Chapter 126
Chapter 126
Third Person’s POV
49
39
豆
Finished
In his narrative, Samantha had never made a single excessive demand.
Every time she stepped back, every time she showed vulnerability, it seemed like an effort to avoid causing him trouble or bringing embarrassment to him.
Even when Samantha had moved into his house, Cassian didn’t see it as her actively taking anything.
To him, it felt more like she was simply following Trista’s arrangements under the weight of Trista’s pressure.
Afterward, when Samantha regained her composure, she had quickly apologized, keeping her posture humble.
Since then, she had maintained her distance.
She hadn’t crossed the line again, hadn’t left her scent in his territory, and hadn’t used her pheromones to try and hook his wolf.
She even began to deliberately fade into the background, as if afraid that breathing too loudly would be misconstrued.
Now, she was choosing to be self–sufficient.
She would rather rent a place outside with Algernon and try to make a living as an influencer- eating off a camera lens–than accept his help again.
Cassian knew exactly why: she was terrified of causing another misunderstanding with Trista.
Fred’s brow twitched as he listened, finally snapping. “Cassian, if one or two people don’t like her, you could blame them. But when everyone dislikes her, why is that p>
Cassian fired back coldly, “Because you’re all on Trista’s side. You have a prejudice against Samantha. You think she came back with an agenda p>
Fred looked at Cassian like he was a total moron, his tone cutting. “So you’re not on Trista’s side; you’re on Samantha’s. You’re blind to Trista’s pain, but you believe every word that comes out of Samantha’s mouth p>
The irritation in Cassian’s gut flared up again.
His knuckles whitened as he gripped his glass, the rim digging into his palm.
18:14 Thu, Jan 1
Chapter 126
39
Finished
His wolf growled low in his chest, pushed to the limit of its patience. “Fred, you people spend all day talking about feelings‘ and ‘love‘ Don’t you find it pathetic to waste time on such hollow things p>
Fred hit back immediately with a sneer. “Didn’t you agree to date Samantha back in the day? When you two met every week, were you discussing ‘life ideals? Or were you taking a class on spiritual purity to become a monk p>
Cassian didn’t flinch.
He looked out into the night, his voice as flat as a statement of fact. “I admit Samantha is the only woman I truly felt something for. And I admit her return hit me hard initially p>
He paused before finishing the thought. “But love isn’t my whole life. Samantha was gone for six years. I mated with Trista, and we were doing just fine p>
He drained his glass, his Adam’s apple bobbing, his gaze turning icy. “Even if I made impulsive decisions for Samantha, I never once thought about getting back together with her. And I certainly never planned to destroy my mating bond with Trista for her sake p>
One week later, inside the Ironthorn packhouse, Humphrey knocked and entered, placing a file. in front of Cassian. “Alpha Cassian, please check this out p>
Cassian shut his laptop and flipped open the file. “Speak p>
Humphrey delivered the findings chronologically, his tone professional. “Six years ago, three months after Samantha arrived in France, she mated with a rogue wolf named Thad Olsen. Six months later, she gave birth. We interviewed neighbors and Thad’s associates; the testimony consistent. Shortly after the birth, she began suffering violent suppression from Thad. These weren’t ordinary beatings. It was ‘disciplinary‘ harm inflicted by a rogue using aura and claws while losing control. It lasted four years p>
He turned to a supplemental page. “During that time, she suffered three miscarriages. Medical records from the healing center show her scent glands were under chronic high pressure. she developed extreme hypersensitivity to external pheromones, recurring night–time partial shift symptoms, and startle reflexes. She was diagnosed with severe depression and PTSD. The case files, sedation protocols, healer signatures, and medication lists have all been pulled p>
“In the fourth year, Thad suddenly came into money. The physical abuse stopped, but her symptoms worsened. Records show her heat cycles became erratic, she suffered intermittent ‘anosmia‘ of pheromones, and her suppressed wolf nature began to backlash. Her sleep was shredded; for weeks, she required nighttime restraints and sedatives just to prevent a full shift p>
Humphrey continued, his voice dropping into a colder register. “A year later, Thad died of an overdose. Ms. Fernandez didn’t leave the Olsen house. We confirmed that during that time, she was still being ostracized–typical internal pack rejection. Her injuries weren’t in visible places;
2/3
18:14 Thu, Jan 1
Chapter 126
A 339
mostly bruising and claw marks on her arms, ribs, and back, consistent with long–term suppression and defensive postures p>
Finished
“A few months ago, Thad’s mother tried to force her into a new mating. She sold her jewelry for a plane ticket home p>
Humphrey paused before delivering the final blow. “Financial audits confirm she had no retreat: there have been no stable deposits into the accounts of her, her mother, or her brother’s family in six years. Nor were there any unusual large transfers in Thad’s or his associates‘ accounts p>
Cassian closed the file and walked to the liquor cabinet to pour a drink, his knuckles white.
The information felt like cold water being poured into his chest, followed by a torch lighting up his wolf.
He finally had confirmation. Samantha’s return wasn’t a play for power; she was a survivor with nowhere left to run.
110
3/3
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.