Cassandra’s POV
Katrina’s head snapped up at the sound of the door creaking open. Her shoulders tensed, and for a split second, I saw something I couldn't figure in her eyes at that moment.
But as soon as she registered my face, her expression fell, and she let out a quiet sigh.
"Oh… it's you."
I arched an eyebrow as I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. "Well, don’t sound too excited to see me."
She shook her head and turned her gaze away. "I just thought…never mind."
I didn’t press further. Instead, I walked toward her and leaned against the desk near her bed, crossing my arms. "I heard what happened with Nicholas," I said, watching her carefully.
Katrina stiffened slightly but didn’t look at me.
"I’m fine," she muttered.
I exhaled, already expecting that answer. "Katrina, you don’t have to pretend like that didn’t bother you. Nicholas is an ass. You know that. And if you want, I can talk to my father about him. He’ll put him in his place."
Katrina finally met my gaze, her expression unreadable. "I said I’m fine, Cassandra."
I searched her face for a moment, then sighed and dropped the subject. For a moment, silence settled between us.
Then I hesitated before speaking again. "Katrina…"
She turned to me, noticing my sudden hesitation. "What?"
I chewed on my lip for a moment before finally asking, "Do you have feelings for Adolphus?"
Her reaction was immediate.
"What?" she blurted out, eyes widening.
I kept my expression neutral. "You heard me."
She blinked, then let out a nervous chuckle. "Why would you even ask me that?"
I shrugged. "Just answer the question."
I had seen Adolphus beat Nicholas because of her. I witnessed it myself but I came here to act like I heard the news. There was no way I was going to tell her I had witnessed her being bullied by Nicholas without doing a thing.
Well, I wanted to, until Adolphus appeared like a knight in shining armor and saved her.
It made that question pop up in my head. I had seen how cold and indifferent Adolphus acted with Katrina but I have no idea what Katrina felt for him.
And I am curious.
She frowned, her body language shifting as if she was suddenly uncomfortable. "Why do you want to know?"
"I have my reasons," I replied smoothly. "But I’ll tell you after you answer me honestly."
Katrina narrowed her eyes at me. "That’s not fair. You can’t ask me something like that without telling me why."
I didn’t back down. "Just answer, Katrina."
She sighed, rubbing her temples. "No. I don’t have feelings for Adolphus."
I studied her closely. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," she snapped.
I watched her for another moment, searching for any sign that she was lying. But if she was, she was good at hiding it.
Finally, I smiled. "Good."
Katrina frowned. "Why does that make you happy?"
I hesitated for a moment, then exhaled slowly.
"The full moon is coming," I said instead.
She blinked. "And?"
I bit my lip, debating whether or not I should say it. But I had already come this far. I had kept him by my side for this reason.
"I think Adolphus might be my mate."
Katrina’s entire body went still.
For a few seconds, she didn’t move, didn’t blink, she just stared at me as if I had just told her the moon was crashing into the earth.
Then she let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Wait… what?"
I met her gaze steadily. "I think Adolphus is my mate."
The words hung in the air like smoke—unwelcome and impossible to ignore.
Katrina’s mouth opened, then closed. She looked away, her brows furrowed, and for a moment, I thought she might laugh again. But she didn’t.
Instead, she whispered, "Are you sure?"
"No," I admitted, almost too softly. "But I feel it. When he’s close… it’s like something ancient stirs inside me."
Katrina looked back at me, a strange mix of emotions flickering across her face—surprise, confusion, something else I couldn’t quite name.
"And what are you going to do about it?" she asked.
I didn’t answer right away.
"I don’t know," I said finally. "But I think the full moon will tell me."