Chapter 330

Third Person's POV

Wilmot slammed his hand on the desk, standing up abruptly. "The Ironthorns has deep roots. Losing a few deals isn't going to shake our foundation. Since

Shadowfang wants a war, Cassian, don't show them an ounce of mercy from here on out!"

Cassian glanced at his mother to gauge her reaction before speaking. "Dad, Alistair is still Mom's brother. This started because of me; I'll handle it."

Alaina looked at her son, a bit surprised.

Under Wilmot's elite, "sink or swim" education, Cassian had always been a hardliner.

The Ironthorn men believed that in business, there were only winners and losers— emotions were a liability. They were self-centered, decisive, and never looked back.

But when it came to their personal lives, these Alphas, one after another, were turning into obsessive lunatics.

During lunch hour, Trista got a call from Cassian and stepped outside the healing center.

He looked lethal. Without a word, he grabbed her arm and hauled her into the car.

Trista immediately smelled the heavy, aggressive scent filling the interior-it was the smell of the beast inside him, slamming against the bars of its cage in a fit of rage.

She pressed her lips together and waited for him to speak first.

Cassian pinned her with a cold stare. "I didn't realize you were this resourceful."

Trista couldn't tell if that was a compliment or an insult. "Get to the point," she said flatly.

Cassian let out a sharp scoff. "Alistair just sniped a ten-billion-dollar Ironthorn project to force my hand on the severance papers. Don't tell me you were 'kept in the dark' about this."

Trista's heart skipped a beat. She felt a flicker of guilt.

She had complained to Alistair, sure, but she never imagined the Shadowfang Alpha would actually launch a full-scale strike against Ironthorn just for her.

This favor was far too great-how was she ever going to pay him back?

Cassian caught her reaction and realized she really hadn't known. He doubled down on the pressure. "Trista, Ironthorn didn't become the top pack in L.A. by luck. If Alistair insists on a corporate war, he's not just facing me he's facing our entire alliance. Is that really what you want?"

Trista was nervous, and she knew exactly how high the stakes were, but she wasn't about to back down.

She forced herself to meet his eyes. "Cassian, since things have already spiraled this far, just sign the papers. It's better for everyone."

Cassian lunged forward, grabbing her arm and pulling her inches from his face.

His dark gold pupils narrowed into slits, and his aura made the air in the car almost impossible to breathe.

"Trista," he growled. "I know I let you down, but have my lines. I never cheated on our bond. I'll take whatever punishment you throw me, but end the mating? That's off the table."

Seeing that he was immune to both logic and threats, Trista decided to go nuclear. "Fine, Cassian. If you won't sign, get ready. Since you

won't give me the papers, I guess I'll I just find a scent I actually can resonate with outside your territory If you're really okay with every Alpha in L.A. smelling a messy mix of marks on me-or if you're prepared to spend the rest of your life raising

a kid with 'impure' blood-then by all all means, keep stalling!"

Cassian's face went so dark it was terrifying. His fangs began to show, and a low, guttural roar vibrated in his throat. "Don't you dare!"

Trista squared her shoulders, not backing an inch. "Watch me."

The veins in Cassian's temples were throbbing. He hissed through clenched teeth, "Trista, if you actually pull a stunt like that, I won't do nothing."

Trista immediately propped her leg up on his knee, taunting him. "Go ahead. Do it now. I can't stand another day tied to you—you think I care about that?"

Cassian felt like his chest was going to explode. He pointed at the door and roared, "Get out!"

The second Trista's feet hit the pavement, Cassian ordered the driver to floor it, leaving her in a cloud of exhaust.

Watching his taillights fade, Trista felt a bit uneasy.

Between Elias and Alistair, so many people were getting dragged into this mess.

She had no idea how much more chaos was coming.

2:30 PM, at the Ironthorn border,

Cassian had just stepped out of his car, face like thunder, when a high-end supercar suddenly blared its hor and charged toward him without slowing down.

The sound of twisting metal shattered the quiet afternoon.

An hour later, at the healing center, Trista was getting ready to head to Shadowfang

when Humphrey ran up to her, looking frantic.

"Luna Trista! Alpha Cassian was in a car accident! He's in the ER right now!"

"An accident?" Trista's first thought was that it was a lie.

Who in L.A. would dare to ram Cassian's car in broad daylight?

But then, she saw Isaiah out of the corner of her eye. Her heart sank.

She marched over, grabbed Isaiah by the collar, and slammed him against the wall.

She shot a wary look at Humphrey before whispering harshly, "Did you hit Cassian?"

Isaiah gave her a casual, unbothered shrug. "He went crying to my grandpa and still won't sign the papers. He had it coming."