LOGINTRINITY POVI saw him falling.I knew exactly where he was going to land. And the goddess knew I had more than enough time to move out of the way.I didn’t.A startled breath escaped me as his face buried itself against my chest. My eyes popped open.For several long seconds, I simply stared down at him while he seemed to settle comfortably against me. Heat rushed into my cheeks.“Cassius,” I whispered, my heart pounding as I tried to pull him upright.He didn’t budge. Instead, his arms tightened around me.“Trinity,” he rasped.The sound of my name on his lips, the warmth of his body pressed against mine…Every point where we touched sent an unfamiliar heat racing through me.A dangerous ache pooled low in my stomach, dragging along memories I had absolutely no business revisiting.I forced them away.“Cassius.” My voice was firmer.Nothing.Perhaps calling him Alpha would work better. He only groaned, the vibration rumbling against my chest.I grabbed both of his shoulders and pushe
TRINITY POVOur eyes locked.Something I couldn’t decipher flickered across his turquoise-blue eyes. His gaze drifted slowly down the length of my body.It wasn’t hurried. It lingered. By the time it reached my legs, I felt completely exposed.I grimaced, discreetly tugging the hem of my dress back down after it had ridden up. When his gaze lifted to mine again, his eyes had darkened.I bit the inside of my cheek and looked away.“You are going home.” Elliott’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.I turned to him. “Why?”His eyes swept around the crowded club before returning to me.“She’s drunk,” he said, jerking his thumb toward Ivy. “This place is crawling with rogues. The last thing I need is leaving the two of you here alone and getting hurt.”I shot him a pointed glare.Apparently, one bartender grabbing my wrist was enough for him to decide I couldn’t defend myself.“Don’t look at me like that, Trinity,” Elliott returned the glare, adding with a note of finality. “You’re going
TRINITY POV“Club soda with lime, please,” I yelled over the blaring music.Ivy had succeeded in dragging me to the club. If I wanted to keep my sanity, something with little to no alcohol was the safest choice.I groaned, turning to glare at the crowd packed onto the dance floor. Bodies swayed against one another beneath flashing lights, moving shamelessly to the raunchy music pounding through the speakers.Dozens of scents filled the air. Werewolves. Humans. A few other supernaturals.Even though this was considered neutral ground, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was one of the most dangerous places to be.“Soda?” Ivy shouted, snapping me out of my thoughts.She wrinkled her nose and shoved her third shot of tequila toward me before extending the back of her hand, a line of salt still resting on it.“Come on.” She urged.Goddess. She looked completely plastered.I doubted she could even see straight. She kept blinking slowly as if her eyes refused to stay open.She pushed the s
CASSIUS POV“Yes, Alpha,” James said, bowing respectfully before hurrying out of the office.I kept my eyes on the monitor, suddenly finding the report on the pack’s resource allocation far more interesting than the man standing in my office.I refused to acknowledge his presence.Maybe if I ignored him long enough, he’d leave. He didn’t.“You refused to see your mate,” Father began. “I authorized her to come here to discuss the preparations for your mating ceremony.”Silence.“I’ve already arranged a meeting with Alpha Jonathan Preston of ShadowClaw. He’ll be joining us for breakfast tomorrow morning.”Alpha Jonathan was Scarlett’s father.I had no interest in the breakfast he was planning. Or the meeting. Or the ceremony. Or Scarlett.“Cassius,” Father growled.I drew in a slow breath.“You already got what you wanted from the Redmont Pack,” I murmured. “A powerful alliance. What else do you want from me?”I finally looked up at him. His eyes burned with restrained fury. He was bare
CASSIUS POV“Alpha, the proposal got rejected again,” James announced the moment he stepped into my office.I loosened my tie with one sharp tug, my gaze never leaving the tablet on my desk.I already knew. The notification had come in ten minutes ago.“It makes the third proposal this week,” he continued, placing a black folder on my desk. “What I don’t understand is why they keep rejecting every offer without negotiating or even making a counteroffer. Anyone reasonable would at least hear us out.”Anyone reasonable.I leaned back in my chair, my jaw tightening as I looked up at James.He adjusted his glasses out of habit, briefly averting his eyes before meeting mine again.“What do you think we should do?” he asked.“You’re my Beta,” I said. “You tell me.”He blinked behind his lenses, clearly not expecting me to throw the question back at him.When several seconds passed without an answer, I let out an irritated sigh.“Why did I think you were competent enough to become my Beta?”
TRINITY POVI managed to survive Elder Lawrence yesterday. Surviving the pack afterward was an entirely different battle.Alpha Jericho somehow believed Elder Lawrence hadn’t killed himself. He suspected foul play and had already begun investigating.I’d been certain my little performance yesterday would satisfy him. Apparently not.Perhaps Mother had convinced him otherwise. If she had, I wasn’t surprised. At this point, I doubted she’d ever choose my side over anyone else’s.Fortunately, that wasn’t the problem occupying my mind today.I sat inside Arthur Whitmore’s law office in the heart of Manhattan, waiting patiently for him to finish his phone call.My eyes wandered.Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined one wall, packed with leather-bound law books and neatly labeled files. Awards and certificates hung opposite them, while a large mahogany desk dominated the center of the room. The only personal touch was a framed photograph beside the computer monitor.Father stood beside Mr. Wh







