Chapter 6

Trinity POV: First Date With Cassius 

I'm shaking. 

Step by slow step, I approach the full-length glass. I only realize halfway across the room that I've stopped breathing. I let out a hot breath.

Behind me, Mabel watches with anticipating eyes. My older cousin smiles and offers a gentle nod.

"Go on," she whispers.

I plant my feet on the digital scale in front of the mirror. There is no strain from the plastic base, no groaning protest under my weight the way there used to be.

Mabel joins me. Our eyes meet in the reflection. 

"I remember the first time I made you get on that thing, Trin. You were trembling. How do you feel right now?"

I look down at the glowing numbers between my toes: 176. Down from 210 in just three grueling months.

"I feel amazing," I whisper to the display, smiling. "I feel . . . proud of myself."

"You gave yourself completely to the process, Trin," Mabel says, nodding. 

"And I have you to thank for every single step," I turn to her. "Thank you, Aunt Mabel. You’re a wonderful friend."

We embrace. I bite back the tears threatening to ruin my makeup. I turn back to the mirror. The dark dinner dress clings to contours I never knew I possessed. They wrap smoothly over hips that used to feel like a burden.

"Alright," Mabel checks her watch with a smirk. "Alpha Cassius Lane is waiting downstairs."

"Do you think this is right?"

Mabel chuckles gently. "I don't see how it could possibly be wrong. You're single, Trinity. You deserve this."

I nod and gather my resolve as I grab my evening clutch. I descend the stairs fast. I could never walk that fast before now. As we reach the front door, panic claws at my throat again. 

"I don't know how to do this anymore. If this evening turns into a disaster, I'm hightailing it out of there."

Mabel laughs and opens the door. We both glance at the street. She nudges me forward. "You'll be fine."

Standing by an unpretentious SUV at the curb, Alpha Cassius Lane looks up. A dazzling smile melts his sharp features the moment he spots me. He steps forward and wraps his arms around me in a warm greeting. 

His citrus based cologne hits my senses first. Yet, beneath it lies his true scent—a rich blend of wood ash and damp clay that strangely brings the image of kitchens to mind. I had mentioned that odd sensory connection to him on our first date a month ago, and he’d laughed with genuine delight.

He saunters around to hold the passenger door open, and I slip into the seat. He climbs into the driver's side, and we pull into the twilight.

"The Rio?" I ask, adjusting my dress.

"Oh, no, not The Rio tonight," Cassius says, his eyes on the road. "Tonight, we’re attending a fundraiser."

The fragile warmth in my head vanishes. I feel the blood drain from my face, paranoia clutches at my throat.

"Who's going to be there?" I ask. 

Cassius glances at me, his brow furrowing. "Hey, are you okay?"

"This fundraiser," I ask again. "Who is going to be there?"

"I don't have the full guest list, Trinity," he says gently. "But I'm sure it'll be worth our time. I thought it would be a great opportunity for you to network—meet people who might be genuinely interested in what you do—"

"What I do . . ." I mutter under my breath, my hands shaking. "Alpha Lane, I don't want to go to a fundraiser. Please, Alpha Cassius Lane. We could just go to The Rio. Or any quiet restaurant, like we did last time. I really liked The Rio."

He looks back and forth between the road and my face, visibly unnerved by my sudden intensity. I press the back of my hand against my forehead and wipe away a thin veil of cold sweat. 

Cassius pulls the SUV onto the soft shoulder of the road and puts the vehicle in park. He turns entirely toward me, his expression earnest. 

I clear my throat. “Hm.”

"I know you hate talking about your past, Trinity. I’ve accepted that you need your privacy, and I respect that. But this is just a charitable event. I admit I don't know most of the people who will be in attendance, though I do know a few key figures. What are you actually afraid of?"

Meeting Julian. 

The name screams through my mind, a toxic baseline that haunts every breath I take. That’s what I’m afraid of. And it's not even fear per say. It's residues of anger. But the words choke me. I never speak his name aloud if I can help it, especially not to Cassius Lane.

"I'm not afraid of anything!" I snap.

Cassius seems to shrink from me and a deep frown replaces his calm demeanor.

We sit in silence for a moment. I close my eyes, and shudder at the thought of meeting Julian and Vivian at this fundraiser. Hayes is almost bankrupt as it last week. It was in the news that Julian is looking—actually, begging, for investors. So what if this is his fundraiser? 

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you, Alpha Cassius. It’s just . . . it's been a very long time since I navigated crowds like this. And I . . ."

"Let's just go to The Rio," he says with a smile. 

"Oh no," I say quickly. "No, please, Alpha Cassius. I'll feel terrible if you miss an important event because of my, my ridiculous anxiety."

"Are you sure?" he asks, studying my eyes carefully.

"Yes, I'm sure," I say, straightening my back. "Let's go. I'll be fine."

He shifts back into drive and pulls back onto the road. The venue is located in a neighboring pack’s territory, roughly six miles to the south. That's the exact opposite direction of Havens Pack, Julian, Lily, and Vivian. That knowledge buys me a small measure of relief.

As we drive, I catch my reflection in the side mirror. It is like staring at a total stranger. The sharp line of my jaw, the pronounced cheekbones. My face is undeniably thinner.

I steal a glance at Cassius’s face as he drives. I wonder if he truly finds me attractive. He’s voiced it to Mabel several times within earshot, complimenting my appearance. But does he actually believe it deep down? Or is he just being noble?

I turn back to the window, staring at the dark treeline blurring past. Could someone like me ever truly start fresh? Or am I destined to relapse, sliding backward into being the ignored, fat girl everyone looked through?

Cassius starts up a light conversation to ease the tension. He mentions local politics and recent trade news. I do my best to nod, smiling in the right places and offering short responses. 

But deep beneath the surface, a persistent instinct whispers that tonight isn't just a simple party—it’s a trap waiting to spring.