Third Person's POV
In the rearview mirror, Trista saw Cassian standing in the rain. His Alpha aura was spiraling out of control, radiating raw fury as he watched their car disappear into the L.A. skyline.
Cassian moved to get into his car to give chase, but Samantha grabbed his arm, her grip desperate.
"Cassian, let her go," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "She's with an Alpha of Isaiah's rank; he'll keep her safe. Let her cool off. If you go after her now, you're only going to make her hate you more."
Cassian ripped his arm away, his expression lethal. "Samantha, save your cheap little mind games. My patience is at its limit. Don't let there be a next time."
Samantha found a sudden burst of nerve. "How can you say that? I really did slip in the rain! I didn't mean to fall into your arms."
Seeing Cassian's eyes still locked on the direction where Isaiah had vanished, she broke down. "Is it really a crime that I still have feelings for you?"
Cassian turned his head, his pupils swirling with a cold, predatory light.
Samantha pushed forward with her accusations. "We shared a scent! I was your first love! You promised me a place in the Ironthorns yourself. We might have been apart for six years, but you don't love Trista. You were so devoted to me when you first got back—I don't believe your feelings for me have just dried up."
Cassian let out a sudden, sharp laugh. It was the sound of a predator mocking its prey.
Samantha felt her skin crawl; her instincts told her to back away.
Cassian looked down at her, his voice like ice. "Samantha, we did date, and yes, at one point, I actually considered making you my mate."
Samantha's face lit up with frantic emotion. "Then if you remember, why are you humiliating me like this?" she begged.
"I'm back, Cassian. Let's fix this. Let's go back to how we were six years ago."
A look of pure, unadulterated disgust crossed Cassian's face.
His voice didn't even fluctuate. "Samantha, six years ago, back when you were still unmarked, I held back and never touched you. What makes you think that after you've belonged to another man—and even birthed a half-breed—I would ever accept your damaged genetics?"
The words hit Samantha like a sledgehammer, sending her stumbling back.
She stared at him in disbelief, tears streaming down her face as she shrieked, "I only ended up like this because of you!"
He crouched by the passenger door like a large dog that had tucked away its claws, his wild eyes full of concern. "Trista, are you okay? If you're still upset, I'll go back right now and put a couple of rounds into that bastard's face to even the score."
Trista took a shaky breath, wiped the tears from her face, and took a long, bitter gulp of the coffee.
The heat helped clear her head.
"Don't go after him. I'm fine," she muttered.
She knew better than anyone how terrifying Cassian's combat skills were.
He had the killing instincts of someone who had survived on the edge of death; even high-tier wolves like Fred, who won MMA championships, couldn't take him down.
Isaiah was talented, but he was only in his early twenties. Against a seasoned predator like Cassian, he wouldn't stand a chance.
Trista set the cup down and stared at the rain through the window, her voice turning clinical again. "Alpha Isaiah, please take me to the Shadowfang packhouse."

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