Chapter 332
Third Person’s POV
Humphrey stood there, completely floored. Alaina hadn’t expected the couple to look so… “harmonious” either.
Wilmot was just as stunned. He leaned in and whispered to his wife, “Looks like that mating bond isn’t as trashed as we thought p>
Taking the hint, Alaina grabbed her husband and steered him back out of the room.
Cassian let go of Trista-though he clearly didn’t want to—and kept his eyes locked on her like a target.
Trista turned to Humphrey, her voice professional and distant. “Help Alpha Cassian back into bed p>
Humphrey scrambled to obey.
Trista then looked at the lead healer. “Are his vitals stable p>
“Significant soft tissue bruising on the legs,” the healer replied. “We’re still
processing two of the imaging reports. Alpha Wilmot requested we keep him for observation p>
Trista glanced at Cassian, her expression flat. “His wolf is a tank. An impact like that is a flesh wound at best p>
The healer shot an awkward look at Cassian.
Cassian’s face turned thunderous, and he threw a lethal glare at Humphrey.
Humphrey, realizing he had to sell the “tragedy,” jumped in. “Luna Trista, it was actually terrifying. If it weren’t for Alpha Cassian’s reflexes and Alpha strength, he would’ve been launched into the air. I’m positive there’s internal damage we haven’t found yet p>
Trista gave Humphrey a warning look. “But he didn’t fly, did he p>
Humphrey looked down, his confidence crumbling.
Cassian lay back on the bed and closed his eyes, his expression dark, as if he were manually suppressing a volcanic rage.
Once the healers left, Humphrey wisely slipped out to guard the door.
Trista stood by the bed, watching Cassian’s chest heave with heavy, ragged breaths.
“Cassian, you aren’t that badly hurt,” she said, finally breaking the silence. “I’ll have Isaiah come here and apologize to your face. Let’s just settle this privately. What do you say p>
Cassian’s eyes snapped open, his gold pupils dancing with fury.
He stared at her, enunciating every word. “Trista… exactly whose side are you on right now p>
“I’m trying to keep this from spiraling out of control. I’m doing this for both of you.” Cassian let out a cold, sharp laugh, his eyes full of disbelief.
Trista bit her lip and threw out her best excuse. “Isaiah’s wolf soul disorder flared up. He was in a bad state—he was hallucinating. He didn’t mean it p>
Before she could finish, Cassian bolted upright.
“Trista, don’t forget you’re a Senior Healer. Isaiah’s medical records are public. He isn’t sick. This was attempted murder p>
Trista knew he wouldn’t let it go easily.
“His wolf is in a volatile phase. As his primary healer, I understand his instability and his aggression better than you do p>
She knew the excuse was paper-thin the kid had brazenly attacked a Alpha’s dignity—but she had to push through. “Cassian, I’m asking you one last time. Drop the charges and settle this privately. Yes or no p>
Cassian stared her down, his pupils narrowing into dangerous vertical slits. He didn’t say a word, but the bloodlust radiating off him was answer enough.
Seeing that he was ready for war, Trista played her final, bloody card. “Cassian, you know the Lockes’ history in Europe. They’re an ‘eye for an eye clan. If you push this, they wont let you humiliate their youngest son. You’ll be starting a war between two packs p>
Despite the stabbing pain of a hairline fracture in his leg, Cassian forced himself to stand.
His Alpha aura exploded, filling the room.
the distance between
He closed the
them, his voice a low rasp. “The Lockes are dangerous? Do you think the Ironthorns is just a bunch of pushovers waiting to be stepped on? You think anyone can just walk onto
my territory and challenge my mate and my legacy whenever they feel like it p>
Trista felt a chill. She realized Isaiah’s suicidal stunt had trampled on the one thing
Cassian viewed as sacred: his pride as a leader.
She softened her tone, trying to use
a trace of her calming pheromones
to settle his wolf. “Ironthorn has
business in Europe, too. There’s no reason to burn everything down over a personal grudge. I’m… I’m trying to look out for you, too p>
Cassian stared at her, silent.
Through her “calming” energy, he could sense the truth: her deep suspicion and her
total lack of trust in him.
The feeling of being biologically bonded but emotionally lightyears apart was suffocating.
Trista felt her heart sink.
Her fingers trembled as she instinctively reached for her phone to call Elias.
But before she could touch the screen, Cassian snatched her wrist.
His grip was strong enough to crush bone. He leaned into her ear, his voice dripping
with a terrifying, jealous edge. “In a moment like this, your first instinct is to go running to Elias for cover p>