Chapter 320

Third Person's POV

Trista let out an awkward laugh, trying to hide how much his comment had actually hit home.

By the weekend, she'd gone all out, hiring a private chef to handle dinner for them.

Fred and Wynn showed up early to help her get the new place ready.

Trista was setting out snacks in the living room when the door opened and Elias walked in with Sayer.

The second Sayer saw Trista, he wrenched his hand away from his father and bolted toward her, throwing his arms around her. "Mommy!"

The room went dead silent. Fred and Wynn traded confused looks.

Attwater was so shocked he dropped the apple he was holding, and it hit the floor with a dull thud. "Huh? Where did the kid come from?" Attwater stammered.

Trista's parents looked even worse. Trista had just lost a baby and wasn't even divorced yet-seeing her with a child this big was a massive shock.

Sensing the tension, Elias calmly straightened his suit jacket. "Sorry. Ulva, Randolph -Sayer recently asked Trista to be his godmother."

A collective sigh of relief swept through the room as everyone finally relaxed.

Elias tapped his son on the shoulder. "Sayer, say hi to Grandma and Grandpa."

Sayer was on his best behavior. He followed his father's lead, greeting everyone in a small, adorable voice, "Hi, Grandpa. Hi, Grandma. Hi, Uncle. Hello, everyone."

Trista was floored. "Mr. Manwaring, I can't believe he's actually talking to people he doesn't know."

Elias looked at Trista, his dark gold eyes filled with genuine admiration. "It's all thanks to you. He's doing so much better."

Wynn couldn't resist pinching Sayer's cheek. "With a dad this handsome and a kid this cute, these genes are basically a cheat code."

As they were laughing, Alistair arrived.

Even in a wheelchair, his deep-V white shirt couldn't hide the raw, untamed Alpha aura radiating off him.

Trista's parents felt the air get heavy. Having both Elias and Alistair-two top-tier Alphas-in one living room was enough to make anyone's heart race.

The couple shared a look and retreated into the kitchen to whisper for a good ten minutes before they felt brave enough to come back out.

Nine people sat around the long dining table.

With Fred there to keep the conversation moving, the atmosphere stayed lively. "This is great," Attwater mentioned offhandedly, "but we're missing one person." Trista pulled out her phone and started a video call with Isaiah, who was still in Europe.

When he saw the spread, he practically jumped out of his bed. "You guys are having a feast without me? Come on!"

Trista laughed, propping the phone up on the table. "We'll do the eating; you just handle the entertainment."

They toasted and drank, and the party was in full swing when Isaiah suddenly blurted out, "So, Trista-now that Cassian's been caughtrunning around Europe with that loser, are you finally gonna dump him? Or are you waiting until Thanksgiving to sign the papers?"

The room went stone-cold silent.

Trista glanced awkwardly at her parents before setting her fork down. "It's not that I

don't want to. Cassian is the one refusing to sign."

The mood shifted instantly. Even Isaiah realized he'd messed up and shut his mouth.

Trista decided to lean into the

awkwardness, breaking the tension with a half-joke. "Look, if any of you can figure out a way to get him to sign, youll get the seat of honor my bachelorette party."

Silence again, but this time it was heavy.

Her parents looked at her with pure pity. Attwater's claws actually started to peek out -he looked ready to go find Cassian and end him right then and there.

Wynn, still being an Ironthorn member, just kept her head down, too embarrassed to say anything.

Elias continued calmly feeding his son, though he was watching everyone's reactions out of the corner of his eye.

Alistair sat quietly, staring at the ripples in his drink while sizing up the head of the Manwarings.

"You really know how to pick 'em," Fred muttered, finally cutting the video call.

Trista signaled Attwater to pour the two Alphas some more of the strong stuff.

It wasn't like her situation with Cassian was a secret; everyone in the L.A. werewolf

scene already knew their mating was trash.

After dinner, they played a few rounds of poker.

The night finally wrapped up when the Shadowfang guards arrived to pick up Alistair.

Trista walked them to the door, but Sayer was acting like a clingy little pup, refusing to let go of her.

Elias scooped his son up and looked at Trista. "I have some business out of town next week. Would you mind watching Sayer for a couple of days?"

"Sure," Trista agreed without hesitation. "I've got him."

Alistair shot Trista a look from his wheelchair, clearly thinking she was an idiot.

Nearby, Wynn looked pretty down as she whispered to herself, "If Cassian hadn't lost his mind over

Samantha... If they hadn't lost that baby... this place would have been so perfect."

Fred bumped her shoulder. "Don't get emotional now. It doesn't help."

Wynn's mood bottomed out. "Fred, you knew from the start that kid wasn't an Ironthorn. Why didn't you just say something back then?"