Chapter 157
Chapter 157
Trista’s POV
Finished
I bit my lower lip, refusing to let a single sound escape, but my wolf was thrashing inside my chest. She let out a low, raspy whimper, only to be ruthlessly pinned down by the mark he’d left on me last night. Even struggling felt futile.
When Cassian hung up and turned around, he saw right through me.
He walked back, sat on the edge of the bed, and reached for my hand. When he felt the tremor in my arm, he paused for a noticeable beat.
His dark eyes lingered on me for a few seconds, as if he were weighing his next move, before he finally spoke.
“Trista, Algernon is my son,” he said, his voice deep and calm. “That is a fact that no one can change p>
I lifted my eyes, the corners of my mouth twitching as I struggled to speak. “I’m not stopping you from seeing each other. But you don’t have to flaunt your intimacy right in front of my face p>
We locked eyes. The air felt compressed, heavy enough to make breathing a struggle.
The mating bond pulled tight across my chest–refusing to snap, yet refusing to give me any
slack.
Cassian hesitated, his tone shifting into something matter–of–fact. “Samantha and I were just having a normal conversation. There’s no need for you to react this strongly p>
He kept going, every word feeling like he was drawing a map for a future I didn’t want. “I am Algernon’s father. Samantha and I are going to raise this child together. We will talk often, we will meet, we will eat together, and we will be there for him. If you’re going to be this sensitive, how are we supposed to live together p>
I lowered my head. I felt like I was being herded into a corner with no exit.
He watched me, then leaned down to pull me into his arms, patting my back rhythmically as if soothing a child who’d lost control.
“Just focus on doing what you’re supposed to do,” he murmured against my ear, his voice so gentle it was cruel. “Don’t overthink the rest. With the way your brain gets tied in knots the second you start overanalyzing, you’ll only make yourself more miserable p>
I didn’t struggle.
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Chapter 157
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Finished
Not because I accepted it, but because I was hollowed out.
My body was still radiating the soreness and heat from last night, and the mating bond was being forced into alignment within his embrace, pressing me back into the position he had designed for me.
After he left, I curled myself into a ball under the covers.
He had chatted with Samantha about their son right in front of me, without a hint of hesitation.
He didn’t even try to hide the fact that he was going to live a parallel life with the woman he loved–acting as the father he was meant to be.
He was pressing reality into my heart, one cut at a time. He wanted to slowly lower my bar, forcing me to accept, forcing me to get used to it. He wanted me to occupy the seat of “Luna” while teaching me never to expect to be the one he actually cherished.
I didn’t get out of bed.
I stayed in that daze until noon, only forcing myself up when Attwater called.
On the way to the hospital, I ran into Xander.
He was standing on the sidewalk, his aura calm and clean–sharp, but lacking any of that predatory aggression.
We sat in a café for a while. Watching the crowds pass by outside while the steam rose from my cup, I felt a sense of peace that I was almost unaccustomed to.
He noticed the deep frown lines on my forehead. “The holidays are coming up in a few days. I can push your start date back a bit. Use this time to be with your family–and try to relax p>
Hearing that kind of unconditional concern made a wave of warmth wash over me.
My mom was still hospitalized; starting work after the holidays was probably for the best.
“Thank you, Xander,” I whispered.
After we parted ways, I went back to the healing center.
Ulva and Randolph were discussing their plans to be discharged on the 28th.
I sat on the edge of the bed listening to them, my fingers absentmindedly twisting the hem of my shirt.
The air in the Sanctum Healing Center was always a little too clean. The scent of primrose oil
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Chapter 157
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seeped from the walls–gentle and clear, designed to soothe even the most agitated wolf.
But the softer the scent, the more suffocating my chest felt. It was like being smothered with a silk cloth; even breathing felt like an effort.
My parents told me something else: Emlen had been released.
He had come by quietly last night, stood outside the door for a while, but ultimately didn’t come in.
I didn’t ask for details.
Asking would only tear another layer away from the Silverlight pack’s crumbling dignity.
Then, Ulva mentioned Zelda in a low voice.
Cassian had pulled some strings. He’d found a matching bone marrow donor for Zelda at a private hospital.
The surgery was scheduled for after the holidays, and he was covering all the costs.
As my parents spoke, their voices held a complex mix of gratitude and helplessness. They were being forced to accept the hand Ironthorn was reaching out, yet they didn’t want that hand to grip them too tightly.
Hearing this, my heart felt heavy, but I wasn’t angry.
After my uncle passed away, Emlen was all that family had left.
He was nearly forty and had some disabilities, and Zelda was his only daughter.
Zelda was only nine, and she was so weak her pheromones were as faint as mist.
If it were me, I wouldn’t have been able to turn down the only chance to save my pup just to stay on the side of “absolute righteousness” either.
Pack politics are one thing, but a pup’s life shouldn’t be a bargaining chip.
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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.