Chapter 183
Chapter 183
Trista’s POV
By the time I woke up again, it was nearly noon.
#5 Pears
The bedroom was heavy with the lingering scent of our mixed pheromones–the cold, sharp cedar of his Alpha aura tangled with the soft, elegant evening primrose of mine. It used to be a smell that made me feel safe. Now, it just felt like the aftermath of a crime scenea
Holding my breath, I carefully lifted Cassian’s heavy arm from across my waist.
His limb felt like a lead shackle; even in his sleep, he held onto me with a kind of arrogant possessiveness.
I forced my sore, exhausted body out of bed. The second my feet hit the floor, my muscles protested, and I couldn’t help but wince.
For him, last night might have been a long–awaited reunion; for me, it was a grueling defensive war that had drained every ounce of my energy.
Standing before the bathroom mirror, I stared at my reflection with a blank face.
Inside my mind, that “sacred” mating bond was eerily quiet. There was no soul–searching harmony, no emotional warmth–just a faint, persistent tug that served as a constant reminder of how my body instinctively bowed to him.
It was New Year’s Eve. With the Blood Moon set to rise tonight, the whole city seemed to be vibrating with a restless energy for reunion.
I picked out a sharp, deep–red dress, hoping the bold color would mask how pale my soul felt.
As I was fixing my collar in the dressing room, Cassian walked in, smelling fresh from his shower.
He slipped his arms around me from behind, his powerful grip pulling me back against his chest as he tucked his chin into the crook of my neck.
Our eyes met in the mirror. His golden pupils still held a trace of lazy satisfaction.
“We were up all night. Why didn’t you sleep in?” His voice was low and gravelly, the kind of morning–rough sexy that would have made me melt once upon a time. His warm breath hit my neck, sending a shiver down. my spine.
I didn’t give him any warmth back. Instead, I picked up two different shades of lipstick and held them up. “Which one fits me better today p>
Cassian glanced at them, his fingers brushing past my choices. He reached into the drawer and pulled out a deep, blood–red tube.
“That’s too loud,” I muttered, frowning. It was his favorite shade, but it didn’t match the way I felt at all.
Before I could argue, he grabbed my shoulders and turned me around.
The next second, his cool lips slammed into mine.
1/2
10:25 Wed, Jan 7
Chapter 183
It was a classic Alpha move–staking his claim. Even though he was holding back his strength, the kiss was still suffocatingly aggressive.
The mating bond flickered under the contact. It was my wolf–the pathetic thing–instinctively leaning into his presence.
When he finally pulled back, his lips brushed against my car, his voice a low command. “This color will always suit you, Trista. My Trista p>
I didn’t fight it.
I stood there and carefully applied that blood–red shade in the mirror while he watched. Then, I spoke, my voice cold and detached. “It’s New Year’s Eve. I’m going back to the Silverlight territory to see my parents p>
As I said it, I stood on my tiptoes and left a light, teasing kiss right on his Adam’s apple.
He stared at his reflection, looking at the faint red mark on his throat.
We both knew the truth. In that moment, the pheromones I left in the air weren’t entirely an act.
He knew I’d been chasing his scent since I was a toddler.
Twenty years of soul–deep connection didn’t just snap like a dry twig, even when I was decided my heart was dead.
As a marked she–wolf, my instincts still craved him–no matter how scarred my soul was or how much I hated my body’s inability to resist his Alpha aura.
Suddenly, the comm–stone in the bedroom buzzed violently. Alaina’s mind–link cut in, heavy with the weight of a pack elder.
“Cassian. When the Blood Moon rises tonight, bring Trista back p>
Cassian didn’t even hesitate to shut down a century–old family tradition.
“From now on, I’m spending every New Year’s Blood Moon with Trista at the Silverlight territory. We’ll come to the main house the next day p>
His voice was icy and final. He was using his Alpha authority to build a wall around me–one he thought was protective.
There was a dead silence on the other end of the line, but Cassian didn’t care.
I didn’t thank him. I just needed to leave. I had to get that obsidian cane to my parents; that was the only form of security I had left.
By noon, I was stepping into the herb–scented, crumbling territory of the Silverlight pack, wrapped in the heavy cloak of an Ironthorn Luna.
I took a deep breath and pushed open the door to my home.
Attwater was there in a second, taking the heavy black metal case from my hands. “You actually did it? You really got the obsidian cane back? The one holding Mom’s soul–power p>
2/3
10:25 Wed, Jan
Chapter 183
Ulva shot Attwater a look, signaling him to take the case into the room with the silencing barrier. Then she grabbed my hand, her eyes searching mine. “Trista, be honest with me,” she whispered, her grip tightening,
“This set of heirlooms is worth a fortune. Exactly did you have to pay him to get them back?
130
តា
AM
Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.