The Heartbroken Luna's Choice Banish Love novel Chapter 286

Third Person's POV

Late Night, at the Shadowfang packhouse, an Omega led Isaiah and Trista into the main living area.

Alvin, the Old Alpha, glanced at the antique clock on the wall and spoke with chilling authority. "Breaking into Shadowfang territory in the middle of the night with Alpha Isaiah... I assume this is an emergency?"

Trista didn't beat around the bush. "I had a massive blowout with Cassian. I need a place to stay for a few days."

In the LA werewolf circles, it was no secret that Cassian had broken the mating and that Trista was fighting for a mating severance.

Alvin remained unmoved. "Domestic disputes are usually settled in bed. If you don't want to go back to Ironthorn territory, I can call you a hotel."

"Grandpa, I'll handle my own guests." Alistair's voice drifted down from the second floor.

Trista looked up to see Alistair leaning against the railing.

She shot Isaiah a look, signaling him to head out, and hurried up the stairs.

Alistair's hooded eyes swept over her red, swollen eyes. "Get sick of his scent again?"

Trista crouched by his wheelchair, looking like a kicked pup as she nodded vigorously. "Uncle, Cassian lied about having a meeting. He was actually out with that woman. I caught them red-handed."

Alistair's lips curled into a smirk.

This girl only pulled out the "Uncle" card when she wanted something.

"How long are you planning to hide here?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.

Trista held up one finger. "One week."

Cassian was already suspicious that her morning sickness was real.

Even though she'd faked her cycle to throw him off, a paranoid Alpha like him wouldn't stop digging.

She had to milk this blowout for all it was worth—staying at Shadowfang for a week was the only way to escape his constant monitoring of her body.

Seeing Alistair hesitate, she doubled down. "Uncle, if I'm stressed out, it's going to mess with your treatment progress. If a week is too long... five days?"

Alistair gave her a flat look. "With poker face like that, you'd lose the entire Silverlight inheritance at a negotiation table. Stay as long as you want. As long as I'm here, you're safe."

Trista finally breathed. "Want me to send someone for your bags?" Alistair asked.

"No, I'm good." Trista shook her head.

She'd go back for her things tomorrow when Cassian was at the briefing room and the house was empty.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the ID and hit decline.

Seeing Cassian looking like a total wreck, Fred jumped. "Whoa, man. You look like hell. What time are you just getting in?"

Cassian felt like his stomach was on fire.

He leaned against the elevator wall and ignored him.

When the doors opened, he stumbled toward his unit. Fred hesitated, then followed him inside.

Cassian collapsed onto the sofa.

Fred stood over him, looking down with a judgmental frown. "Out of all the Alphas in our circle, you were the first to get mated. You've even got a kid. By all accounts, you should be the one living the dream."

Cassian's eyes stayed shut, his chest heaving. "Give it a rest, Fred. You know damn well that kid isn't mine."

"Who the father is doesn't matter," Fred countered. "If you claim him, he's your son. Period."

Cassian felt a spike of panic he couldn't voice.

Fred kept twisting the knife. "Besides, weren't you just caught in a romantic embrace with Samantha on the street tonight? Just admit it—you're still addicted to her scent."

"I wasn't hugging her," Cassian rasped, his eyes still closed. "Trista got it wrong."

Fred sat on the coffee table, literally counting the mistakes on his fingers. "Tonight was a misunderstanding? Okay. Was it a 'misunderstanding' when she landed in LA and you snuck out at midnight to pick her up? Was it a 'misunderstanding' when you lied about a business trip for a month just to shack up with her instead of coming back to the packhouse?"