Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Trista’s POV
It was evening.
Finished
The hallway carpet in the downtown Santa Monica hote was thick enough to absorb every sound of footsteps.
I had just finished showering. Water still clung to my collarbone. I tossed my comm–stone
nightstand and was about to organize
His scent hit me first.
Votes from the Healing Institute-
It wasn’t a sound. It was his Alpha’s aroma, pushing through the air even through walls: cold metal, faint smoky wood, and an intensely suppressed layer of Ironhorn aura.
The muscles in my back instantly tensed.
My sternum felt lightly tapped by a knuckle.
A few seconds later, the knock finally came.
Three taps. Very restrained.
I stood still.
I didn’t look through the peephole. I didn’t speak.
The door was silent for a moment, then his voice came, muffled by the thick wood, but unhurried. “Trista, you know I can sense you here p>
His Alpha aura pressed slightly inward through the door crack–a reminder, and a warning. “If you really plan to pretend you’re not in… I have other ways to get you to open the door. But it will disrupt the entire floor p>
My fingers clenched the hem of my robe.
He wasn’t bluffing. If an Ironthorn Alpha released his aura, ordinary humans would panic, thinking it was an earthquake or a fire alarm. Werewolves would instinctively rush out of their rooms. I didn’t want to end up in a hospital report on my first day of the exchange program.
I walked to the door. I spoke through the wood. “Why are you here p>
“Business trip,” his voice lowered slightly. “I heard you were here. Just dropping by to say hello p>
I took a sharp breath. I slid the lock, opening the door only a crack, just enough for half my eye to see him.
The hallway light fell on his shoulder line and the side of his face. He stood there with an air of complete entitlement: as if he had the right to show up wherever I was, at any time.
I shielded myself behind the door. “Greeting exchanged. You can go now p>
As I prepared to close the door, he raised his hand. His knuckles pressed lightly against the doorframe.
The pressure wasn’t hard, but it perfectly caught the door on its pivot, freezing it open.
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Chapter 58
My gaze fell on his hand.
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It was a hand I knew intimately. Long–fingered, with fait lines of old scars extending to his wrist. I used to kiss the scabs there.
Now, it stood between the door and me.
ked (
He didn’t force his way in. He just gave a light a bit more.
He stepped sideways into the room. His movement so natural, like returning to his ow
was
The room was small: a single bed, a desk, and a suitcase tucked into the corner. It had no trace of home p>
Cassian glanced around. His brow furrowed. “I booked a suite upstairs. It’s bigger and has a separate meeting area. Come move up with me p>
I leaned against the closet, deliberately retreating further into the shadow.
Water still dripped from my damp hair, but my back felt tight and dry.
I crossed my arms. “Alpha Cassian, take some time to sign the termination agreement. Stop avoiding the real issue p>
He looked at me. His gaze paused for a moment on my shoulder line and collarbone.
For that instant, the wolf inside him seemed to surge forward, only to be forcibly pulled back.
His jawline tightened, then relaxed. “This room is unsuitable. Move upstairs with me. We need to talk p>
“I have nothing to talk to you about, except ending the mating contract,” I shook my head.
The tightness in my own voice was audible to me.
He was silent for a few seconds.
His aura suppressed even tighter. But instead of relief, the air felt stretched thin. “I invited Hera Evans. I told her you were in Santa Monica, and she immediately agreed to meet us p>
He paused, giving me time to react. “Hera loves you. Don’t you want to see her p>
My breath hitched.
The “Hera Evans” Cassian mentioned was a neighbor next to the Silverlight Pack territory when I was little.
She was a violinist and my first music teacher.
She
even helped me
my
first violin.
I had planned to secretly visit her apartment after the exchange program ended, giving her a surprise.
I never expected him to call her in advance.
Finally, I nodded. I followed him upstairs to his suite.
The living room was much more spacious than mine. The floor–to–ceiling windows offered a view of the
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Chapter 58
seaside lights.
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Hera was already sitting on the sofa. Seeing me, she immediately stood up, opening her arms.
I hurried over and hugged her.
Her scent was exactly as I remembered: clean pine and the woody smell of an old violin case. It instantly calmed me.
“Look at you,” Hera held my hand, guiding me to sit on the sofa. She scrutinized me. “A lit least you haven’t collapsed again p>
but at
Cassian poured us juice and sat opposite us.
Hera was a celebrity in the music world. Many orchestras clamored to work with her.
Even at her age, her style was impeccable. Her necklace and earrings were understated silver moon shapes. Her presence was exceptional.
She looked at both of us, sighing repeatedly. “It’s such a pity. I would be even happier if there was a little baby running around your feet p>
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