Chapter 359

Third Person's POV

After breakfast, Trista cleared the table and headed straight to the healing center.

The second she stepped out of her car, she was hit by a wave of cheap perfume mixed with a bitchy, taunting pheromone.

Trista felt a physical wave of annoyance. "Samantha, it's way too early for this. Don't make me use my aura to throw you out."

Samantha's smile was twisted. "I left my jacket in the treatment room yesterday and just came to grab it. Tell me, Dr. Holmes-now that you're unmated, why does your aura feel even more... aggressive?"

"You really came all this way just to gloat in my face?" Trista's eyes were ice cold.

Samantha stepped closer, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. "You saw it yesterday. Cassian's soul is still haunted by me. He admitted it—he tore up your mating just to make room for me."

She searched Trista's face for any sign of a crack. "I know it's a tough pill to swallow, but it is what it is."

"You're right," Trista nodded, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "He's not just obsessed; he's clearly lost his mind if he's into someone like you."

Samantha's lips curled into a smug grin. "Tomorrow's my birthday. Cassian said he's giving me a 'gift I'll never forget.' So, I'm blowing off my session."

She paused, her tone mocking. "Trista, you were his mate for three years. You know the books. What do you think he'll give me? A piece of the territory? Or a direct cut of the pack's profits?"

Trista let out a dry laugh. "Samantha, let me give you a tip."

"Save the jealousy," Samantha snapped. "I've heard it all before."

"The higher you climb, the harder you're going to hit the pavement." Trista brushed past her without a second glance. "You might want to start looking for an exit strategy while you still can."

Samantha's nails dug into her palms as she watched Trista walk away.

She stared at her back, making a silent vow. "Once I'm officially the Luna of Ironthorn, I'm scrubbing this woman out of L.A. for good."

On the morning of her birthday, Samantha dropped her kid off at school and rushed over to George and Angela's.

"George, Angela, I need a couple grand. Now," she said the moment she walked in. Angela rolled her eyes, looking disgusted. "We're already drowning in your messes. We don't have cash to just throw at you."

Samantha straightened her back, radiating arrogance. "Cassian personally promised me a massive gift tonight. If you guys play dead now, don't expect a single cent of pack money for your kids once I'm officially in charge."

The two traded a suspicious look. George turned to their mother, Georgia. "Mom, is she for real?"

Georgia's hands were shaking with

greed. "He broke his mating bond for

her! I saw how he treated her at the L healing center-he was allover her Everything points to him making it official tonight."

Angela's face flipped instantly. "What do you think he'll get her? A mansion in Beverly Hills? A custom ride?"

George got excited too. "Ironthorn is the top pack in the city. He's not going to show up with anything less than a seven-figure check."

Samantha soaked it all up. "Think bigger. What if he marks me tonight?"

"Oh, the whole family is counting on you then!" Angela chirped, quickly Venmo-ing her three thousand dollars.

"Samantha, once you're the Luna,

you've got to hook up your nephe

Get them into those elite private schools so they can finally move up in the world."

"Just wait for the good news." Samantha took the money and left with her head held high.

8:00 PM, at the second floor of the Imperial Club, Samantha had changed into a "classy" outfit and spent hours on her hair.

When she pushed open the door to the private suite, Cassian was sitting there alone.

No cake. No flowers. Just a heavy, suffocating Alpha aura that made it hard to breathe.

"Cassian, I thought we were celebrating. Why here?" She quickly convinced herself this was just some "Alpha-style" foreplay.

Cassian put down his glass, his voice low and hollow. "The soundproofing here is the best in L.A. It's better for... taking care of business."

Samantha's face flushed.

She thought the newly single Alpha was in a hurry to mark her.

She slid into the seat next to him, her voice sickeningly sweet. "You've been so cold lately, and you didn't even get a cake. If the gift isn't expensive enough, don't think you're getting lucky tonight..."

Cassian glanced at her, a flash of pure loathing in his eyes.

He stood up to avoid her hand, his tone grim. "I've waited three years for this day. I wouldn't dream of showing up without your 'big gift."""

Samantha held her breath, her heart racing. She was ready for the high life to finally

start.

She coyly shrugged off her jacket, showing off her figure under the lights.

As an omega, she intentionally let her scent flare—a cloyingly sweet pheromone designed to hijack an Alpha's instincts.

"Cassian," she whispered, walking toward him with hazy eyes. "I have a 'gift' for you,

too."