Chapter 427
hapter 427
Third Person’s POV
Cassian’s eyelashes fluttered as tears spilled silently down his face.
His voice was a jagged, broken rasp. “Trista… do you really have to tear me apart like this p>
Finished
“The only reason our child isn’t in this world, Cassian, is because of you,” she said, her voice hard and unwavering. “You owe me that life p>
Thinking of the baby who never got a chance to breathe, Trista broke down, her sobs echoing through the
room.
“Unless I’m dead, Cassian, don’t you ever expect a single drop of forgiveness from me. Not in this lifetime p>
They were both crying now, the air in the room so heavy it felt like it was crushing them.
The brief spark of heat from moments ago was gone, replaced by a cold, suffocating grief.
Cassian reached out, his long fingers trembling as he cupped her face, gently wiping away the salt and the hurt.
“Don’t cry,” he choked out, trying to soothe her. “Just lie down. Get some rest. I’m going downstairs for a smoke p>
He laid her back gently and pulled the blanket up to her chin.
Watching her close her eyes, he gathered his clothes from the floor and stumbled out of the room.
Late Night. The Living Room.
Cassian sat slumped on the floor by the liquor cabinet.
He leaned his back against the wood, surrounded by half–empty bottles. The sharp, overwhelming smell of alcohol couldn’t even mask the scent of the rot inside him.
He wanted to be wasted.
He wanted to drown the beast roaring in his gut and just black out.
But as an Alpha, his metabolism was a curse–the more he drank, the more painfully sober he became.
The burning in his stomach and the ache in his chest were nothing compared to the look in Trista’s eyes tonight.
“Why?” he asked himself
Why had he taken his entire world and set it on fire with his own hands?
Humphrey stepped into the living room and nearly hit his knees. The Alpha pheromones in the air were
11:08 am PPXX.
Chapter 427
so thick they were toxic–a chaotic, violent mix of despair and self–destruction.
10:51
Finished
He saw Cassian curled up by the cabinet and rushed forward to help, only to be slammed back by a jagged, defensive aura field.
“Alpha Cassian, my phone is ringing off the hook,” Humphrey said, bracing himself against the aura. “The Council is demanding to know where you are. Should I send a word back p>
Three years ago, Cassian had brought Trista here for their honeymoon.
Back then, he was a young man obsessed with his mate. When he complained about the bad reception, he’d dropped a fortune and used Ironthorn resources to build a cell tower on this remote rock.
He wanted his mate to be “connected” at all times.
Now, the island was a cage.
The tower was still there, but Cassian had personally cut every line of communication. The island was a
otal blackout.
The only link to the outside world was the phone in Humphrey’s pocket, which hadn’t stopped vibrating ince last night.
Humphrey hadn’t dared to answer a single call.
Get out,” Cassian rasped, his voice as cold as a grave. “Unless it’s a direct order for the pack, don’t answer a ingle damn call p>
He struggled to his feet, every muscle in his body screaming in protest as he flirted with total exhaustion.
Humphrey didn’t move.
As the second–in–command of the Ironthorns, he wasn’t just Cassian’s right hand; he was the guardian of he pack’s stability.
Seeing his Alpha crumbling over a she–wolf–if the rival packs caught wind of this, the Ironthorn borders would collapse in a day. It would be an invitation for a coup.
He pulled a pill bottle from his pocket, his voice urgent. “Alpha Cassian, your ulcers and heart palpitations ire at the breaking point. This bond–tear is killing you–your body can’t heal itself like this! You’re going to die if you don’t take the meds. Now p>
Cassian swung an arm out. Even at his lowest, a top–tier Alpha’s reflex was lethal. The force sent Humphrey reeling back several steps.
The glass bottle shattered against the marble floor, the dark brown liquid seeping into the cracks like
blood.
Humphrey ignored the numbness in his arm, dropping to one knee, his face pale. “Damn it. I’m going to the chopper to get the backup. Alpha Cassian, you are the spine of this pack. You are the Alpha. You cannot let yourself burn out here p>
Cassian collapsed into a chair, the fire in his gut feeling like it was eating his organs alive.
1:08 am P P XX.
Chapter 427
Finished
He clutched the front of his shirt, his heart spasming from the stress and the soul–deep ache of the
rejection.
Through the haze, he saw a shadow at the top of the stairs—Trista.
He was in too much pain to stand. He reached out a trembling hand toward her. “Trista p>
The she–wolf standing on the landing looked down at his pathetic state as if he were a complete stranger.
There was no pity, no emotion, not even a flicker of recognition. She simply turned and went back upstairs.
In that moment, the last light in Cassian’s eyes went out.
He tried to get up to stop her, to beg her, but the second he stood, he crashed heavily back to the floor.
The physical pain and the agony in his heart wove together into a net he couldn’t escape. He curled into a ball on the cold floor, staring at the stairs, his throat producing nothing but broken, jagged whimpers.
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Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.