로그인CASSIUS POVI wished I wasn’t sober enough for this meeting.The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee, buttered toast and roasted meat lingered in the dining room. Under any other circumstance, it would’ve whetted my appetite.Today, it only made my stomach churn.Morning sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, reflecting off polished silverware and crystal glasses arranged with irritating precision. Servants moved quietly around the table, refilling cups, replacing plates and pretending not to hear the conversation taking place.Father and Alpha Jonathan sat at the far end of the table, their voices blending into a low murmur.“…the ceremony…”“…the guest list…”“…the alliance…”Every other word scraped against my patience. As though discussing my future without me somehow made it theirs to decide.Scarlett, unfortunately, wasn’t helping. She’d spent the last ten minutes talking nonstop about her bachelorette moon party.“I’m renting the newest event hall in ShadowClaw,”
TRINITY POV“What do you mean?” I asked, confusion lacing my voice.“Earlier at the club…” Cassius trailed off, studying my face as though searching for something.Whatever he expected to find wasn’t there. His fingers slipped from my wrist. Without another word, he took a step back, turned, and disappeared down the hallway.“Weird,” I murmured, staring after him until he vanished around the corner.My gaze drifted to my wrist. Almost absentmindedly, I brushed my thumb over the spot where he’d held me.The warmth had long faded. So why could I still feel it?I shook the thought away and continued toward the kitchen. By the time I’d finished a bowl of cornflakes drowned in milk, exhaustion finally caught up with me.I returned to the room and was asleep within minutes.—Cassius had already left the Ashford residence by the time I woke up.According to Ivy, he’d returned to Evercrest for an emergency pack meeting.After showering, I wandered downstairs. The Ashford home had always been
TRINITY 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







