Chapter 67
Chapter 67
Trista’s POV
M
Samantha kept talking, her tone deceptively innocent, but her eyes were full of blatant challenge.
“We’re both women,” she said. “I truly don’t want to make things hard for you p>
Finished:
She stared me down. “But I hope you’ll think about the baby and leave Cassian on your own. A child needs his father. He needs a whole family p>
A whole family.
In her picture, I was the obvious casualty.
I kept my voice flat and polite. “Since Cassian loves you both so much, he’ll give you and your son a formal, public status eventually. Ms. Fernandez, don’t worry p>
With that, I turned toward the lobby doors.
She suddenly reached out, grabbing my forearm.
She dropped her voice, leaning close. “Ms. Holmes, what good is that Ironthorn Luna title if you still wear it p>
Her nails dug into the skin beneath my sleeve, tightening slowly.
“The one Cassian loves is me,” she whispered. “You’re just the thing that shouldn’t exist between
us p>
“1
My wolf lifted its head in my mind, a low growl forming.
I tried to yank my arm away. She clung harder, digging her nails in.
“The night I flew back,” she said, her voice dropping to a seductive, taunting whisper. “I slept with Cassian p>
She leaned in, her breath hot on my face.
“You have no idea how crazy he is on me p>
With every word, her sweet omega scent pressed against me, deliberately fouling my emotional boundary.
“He said that every time he was in bed with you these past years,” she breathed, “he was thinking
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Chapter 67
of me p>
My hand moved as her last word landed.
I flung her off, raised my arm, and hit her hard across the face.
The sharp crack of the slap echoed in the quiet courtyard.
My palm went numb. The pulse thundering in my ears swallowed the sound of the wind.
I knew Cassian was unfaithful.
67
Finished
But hearing her taunt me, trampling my dignity while leveraging this shredded mating bond–I simply lost it.
Samantha shrieked, collapsing onto the ground, clutching her face, her hair tangled.
Her omega scent exploded–a sickeningly sweet, defensive musk that choked the air.
The next second, a familiar Alpha aura charged toward us from the building entrance.
“Samantha p>
Cassian’s voice slammed into my still–ragged breathing.
He reached us almost instantly.
He ignored me first. He knelt to check the scrape on Samantha’s knee, then carefully helped her up.
She threw herself against him, sobbing, her shoulders shaking. “Cassian, I’m so sorry, I just couldn’t move fast enough p>
He held her steady, then finally looked at me.
His eyes were hard with suppressed fury, a cold, unmistakable accusation.
“Trista,” he said. “I warned you to stay away from Samantha p>
My tightly–wound composure snapped completely.
“If you can’t see, go see a healer!” I threw my head back. My chest was tight, my voice trembling but sharp. “She knows, I know, and the Moon Goddess knows who the hell is looking for trouble p>
We locked gazes.
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Chapter 67
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Finished
Humiliation and injury surged up like a tide. I bit down hard, trapping the sounds in my throat.
Samantha, still draped in his arms, secretly peeked up at him.
“Cassian, my leg hurts so badly,” her voice was weak and tearful again. “Can you please take me upstairs p>
She dissolved back into his arms, pretending she couldn’t stand.
He bent, lifting her.
Her scent washed over his shoulder. His Alpha aura instinctively coated her in a protective shell.
He looked back at me one last time.
The glance was a mix of exhaustion and frustration. Then, he turned and strode toward the elevator.
I stood there, watching him leave, holding the woman he loved, right in front of me.
My chest felt crushed, wave after wave. The mating bond around my gland stung, making my breath ragged.
I forced myself to ignore the cramping pain, forcing myself to stand tall.
I pulled back sleeve.
my
The pale skin of my forearm clearly showed several thin, bloody lines where Samantha’s nails had dug in–each scratch a reminder of what truly happened, and who was the real aggressor.
I lowered my sleeve, took a deep breath, and wiped the tears from my face.
At the glass door to the apartment building, I pulled out a small mirror, quickly fixing my makeup, erasing the embarrassing wetness around my eyes.
Then, I turned and walked upstairs, pressing the button for Lance’s floor.
I was going to sell the cane, get the money, and terminate the mating at the Stone Circle.
I wasn’t waiting another second.
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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.