Where Soft Light Shines Darkness Fades From Tired Hearts by Evan Holt Crane 438

Third Person’s POV

Outside the restaurant, the air was several degrees colder.

Humphrey stood like a reinforced concrete wall, blocking the entrance.

Finished

He didn’t budge an inch, even as Thomasina–pregnant and radiating pure malice–marched up with Madison and Angela trailing behind her like lapdogs.

Thomasina peered through the glass at Trista, her hand instinctively protecting her belly as she sneered, What’s this? Did Cassian leave a dog at the door because he’s scared I’ll give that bitch exactly what she leserves?”

Humphrey dipped his head slightly, but his voice was pure steel. “Mrs. Crees, this is Alpha Cassian’s erritory. If you cause trouble for Healer Trista, the fallout is something nobody wants to handle.”

He didn’t give a damn that she was pregnant. In his eyes, anyone threatening Trista was just an obstacle hat needed to be cleared.

Madison chimed in, stirring the pot. “Everyone knows Cassian dumped her and broke the bond ages ago. Thomasina is the mate of the Blackthorn Alpha, and she’s carrying the heir. Who’s going to stop her now?”

Angela added with a sycophantic grin, “Humphrey, if you’re smart, you’ll stop playing doorman for a vashed–up ex and start sucking up to Miss Porter. Once she’s the new Luna of Ironthorn, she could

romote you with a snap of her fingers. Trista? She’s a nobody now.”

is the three women pressed forward, Humphrey felt a migraine blooming in his temples.

His guards held Madison and Angela back easily, but he couldn’t get physical with a pregnant Alpha’s mate. Seeing the opening, the trio managed to shove their way inside.

n the dining area, Trista stood up just as Wynn and Zachary were emerging from their booth.

They all locked eyes. Wynn looked totally bewildered. “Wait… what are you guys doing here?”

Fred jumped in before things got awkward. “What are you doing here?”

I’m on a date,” Wynn said matter–of–factly. She waved at Trista and Fred. “And you two? A secret endezvous?”

Fred cut the painful small talk short with a clipped introduction of Zachary

Zachary, sensing the thick layer of tension and the literal smell of gunpowder in the air, took the hint and made a lightning–fast exit.

The second Zachary vanished, Thomasina and her crew cut them off

Humphrey, realizing the cat was out of the bag, waved his guards off and followed them in, drenched in a cold sweat and praying for a miracle.

173

54 pm M

Trista gave the trio a freezing look. “Mrs. Crees. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Finished

Thomasina rubbed her barely–there baby bump, her eyes full of venom. “Nice move, Trista. Even after the breakup, you’ve still got Cassian’s top guys playing lapdog and guarding the door for you.”

Trista’s expression went stone–cold. Before she could snap back, Angela’s shrill voice cut in. “Trista! Humphrey and his goons were out there threatening us! Did you tell them to do that?”

Madison added, “This is a public restaurant, not your living room. You have no right to block us.”

Trista ignored the background noise and looked directly at Humphrey. “Humphrey, is that true?”

Humphrey’s heart nearly stopped. If Trista found out this was Cassian’s secret detail, he was a dead man.

He grit his teeth, looked at the three women, and decided to lie through his teeth. “Dr. Holmes, don’t listen. to a word they say!”

He cleared his throat, leaning into the performance of a lifetime. “I was just walking by after work when I heard these three loudly plotting how to jump you. They were using language so filthy I couldn’t even repeat it. I stepped in to tell them to move along, and now they’re trying to flip the script on me.”

Humphrey glared at Thomasina. “Mrs. Crees, I was just being a good citizen. Since when is that a threat?”

The three women nearly exploded at the blatant lie.

Thomasina stared at Humphrey, her face a mask of ‘I can’t believe you’re doing this. “The cameras are ight there, you idiot! You think you can just make stuff up?”

Angela and Madison, losing their minds, actually tried to lunged at Humphrey.

He covered his face, dodging around the tables while sticking to his story. “I said I was just passing by! Stop naking a scene!”

Trista watched the chaos with a detached eye.

She had worked with Humphrey for years; she knew his style. If he wanted to keep a secret, he’d take it to he grave.

She turned back to Thomasina, her voice clinical. “I trust Humphrey’s character.”

Trista took a step forward, her gaze as sharp as a blade. “Stop the act, Thomasina. Your niece, Samantha broke pack law. She chose her own path to ruin. Don’t bring that fire to my doorstep.”

“I just came here for lunch,” Thomasina hissed, trying to pivot.

Trista’s eyes dropped to Thomasina’s stomach, her voice dropping into a low, terrifying register. “You worked hard to crawl into the Blackthorns. Right now, you should be at home protecting that baby, nor out here looking for a fight. If your stupidity causes ‘an accident for that child, how long do you think you’ll keep that fancy title?”

“Are you cursed me?!”

Thomasina snapped. She grabbed a glass of juice from a nearby table and hurled the liquid straight at

3:55 pm

Trista’s face.

Firdshor

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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.