265
Third Person’s POV
2:30 PM, at the healing center, Zelda knocked and entered, placing a medical folder on the desk.
“Sent over by your mate’s people. They said to give the results directly to you.”
Trista flipped through the report.
The data showed he was in peak physical condition–his vitals were off the charts.
+5 Pearin
“Send it back to the clinic,” Trista said without looking up, her voice flat. “Tell them to follow protocol and notify the patient to pick it up himself. I’m not his personal secretary.”
Zelda didn’t leave. Instead, she leaned in, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Trista, seriously–what is going on with you and Alpha Cassian?”
“He broke his oath. He has another woman and a kid on the side,” Trista said, looking up with a perfectly steady gaze.
“We’re in the middle of severing the mating bond. After that, we’re done.”
She had just come from the inpatient ward. Samantha had moved fast, getting that “unconscious” mother of hers settled into a luxury healing suite.
Trista knew that after the scene on the street, half the hospital was already whispering that Georgia was the mother of Cassian’s mistress.
If Cassian wouldn’t sign the papers, she’d make enough noise to force his hand.
The worst he could do was get angry and use his power to threaten her, but she didn’t care anymore.
Alistair had promised that Shadowfang would keep her safe.
3:00 PM, Trista left for a house call.
Zelda was finishing up in the office when the door was thrown open by a heavy wave of pine–scented pheromones.
Cassian marched in, his brow furrowed. “Where’s Trista?”
“Out on a call.” Zelda handed the folder back to him. “This is your report.”
Cassian glanced at it but didn’t take it. “Just leave it for her.”
Zelda rolled her eyes and found some courage. “Trista said she’s done with you and doesn’t have time for your personal business. She told me to send this back to the lab for you to pick up yourself.”
Cassian’s face went dark instantly.
5:00 PM, Trista was pushing Alistair’s wheelchair through the final lap of the Shadowfang garden.
1/3
cay pm
Chapter 205
+5 Pearle
Just as they returned to the living room, Cassian arrived.
He shot Alistair a cold look and walked straight to Trista.
“I’m here to take you home,” he said, his voice stiff and muffled.
Trista kept pushing the wheelchair toward the dining room without looking back. “I’m staying at Shadowfang for dinner. Go home.”
Cassian followed her in, his expression grim. Alistair didn’t kick him out; he just signaled a servant to set an extra plate.
Cassian had barely been seated for five minutes when the comm–stone in his pocket began to vibrate violently.
Trista didn’t need to look to know who it was.
She served Alistair a small bowl of soup. “Alistair, this will help with your rut symptoms. Try to finish it
The second she finished speaking, con stood up hesitantly.
“Trista, something came up. I have to go. You e
eat; I’ll come back for you later.”
Trista watched his retreating back, a mocking smile touching her lips.
Alistair dropped his spoon into the bowl, the sound echoing in the silent room.
He looked toward the door and spoke coldly. “Trista is staying the night here. Don’t bother coming back.”
Cassian froze in the doorway.
He stood there, his gaze darting between the two of them.
Alistair arched an eyebrow and tapped his finger on the marble table. “If you’d rather stay for dinner, I don’t mind.”
Cassian stared at Trista, his eyes looking like they wanted to bore a hole through her.
She sat there quietly, her eyes tracking the glowing, vibrating stone in his hand.
After a few seconds of dead silence, Cassian turned and marched out, his pheromones heavy with
resentment.
Once the sound of his engine faded, Alistair spoke. “Are you serious about breaking the mating bond?”
Trista leaned in slightly, her voice testing the waters. “Alpha Alistair… will you stand by me?”
They locked eyes at close range. Alistair placed a long, powerful finger against Trista’s forehead and firmly pushed her back into her seat, re–establishing a professional distance.
He picked up his spoon again.
2/3
8:49 pm Ppp
Chapter 265
45 Pears
“If you can actually cure my insomnia,” he said coolly, “I’ll consider making sure that severance procedure goes through.”
A spark of hope finally flickered in Trista’s eyes.
Between her and Cassian, there was a canyon of power and rank.
She didn’t even know if her petition for severance would ever be processed.
But curing Alistair’s trauma was the only leverage she had.
Late that night, in a guest room at Shadowfang, Trista stood by the floor–to–ceiling window in her silk pajamas.
Ever since Cassian had used a “business trip” as a cover to bring his first love and his kid back to this territory, she felt like her mating bond had turned to ash.
She had been hurt to the bone in this relationship, and it had taken everything she had to find her sanity again.
Cassian was still trying to keep her imprisoned with that mating bond.
But she wasn’t the same Luna who just sat around waiting for the blood moon anymore.
Tonight’s talk with Alistair made it clear: networking was just a trade.
She had to expand her own circle to tear a hole in Cassian’s authority.
If she was brave enough to let go, she was brave enough to fight for her freedom.
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.

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