18. Chapter 18
Cassie
Despite the laughter and clink of silverware over dinner, I had a tightness in my stomach.
The plates were overflowing, and the table set up to rival a magazine spread.
There were cameras of course, positioned subtly in every corner of the room.
It should have been perfect, but I knew better.
My parents, despite their initial outward kindness, did not approve of my being on this show for one second.
And I knew, at some point, they would make their feelings known.
So far, my team had been charming and lighthearted, shocking even me with how much effort they made to connect with my family.
My parents were betas, like my sister. They had no idea how to teach me about pack life, and had always struggled a bit when my omega designation presented.
So, they did the best they could, which was to follow their footsteps.
So when I’d quit my job, gone into a depression and then randomly decided to join a reality TV cast, they weren’t exactly happy, nor did they know how to handle it.
The producers wanted an authentic look at the cast’s lives, now that we’d all had time to get tangled up in one another - tangled in some ways that I definitely did not want on camera.
I hoped we wouldn’t get too authentic, because my family had a flair for the dramatic when it came to my plans for the future.
My mother dabbed at the corners of her mouth with her napkin, her expression tight. She’d been quiet most of the meal, exchanging brief pleasantries with Jace and Rys, offering Ash a polite smile, even thanking Leo when he passed her the wine.
“So, Cassie,” she said finally, cutting a piece of chicken she hadn’t touched. Her voice had the tone of someone trying to sound casual, but I knew better. “You’re really going to continue with this show? I believe you’ve made your point already.”
I paused, food to halfway to my mouth. “I mean, yes. That’s been the plan since before I got here.”
She set down her utensils and folded her hands neatly in front of her plate. “I suppose what I mean is, what’s the endgame here? You’re a businesswoman. You had momentum. Now you're… what? Part of a reality pack?”
My dad gave a noncommittal grunt, the way he always did when he agreed but didn’t want to get in the middle. My sister stared down at her wine, silent.
I swallowed the tension rising in my throat. “It’s more than that.”
“Is it?” my mother asked, eyebrows raised.
“Cassie, this isn’t you. This isn’t who we raised you to be.
You’re throwing your career away for a flash of fame and a throwaway hobby of painting.
It’s not real. And furthermore, it’s quite an embarrassment when our friends and neighbors know all about your romantic life, and the drama of your actions on this show.
I really thought you knew better than this. ”
I felt anger boiling up inside of me. How dare she speak about my team like that!
“Mom, this is my life, and my choice. I’m having a good time, and these are good people who I care about.
You cannot say those things to me or to them!
” I said, setting my silverware down in a fury.
The rest of my team sat there, momentarily shocked.
“Oh please, Cassie. You can’t tell me you care about these people, no offense.” she started, glancing around at my team. “None of this is real and you know it!”
I stood up, now in full anger mode. “I do care about them! More than you could possibly imagine!” I was nearly yelling now, and my sister was pulling at my sleeve, trying to get me to calm down.
“Um Cassie, let’s wait until we’re somewhere private to have this conversation.” She said, her eyes flickering to the cameras, no doubt imagining how this family drama would play out on tv.
“No. I’m done hiding. This is who I am, and you can take it or leave it!” I said, looking at my parents as I threw down the gauntlet, so to speak.
My mom rolled her eyes, in the way she always did that indicated that she knew better, like I was acting like a child.
“This is ridiculous. You can’t expect me to believe you have feelings, especially for that brute who caused you to go viral and lose your job!
” She chided, not even bothering to look at Jace, who sat up straight at her accusation.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Then Jace stood from his seat, his voice calm but clear.
“With all due respect, ma’am, Cassie is the most real thing on this show,” he said, his eyes locked on my mom with unwavering certainty, “I’m not going to stand here while you belittle the woman I- ” He paused, jaw tightening for a split second. Then he said it. “The woman I love.”
The room went still. And before I could stop him, he leaned down and kissed me. It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t camera-safe. It was the kind of kiss that stole the air from the room - passionate and completely undeniable.
When he pulled away, my mother’s jaw was practically on the table. The cameras probably got exactly what they wanted. I could barely feel my limbs.
“Family night turned out to be more entertaining than I thought.” Leo said mildly, taking a sip of his drink.
________
Later that night I sat on the bed in my room, my face bare and my hair tied up. My sister was curled next to me, her legs folded under her.
“So be honest, is any of this real?” my sister asked, her voice sharp with curiosity. “You’re really in love? That quickly?”
I scoffed as I leaned back on the edge of the bed, the feelings rushing in as I grappled with how much I wanted to divulge. “Come on, in love? You know me better than that. Fall for a pack on a reality show? Please. It’s all just television.”
Her brow rose, skeptical. “Really? Because you sure seem close to them. Like… really close.”
I let out a forced laugh. “Of course I’m close. That’s the point. We’re on camera. We’re competing. Chemistry makes great television, and it keeps us from getting eliminated.” My tone was light and dismissive. But I could hear how fake it sounded even as I said it.
“And what about Jace?” she pressed. “You’re holding hands now with the guy who helped tank your job and make you go viral?”
I waved a hand. “Of course not! Yeah he’s hot, they all are, that helps. But come on. Jace? The guy who ruined my job and made me go viral? Like I’d turn around my feelings that quickly. No, it’s just called good acting.” I said, trying to convince her, and myself, that I was being honest.
“And the omega?” Her voice dropped, curiosity turning cautious. “Why’d they throw Ash on your team? Was it supposed to be some kind of power play?”
I shrugged. “Probably. Maybe they thought we’d tear each other apart for attention. Joke’s on them - we do better when we’re not at each other’s throats.”
But even as I said it, I knew it sounded false.
“I mean,” I added, voice cracking slightly, “once we win, I’ll take the prize, the press, and get out. It’s not real. None of it is real. It’s just my strategy.” But the words felt wrong.
There was a long silence between me and my sister. She studied me like she could see straight through the mask I’d thrown on. Then she spoke. “You’re lying.”
My throat tightened. She didn’t press. She just reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, voice soft with kindness. “Cass, I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you look at them. And trust me, you’re not that good of an actor.”
I stared at the floor.
“Cass. Forget what mom said tonight, and what you think you’re supposed to do for the show. What are you actually feeling?” Her words cut right to my core. I felt myself give in, and speak the truth to the one person I could trust would keep it.
“They’re not what I expected,” I whispered finally. “Any of them. I came here to get exposure. To mess around, maybe make some waves and bounce. But now…”
She said nothing, waiting.
“I think I’m falling for them,” I choked out. “All of them. And it scares the hell out of me. I’ve never felt like this. I didn’t even think I could feel like this.”
My sister was quiet for a moment. Then she smiled, soft and understanding.
“Well, to be honest, I’ve never seen you look this happy,” she said. “Terrified, maybe. But happy too.”
Tears burned behind my eyes, and I reached over, hugging my sister to me.
Yes, I was scared. This was something I’d never expected in a million years.
My love story, the unscripted one, was real.
And it was playing out publicly. But after never thinking it would happen for me, this was still something that terrified me.
“It’s okay, Cass. Just be you. I think they are great guys.
And yes, you are right - they are all super hot!
” She joked, squeezing me as I let out a laugh.
Maybe after all this time, on a fake reality show, of all places, I was finding something real.
I relaxed and chatted with my sister as the tension of the night faded away.
My parents might not agree, but my sister was right - this was the happiest I’d ever been.
And even if we didn’t make it to the end, I’d still have found the potential pack of my dreams. How could it possibly go wrong?