Third Person's POV
Trista lunged forward and slammed her hand over Isaiah's mouth. Sensing the adrenaline still surging through his veins, she shot him a frantic look and lowered her voice to a harsh whisper. "What you meant to say was that your brakes failed, right?"
Isaiah shook his head, looking proud. "Nah, just had it serviced. The thing runs like a dream."
Trista broke into a cold sweat. She tried again, dropping heavy hints. "I get it. Your wolf has been restless lately—you're seeing things. You're hallucinating. Get to my office right now. I'll give you an exam before you leave."
Isaiah completely missed the lifeline she was throwing him. He puffed out his chest and said loudly, "I'm not sick! I just wanted to get even for you and teach that prick a lesson!"
Trista glanced at Humphrey for the third time, then grabbed Isaiah by the arm and dragged him out of there.
It didn't matter that Isaiah was the son of a high-ranking European Alpha. This was Los Angeles.
No matter how much power the Lockes had overseas, you couldn't just ram the head of the Ironthorns on his own turf and walk away.
Humphrey watched Trista walk away without a single look back. He stood there for a second, then silently turned toward the elevator.
An hour later, Cassian was moved to a VIP suite.
He looked lethal. His dark gold eyes were fixed on Humphrey like a predator tracking a scent. "Where is she?"
Humphrey looked down, a chill creeping up his spine.
Alpha Cassian had sent him to bring Trista back. Instead, she hadn't even asked if he was alive before vanishing with the guy who hit him.
If he told the truth, the sheer aura from Cassian's rage might actually bring the ceiling down.
Cassian was propped up in bed, wearing blue-and-white hospital scrubs. Due to the blood loss, his aura was a bit weaker than usual, but it only made him seem colder.
"I'm talking to you," Cassian said, his voice dropping to sub-zero. "Did you suddenly lose your tongue?"
Humphrey swallowed hard. "Alpha Cassian... Luna Trista..."
Cassian's brow furrowed. He sensed the hesitation. "What did she say?"
Humphrey shook his head, but when he saw Cassian's face turn a terrifying shade of dark, he nodded quickly. "She... she said a few things..."
Cassian's chest began to heave—a clear warning that his wolf was about to snap.
Humphrey finally blurted it out. "Luna Trista kept asking Isaiah if his brakes failed... or if he was under too much stress and had an accident..."
His voice trailed off. Cassian gritted his teeth. "And?"
"And... then she left with him."
Cassian closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath, trying to keep his wolf from losing it.
His gaze darkened, his voice a low rasp. "You knew I was hurt. Where the hell were you yesterday?"
Trista set the flowers down and walked to the bedside, her expression calm and serious. "Cassian, sign the papers. It's better for you, for me, and for the peace between our packs."
They stared at each other for a long, heavy minute.
Suddenly, Cassian threw back the covers and stood up. His eyes were bloodshot as he lunged forward, trapping her in a crushing embrace.
The scent of a powerful but weakened Alpha hit her instantly. His voice sounded broken. "I lost so much blood. Do you even care?"
Trista couldn't shake him off, so she just went still in his arms. Her tone was as casual as if she were talking about the weather. "You're an Alpha, Cassian. Everyone gets hurt. As long as you're breathing, it's not a big deal."
The finality in her voice hit him like a physical blow.
A wave of panic washed over him, and he tightened his grip. "You want to end us?" he growled, his eyes red. "Over my dead body."
Trista realized his wolf was starting to lose control. To avoid a scene, she softened her voice. "Let's just talk. Let go of me."
But Cassian acted like a stubborn, obsessed pup. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his voice muffled and full of desperate longing. "Just let me hold you for a second."
Right as Trista was trying to figure out how to peel him off, the door swung open. Humphrey walked in with Cassian's parents and two doctors.
The entire group froze, staring at the "intimate" scene in the middle of the room.

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