Chapter 84
Chapter 84
Third Person’s POV
Late at night, West Side.
Finished
On a street where human and werewolf territories overlapped, a dimly lit wolf bar hung its neon sign, “Moonlit Rest p>
After midnight, they stopped serving humans. The clientele passing in and out were almost exclusively wolves, their gland scents heavy in the air.
In the semi–enclosed booth on the second floor, the light was low. The air was a thick mix of alcohol, tobacco, and pheromones.
When Fred pushed open the semi–transparent soundproof door, Cassian was half–reclined on the sofa.
Two buttons of his shirt were undone. A distinct red mark tracked the line of his Alpha gland near his collar–it looked like it had been scraped raw by high–pressure pheromones and alcohol.
Fred walked over and cautiously held his hand near Cassian’s nose, testing his breathing.
Cassian instinctively slapped the hand away–that reflexive defense was enough to reassure Fred. He sat on the opposite sofa.
After a moment, Cassian slowly sat up, tiredly rubbing his temples, pressing hard as if trying to force his chaotic thoughts back into order.
Fred, for once, dropped his usual casual demeanor. “I just came from your house. Checked everything p>
“Samantha and Algernon are gone.” Fred paused, then continued. “You look terrible. Go home and sleep. Deal with the rest tomorrow p>
“Trista just went abroad. She didn’t vanish off the face of the earth p>
Cassian didn’t respond. He poured another drink.
The glass rim tapped his knuckles with a crisp sound, like a tiny blow to the bone.
Fred tried to hold back, but couldn’t. “Cassian, Trista sold her mother’s heirloom obsidian cane just to get away from you p>
“That was the Silverlight Alpha lineage crest p>
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Chapter 84
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He stared at the Alpha across from him. “She remodeled your house, personally invited Samantha and Algernon to move in, and even gave her the wedding ring p>
“Are you still missing the point p>
Cassian stared down, his fingers gripping the glass tight, knuckles white, looking utterly slammed.
His Alpha scent was pulled so tight it was almost gone from the booth, leaving only a residue of exhaustion and profound loss, slowly mingling with the whiskey and tobacco in the air.
“This means,” Fred finally said, “Trista isn’t throwing a tantrum. She is dead serious about terminating the mating bond p>
“She won’t p>
Cassian finally spoke, his tone strangely stubborn. “She was pushed to the extreme. That’s why she did this p>
“Her bringing Samantha and Algernon into our house, giving away the ring–it was a message. It was her forcing me to choose p>
He sounded like he was trying to convince someone else, or perhaps the stubbornly defiant wolf inside himself.
Fred watched him with a pained expression. He opened his mouth but decided against any more advice.
Late that night, Fred drove Cassian back to the pack.
The porch light was on. A pair of distinctly non–Trista slippers sat on the mat–laced, pale pink, matching the entire cream–colored French decor.
Cassian looked at the slippers, hesitated, but didn’t bother changing into his.
Fred, walking into the living room, couldn’t help but complain. “I’m telling you, Samantha’s taste is miles behind Trista’s p>
He muttered, “If your grandmother were still around, she might have loved this decor p>
-The taste of a previous Luna, not the current one.
Cassian shot him a look. “Don’t mention Trista going abroad to Wynn yet p>
Fred scoffed. “You know her. Can I actually keep this a secret from her p>
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Chapter 84
Cassian ignored him, climbing the stairs with heavy steps.
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He took a quick shower, changed into pajamas, but didn’t go to the bedroom. He went straight to the study.
The study was clean as always. The only “mess” was on the coffee table–the three items Trista left behind:
The termination agreement, a black bank card, and the wedding band.
These three were the only objects left in the entire house that were still linked to her.
She burned everything else.
She didn’t even leave behind a hair tie or a cup she had used.
The coffee table suddenly gave a small vibration.
The comm–stone by its side glowed faintly, like someone knocking on the other side of a mental channel.
Cassian placed his hand over it. The familiar mental frequency instantly spread through the
stone.
“Alpha Cassian p>
It was Humphrey’s voice, kept deliberately low, echoing in his mind. “Luna Trista flew to France the day before you returned. She took a position at the Sheptrans‘ private healing center p>
“I have compiled her current address and itinerary. I’m sending you the mind–link marker now p>
Cassian’s brow tightened. “France? The healing center under the Blade Pack p>
Beta Humphrey immediately corrected him. “It’s the Sheptran family’s branch in the West End. The referrer is Xander, the Sheptrans‘ third son p>
The mental channel went quiet. Only the faint light of the comm–stone slowly faded out.
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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.