Chapter 339
Third Person’s POV
Setting aside her deep-seated hatred for Samantha, Trista’s code as a healer
wouldn’t allow it. Ripping open someone’s consciousness without their consent was a total violation of professional ethics.
She stood up to leave, but Cassian’s arm shot out. A heavy wave of Alpha aura instantly blocked the dining room exit, cutting her off.
Cassian tried to rein in his aggression, his voice dropping to a low, almost pleading rasp. “Trista, there’s a reason I’m keeping her around. If you help me, we can finally dig up the truth buried in that mess p>
Trista shoved him back.
Her eyes were like ice, her voice sharp and final. “Cassian, I don’t care about your excuses, and I definitely don’t want to know your ‘truth.’ The answer is no. Find someone else to do your dirty work p>
Whether Cassian really wanted to investigate Samantha or was just looking for an excuse to force Trista to look after her, she didn’t care. She wasn’t nodding along to this.
Trista turned and headed for the master bedroom.
Behind her, Cassian’s voice rose, edged with urgency. “What if she’s involved in a cold-blooded murder? What if she’s a criminal who’s been dodging the law and the Council for years? Would you still refuse then p>
Trista stopped, looking back over her shoulder. “If she really committed a major crime, the police and the Council will hunt her down. They don’t need a healer to play detective p>
Seeing her push back so hard, Cassian stepped toward her, his aura dissipating. “Fine. If you’re that against it, forget I asked. I won’t force you p>
He reached out and caught her wrist, his voice stiff but compromising. “Your blood sugar is low. Finish your dinner before you go to bed p>
They finished the meal in a suffocating silence.
Afterward, Cassian went into his study, and Trista retreated to her room.
All night, the sound of Cassian’s heavy footsteps echoed from the study.
His wolf was pacing, battering against his logic. If Trista wouldn’t invade Samantha’s mind, he needed a Plan B—but his patience with that she-wolf had officially run out.
Trista tossed and turned, her mind racing with the “secret” Cassian had mentioned. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration hit her, and she sat bolt upright.
At 2:00 AM, Trista padded across the cold floor on bare feet and knocked on the study door.
The door opened, and they locked eyes in the dim light of the hallway.
Trista spoke first. “I’ll do it. I’ll treat Samantha, including the deep hypnosis. But I have one condition p>
She’d realized there was no point in being a martyr for ethics here. A healer’s hypnosis was just a form of deep therapy anyway.
If Samantha really was hiding a secret that could blow this whole situation wide open, Trista didn’t mind giving her a push.
This way, Samantha gets treated, Cassian gets his evidence, and she gets her severance papers. It was a triple win.
Cassian’s face looked gaunt in the shadows. “What condition p>
“Sign the papers, and I’ll take the case,” Trista said, not backing down an inch.
A flash of raw violence flickered in Cassian’s eyes—the primal, out-of-control aggression of an Alpha whose mate had just publicly rejected him.
He looked down at her toes, which were turning blue from the cold floor, and snapped.
He lunged forward, slinging her over his shoulder like a piece of prey. He marched into the master bedroom and tossed her roughly onto the center of the bed.
Trista scramb up, retreating to the corner of the mattress.
Cassian grabbed the heavy down comforter and threw it over her, burying her under the weight of it, “You want to break our bond and find your ‘freedom’?”he hissed through gritted teeth. “As long as the wolf inside me is still breathing, you can keep dreaming p>
By the time Trista managed to pull the blanket off her head, all that was left was the vibration of the door slamming in the hall.
The next morning, Cassian was shocked to find Trista busy in the kitchen.
As he headed for the door, she blocked him. “Skipping breakfast isn’t going to help your wolf heal. I made eggs and pancakes. Eat before you leave p>
Cassian stood there, his eyes sharp and suspicious. “What are you up to now?” “Just think about my offer from last night,” she said, looking perfectly calm. Cassian tried to push past her. “Eat your own breakfast p>
Trista grabbed his arm, putting on her best “professional healer” voice. “Cassian, I’m serious. You finally found your ‘true love don’t you want her to be healthy? Insomnia at her fevel causes irreversible damage to the wolf if it goes on too long.”.net She began listing the medical consequences with clinical precision, “First, she’ll lose all emotional control-she won’t be able to handle her kid. Then comes memory loss and cognitive decline. After that, her risk for heart failure and soul-core necrosis skyrockets The Council will eventually declare her a ‘defect’ and exile her… and p>
“And you need to shut up,” Cassian muttered, cutting her off. He grabbed her by the
waist and hauled her back into the kitchen.