Chapter 005

Cassie's Pov

I didn’t sleep much, but by morning I felt steady enough to face school again. I showered, packed my bag, tied my hair in a bun and told myself I wasn’t going to hide anymore. If Katie wanted to play a game, I would stop running from her. Before leaving the house, I opened my phone and typed the message I’d been rehearsing in my head all night.

‘Meet me in the auditorium at 12.’

My finger hesitated for only a second before I hit send. The reply came almost instantly, short and sharp, exactly like her.

‘Bet.’

I walked into school with my heart beating like it was about to burst out of my chest. People stared, whispered, looked twice, and each time my breath seized, but I kept my head down and stayed small.

I stayed in the back of every class, barely lifting my eyes, counting the minutes until lunch by 12, I made sure even Lily had no idea I was in school.

I met Katie behind the auditorium after lunch, the place where people went when they didn’t want witnesses. She was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and my diary in her hand like it was a trophy she won. I stopped a few feet away and kept my voice steady. “Give it back, Katie.”

She smiled as if she owned the world. “Sure, Cassie, you can have it. All you have to do is one thing for me.” She stepped closer and held the diary behind her back. “Make Caspian fall in love with me. Convince him I’m the one he should be with. You do that, and this little book returns to you untouched.”

I stared at her, shocked by how casual she sounded. “What? No. I’m not doing that.”

Her smile vanished. “Then say goodbye to whatever tiny dignity you have left. I will ruin you, Cassie. I’ll post every private thing in here, every fear, every fantasy, every page you prayed no one would see. Your life will be a joke, and everyone will laugh at the quiet girl who thought she could want anything.”

My throat tightened, but I stayed still. “I’m not agreeing to anything.”

Katie stepped closer again, her voice a sharp whisper. “Then get ready. I’m only warming up.”

Before I could speak, a shadow moved behind her. Then another. And another.

Caspian stepped into view first, tall and steady, the kind of calm that didn’t need to be loud to be dangerous.

His eyes locked on Katie with an expression that made her shrink back a little.

I was speechless, “Casp–” Then I saw another familiar figure.

Luka, with his hands shoved into his pockets. His usual teasing smirk was gone. He looked like he was daring Katie to test him. For once, that careless, charming energy of his wasn’t playful, it was protective and I could see it.

“Hey Cass, what's going on?” He asked with concern.

“Maybe we should ask Katie why she keeps bothering our mate.”

Mate? I was even more puzzled.

Asher stayed a step behind. He just watched, sharp and assessing, like one wrong move from Katie would end badly for her.

For the first time in days, I felt in charge, and it warmed my heart seeing Katie looking nervous.

Katie turned, froze, and slowly lowered the diary. “W-What are you doing here?”

Caspian’s voice was quiet but firm. “Give it back.”

Luca tilted his head. “Now.”

Asher didn’t raise his voice at all but he was firm. “If you don’t, we will report everything. The posts, the photos, the harassment. Every piece of evidence is already saved.”

Katie looked between them, panic rising in her eyes. “You can’t prove anything.”

“Oh, we can,” Asher said simply.

Silence stretched until Katie’s shoulders sagged. She shoved the diary toward me with a huff. “Fine. Take it.” I grabbed it immediately, holding it tight against my chest. Katie glared at me, her voice low and venomous. “This isn’t over, Cassie.”

She walked away fast, her steps sharp and furious, and I finally exhaled.

Caspian stepped toward me. “Are you okay?” He didn’t touch me, but his voice was gentle enough to make my chest ache.

Luca nodded at the diary. “We figured it out days ago. Plus some cheerleader chicks told me,”

Asher studied me carefully. “We didn’t want to push you until you were ready.”

“Ready for what?” I asked.

Caspian stepped forward, “Cassie, you are our mate.”