Where Soft Light Shines Darkness Fades From Tired Hearts by Evan Holt Crane 295

Third Person’s POV

Fred let out a sharp, cynical laugh. “And what about the promise you made to Trista when you mated?”

“You stood right there and let people call another she–wolf your Luna. What does that make Trista in your eyes? A placeholder?”

Cassian’s suppressed emotions finally snapped. He let out a low roar. “Trista is my Luna! She always has been!”

“Cassian, are you still refusing to admit that you’re the one who destroyed this?” Fred pointed a finger at him, every word cutting like a blade.

“You favor Samantha at every turn because you’re banking on twenty years of history with Trista. You’re betting on the fact that she still cares about you.”

“You knew doing this would tear her soul apart, but you did it anyway. You’re terrified, Cassian. You’re clutching that mating bond because you know the second she actually completes the rejection, you’re finished! People pay a price for playing with someone’s heart. Trista is going to leave you.”

After Fred left, Cassian sat on the sofa for a long time.

His mind felt stagnant; his chest felt as if it were being crushed by an invisible vice.

He started calculating. When Trista got back from San Francisco, he would swallow his pride and apologize.

Whatever it took, he needed to have a pup with her as soon as possible.

A child was the ultimating bond between mates. Once there was a blood tie involved, Trista wouldn’t think about leaving anymore.

Even if it was just for the sake of the child, she would stay.

He promised himself he’d make it up to her twofold. He’d make her the happiest Luna again.

For the next three days, Cassian was a ghost.

At the Ironthorn packhouse, Humphrey noticed Cassian drifting off again.

He braved the tension to give him a reminder. “Alpha Cassian, Luna Trista’s flight back to LA lands at 8:00 PM.”

8:00 PM, at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Cassian spotted two of Trista’s colleagues walking out and immediately intercepted them.

One of the female healers spoke up, “Trista said she’s staying in San Francisco an extra day. She wanted to pick up some gifts for her family.”

Cassian called her immediately, but she didn’t pick up.

Back in the car, a sudden, violent wave of panic washed over him.

18:36 Tue, Feb 3 M

Finished

He sent several texts, but they were met with total silence.

Humphrey saw his boss’s dark expression and tried to soothe him. “Alpha Cassian, San Francisco has some great trade markets. Luna Trista works so hard; staying an extra day to unwind is probably good for her.”

Cassian told himself that made sense.

Veronica had brought so many gifts back for the Silverlights; Trista probably wanted to return the gesture.

She wasn’t answering because she was still mad at him.

“Let her clear her head,” he thought.

But by late night, Cassian was pacing the empty villa like a lost soul.

The heart–pumping dread grew heavier, and the wolf inside him began to growl with unease.

The mating bond was sending back faint, fragile tremors–as if the connection to his bloodline was. thinning out, ready to snap at any second.

At 3:30 AM, Cassian couldn’t take it anymore. He forced a mind–link with Humphrey, ordering him to track the location of Trista’s comm–stone immediately.

8:30 AM, at the Ironthorn packhouse, Humphrey burst into the office, his face deathly pale.

“Alpha Cassian… Luna Trista’s location moved from the hotel to a healing center in San Francisco.”

Cassian froze, his coffee cup halfway to his lips. “Contact them. Now.”

Humphrey lowered his voice, struggling to get the words out. “We just checked. She’s scheduled for a 10:00 AM… pup extraction procedure.”

The coffee cup shattered in Cassian’s hand. Porcelain shards sliced deep into his palm, but he didn’t even flinch.

9:40 AM. San Francisco.

Trista was already in her surgical scrubs.

While waiting to enter the procedure room, she chatted with an old college friend.

Her expression was calm as she gave her friend instructions, “Thalia, once I go in, keep watch outside for me. No matter who shows up, make sure the procedure is finished.”

Her comm–stone had been vibrating violently since 8:30 AM. It hadn’t stopped for a second.

If she was right, Cassian was already on his way.

But she had calculated every detail, waiting until the last possible second to check in.

The procedure was at 10:00 AM sharp. Even with all the resources of the Ironthorn pack, Cassian couldn’t make it in time.

773

18:36 Tue, Feb 3 M

Thalia worked at this facility.

553

Finished

After hearing the drama about Cassian’s “mistress” and the bastard kid, she was furious on Trista’s behalf.

She squeezed Trista’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. This procedure is quick. I’ll stay at the door. I won’t let anyone stop you from ending this.

Trista rested her hand on her lower stomach, her face a mask of indifference.

Once, she had dreamed of having a pup with him.

Now, she was doing everything in her power to crase it.

On the day she mated with Cassian, she felt like the luckiest she–wolf in LA.

Now, she just wanted to escape him by any means necessary.

Looking back at the last twenty years, she realized how wrong she had been.

Fortunately, she was only twenty–six. There was still time.

You can turn back when you realize you’ve wandered into the wrong territory, and you can let go when you realize you’ve loved the wrong one.

She was going to sever every tie with Cassian–including the bloodline that hadn’t even had the chance to be born.

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