Chapter 5

Trinity's POV: Trinity Meets Alpha Cassius Lane 

I push my chair back, my chest heaving as my heart beats fast.

It's working.

The Hayes Group is taking a hit. On the New York Stock Exchange, Hayes stocks are plummeting. Soon, the ripple effect will hit globally, stripping Julian of his precious corporate dominance piece by piece.

I pick up my mug of warm chocolate tea and take a slow sip. My gaze wanders to the greasy paper bag resting beside my keyboard—a fresh Big Mac waiting for me. I reach out a hand—

"No, Trinity," a voice sternly calls out.

I spin around quickly in my chair. Standing at the bedroom door is my eighty-year-old cousin, Mabel, her hands resting firmly on her hips.

"You promised no junk food," Mabel says, narrowing her rheumy eyes at me.

I whine, pressing my hands together. "But I'm hungry, Mabel! And breakfast isn't ready yet, is it?"

"Breakfast has been ready since forever, child," Mabel scolds, marching into the room with surprising speed. "You've had that Big Mac delivered since last night."

She wrestles the greasy paper bag right out of my hand. I let go with a dramatic sigh as Mabel tosses it into the waste basket near the desk.

She glances at the laptop screen, her wrinkled face softens slightly. "Hayes? Julian?"

I nod and close the laptop. "Yes. Ex-husband Julian Hayes of hateful memory."

I push myself out of the groaning chair. In the corner of the room sits a scale that Mabel insisted on putting there just a day after I arrived here in Goldrun Pack.

Mabel gestures toward the door. "Now, let's go."

I look at her, blinking. "Where?"

"Trinity, don't act dumb," Mabel says, tapping her foot. "You gave your word: early morning walks, and a registration at the gym once you reach the one-mile mark."

With a loud groan, I let my body fall face-first into the bed. The mattress makes a loud, shrieking noise in protest under my weight. 

God, I'm big. 

I've grown even bigger in the five days I've been here. I engorged myself on junk food to drown out the cries of my heart for my husband and daughter. Then I've been sitting at this desk for hours to plan all manner of revenges against Julian.

The physical toll is impossible to hide. My weight has increased greatly.

"Come on, Trinity. Up, up," Mabel urges, clapping her hands.

I roll over on my back and look up at the stubborn old woman. "I hate you, Mabel. You're after my life."

"Yes, I am after your life," Mabel replies without missing a beat. "To make it better. Now, take my hand. I'll help you up."

I reach out and grab her hand, and she heaves with surprising strength until I am upright on my feet. I happen to look left at the mirror on the wall. My breasts look like two huge pawpaws straining against yards of night dress, and my belly is the size of several watermelons.

Mabel steps beside me in the reflection. "Look at you, Trinity."

I let out a bitter sigh, staring at my shape. "I see myself, Mabel. I'm hideous."

Mabel frowns and turns to face me. "In your head, you are. Is that why you don't want to try?"

I look down, searching for my feet. I can't find it because my belly is in the way. My brow furrows. 

In my head?

I sigh softly. It isn't just in my head if Julian thinks the exact same thing, my parents too, and Vivian.

"I'm so hideous Mom and Dad didn't even call me, Mabel," I whisper, my throat tight. "They must think I'm such a lost cause not to call their own daughter who got divorced."

Mabel places a warm hand on my arm. "Change begins inside us, Trinity. What you believe, you become. But I know you're a smart girl. How come you don't believe it?"

I roll my eyes, trying to brush off her praise. "Just because I helped you make your phone run faster? That doesn't make me a genius."

Mabel looks at me sternly. "Rodney at the institute here didn't even know what was wrong with that phone. And he's been teaching there for six years! You solved the problem in seconds, Trinity."

I shrug, a tiny smile cracking through my gloom. "Dumb luck."

Mabel grabs my hand and drags me out of the room. I complain the entire way out to the street, but she doesn't let up.

We walk through the quiet neighborhood for an hour. By the time we both enter the house later, I am pouring sweat from every pore. But an unexpected warmth hums beneath my skin. I actually feel good.

"Wow," I say jovially, wiping my forehead. "Mabel, I feel like I could walk all day. Is there something in the air here?"

Mabel grins. "Do you want to go again in the evening?"

"I'll consider it," I say. 

More endorphins mean less depression and less time spent thinking about Julian and Lily. And my wicked mutinous sister, Vivian. 

In the evening, as the two of us are heading back from a cul-de-sac, a tall graying man appears on the road ahead of us.

"Who's that?" I ask in a low voice, slowing my pace.

"That's Alpha Cassius Lane."

I raise my eyebrows in surprise. "Wow. Your Alpha runs in the street like a regular wolf?"

Mabel chuckles softly. "This is Goldrun, not Havens Pack where you all walk around with tight asses and stiff expensive clothes."

Alpha Cassius sees us and drops speed. "Hey, Mabel. Heard you have your cousin over. Is this Trinity?"

Mabel steps forward warmly. "Yes, Alpha Cassius. Meet my little cousin."

Cassius takes my hand and shakes it gently. The corners of his warm brown eyes crinkle as he looks down at me. "Good to meet you, Trinity."

A self-conscious wave hits me. "Alpha Cassius, hi," I say shyly.

He holds my hand a little longer, longer than any man has ever held it. Isn't he repelled by me?

"Welcome to Goldrun," Cassius says, his voice rich and sweet. "I hope you love it in our pack. Are you staying?"

"If Mabel doesn't get tired of walking with me in the mornings," I reply.

Cassius smiles gracefully. "Ah, I'm sure Mabel will love to keep you here permanently. You do seem very pleasant. And . . . gorgeous, if you don't mind me saying."

My cheeks goes up in flames, and I blush furiously. I smile and look down at our hands. Cassius lets go. What version of me is Cassius seeing? What the hell!

Mabel says, "Now, Alpha Cassius, my cousin is pleased to meet you, but don't go making her blush."

He smiles warmly, refusing to take his eyes off my face. "I recommend the Goldrun Wellness Center. The experts there, you'll love them."

Mabel shakes her head slightly. "Oh no, I don't think we can afford that place, Alpha."

"Then I'll take responsibility for Trinity," he says without hesitation. "Her registration is on me. Just get there tomorrow morning and you'll have your spot."

This offer leaves me in absolute shock. The Alpha gives a polite nod and leaves.

As we walk back home, I turn to my cousin. "Mabel, what was that about?"

Mabel shrugs, a small smile on her face. "I'm sure the Alpha is just being nice to you. Think nothing of it."

I find myself smiling as we step onto the porch.

I don't think the Alpha is just being nice.