The Heartbroken Luna's Choice Banish Love novel Chapter 35

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**Where Soft Light Shines, Darkness Fades From Tired Hearts by Evan Holt Crane**

**Chapter 35**

**Trista’s POV**

The atmosphere felt frigid, like the surface of frost-covered glass, where each breath seemed to scrape against the edges of my lungs. It was a chilling reminder of the tension that hung between us.

I leaned closer, pressing against his shoulder, desperate for some clarity. “If you have nothing to say, just let me down,” I urged, my voice barely a whisper.

He seized my chin, his grip firm and possessive, covering my mouth with his. His lips were insistent, and his Alpha presence weighed heavily on my collarbone, as if trying to pry open my very essence from within.

With my hands gripping his collar and shoulder, I felt utterly ensnared in his embrace, unable to escape. The primal pull of the mating bond surged between us, an instinctive force that sought to draw us together, despite the turmoil swirling in my mind.

I struggled to breathe, each inhalation a battle as I fought to lock away the scent that threatened to escape, layer by layer. I sealed the remnants of my essence at the edge of my gland, refusing to let it spill forth any further.

His pheromones continued to invade my senses, relentless and intoxicating. My wolf stirred within me, letting out a low moan of longing. In a sudden burst of defiance, I lifted my head and bit down hard on his lower lip, tasting the metallic tang of blood that spread between us.

His breath hitched in surprise, and I felt his hold loosen just slightly. Seizing that fleeting opportunity, I raised my own aura, just enough to create an invisible barrier, pushing back against his warm scent. This wasn’t merely a challenge; it was a declaration of boundaries.

His chest heaved as he struggled to regain control. He reached up, his fingers brushing the moisture from my eyes, his expression a mix of frustration and desire. “How long has it been since I marked you last time?” he asked, his voice a low rumble.

I stared at the spot of red on his lip, my voice icy as it cut through the air. “Couldn’t Samantha satisfy you?” The words dripped with bitterness, a reflection of the hurt that festered within me.

The fire in his eyes simmered, suppressed but still burning. He reached up to pull my pajama strap back onto my shoulder, but I held my ground, refusing to let him close the distance between us any more than half an inch.

“I need to take a shower,” he muttered, turning to head into the bathroom. As the door clicked shut behind him, I slowly retracted my aura, forcing the chaotic energy of the mating bond back into the depths of my being.

I called for the pack omega to bring breakfast from the kitchen, then changed and made my way downstairs.

The tray landed on the counter with a soft thud, steam rising like a delicate veil, locking in the aroma of the food onto the porcelain.

For three long years, we had mated, and his need for intimacy had always been a constant force. Every time he returned from a patrol, or just after my heat window closed, the urge to bond would pull me into his arms, where he would hold me until my eyes were flushed and my body warm with desire.

But now, with Samantha and her pup back in the territory, everything felt different. He hadn’t been home for over a month, and the space between us was filled with unspoken words and unresolved feelings.

Even under the same roof, all I felt was a rejection of scent and a clash of boundaries. I was all too familiar with his frequency; two months without mating only meant that his wolf had found solace elsewhere.

I sat at the dining table, picking at my breakfast alone. I had never claimed to be a good cook, but over the years, I had learned a few simple meals.

I remembered the days when I would rush to serve him the moment the food was ready, eagerly waiting for his praise, insisting he take the first bite. But today was different—though we were both home, I only asked the omega for my portion.

He emerged from the bathroom fully dressed, his eyes scanning the untouched breakfast tray. “Alaina just Mind-Linked me. She wants us back at their manor tonight,” he said, his tone casual, but I could sense the weight behind his words.

A tightness gripped my neck gland, and the after-smell surged beneath my skin, a reminder of our connection.

He went upstairs to answer his comm-stone, leaving me with a moment of solitude. I seized the opportunity to slip away, retreating to my parents’ small house near the pack boundary.