The Heartbroken Luna's Choice Banish Love novel Chapter 335

Third Person's POV

Humphrey knew he was screwed the second he saw them.

Grace was a beta, but her protective instinct over their bond was fierce. She recognized that cheap rogue scent on Samantha instantly.

Before Humphrey could even try to explain, her sister Mia let out a low growl and lunged.

Mia grabbed a handful of Samantha's dry, brittle hair and slammed her face into the cold concrete floor. The sound of slaps echoed through the hallway. "I knew I smelled something rotting around here! You're just a stray in heat trying to steal my sis' mate!"

Meanwhile, Humphrey was busy running for his life as Grace chased him down.

He didn't dare fight back; he just kept his hands over his face, trying to protect his dignity as a high-ranking pack member.

The air was a toxic mess of clashing pheromones.

An hour later, Humphrey limped back into the VIP suite, his face a map of bruises and scratches.

Isaiah took one look at him and decided it was time to leave.

Once the door shut, Cassian asked coldly, "That was quite a show outside. How'd it go?"

Humphrey looked miserable as he recounted the "disciplinary action" Grace and Mia had handed out.

For once, Cassian's tone softened, showing a flicker of sympathy for his right-hand man. "There's no shame in getting checked by your mate. Just hang in there. Once this settles, I'll give you a month off and double your annual bonus."

Humphrey straightened his back instantly. "Miss Fernandez borrowed ten thousand dollars from me," he reported.

Cassian's brow furrowed.

Samantha was so desperate she was shaking down his assistant for cash, yet she still hadn't gone to Algernon's biological father for help.

"Who is the man behind her?" Cassian wondered.

"Does he have a direct link to Crispin's death? What is she so terrified of that she'd rather starve than name him?"

Later that afternoon, Trista returned to the room.

Cassian reached out a hand toward her, his voice a low rasp. "Help me to the bathroom."

Trista didn't move. "Cassian, you have some bruised muscles. Your wolf is perfectly fine. Are you really going to play the 'helpless patient' card now?"

"You promised to take care of me," Cassian said, his eyes burning with intensity. "Is this your idea of care?"

"Maybe I should just call Samantha to come handle this," Trista muttered.

Before she could finish the sentence, Cassian shoved himself up and walked into the bathroom with perfectly steady legs.

Trista just rolled her eyes. She'd just have to grit her teeth and endure this until he was discharged.

Isaiah popped his head in, seeing Trista looking miserable. "What's up? You look like you're ready for a wolf duel."

A wave of jealousy, sharper than any physical pain, hit him.

He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her in a crushing embrace.

Trista jumped, quickly hanging up the call.

She struggled to push him off. "Dinner's ready. Are you eating now or later?"

Cassian trapped her in the narrow corner of the kitchen, his dark gold eyes pinning her down. His voice was hoarse and obsessive. "Trista, why? Why can you be so gentle with a stranger or an outsider, but you treat your own husband like your worst enemy?"

Trista wasn't surprised by the question. She just looked at him calmly.

She realized that even now, he didn't think he'd done anything wrong.

He apologized, he bowed his head, he offered "compensation"—but only because she'd terminated the pregnancy and things had blown up.

He was just doing damage control to save the bond.

"I have a question for you first," Trista countered. "Why were you better to Samantha and her kid than you ever were to your own Luna?"

They locked eyes, and the light in Cassian's gaze slowly died out.

His self-pity turned into a crushing weight of guilt. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out.