The Heartbroken Luna's Choice Banish Love novel Chapter 33

**Chapter 33**

**Cassian’s POV**

The evening breeze drifted in from the nearby river, bringing with it the sweet and cool scent of evening primrose, a fragrance that always seemed to wrap around me like a comforting embrace.

I ground the cigarette butt beneath my shoe, feeling the lingering warmth on my fingers, a reminder of a moment I was eager to leave behind.

“She’s back,” I stated firmly, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. “I will take responsibility for my actions, but I will not allow the Ironthorn Pack’s boundaries and order to be compromised.”

“I will settle the issues that need addressing, and I will draw that line myself,” I declared, my tone brooking no argument.

Over the years, I had established numerous personal boundaries—rules etched not just on paper, but woven into the very fabric of my being.

Even as the familiar tug of Samantha’s pheromones beckoned to me, I was resolute; I would not allow that guilt to cross the boundary I had drawn between myself and my mate.

That boundary was not only a mating contract; it was a fundamental aspect of my duty as an Alpha.

Moreover, I had to remind myself—I did not truly love Samantha.

Fred let out a noise of disbelief, a sound that felt like pouring alcohol on an old wound. “Wynn told me that Trista’s wolf claws scraped her own scent gland to pressure you, and you didn’t even flinch. You still want to tell me Samantha is ‘the past’?”

I rubbed my brow, feeling the weight of his words. Wynn had a talent for amplifying situations, turning whispers into roars.

Seeing my reluctance to engage in an argument, Fred’s expression shifted to one of seriousness. “You keep saying Trista is spoiled. But look at her now—working at the Royal Healing Institute, assisting the pack as Luna. Is she still that willful Silverlight she-wolf from before? Are you really seeing her now?”

I chose silence, allowing his words to linger in the air.

Trista had indeed become more dependent and gentler after we mated, yet that innate stubbornness still flickered within her like a stubborn flame.

My wolf stirred in my mind, issuing a quiet warning: “Don’t judge the current person by an old memory.”

I made my way back to Samantha’s room in the Evening Primrose Ward. The house assistant peeked out from behind a serving cart, her eyes brightening upon seeing me.

Quickly, she donned a professional smile, clearly expecting a compliment.

I maintained my aura, keeping my Alpha presence contained within the room. With a simple gesture, I raised my hand, signaling her to place the tray down. “Thank you. We need to discuss business,” I said, my voice steady and devoid of any warmth.

She placed the tray on the small table beside the bed, her posture instantly stiffening, as if she sensed the gravity of the moment.

I wasted no time, getting straight to the point. “I will settle your pay through this Friday. You will receive a lump sum payment for the remaining hours of your contract.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “Mr. Simmons, Ms. Fernandez, if I did anything wrong, please tell me. I can fix it—”

I kept my voice even, but unyielding. “This position requires someone with a better sense of boundaries. You won’t be needed starting tonight. The payment will be transferred within the hour.”

Her gaze instinctively darted to Samantha, seeking some form of reassurance.

Samantha, however, kept her eyes fixed on the back of her hand, offering no defense; I was the one who signed the employment contract, and I was the one who would decide who stayed and who left.

Truth be told, Samantha had been satisfied with this assistant. Just last night, she had even mentioned a raise.

But Fred’s words echoed relentlessly in my mind.

Wynn was my sister, and the authority of an Alpha was non-negotiable. I understood that all too well.

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