The Heartbroken Luna's Choice Banish Love novel Chapter 273

Trista's POV

Alaina, who had been watching the chaos from the sidelines, finally spoke up. "Tonight, as a member of the Ironthorns, Trista ditched her own mate to hang out with my half-brother."

She shot me a sharp look, her tone cutting. "She pushed Alistair's wheelchair right in front of every pack in LA, making us the subject of every dirty rumor in the city. It's an absolute embarrassment to the Ironthorn name."

She paused, turning toward Howard at the head of the room to deliver the killing blow. "Dad, she clearly has zero respect for pack rules or her elders. She isn't fit to stand by Cassian's side. Why don't you make the call? Have them sever the bond tonight."

The second the words were out, Cassian's voice boomed through the room. "Mom, shut up! Enough with the bullshit!"

He stepped in front of me, his voice vibrating with a manic energy that filled the living room. "How many times do I have to say it? I am never breaking the bond with Trista. Don't even think about it!"

I stood there like a statue, watching it all unfold as if I were a stranger.

I knew Alaina was just trying to help me escape this hell, and I appreciated that.

But I honestly couldn't understand why Cassian was being so stubborn.

"Does he need me to go out and cheat on him too before he admits this relationship is dead?"

Wilmot pointed a shaking finger at Cassian, his face turning a deep purple. "You idiot! You're still protecting her after all this?"

He roared like a cornered beast. "The Ironthorn Luna completely ignored the pack's dignity and made you—and this entire pack—the laughingstock of Los Angeles! Ask her! Ask her what the hell she thinks she's doing!"

Cassian turned to look at me.

"Trista is a healer. Alistair is her patient. She was being a professional," he said through gritted teeth, trying to justify my actions. "What exactly did she do wrong?"

He was defending me with everything he had, but it just felt pathetic.

"I wasn't the one who held a knife to Cassian's throat and forced him to screw around," I said with a cold laugh, looking past Cassian to stare Wilmot down.

"The fact is, he broke the bond and had a kid with a rogue. If you're so tough, go sew up the mouths of everyone in LA. Don't team up to bully me just because the Silverlight pack is gone and I don't have a territory of my own anymore!"

Howard, who had been silent until now, pointed at me, his hand trembling with rage. "You ungrateful thing... get on your knees!"

I stood tall, my spine as rigid as a shard of ice. "The Ironthorns didn't birth me, and you didn't raise me. You want me to kneel? In your dreams."

I used to be respectful to these people because I loved Cassian.

But now I saw that my politeness just fed their "high and mighty" complex.

"She is my mate! Unless you want to start a civil war that ends in blood, don't you dare touch her!"

But I didn't hide behind him like he expected. I used every ounce of strength I had—not caring if I scraped the skin off my wrist—and tore myself out of his arms.

Cassian snapped his head toward me, his beastly eyes bloodshot and frantic. "Trista, what are you doing? Are you really going to test me right now?"

I met his gaze, even as his Alpha aura tried to force me to my knees.

"The way you're 'claiming' me right now makes me physically sick, Cassian."

I looked at him, every word hitting like a silver needle dipped in wolfsbane. "It reminds me exactly of how you used to bared your teeth at me to protect Samantha. Your 'protection' is disgusting. Absolutely disgusting."

Cassian stared at me.

In that moment, his massive Alpha aura just... collapsed.

He looked like a beaten dog that had lost its spine. His golden eyes went dull, and he turned pale, stumbling back a step as his claws involuntarily retracted.

I calmly pulled out my comms stone and looked at Howard. "I'm scheduled to treat Alistair tomorrow. If any of you touch me today, I'll tell Alistair that you forced me to quit. I'll tell him you want him to suffer in that wheelchair, rotting from insomnia for the rest of his life."