Chapter 22 #3
"You don't know anything about what they want," I growled lowly, surprised by the steadiness in my voice. "And you certainly don't get to decide what I am or are not capable of."
"I know that Oliver told me—explicitly told me—that they were courting someone," Viola added, her voice carrying a warning. "And that someone isn't you, Trinity. They've made that clear. Multiple times. You need to accept that and move on."
Trinity's mask slipped for just a moment, fury flashing in her eyes before she smoothed her expression back into false sweetness. "They're being polite. Letting you down easy. Oliver's too much of a gentleman to just tell you outright that you're not pack material."
"Did you send her a dead plant?" Viola asked suddenly, her voice hard. "A mysterious package, nasty note attached?"
I felt my eyes widen—I hadn't told Viola I was going to mention that specifically. But she'd clearly been thinking about it, putting pieces together.
Trinity's expression didn't change, but something flickered in her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Right." Viola pulled out her phone and quickly typed something out before looking back at Trinity, "Because threatening someone isn't illegal or anything. And it definitely wouldn't be interesting to Sheriff Morrison to know that someone's harassing a resident of Haven's Rest."
"I haven't harassed anyone," Trinity said, but there was an edge to her voice now. "If Daphne received something upsetting, that's unfortunate, but it has nothing to do with me."
"Keep telling yourself that," Viola growled, her eyes flashing. "But you should know—the Trent pack knows about it. Daphne's telling them tonight. So if anything else happens, if she receives any more 'mysterious' packages or threats, they'll know exactly where to look."
Trinity's jaw tightened, her carefully maintained composure cracking. "You think they'll actually do anything? Please. They're not going to risk their business reputation over some... nobody who grows vegetables."
"Why don't we let them decide that?" I spoke up, finding courage I didn't know I had.
"Since it's their choice to make, not yours.
" For a long moment, Trinity just stared at me, and I could see the calculation in her eyes—weighing her options, considering her next move.
Then her expression shifted into something uglier, more honest.
"You're making a mistake," she muttered quietly, all pretense of sweetness gone. "Oliver and his pack... they're not what you think they are. They're going to hurt you, Daphne. And when they do, don't come crying to me."
"I wouldn't dream of it," I told her, my voice steady despite the racing of my heart.
Trinity turned on her heel and stalked away, her expensive heels clicking against the sidewalk with sharp, angry precision.
I watched her go, my body trembling with adrenaline I'd been suppressing throughout the entire encounter.
"Holy shit," Viola breathed once Trinity was out of earshot. "You stood up to her. Like, actually stood up to her."
"I don't feel like I stood up to her," I admitted, my legs suddenly unsteady. "I feel like I'm about to collapse."
"Here." Viola guided me to a nearby bench, making me sit down. "Breathe. Just breathe. You did amazing, Daphne. Seriously."
I dropped my head into my hands, trying to slow my racing heart. The encounter replayed in my mind—every cutting word, every veiled threat, every moment I'd forced myself to not retreat, not apologize, not make myself smaller to appease her anger.
"She's escalating," I said quietly to Viola who gave a small hum at my words. "I think the dead plant was just the beginning."
"Which is exactly why you need to tell the pack tonight," Viola told me with a determined tone in her voice, "They need to know what they're dealing with.
And Daphne? What Trinity said—about you not being pack material, about them not really wanting you—that's bullshit. She's trying to get in your head."
"It's working," I admitted my voice low as I wrapped my arms around my middle as if holding myself together. "Because what if she's right? What if I am making a mistake?"
Viola grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at her. "Listen to me. Trinity is jealous, spiteful, and apparently unstable enough to send threatening packages. Nothing she says is trustworthy. Trinity's words? Those are just poison."
I took a deep breath as I gave a small nod. Trinity’s words had made me pause and rethink things again…but I can’t let her do that. She wanted the guys to herself…she probably would say anything to hurt me and second guess everything.
"Come on," Viola sighed, pulling me to my feet.
She gave me a look as if she wanted to say something but decided against it.
"We're getting lunch, and you're going to tell me every single thing you're worried about tonight.
And then I'm going to talk you down from every single irrational fear until you remember that you're worthy of being chosen. "
"There's a lot of fears," I warned, but I let her lead me toward the sandwich shop.
"Good thing I have all afternoon," Viola replied with a determined smile. As we walked, I clutched my boutique bag a little tighter, thinking about the outfit inside. The clothes that represented trying, believing, hoping that maybe I could be someone worth choosing.
Trinity's words echoed in my mind, but so did Viola's. And underneath both, I heard Oliver's voice from yesterday, You're worth everything.
Tonight, I'd find out if that was true… if Trinity tried to interfere again, well... I'd just have to find my courage one more time.