The Heartbroken Luna's Choice Banish Love novel Chapter 181

Chapter 181

Third Person’s POV

Cassian bit back the Alpha rage simmering in his gut, but his aura turned stone–cold, making the air in the room feel thick enough to choke on.

“You’re just biased against her,” he said. “Samantha is an omega. She wouldn’t have crossed territory lines to hunt me down unless she was truly desperate.”

Fred stood up, the playboy smirk he usually wore nowhere to be found. His wolf–eyes were dead serious, locked onto Cassian’s. “Look, we grew up together in these woods. So take this as one last warning from a friend: If you keep playing this double game between these two she–wolves, your mating bond with Trista is going to end in a total wreck.”

Fred didn’t stop, his voice gaining a hard edge. “Think back, Cassian. Think about what Trista was like before she was your mate, before she was the ‘Luna‘ of Ironthorn. She was like a silver moon–bright, fearless, totally her own person. She used to own the night. Now look at her. She looks like her soul’s been encased in ice.”

He didn’t give Cassian a chance to interrupt. “If you actually want to fix things as her mate, then cut the cord on your past. Tell Samantha it’s over–for real–and stay the hell away from her. Stop ripping open Trista’s old wounds every chance you get.”

Fred added one final jab, “If you want to save this mating, start giving her the respect a Luna deserves. Give her some damn peace of mind, instead of using your Alpha status to back her into a corner just to prove a point.”

Back at the Alpha villa–that monument to his own power–Fred’s words kept circling Cassian’s head like a predator.

In his twisted logic, the only reason Trista was acting out–staying out late, hiding her scent–was because she still gave a damn. To him, it meant the bond was still alive; her wolf was still reacting to him, still tracking his every move.

He went to the dressing room, pressed his thumb to the biometric lock of a secure case, and pulled out the obsidian canes–ancient Silverlight heirlooms humming with old magic.

He lit a cigarette, letting the heavy smoke mask his restless pheromones.

He sat on the leather sofa, waiting in the dead silence for Trista to come home.

“We’re formal mates, joined under the Moon Goddess,” he told himself.

As her Alpha, he figured he could swallow a little pride to soothe her. It shouldn’t be that hard.

Around midnight, Trista walked in, carrying a fresh armful of plush toys.

She instantly caught the sharp, cold scent of tobacco and locked eyes with Cassian

When she saw the black case sitting on the coffee table, her face didn’t change at all. She just walked toward him with a steady, measured pace.

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10:25 Wed, Jan 7

Chapter 181

Cassian stared at the childish, colorful toys in her arms, his brow knitting into a hard knot.

Their eyes met in the stagnant air, sending a ripple of mental static through the room.

Trista set the toys down and reached for the heavy case, but Cassian’s large, scarred hand slammed onto the lid first. He blocked her move.

They stared at each other in silence again, their pheromones clashing in a wordless tug–of–war.

Trista was the first to give up. She didn’t argue; she just turned to head for the master bedroom.

“Trista,” Cassian said, his voice softer now but still carrying that bone–deep, commanding weight. “I know you’ve got a lot of resentment built up. We can use this time to talk. Like adults.”

Trista paused, but she didn’t turn around to meet his gaze. “Don’t bother. Even if I’m full of bitterness I can’t shake, I’ve learned to deal with it on my own.”

She knew the deal. Between them, neither logic nor screaming meant anything as long as Samantha was still in the picture.

With a slow, deliberate movement, Cassian flipped open the case.

“If we can be completely honest and clear the air,” he said, his voice deep, “I’ll return these to your pack tonight. They belong to your family.”

Seeing him finally offer to return her mother’s obsidian canes–the symbols of her family’s pride–Trista finally turned around.

A flicker of internal war crossed her eyes. After a long moment of hesitation, she walked back and sat down near him. “Where do you want to start?” she asked, her voice low and flat.

Cassian reached out and gripped her wrist, his strength leaving her no choice as he pulled her closer.

He locked his dark, wolfish eyes onto hers. “Let’s start with why you’ve been staying out until dawn two nights in a row.”

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