power, or does it say ‘I take my afternoon tea with scones’?” Jack mused, stroking his chin.

Alec, dead inside, just stared at him. “It’s a couch, Jack.”

Jack gasped. “Just a couch? Oh, no. No, no, no. This is where guests will sit. This is where Cassie will sit. Do you want her to be uncomfortable? Do you?!”

Alec turned to me, eyes pleading. “End this.”

I grinned. “Nope.”

Jack patted his shoulder. “I hope you live a long life, my friend, but today? Today, you suffer.”

This was turning out even better than I expected.

---

Evening – The Final Task

By the time night rolled around, Alec had been through hell.

And yet, I still had one last order for him.

We stood in his room, and I watched as realization dawned on his face. “No.”

I crossed my arms. “Yes.”

“I draw the line here, Cassandra.”

“Oh, come on. It’s just a simple braid.”

Alec glared at me like I had personally betrayed him. “You want me to sit still while you mess with my hair?”

I twirled a strand of my own red locks between my fingers. “Fair is fair, Your Highness. If I had lost, you would’ve gotten to mark me.”

Alec exhaled sharply, like he was questioning every life choice that had led him here. Then, finally, he dropped onto the edge of the bed with a groan. “Fine. Just do it quickly.”

I beamed, hopping onto the mattress behind him. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

Alec grumbled something under his breath but stayed still as I ran my fingers through his hair, gathering the dark strands into a simple braid.

To my surprise, he actually relaxed under my touch.

By the time I was done, I let out a satisfied hum. “You know, you’d look great with a warrior’s braid.”

Alec scoffed. “Absolutely not.”

I smirked. “You just let me do it.”

“Because I had no choice.”

I moved to sit beside him, poking his chest. “You always have a choice.”

His gaze met mine, his expression softening. “Not when it comes to you.”

My breath hitched.

The teasing atmosphere shifted—just slightly—but enough to make my heart race.

He reached out, his fingers brushing my jaw, his voice lower now. “Your twenty-four hours are almost up, Cassandra.”

I swallowed. “And?”

His lips curled into something dangerous. “And then it’s my turn.”

My stomach flipped.

Oh, hell. What had I just set myself up for?