Where Soft Light Shines Darkness Fades From Tired Hearts by Evan Holt Crane 311

Third Person’s POV

Cassian forced himself to ignore the crushing pain in his chest as he climbed into his car. The black Bentley cut through the night streets like a streak of dark lightning.

Two nights later, his insomnia spiraled out of control again.

In the dead silence of the villa, every passing minute felt like a physical weight.

Back then, whenever his wolf side grew restless, Trista would stay up with him all night. No matter how tired she was, she’d stay by his side, using her soft, herbal scent to soothe his aggression.

Now, the only thing filling the empty room was the sound of his own ragged breathing.

Agitated, Cassian paced the cold wood floors barefoot, looking like a lone wolf who had lost his territory.

At 5:30.AM, he checked his phone and saw a new post from Trista.

It was a video of a garden, and he recognized the Shadowfang territory instantly.

A flare of irritation set his nerves on fire.

“She stayed at Shadowfang again last night?”

He rushed into the closet to change, and in his haste, the handmade glass pendant fell

Cassian bent down to pick it up, and the sight of it jolted his chaotic wolf awake.

He stared at the 3D image sealed inside the glass.

es that seemed t

donto his foot.

The little pup in the drawing had huge, dark be accusing him, “Father, it’s so cold out here.”

Cassian’s legs gave out, and he collapsed into a chair.

He pressed the pendant against his heart as if he could shove it back into his own bloodstream.

He started to gasp for air, but the room felt like a vacuum.

He had promised to give her space; he was terrified of making her even angrier.

Recalling her brutal words on the sidewalk, c

felt his heart being carved open, inch by inch.

In the past, if he showed even a hint of discomfort, Trista would have been too worried to sleep.

Now, he had to swallow this suffocating pain alone.

“Ugh-”

The heartache was so intense it forced him to double over and slide off the chair onto the floor.

His phone buzzed frantically against the wood–three missed calls from Samantha–but he was drowning in a sea of self–destructive despair, deaf to the rest of the world.

76%

The next morning, before the fog had even lifted, Samantha stepped out of her temporary apartment and was immediately cornered.

George, Angela, and her mother had tracked her scent.

The air was thick with the cheap, messy pheromones of stray wolves.

The second Angela saw her, she bared her teeth, her eyes gleaming with predatory greed. “Samantha, you’re the one who talked us into selling our house. You said the second we got to L.A., you’d be the Ironthorn Luna. Now the whole family’s reputation is trash because of your drama. If we don’t get a payout today, I’ll strip you of what’s left of your dignity right here in the street!”

Samantha scanned the area in a panic, terrified of catching a pack sentry’s attention. “Angela, put those disgusting teeth away! Cassian only lent me this place out of pity. It’s not in my name; I have no rig

“It’s your duty to help this family,” Georgia lectured with a stone face. “Your got two nephews out Their awakening and education are going to cost a fortune. Ask Cassian for more. Tell houses in the core territory.”

we want

Angela nodded eagerly. “Exactly! He’s the most powerful Alpha here. The scraps that fall off his table are enough to feed strays like us for a lifetime. If he won’t give it up, we’ll go protest in front of his office until he pays just to save face!”

“Shut up! Don’t you dare provoke him!” Samantha hissed, her voice sharp with fear.

If they actually angered that stone statue of death, the whole family would be wiped out like vermin crossing a border.

With shaking hands, she transferred a sum of money that made her stomated

it!”

turn. “Take the money and get

back to your hole! Now! Don’t let Cassian’s scouts see you! I’ll figure out the house situation later.”

After chasing off the parasites, Samantha went back inside, pacing like a caged animal.

She was desperate for cash, but Cassian was ghosting her. He’d

cut off every line of communication. cut off very

She was starting to regret listening to Alaina. To play the part of the “independent woman” who didn’t need his money, she had turned down Cassian’s initial offer of a massive check.

Now, the lie about Algernon’s bloodline had been blown wide open. The Ironthorns looked at her like she was rotting garbage, and the sixty million she almost had was gone.

Worst of all, she could still feel it–that the bond between Cassian and Trista was still stubbornly holding on.

“What the hell is he doing?” Samantha gripped her phone, a venomous look crossing her face.

She couldn’t sit and wait anymore. She had to see Cassian.

11:00 AM. Ironthorn Group. CEO’s Office.

” “mantha is here. She’s waiting in the

Humphrey knocked and entered, lowering his voice. “Alpha Cassian, lobby.”

Cassian’s hand paused over his paperwork for a split second. “Send her up.”

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The Heartbroken Luna’s Choice: Banish Love

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