The Heartbroken Luna's Choice Banish Love novel Chapter 321

Third Person's POV

Fred looked sharp in his light-colored casual gear, though he had Wynn's rose-pink chain bag hanging awkwardly over his shoulder.

He leaned against the car, his expression serious. "The moment Cassian stopped coming home for a month just to deal with Samantha's drama, his loyalty was officially tapped out. That's just facts."

"Back then, Trista still had hope," Fred continued.

"If she had found out the truth then, she would've just kept dreaming. She would've stayed small and humble, stuck in that toxic cycle. And in the end, the person who would've suffered most is Trista."

Wynn let out a long sigh. "Mating is terrifying. I'm sticking to dating. I'll just date whoever's hot and swap them out when I get bored. L.A. is full of guys, anyway."

"Keep dreaming." Fred grabbed Wynn by the back of her neck like a puppy and shoved her into the car.

After the guests left, Trista spent some time with her family cleaning up the place.

Ulva pulled her daughter aside, looking a little worried. "Trista, I know you grew up with Fred and Wynn, so I'm not worried about them. But those two Alphas... the gifts they brought today were way too expensive. How are we supposed to pay back a favor like that?"

Attwater chimed in, not caring at all. "Mom, relax. My sister's friends are good people. They're just being generous."

Randolph cut in with a stern face. "It doesn't matter how generous they are; you have to know where you stand. In life, boundaries are everything."

Trista tried to reassure them. "Mom, Dad, even men as powerful as Alistair and Mr. Manwaring need help sometimes."

"They chose to be my friends because of my value as a healer. They're impressive, sure, but I'm no slouch, either."

Socializing was, at its core, an even exchange.

Even if the day came when she officially divorced Cassian and lost her status, she would still have her expertise.

She would use her skills to find her place in circles that could offer her the resources she needed.

At 9:00 PM, Fred and Wynn ran into Cassian outside their apartment building.

The second she saw her brother, Wynn ducked behind Fred.

Fred raised an eyebrow, leaning into the provocation. "The Randolphs moved into their new place today. Why weren't you there to help out?"

Cassian's face darkened instantly. His pheromones turned ice-cold. "They moved?"

Wynn added a little jab from behind Fred's back. "Fred and I just came from the housewarming. Alistair and Mr. Manwaring were there, too. We all had a blast."

Cassian shot them a lethal look before spinning around and getting into his car. The sound of the door slamming echoed through the quiet street.

He sped across town to the apartment where Trista's parents used to live. He swiped his card and walked in.

Trista pushed the door open. Cassian was standing by the window, handling pack business through his mind-link.

His black suit made him look cold and untouchable, and his natural Alpha aura made the air in the office feel thick.

Cassian turned around. As their gazes met, the tension in the room practically sparked.

Trista glanced at the warm breakfast sitting on her desk, her tone flat. "Coming by this early... you need something?"

Cassian walked up to her, his voice stiff. "Moving your entire home is a big deal. Why didn't you give me a heads-up?"

"It's my personal business," Trista replied. Her reaction was ice-cold; she was even intentionally masking her scent. "I don't need your permission."

Cassian's brow furrowed. He tried to keep his inner wolf's temper in check as he reminded her, "Trista, we aren't officially divorced yet. You are still my mate."

"But we are separated," Trista corrected him. Her eyes were calm, almost cruel. "And that divorce? It's happening. Count on it."

The atmosphere bottomed out.

After a long silence, Cassian finally softened his tone. "I didn't come here to pick a fight today."

But as he walked toward the door, he couldn't help but add one last cold reminder, "Separated or not, you are still my Luna."