Chapter 335
Third Person’s POV
Humphrey knew he was screwed the second he saw them.
Grace was a beta, but her protective instinct over their bond was fierce. She recognized that cheap rogue scent on Samantha instantly.
Before Humphrey could even try to explain, her sister Mia let out a low growl and lunged.
Mia grabbed a handful of Samantha’s dry, brittle hair and slammed her face into the cold concrete floor. The sound of slaps echoed through the hallway. “I knew I smelled something rotting around here! You’re just a stray in heat trying to steal my sis’ mate p>
Meanwhile, Humphrey was busy running for his life as Grace chased him down.
He didn’t dare fight back; he just kept his hands over his face, trying to protect his dignity as a high-ranking pack member.
The air was a toxic mess of clashing pheromones.
An hour later, Humphrey limped back into the VIP suite, his face a map of bruises and scratches.
Isaiah took one look at him and decided it was time to leave.
Once the door shut, Cassian asked coldly, “That was quite a show outside. How’d it go p>
Humphrey looked miserable as he recounted the “disciplinary action” Grace and Mia had handed out.
For once, Cassian’s tone softened, showing a flicker of sympathy for his right-hand man. “There’s no shame in getting checked by your mate. Just hang in there. Once this settles, I’ll give you a month off and double your annual bonus p>
Humphrey straightened his back instantly. “Miss Fernandez borrowed ten thousand dollars from me,” he reported.
Cassian’s brow furrowed.
Samantha was so desperate she was shaking down his assistant for cash, yet she still hadn’t gone to Algernon’s biological father for help.
“Who is the man behind her?” Cassian wondered.
“Does he have a direct link to Crispin’s death? What is she so terrified of that she’d rather starve than name him p>
Later that afternoon, Trista returned to the room.
Cassian reached out a hand toward her, his voice a low rasp. “Help me to the bathroom p>
Trista didn’t move. “Cassian, you have some bruised muscles. Your wolf is perfectly fine. Are you really going to play the ‘helpless patient’ card now p>
“You promised to take care of me,” Cassian said, his eyes burning with intensity. “Is this your idea of care p>
“Maybe I should just call Samantha to come handle this,” Trista muttered.
Before she could finish the sentence, Cassian shoved himself up and walked into the bathroom with perfectly steady legs.
Trista just rolled her eyes. She’d just have to grit her teeth and endure this until he was discharged.
Isaiah popped his head in, seeing Trista looking miserable. “What’s up? You look like you’re ready for a wolf duel p>
Trista forced a smile. “I’m fine p>
“Come on,” Isaiah suggested. “Let’s hit the track for a few laps once you’re free. You need to vent p>
Trista nodded. “I’d like that p>
When Cassian came out and saw the “troublemaker” was still there, he snapped, “What are you still doing here p>
Isaiah was sprawled on the sofa playing games on his phone. He didn’t even look up. “Nobody to hunt with. I’m just hanging with Trista p>
Trista walked over and draped a thin blanket over Isaiah’s legs, then set a fruit plate she’d made for him on the coffee table.
Cassian sat on the bed, supposedly handling pack business, but his eyes were locked on her.
Seeing her be so patient with a rival Alpha made his blood boil.
By the time Fred stopped by that evening, Isaiah had fallen fast asleep on the sofa.
Trista went into the small
kitchenette to start dinner. Fred
looked at Cassian and let out a low,
mocking laugh You paid a hell of a
price to keep her here, but you two
don’t exactly look like mates p>
Cassian looked away, his voice stiff. “If you came here to tell me to sign the papers, save your breath p>
Fred gave him a look that said suit yourself, then woke Isaiah up and led him out.
Cassian stood up and walked to the kitchen door.
He saw Trista on a video call with
Elias’s son. She was smiling-a real, soft, genuine smile. It was a light he hadn’t seen her for a very long time.
A wave of jealousy, sharper than any physical pain, hit him.
He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her in a crushing embrace.
Trista jumped, quickly hanging up the call.
She struggled to push him off. “Dinner’s ready. Are you eating now or later p>
Cassian trapped her in the narrow
corner of the kitchen, his dark gold eyes pinning her down. His voice was hoarse and obsessive. “Tristä, why? Why can you be so gentle with a stranger or an outsider, but you treat your own husband like your worst enemy p>
Trista wasn’t surprised by the question. She just looked at him calmly.
She realized that even now, he didn’t think he’d done anything wrong.
He apologized, he bowed his head, he offered “compensation”—but only because
she’d terminated the pregnancy and things had blown up.
He was just doing damage control to save the bond.
“I have a question for you first,” Trista countered. “Why were you better to Samantha
and her kid than you ever were to your own Luna p>
They locked eyes, and the light in Cassian’s gaze slowly died out.
His self-pity turned into a crushing weight of guilt. He opened his mouth to speak,
but no sound came out.