The Heartbroken Luna's Choice Banish Love novel Chapter 153

Chapter 153

Trista’s POV 

After Cassian let me go and turned to leave, I was left alone in the dressing room. 

Even with the door shut, his Alpha aura clung to the air and the back of my throat–a taste I couldn’t swallow no matter how hard I tried. 

Our mating bond didn’t let up either. It felt like a thin wire wrapped around my chest; even though it had been stretched dangerously thin, it still bit into my skin, a nagging reminder of what had just happened. 

I stood there for a long time until my breathing finally leveled out, then I pushed the door open. 

Paisley had been waiting outside. When she saw me, her eyes were swimming with pity. 

She kept her voice low, as if afraid of startling my wolf. “Luna Trista, Alpha Cassian had me make some fish and soup for you.” 

I shook my head. My voice was a bit raspy, but I kept my composure. “Paisley, I’m not hungry. I need to get to Sanctum.” 

Paisley let out a sigh. She gently pulled me into the dining room, her tone firm, as if she were holding the last line of defense for my well–being. “Luna Trista, you have to look out for your own body. No matter how urgent things are, you can’t help anyone if you’re falling apart.” 

I looked at her and gave a small nod. I picked up the spoon and whispered, “Thank you, Paisley.” 

I managed a few bites. The warm soup hit my stomach like a tiny spark in the cold, but that warmth wasn’t going to last. 

I set the spoon down, grabbed my coat, and left the villa. 

On the way to Sanctum, the light outside the window receded inch by inch–it felt like I was slowly withdrawing from a territory that didn’t belong to me. 

I pushed open the door to the ward and found Ulva. 

The moment she saw me, her tears just… fell. It was like a dam breaking; there was no stopping it. 

Her lips were trembling, like she was fighting back a pained, lupine howl. 

Attwater stood beside her. He was still just a kid, but his shoulders were as tense as a drawn bow. 

He wanted to say something, his lips moving soundlessly, but the words wouldn’t come. There was nothing but pure rage simmering in his eyes. 

I walked over and ruffled his buzz cut. 

Feeling the coarse hair against my fingertips made my heart ache. 

I shoved the emotions back down and forced a smile. 

I sat on the edge of the bed, took Ulva’s hand, and said softly, “Mom, you and Dad don’t need to worry about me. I’m fine. Seriously.” 

Ulva’s lips trembled even harder. Her tears hit the back of my hand, and they felt like they were scalding my skin. 

I tried to keep it light, like I was telling a joke that wasn’t worth crying over. “Look at our cousin, Alma. Her mate was dirt poor when they bonded, and he still ended up cheating on her.” 

I kept going, the lighter my tone got, the heavier my chest felt. “At least Ironthorn has money and power. I get the best of everything–clothes, food, a place to live.” 

Cassian didn’t even blink; he acted completely unfazed. 

He opened the tiffin and placed a bowl of specially prepared soup in front of Ulva, his tone almost thoughtful. “I had the kitchen make this nutritious meal for you. Give it a try.” 

Ulva looked at the soup and managed a weak, forced smile. “Thank you,” she rasped. 

Cassian reached out and pulled me down to sit beside him. 

His palm was warm, but the grip was non–negotiable. He looked at Ulva and Randolph, his tone steady, like he was reinforcing a boundary. “Don’t treat me like a stranger. We’re family.” 

I knew exactly why he was here. It wasn’t for the food. 

He was testing the waters–checking my parents‘ attitude, seeing how far Silverlight would go to protect me, and gauging how much longer this mating could hold up in public. 

I also knew that if I stayed, my parents wouldn’t be able to digest a single bite. 

I grabbed my bag and stood up. “I need to go to the store. Give me a ride.” 

Cassian shot me a look, then stood up as well. 

Right in front of my family, he naturally draped an arm around my shoulder, acting as if we were still perfectly in sync. 

He said to my parents, “I’m going to take Trista out for a bit. I’ll be back soon.” 

Before leaving, he didn’t forget to give Attwater an instruction, sounding like he was managing a pup’s schedule. “Attwater, you’re on break. Spend time with Ulva so Randolph can get some rest.”