Chapter 317
Third Person’s POV
If you fall, you get back up.
Trista was determined to be stronger than ever. Even if the Alpha who broke her was living right next door, she wouldn’t let him take another step into her territory.
Across the street, the window of a black luxury car slid down, revealing a pair of dark gold, vertical pupils.
Cassian kept his eyes locked on Trista until her silhouette vanished into the gray curtain of rain.
Fred jerked his chin toward Samantha, who was still sprawled in the mud. “Must be killing you, huh? Trista’s gone—aren’t you going to go down there and play the knight in shining armor p>
Cassian slowly lit a cigarette. His gold eyes flickered behind a veil of smoke. “Knock it off. I have my reasons for keeping her around p>
Fred studied him for a second. “Haven’t seen you in a while, and suddenly you’re playing the long game? Since when did you get so calculating p>
Cassian leaned back, watching Samantha’s every move through the glass. His voice was cold and hard. “Trista and I are officially separated. Don’t start a fire you can’t put out p>
“If this woman really did something dirty—if she actually touched a pack taboo,” Fred’s smirk vanished, “do you actually have the stones to put her behind bars yourself p>
Cassian looked at him, his gaze sharp as a razor. “That’s the red line. Anyone who crosses it dies p>
Fred let out a dry laugh. “None of it matters. The second Trista aborted that kid without telling you, she kicked you out of her heart for good. You’re done, man p>
A flicker of agony flashed in Cassian’s eyes. “People make mistakes,” he muttered to himself. “As long as the bond isn’t officially severed, there’s still a chance p>
Fred just shrugged.
Across the street, they saw Samantha check her phone and scramble into a taxi. “Where the hell is she going in the middle of the night?” Fred asked.
Cassian crushed his cigarette. “Follow her p>
They tracked her to the train station before she doubled back to the apartment Cassian had provided.
When Samantha led a shady-looking man into the building, Fred raised an eyebrow. “Your little canary is bringing strays back to the nest. Aren’t you going to go up there and catch them in the act p>
Cassian shot him a lethal look and dialed his assistant. “Humphrey, give me full access to the apartment’s surveillance. Now p>
Fred let out a bored whistle and drove back to his own place.
The second the elevator opened on the ninth floor, they saw Wynn leaning against the door. She looked exhausted, and her pheromones were dangerously weak.
Cassian caught her before she slumped over. “What are you doing out here in the middle of the night p>
Fred’s eyes narrowed. He caught the faint, red outline of a handprint on her face.
His Alpha aura turned violent instantly. “Who did it? Give me a name so I can end them p>
Wynn winced and pulled back. “My dad p>
Fred’s clenched fist froze. The fire in his eyes died out instantly. Oh. Well. Never mind then p>
They went inside, and Wynn started
crying. “My parents were screaming at each other again over the Ironthor inheritance. My dad lost it and smashed my mom’s favorite heirloomerett one from the
family rituals. I tried to stick up for her, and we had a fight p>
Fred handed her an ice pack and sighed. “Next time those two titans go to war, stay out of the blast zone p>
Seeing Cassian sitting on the sofa in total silence, Fred snapped, “Cassian, your sister just got hit. Say something, for God’s sake p>
Cassian looked up, his eyes void of warmth. “What do you want me to do? Go back to the estate and beat him up p>
Fred shrugged. “If you actually did it, I’d record it and post it on my story p>
Cassian let out a cold, hollow laugh. “Why don’t you do it p>
Fred grabbed Wynn’s arm. “Let’s go. Don’t mind him—he’s too busy digging his own grave p>
Once they left, the room fell into a deathly silence.
ét
Cassian looked around the empty, freezing apartment. He pulled out the pendant with the photo of his
lost Child and gripped it so hard the edges cut into his palm.
The next day, the rain in Los Angeles showed no signs of stopping. The whole city
was trapped under a heavy, depressing gray.
Cassian knocked and entered Trista’s office.
Seeing her taking a lunch break, he quietly placed a bag of food on her desk.
Trista sat up, wrapping a thin blanket around her shoulders. “You need something p>
Cassian walked over and dropped to
one knee in front of her. “Trista… my mother is sick Can you come back to the estate with me to check
her p>
Trista hesitated for a long moment, then gave a slow nod.
an
Cassian’s posture relaxed visibly. “I’ll pick you up after work p>
“Don’t bother,” Trista said flatly. “I’ll drive myself over after I clock out p>
Cassian stared at her cold face for a long time, the words dying in his throat.
Finally, he whispered, “Alright then. I’ll see you tonight p>