Where Soft Light Shines Darkness Fades From Tired Hearts by Evan Holt Crane 150

Trista’s POV

Finished

He used the gentlest tone to say the cruelest things. It was like a velvet–wrapped ice blade driving straight into my heart.

I forced down the surge of emotion and picked up the silver spoon, but the warm broth felt like lead in my mouth. I couldn’t swallow.

Just then, the comm–stone on the table buzzed.

I glanced at the screen. Samantha’s name was glaringly bright under the moonstone light.

Cassian looked up at me, hesitated for a few seconds, and then–right in front of my face–he answered it.

I sat there in silence, listening to him use that same soft, attentive tone with her. It made my eardrums ache.

My hand was shaking so hard from the strain of holding that spoon that I could feel the sharp sting of my claws wanting to burst through my skin.

This was my future. I’d have to endure Samantha and her son constantly invading the boundaries of our mating bond, eroding the territory that belonged to me as the Ironthorn Luna. I’d have to be like one of those weak she–wolves who depended on an Alpha for survival, pretending everything was fine while he betrayed me. For the sake of my mother’s treatment and the safety of the Silverlight pack, I had to swallow every bit of humiliation. No fighting, no scenes. Just playing the part of the perfect consort to maintain his image, covering up every crack in our bond.

I didn’t say a word, but my pheromones turned as cold as ice.

Like a pre–programmed machine, I lifted the bowl and forced myself to take a sip. The warm liquid slid down my throat, but it couldn’t thaw the heart I’d already frozen over.

This was the path he chose, and this was the price I had to pay for my family–and for a “love” that was already ground into dust.

Cassian watched my every move. Once he saw me actually eating, he hung up the phone without a second thought, as if the call were just some trivial background noise.

Neither of us touched much of that meticulously prepared dinner. The air was thick with a suffocating silence and the clashing of our pheromones.

After dinner, Cassian led me into the study. The walls were etched with silver–veined wards to prevent pheromone leaks–this was where he handled the pack’s darkest secrets.

The moment we stepped inside, I couldn’t hold back anymore. My pheromones spiked. “Cassian, I want you to drop the charges. Now. Clean up my name and restore Silverlight’s dignity.”

Cassian glanced at me, pulled a document from a moonstone–inlaid drawer, and set it lightly on the desk. His pace remained maddeningly methodical. “Sign this supplemental mating bond agreement first. As long as it doesn’t hurt Ironthorn’s interests, I’ll give you whatever you want.”

I flipped the document open. The sight of the silver–stamped seal made my stomach turn. This wasn’t an

15:16 Fri, Jan 2

Finished

agreement; it was a leash.

Clause One: During the term of the mating, if either party files for termination, they must compensate the other with resources ten times the value of the Silverlight pack’s total debt–including moonstone mining rights and Shadow Forest hunting grounds.

Clause Two: Both parties must maintain an intimate connection, restoring the pheromone compatibility they had at the start of the bond. The Luna is obligated to proactively care for the Alpha and maintain the appearance of pack harmony.

In other words, he wasn’t just keeping my body in his territory. He wanted my pheromones, my wolf, and even my dead feelings to “return to their posts.”

He wanted me to act like the she–wolf who used to be obsessed with him.

I fought the urge to shred the paper and looked up at him with a mix of exhaustion and scorn. “You know you forced me back here. You know I’m only doing this for my mom and the pack. Does pretending we’re both ‘willing‘ to do this actually make you feel better?”

Cassian remained stoic, as if we were discussing a simple corporate merger. “The process doesn’t matter; only the result. As long as you stay by my side as the Ironthorn Luna, it benefits everyone.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. My pheromones turned razor–sharp and freezing. “Cassian, from start to finish, I’ve just been a shield for you–something to hide the cracks in your image and a roadblock between you and Samantha. You’ve pushed me into a corner. Do you really need a piece of paper to keep me tied down?”

Cassian went back to his “negotiation” persona. “I’m not forcing you. You can choose not to sign.”

Just then, my comm–stone vibrated. The caller ID showed Sanctum.

I took a deep breath, crushing my volatile wolf, and answered.

When the doctor told me my mother’s wolf had stabilized and she was being moved to a regular recovery ward, the tension that had gripped me all day finally snapped. My wolf sighed and curled back into my mind, the anxious whimpering finally stopping.

Cassian smoothly slid the agreement back toward me, uncapped a pen, and handed it over. “As long as you play the part of Luna Trista, this agreement is your safety net.”

My hand was shaking as I took the pen.

I was out of exits. There was nothing left to hesitate about.

I flipped to the last page and signed my name.

Cassian took the contract and the pen.

He reached out and grabbed my arm; I was still trembling.

He took a step forward and pulled me into a gentle embrace.

He just held me. No extra movements, no more words. He stood there holding me like we were two lovers reuniting after a long time apart.

15:17 Fri, Jan 2 G.

The Heartbroken Luna’s Choice Banish Love

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.