Where Soft Light Shines Darkness Fades From Tired Hearts by Evan Holt Crane 381

Third Person’s POV

Finished

Before Cassian could even find his voice, Fred let out a sharp laugh. “She’s surrounded by top–tier Alphas right now. Every single one of them is looking for a chance to bring her home to their own pack. She’s living her best life, Cassian. Why would she ever look back?”

“And you? What do you even have to offer her anymore?”

Fred’s words were like poisoned fangs, tearing through Cassian’s final defenses.

He let out a low, pained groan, grabbed his jacket, and stumbled out of the room on unsteady legs.

He knew he owed Trista more than he could ever pay, but cutting the link entirely? He’d have to bleed himself dry first.

Cassian didn’t even remember the drive home.

The second he pushed open the front door, the sight of the light in the living room made his heart skip a

beat.

He threw his jacket aside and ran into the room like a madman.

For a split second, he saw her–Trista, wearing that ridiculous cartoon onesie, tossing a pillow aside and running toward him.

“Babe…” Cassian croaked, his eyes red as he opened his arms.

But his fingers only met cold air.

He caught nothing, finally forced to just wrap his arms around himself in the silence.

There was no warmth, no soft touch–only a dead–quiet living room and the harsh glare of the lights.

Cassian gripped his shirt over his chest and collapsed onto the sofa.

Like a stray that had lost its territory, he stared at the ceiling, pulling out the crystal pendant Trista had left

him.

He squeezed it so hard the sharp edges cut into his palm, but the physical sting couldn’t touch the agony

in his heart.

With the alcohol burning in his stomach, he pulled out his phone. He’d scrolled past her number a thousand times, but this time, he finally hit dial.

It rang for a long time. The second she picked up, Cassian forced himself to sit up straight.

“She still answered this late,” he thought. “Maybe there’s still a chance.”

“Trista,” his voice was a wreck, a jagged plea for help. “My stomach… it hurts so bad.”

1:19 pm D

“Cassian, if you aren’t feeling well, you should dial 911 and call an ambulance.”

Finished

Trista’s voice was as flat as a dial tone. “I’m reminding you for the last time: we are divorced. The only reason I haven’t blocked you is out of respect for Alaina and Wynn. I’m trying to give us both some dignity.”

“If you ever harass me with something this pathetic again, I’m blocking your number for good.”

The line went dead. Cassian slumped back into the sofa, the phone sliding from his fingers onto the floor.

He closed his eyes, trying to suppress the desperate, bloodshot haze behind his lids.

***

It was the first day of the Ranking Exams. Cassian arrived Attwater’s school holding a bouquet of bright sunflowers, his senses accurately locking onto Trista’s scent in the noisy crowd.

She was wearing a sleek, form–fitting red gown today. Her beauty was aggressive, almost blinding in the sunlight, every curve traced with lethal elegance.

The second he saw Isaiah standing next to her, Cassian’s expression went dark.

He mechanically adjusted his tie, pushing down the surge of irritation in his chest, and started walking toward her.

“I got these so you’ll take the top spot!”

Sayer was already there, holding a massive bunch of golden sunflowers, excitedly shoving them into Attwater’s arms.

Cassian froze mid–step. He looked down at the near–identical bouquet in his own hand, and his face went rigid.

Against that bright, happy scene, his flowers looked redundant–and pathetic.

Trista watched Attwater walk into the exam hall. As she turned back, her sharp vision caught a glimpse of a lonely figure in the distance.

She frowned slightly, glancing at Isaiah. “I think I just saw Cassian.”

Isaiah was on it instantly. He stepped in front of her, standing on his toes to block her view completely “You’re seeing things,” he lied smoothly. “L.A. is full of guys in dark suits. That’s probably just some insurance salesman.”

Elias saw right through him but just shook his head with a smile.

Trista didn’t push it; she said her goodbyes to Isaiah and hopped into Elias’s car for a ride to the clinic.

8:30 AM, Zander was already waiting for her at her office.

He handed over a gold–trimmed invitation. “It’s my sister Penelope’s eighteenth birthday this weekend. It’d be an honor to have you there to see her come of age.”

1:19 pm DD

Trista took the invite with a smile. “I wouldn’t miss it, Alpha Zander. I’ll be there.”

As she closed the card, she couldn’t help but think that money really did solve a lot of problems.

0490

Finished

She remembered her own eighteenth birthday—her parents had thrown a massive gala in Beverly Hills that the whole city talked about.

But by the time Attwater came of age, the family’s situation had tanked. They’d just taken a family photo and had a quiet dinner at home.

She and her parents had enough money for a party now, but like her mother said, they were out of that power–hungry circle. There was no point in going back to those fake, exhausting displays.

The night of Penelope’s birthday gala, Trista brought Attwater and Isaiah along.

The three of them drove together toward the Blade territory.

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Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.