Chapter 5

• Trista's POV
• "Cassian has stepped up for this family a lot over the last three years," Randolph said, sliding a box of pastries my way. "So, if you two are having a moment, just go talk to him. Stop being so sensitive."
• Next to him, Ulva squeezed my hand, her eyes full of that desperate kind of hope. "Trista, you're the Alpha and Luna of Ironthorn. If you just had a pup, that mating bond would be bulletproof."
• A pup. A bitter laugh bubbled up in my chest.
• I remembered the time he was out at the border with the guards, hunting rogues. I took every bottle of birth control herbs in my nightstand and flushed them down the toilet.
• When he finally came home a week later, it was a full moon. The "heat" had him wound tight.
• He spent the night buried in my neck, scenting my skin. He definitely knew the herbs were out of my system, but he didn't stop.
• I took that as a "yes."
• But the next morning, he pressed a vial of Moonshade Suppressant to my lips. He was patient about it—he didn't move an inch until he was sure I'd swallowed every drop.
• After that, I stopped trying. I buried the idea of "kids" so deep I forgot where I put it.
• It took me until now to realize he didn't have a problem with being a father—he just didn't want me to be his kid's mother.
• The sound of boots at the door snapped me out of the memory.
• My brother, Attwater, burst in, bringing a gust of the freezing night air with him.
• He pulled me into a bear hug, then flashed that big, oblivious grin of his. "Trista! I just passed the Primrose Wing—I saw Cassian out there!"
• My smile died on my face.
• Ulva turned to me instantly. "Did he drive you here?"
• "No," I said, staring at the floor. "He's visiting a friend. I just hitched a ride."
• I forced a stiff, fake smile. "I'm gonna go grab some air." I bolted before they could see the cracks in my mask.
• The Primrose Wing was dead silent, smelling faintly of that medicinal evening primrose oil.
• I didn't need to ask for directions; I just followed a self-destructive gut feeling until I hit a door that was cracked open just a hair.
• I could smell him. Cassian's scent was all over the place, tangled up with Samantha's—hers was sweet and hazy, like melting ice.
• My wolf fangs slid out, the sharp tips pricking my lip.
• Inside, my wolf was baring its teeth, its claws raking my insides as a fire of pure, unadulterated rage started to spread.
• I peeked through the gap. The Alpha who stood like a god to the rest of the pack was kneeling on the floor by a hospital bed.
• He was focused, almost reverent, as he gently rubbed Samantha's cold feet.
• He moved like he was handling something priceless, something that might shatter if he breathed too hard.
• "Cassian, stay with me tonight? Please?" Samantha whispered, her fingers playing with the hair at his temples.
• He didn't say no.
• He looked up, and the eyes that were always cold and empty when they looked at me were suddenly full of a tenderness so deep it could drown you.
• Right then, I felt the mating bond in my chest shudder. I heard a sharp, crystalline crack—a sound only I could hear.
• I closed my eyes and counted to ten, crushing that explosion of pain inch by inch until I could shove it back into my bones.
• Then I saw the glint on her ankle. A circle of diamonds throwing off cold sparks in the dim light.
• My heart bottomed out. I looked down at the glittering diamond bracelet on my own wrist.
• Just minutes ago, I was still deluding myself, thinking it was some romantic "third-anniversary gift."
• But there it was. Samantha was wearing the exact same one on her ankle.
• What was this?
• A bulk-buy to soothe his guilty conscience? A "buy-one-get-one-free" deal to keep both women quiet?
• The shaking stopped. I felt a weird, total calm wash over me.
• I reached down and unclipped the clasp. The heavy bracelet slid off and hit the carpet without a sound. It was just like my dignity over the last three years—cheap, silent, and tossed aside.
• Maybe the silent scream from my wolf was too loud, because Cassian's shoulders suddenly went rigid.
• Before he could look back and catch me, I turned and walked away. I couldn't stomach another second of his "devotion."
• I headed for the elevators. I heard heavy, frantic footsteps pounding down the hall behind me, but I didn't slow down.
• The elevator doors slid open, and the mirrored walls showed me exactly who I was: pale, but with eyes as dead as a graveyard.
• Just as the doors were about to lock, a large, scarred hand slammed into the sensor.
• "Trista!" Cassian panted, standing in the gap.
• His chest was heaving. For the first time, his deep, calculated eyes held a flicker of something I'd never seen before: panic.
• He let out a massive wave of mate pheromones—a thick, suffocating net designed to wrap around me and pull me back into line.
• He thought a little bit of "Alpha charm" would make me the loyal Luna again.
• I just stared at those invisible threads. I reached into my mind and snapped the connection with a single, sharp flick of my will.
• Cassian recoiled, his body jolting as if he'd been punched.
• He stared at me, his hand freezing in mid-air as he reached for me.
• As the doors finally hummed shut, I looked at his shocked, pathetic face and spoke without making a sound, "Go to hell."