Chapter 352

Third Person's POV

At 8:00 PM, Samantha intercepted the black SUV outside Cassian's apartment building.

Cassian stepped out of the car, radiating an unstable, hyper-agitated Alpha aura. His voice was cold enough to draw blood. "You sent a distress signal like the world was ending. What do you want?"

"Cassian, I know how much the bond-severance hurts the wolf soul. I didn't want to bother you right now, but I couldn't just sit by and let you be played for a fool." As she spoke, Samantha synced a carefully chosen photo of the "happy family of three" to Cassian's terminal.

Cassian glanced at it.

In the frame, Trista was gently adjusting the little boy's shoelaces while Elias's gaze remained fixed on her with unmistakable intensity.

Cassian closed the screen, his face a total mask.

When the explosive Alpha bloodlust she expected didn't happen, Samantha doubled down. "Cassian, I only took that because I didn't think you'd believe me otherwise. I risked her attacking me for this. The way they look together... it's like they've already completed a new marking. I thought she loved you, but it turns out she only cut ties so she could jump to this guy."

"You hunted me down just to use a cheap tactic like this to drive a wedge?" Cassian's eyes swept over her with lethal coldness.

Samantha flinched, quickly tucking away her smugness.

She lowered her head, exposing the vulnerable curve of her neck, and whispered, "No... that's not it, Cassian. My wolf is unraveling-that's why I came. About Trista... I just couldn't stand seeing you deceived."

"She already agreed to one last treatment for you. I'll bring you over once I've scheduled a time," Cassian interrupted, his eyes devoid of warmth.

Samantha felt a surge of triumph. As long as he was still taking her to see his ex, it proved she was still the one who needed his protection.

She gave a submissive nod. "Thank you, Cassian. I'll go home and wait for your word."

Cassian watched her leave, then leaned heavily against his car door, rubbing his temples in frustration.

He pulled his phone back out and stared at the photo.

Without the bond's intuition, he couldn't tell if the smile on Trista's face was real or just a performance.

All he knew was that his apartment, now empty of her scent, felt like a freezing cage.

The next morning, Cassian's car was already parked at Trista's clinic when she arrived.

The second he saw her silver sedan pull into its spot, he marched over. Trista stepped out, pausing when she felt that powerful but frantic Alpha aura. She'd put on a touch of makeup today and looked incredibly well-rested. The pale, drained look she used to wear was gone, replaced by the vibrant glow of a free wolf. "Your favorite sandwich," Cassian said, thrusting the warm breakfast toward her. There was a desperate, humble note in his voice he didn't even notice.

Trista brushed a lock of hair back, making no move to take the food. Her voice was flat. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'm living with my parents now. My mom makes me breakfast every morning."

Cassian's hand dropped to his side, the bag of food hanging uselessly.

He had driven across half of L.A. at dawn to get this while it was hot; now, it was just an embarrassing prop.

For the first time, he felt the total frustration of having no move to make.

"Anything else?" Trista asked, her tone as polite and detached as if she were talking to a stranger who'd lost their way.

Cassian suppressed the irritation bubbling in his chest. "I'm bringing Samantha in this afternoon. Remember your promise-you're doing the wolf-hypnosis."

Trista glanced at the staff and patients milling around the clinic entrance. "I'm not seeing patients this afternoon she whispered sharply Wait för my call Don't you? dare just barge into my office."

With that, she waved to a colleague and walked toward the lobby.

Cassian stared at her back until her scent vanished from his senses.

It finally hit him: in front of Trista, he had lost every bit of his Alpha privilege.

Inside her office, Zander handed

Trista a classified file. "The youngest

Triple Crown actor in

Hollywood-he's a high-tier

Awakened. His soul-frenzy is slightly better than Isaiah was, but his family background is as dark as it

gets. Take a look."

Trista flipped through the file, her eyes narrowing. "Zander, you know I live for the

cases no one else is brave enough to touch."

Zander smiled in approval, then

lowered his voice. "One more thing. The network is putting together a medical segment, It's a public service thing, but it put you and this hospital on the map in LA. I want to pitch you for it."

Trista had never been a public figure. She hesitated. "You think I can do it?"

Zander laughed. "Trista, you can doubt your instincts, but don't doubt my eye for talent. There isn't a steadier healer in this city than you."

Trista smiled back. "You've been dragging me along since I was a rookie. If I trust anyone, it's you."

She knew exactly what this exposure meant.

Once she hit the screen, she wouldn't just be an "appendage" of the Ironthorns anymore. She would be a top-tier specialist standing entirely on her own.