Chapter 197
The Heartbroken Luna’s Choice: Banish Love
Chapter 197
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Third Person’s POV
Samantha’s eyes flooded with tears instantly, her voice trembling with a well–rehearsed sob. “Cassian… are we really doing this? Are you seriously drawing a line between us over a name p>
Alpha Cassian stood by the floor–to–ceiling window, his silhouette rigid and unyielding.
Outside, the night was pitch black, but his presence was colder than the winter air.
“Whatever happens in private stays there,” he said, his voice flat and controlled. “In public, the pet names end. Now p>
It wasn’t a suggestion; it was an order.
Samantha’s pupils contracted for a fraction of a second.
She quickly looked down, twisting her fingers together and thinning her scent, making herself look small under the weight of his Alpha aura.
“I understand, Alpha Cassian,” she whispered, her voice slow and deliberate. “But if we act like total strangers, Howard is going to get suspicious. And if that happens… keeping the boy’s secret is going to be impossible p>
Cassian’s gaze dropped.
His golden wolf–eyes were sharp and unreadable, pulling every stray emotion back under the surface. He didn’t answer immediately.
Sensing the aura ease, Samantha pushed her luck.
She lowered her head even further, her tone dripping with mock sincerity. “Titles don’t matter to me. I’ve always known my place, and I’ve never tried to cross the line. I’ve stayed away from you just to make sure Luna Trista didn’t get the wrong idea. Today was a mistake—I shouldn’t have been at an event of this caliber. From now on, I’ll stay on the fringes. I’ll act like I’ve never met you. Is that… is that enough p>
Cassian was silent for a moment. Finally, he threw out a cold, final sentence, “From now on, in public, you address me as Alpha Cassian p>
With that, he turned and marched out of the suite.
The second the door clicked shut, the strength left Samantha’s body. She sank onto the expensive velvet sofa, the truth hitting her harder than ever.
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Chapter 192
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She knew better than anyone–Cassian hadn’t claimed the boy out of love; he had done it out of guilt.
Resources, protection, a fake identity–he gave those away without a second thought.
But his heart? That was a fortress she hadn’t even reached the gates of
And now, he was building a wall even around how she spoke to him.
She had been so careful to play the “humble” card, hiding her ambition behind a mask of tragedy.
But lately, she could feel him drifting.
His eyes were either ice–cold or miles away.
She had gone through so much trouble to lure him to this private room, and he couldn’t wait to leave.
The panic started to set in.
She realized he wasn’t just drifting–he was trying to find his way back to Trista. *
He wanted to fix his mating.
And that meant she was starting to look like an “inconvenience” that needed to be swept away.
Her eyes drifted to the coffee table.
An open pack of cigarettes and a sleek black lighter sat there.
Samantha’s gaze turned predatory.
She slowly unbuttoned the top two buttons of her collar, revealing the faint, suggestive red marks on her collarbone. Then, she reached for his things.
Meanwhile, in the VIP corridor.
Trista and Chloe were escorting Priscilla, followed by a trail of high–society she–wolves.
They rounded the corner just as Cassian was stepping out of the suite.
Cassian saw Trista, and a flash of genuine surprise crossed his face before he regained his composure. “What are you all doing up here p>
Trista gave him a perfect, polished smile. “You came up to rest without telling me. I was looking for you downstairs, so I thought I’d come check on you p>
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Chapter 197
The words were casual, but the intimacy in her tone was a territorial claim.
Cassian’s eyes narrowed slightly, his nerves tightening.
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Chloe laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “It was too loud downstairs. Priscilla suggested a few rounds of Wolf Cards up here. We didn’t realize we’d run into you p>
Cassian didn’t offer an explanation. He just reached out and gripped Trista’s hand, his hold a little too tight. “I had an emergency pack matter to handle. I was just heading down to find you p>
Priscilla, sensing the jagged tension in the air, tried to usher the group away. “Well, since Alpha Cassian is already out, we’ll save the cards for another night. You two young people should have your time p>
The she–wolves nodded, ready to leave.
At that exact moment, the suite door at the end of the hall swung open.
Samantha ran out, her hair messy and her clothes disheveled. She held the lighter in her hand, her voice soft and breathless. “Cassian! You forgot your cigarettes and your lighter in the bedroom p>
The air turned to glass.
The Lunas all turned as one, their eyes locking onto Samantha’s open collar, her wrecked hair, and the dark, stony look on Cassian’s face.
To a wolf’s heightened senses, the “scent” of a scandal was impossible to ignore.
Trista’s gaze dropped to the silk clothes Samantha was wearing.
It was her spare outfit–a dress reserved only for the Luna of the pack.
The warmth drained from Trista’s face.
In the dead silence, right in front of the most powerful women in the city, she ripped her hand out of Cassian’s grip. Her voice was like a deadbolt sliding into place. “Why is she in our private bedroom p>
Before anyone could breathe, she took a step toward Samantha, her voice finally breaking.
“And my Luna ceremonial dress–why the hell is it on that she–wolf p>
Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.