Chapter 159
Chapter 159
Trista’s POV
Finished
I bit my lower lip. My scent gland was radiating a faint heat, as if the warmth of the mark he’d left on me last night was still burning there.
I forced myself to take deep breaths, forcing my wolf to shove her pheromones back down.
Finally, my emotions cooled, leaving me like a beach after the tide recedes–nothing but stinging sand and a mess of wreckage.
Cassian seemed to have been waiting for this moment of silence.
He leaned down and pulled me into his arms, his palm flat against my back. The gesture looked gentle, but it carried a strength that warned me not to struggle.
Then, he pulled a key from his pocket and pressed it into my hand.
The metal was freezing, like a sliver of the cold moon.
“This is the key to the villa downtown,” he murmured. “Let your parents move back in there p>
I pulled out of his embrace and took two steps back, like I was escaping a net that was slowly tightening.
I set the key aside and rejected him. My voice was calmer now, but it was sharper. “My parents already have a place to live. If you really care about them, give us back the obsidian cane p>
Cassian locked eyes with me. “You are the Ironthorn Luna now. It isn’t appropriate for your parents to keep living in a run–down government housing project p>
I looked away, a cold smirk tugging at my lips. “Cassian, it’s just the two of us here. You don’t need to act like such a ‘good man p>
His
gaze darkened several shades–it was like fire being pressed under iron, ready to scald anyone who touched it.
Yet, he nodded readily, as if the mask I’d just pierced was nothing but a thin layer of tissue
paper.
“We are mates,” he said, stepping toward me. He rested a hand on my waist, the movement as natural as if he were smoothing out a piece of his own property. “Spending money on your parents is what I’m supposed to do p>
He paused, then added, “There’s a private jewelry gala tomorrow night. I want to introduce you
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Chapter 159
Finished
to someone.” It sounded like he was asking for my opinion, but his attitude was pure coercion.
I didn’t respond.
In his eyes, I was just a Luna who had to show up, had to cooperate, and had to maintain the image.
The next evening, I walked into the gala in a starry–night gown, my arm linked with Cassian’s.
The lights at the entrance showered down like crushed diamonds, making my dress look like I was draped in the night sky itself.
But I knew it was just a shell.
Cassian was in a custom black suit, the lines of his shoulders razor–sharp, his presence
immovable.
He kept his pheromones tightly reined in, yet the weight of them was still enough to keep people from getting too close.
The aura of the Ironthorn Alpha acted like an invisible brand; the moment he appeared, he was the center of the room.
We looked like a “power couple” straight off a magazine cover, and our arrival caused quite a stir.
The scents of champagne, perfume, and the cold tang of precious metals tangled in the air–a sophisticated hunt.
A young couple approached us. The man smiled. “Alpha Cassian, it’s been a while since we’ve seen you at one of these p>
Cassian tightened his arm around me, pulling me closer in an intimate, practiced gesture.
His tone was easy, almost tender. “My mate was studying abroad for a while. It wasn’t much fun coming out alone p>
The second he said it, another Alpha named Curtis gave an approving nod. “As expected of the pack’s model couple p>
I felt the corner of my mouth twitch in a nearly imperceptible sneer.
Cassian turned to introduce me, his tone natural. “Trista, this is Luna Chloe. She used to be in the Healing Academy; she spent quite a lot of time at the healing center p>
He paused, then added as if it were a given, “I’m sure you two will have plenty to talk about p>
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Chapter 159
I fell into the social rhythm, my voice soft and my presence perfectly composed.
Finished
Chloe smiled back, and our interaction was like a well–rehearsed performance–every pause and every nod was calculated to be flawless.
Eventually, Cassian and Curtis were pulled away by other guests.
Chloe naturally led me to a quieter corner.
We were away from the noise of the main hall, and the pheromones in the air were much thinner, no longer a headache–inducing mess.
As we were talking, a young woman in high heels strolled over.
She was dressed provocatively, and her perfume was cloyingly thick, mixed with an intentionally flared–out sweetness–a blatant, defiant scent meant to test everyone’s patience.
Her eyes settled on Chloe, a nasty smirk on her lips. “Luna Chloe, I heard you’re an expert on jewelry p>
She touched the necklace at her throat. “Could you tell me how much this one is worth p>
I felt Chloe’s pheromones turn cold instantly.
She didn’t respond immediately; she just held her glass elegantly, her gaze sweeping over the necklace as if it were a piece of trash.
Then, she looked up, her tone like a blade clearing its sheath.
“In your eyes, it might be a treasure.” She paused, her smirk devoid of any warmth. “In my world, that’s about as much as my mate spends on a single bottle of wine p>
She swirled her champagne and landed the killing blow. “Or perhaps… the fee he’d pay for a temporary ‘escort‘ on a whim p>
The air went dead.
That woman’s face turned white instantly.
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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.