Chapter 134
Chapter 134
Trista’s POV
The next morning, Fred sent over an invite. I turned him down.
The reason was simple: I didn’t want to see Cassian anymore.
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But around seven in the evening, Wynn showed up at my parents‘ place. She pulled out the full “little sister” routine–pouting, acting pitiful, even going so far as to fully suppress her Ironthorn pheromones to look harmless.
She clung to my arm and wouldn’t let go, her eyes wide and pleading. “Just come with me once. Just this once p>
She wore me down until my head ached.
I knew she wasn’t just being a brat; she wanted to see if I’d still play the part–if I’d follow that mangled mating bond and crawl back into the little circle Cassian had drawn for me.
In the end, I gave in.
Not because I was soft, but because I was tired of Silverlight being smothered by the Ironthorn shadow.
At 8 PM, Wynn dragged me into the private room.
The moment the door opened, a wave of heat and perfume hit me. A few girls swarmed me immediately, showering me with sweet, honey–coated compliments.
I scanned the room.
I knew almost everyone there–friends I’d had for years.
Their eyes were as warm as ever, but I noticed how they instinctively avoided one specific direction, the way a pack clears a path for a dominant Alpha.
I followed their gaze.
Cassian was sitting on the center sofa. He was in a dark suit, his back ramrod straight, looking every bit the high–society aristocrat.
His scent was steady–heavy, cold, and sharp, like the permanent winter chill of the Ironthorn pack.
His aura wasn’t loud, but it was enough to make everyone sit a little straighter and pick their words more carefully.
The seat next to him–the one that used to be mine–was empty.
The second our eyes met, the fractured bond in my chest twitched, like a needle pricking an old wound. I crushed the instinct, turned away, and took a seat at the very edge of the room.
That one move sucked the air out of the party.
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Chapter 134
The laughter died down, and the rhythm of the room faltered.
Finishe
People started trading looks. Wynn’s hand froze in mid–air, looking like she wanted to drag me back but didn’t dare.
Fred spoke up, his tone forced and playful. “Trista, Alpha Cassian’s been saving that spot for you. You’re sitting in someone else’s chair p>
I didn’t even look up. My voice was flat. “Fred, even if the others don’t know, surely you do. Cassian has a new mate and a kid now. There’s no room for me by his side p>
I’d spent so long stepping back, only for them to keep pushing.
If this wasn’t going to end with dignity, then I’d just tear the mask off in front of everyone.
Silence hit the room like a physical weight.
The expression on Cassian’s face froze.
His cold pheromones spilled out half an inch further like a dark tide before he forcibly reined them in.
Fred looked at Cassian, awkwardly rubbing his nose. “Trista, come on, You’ve been mated to Cassian for three years. Don’t go making jokes like that p>
Everyone quickly chimed in.
“Trista, everyone knows how much Alpha Cassian spoils you. If he had someone else, I’d eat my hat p>
“Cassian is a success, a family man–he’s literally the gold standard for guys in our circle p>
“Exactly, Trista. Alpha Cassian is famous for his self–discipline p>
I sat there, calm, listening to them whitewash his life.
Every compliment felt like a dull knife sawing back and forth across my heart.
I looked up at Cassian, meeting his gaze head–on. “We’re in the middle of a termination. If you don’t believe me, ask him p>
Every head in the room snapped toward Cassian.
Cassian set down his glass and stood up.
He didn’t explain, and he didn’t deny it.
He walked over to me, reached down to pick up my bag, and clamped his hand around my wrist to pull me
His palm was hot, his grip not painful but carrying that “I own you” weight that brooked no argument.
I didn’t fight him.
He led me out of the room and the door slammed shut behind us.
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Chapter 134
Finisher
The hallway lights were a clinical, cold white. The only thing in the air was the tangle of our two scents.
We stood face–to–face, less than a foot apart.
I knew people were peeking through the crack in the door, holding their breath.
Cassian spoke, fighting to keep his voice steady. “Let’s find somewhere private. We need to talk p>
I looked him in the eye, my tone as clinical as a medical diagnosis. “The two of us talking won’t change anything. Why don’t you call the she–wolf you actually care about? Maybe then we can reach a conclusion p>
Cassian’s face went dark. In an instant, his aura pressed forward like a blade, and the temperature in the hallway seemed to plummet. “Trista, this is between us. Why do you keep dragging her into it p>
I shoved his hand off and took my bag back.
My wrist throbbed where he’d held it, that lingering sense of his mark trying to pull me back in.
I corrected him, making sure every word was crystal clear. “She isn’t ‘someone else. She’s the one you care about most. She’s the mother of your child p>
We stared at each other from inches away. The air was suffocating, like two wolves in a cramped territory, circling, ready to tear into each other’s throats.
Cassian’s lips thinned, but he offered no explanation.
His silence was more of an answer than any words could be.
“Cassian.” I warned him, my voice like ice. “You might run things in LA, and Ironthorn Group might have the best lawyers money can buy, but you can’t erase the fact that you cheated. You can’t erase that kid p>
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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.