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Humphrey stepped in with a perfectly timed explanation. “It was your cousin, Emlen, who pointed the finger at you. He told the cops that you instructed him to steal trade secrets from my phone and sell them to a competitor p>
Trista froze. It felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured down her spine, chilling her to the bone.
Only one thing was clear: Cassian was officially pulling the trigger. He wasn’t letting her go.
Humphrey, usually so careful with his words, couldn’t help but add, “I called the police the second it happened, but there has to be a misunderstanding. Maybe you should just talk to Alpha Cassian and clear the air p>
“Talk to him?” Trista let out a low, humorless laugh.
She’d rather rot in a human holding cell than go back to that “cage” he called a mating.
That was where her wolf truly suffocated.
She hadn’t touched Humphrey’s phone, and she knew it.
She had a clean conscience, and she put her faith in the Alliance and the law–not in a mate who had proven he’d sacrifice her the second it suited him.
At the officer’s signal, Trista was led out of Waiting Room 2.
In the quiet hallway, a line of Ironthorn alphas and betas in sharp suits stood like sentinels. As she was escorted past, she ran straight into Ulva and Randolph.
They stood a few paces apart, eyes locked.
Trista’s eyes were bloodshot, and she’d bitten her lip until it bled. Inside her chest, her wolf’s ears were pinned back in defiance, holding back a snarl that refused to break.
She walked right past Cassian. Even when the hem of her coat brushed through his scent, she didn’t slow down for a heartbeat.
And Cassian didn’t lift a finger to stop her.
The termination hearing Trista had spent months praying for ended before it even began–with her in handcuffs.
That night, at the Ironthorn pack boundary, a black SUV was stopped at the gates.
Two older werewolves stood in the glare of the headlights, their clothes fluttering in the wind, but they didn’t budge.
Cassian climbed out, suppressing his aura out of respect.
Randolph’s eyes were shot through with red. He pointed a trembling finger at Cassian, his voice hoarse with
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suppressed rage. “What the hell did my daughter do to deserve you putting her in prison p>
Cassian’s expression didn’t flicker. He looked like he’d rehearsed for this exact confrontation a thousand times. “I didn’t put Trista in custody. Her cousin, Emlen, identified her as the one behind the data theft. The police are just following procedure p>
Ulva looked like she’d been hollowed out by grief. “That’s impossible. Emlen is a good, honest kid. He would never accuse Trista of a crime p>
Cassian let out a sigh, maintaining that clinical, “just business” composure. “We’ll have to wait for the official investigation before drawing any conclusions p>
Humphrey, standing nearby, found the courage to speak up in a low voice. “Alpha Cassian… Luna Trista has to be innocent. Can’t we find a way to get her out on bail? ”
Cassian looked at Trista’s parents.
Randolph bit his lip, finally swallowing his pride for the sake of his daughter. “Please,” he whispered.
Cassian went silent for a beat. He didn’t offer a promise.
He just gripped his car keys tighter, his voice devoid of emotion. “I’m the CEO of Ironthorn. When company secrets leak, I have a responsibility to the employees and shareholders to find the truth p>
“Until the results are in, I can’t break the rules for anyone p>
Late night, at Blue Bay, beyond the floor–to–ceiling windows lay a silent coastline.
Inside, only a single lamp was lit.
Humphrey stood in the center of the room, reporting the latest updates on Trista’s case.
The sound of the front door opening cut him off. Fred walked in, dressed in his usual haphazard style, not even bothering to rein in his arrogant scent.
Cassian shot Humphrey a look.
Humphrey took the hint, gathered his files, and bowed out.
Once the door shut, the air was filled only with the presence of two Alphas.
Fred skipped the small talk. “Trista being hauled off to jail–that was your move, wasn’t it p>
Cassian didn’t give a straight answer. He walked to the bar, grabbed two glasses, and poured some liquor with agonizing slowness.
The amber liquid hit the glass with a faint splash.
Fred took the glass but didn’t drink. He slammed it onto the coffee table, the impact sending a ripple through the room. “You not talking is a confession p>
Cassian sat back on the sofa and flicked on the TV to a muted financial news channel. “The police will reach the most just conclusion,” he said, his tone flat.
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Fred’s chest was heaving with fury. “Humphrey has been with you for years. The guy is a machine. He doesn’t make ‘clumsy mistakes like dropping a phone filled with secrets in front of your mate p>
Cassian kept his eyes on the screen. “Even the most careful people slip up. Humphrey is a werewolf, not a god. Mistakes happen p>
“Oh, for fuck’s sake-
Fred paced the room, so angry his wolf tail was practically bristling. “Cassian, I know you better than anyone. You’re cold, you’re calculating, and you play dirty. If you used those tactics against a rival pack. I wouldn’t say a word. But you don’t use that shit on Trista 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.