The Heartbroken Luna's Choice Banish Love novel Chapter 22

**Chapter 22**

**Trista’s POV**

I felt as if I were adrift in an endless sea of darkness, a void that enveloped me completely. Time lost all meaning, and for what felt like an eternity, I lingered in this profound silence. Then, like a soft whisper carried on the wind, I heard my wolf’s voice calling out to me from a great distance.

It was a faint sound, as if it were struggling to break through layers of ice and water, thin and fragile, yet it resonated deep within my chest, echoing through my bones. My wolf was reaching out, urging me to return, to rise from the depths of my unconsciousness. Though its voice was weak, it still fought to guide me toward the light.

I felt a pull, an irresistible urge to follow that call, and so I began my ascent. On the third morning, as the world around me slowly came into view, I finally opened my eyes.

At first, everything was a blinding white, an overwhelming brightness that made me squint. Gradually, shapes and colors began to materialize, and the starkness faded into a more familiar setting. My head felt light, as if filled with cotton, weighed down by the damp air surrounding me. But the call of my wolf was now much closer, its presence a comforting warmth against my sternum, urging me gently, “Wake up.”

As my consciousness returned, fragments of memories flickered in my mind. I recalled that I had an important interview scheduled with Dr. Spencer regarding my mentorship, but I had missed it. A wave of anxiety washed over me; I needed to explain what had happened.

With a sense of determination, I pushed the bedroom door open and stepped out into the hallway. The study door was slightly ajar, and I could hear a steady, low voice emanating from within. I paused, recognizing the voice immediately—it was Cassian. I noted the time; it was a workday, well past ten in the morning, yet he hadn’t left the house.

Just then, he ended his call and emerged from the study, his gaze locking onto mine as I stood at the end of the hall. He approached me with purpose, raising his hand to check my forehead, concern etched on his features.

I instinctively turned my head away, unwilling to meet his gaze.

His expression shifted, darkening with disappointment. “Trista, is this really how a she-wolf should treat her mate?” he asked, his voice laced with hurt.

I chose to ignore him, turning my back and heading toward the stairs. Inside, I was seething, wanting to unleash all the bitterness that had been festering in my heart. But I felt drained, both physically and emotionally. The bond we shared felt like a tightening band around my chest, making it hard to breathe. If I dared to speak, I feared my breath would shatter under the weight of my emotions.

We returned to the bedroom, the air thick with unspoken tension. Neither of us mentioned the phrases “terminating the contract” or “loyalty,” but it was clear that those topics hung heavily between us, suffocating any other conversation.

As I approached the dressing room, Cassian seized my wrist, pulling me back to face him. “Why didn’t you Mind-Link me when your wolf was so weak? You were unconscious for three days! Do you even realize that?”

I looked up at him, my voice flat and devoid of emotion. “I was afraid of interrupting your time with her.”

The faint trace of pheromones that lingered on me, nearly extinguished, made his gaze falter for just a moment. His eyes widened slightly before he regained his composure, shifting gears. “I’m flying to France this afternoon for work. The photography studio is delivering the wedding photos today. You should—”

“I don’t have time,” I interrupted, pulling my hand free from his grasp.

His voice turned sharp, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. “Trista, you’ve argued, you’ve thrown tantrums, you’ve broken things. Just stop this now!”

I simply stared at him, turned, and closed the dressing room door with a soft click, cutting off the conversation.

A short while later, I heard a knock at the main door. “Alpha Cassian, are you ready to leave?” Humphrey’s voice called out, steady and professional.

Cassian replied, “Push the departure time back by two hours.”

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