Where Soft Light Shines Darkness Fades From Tired Hearts by Evan Holt Crane 439

Finished

Third Person’s POV

Fred moved like a blur, snatching Trista into his arms to shield her.

The ice–cold juice slammed into Humphrey instead, soaking his shirt and leaving him looking like a total

mess.

Trista frowned, pulling out a tissue and handing it to him.

The sound of the hit rang out through the restaurant like a gunshot.

Wynn had lunged forward out of nowhere, catching Thomasina across the face with a backhand that made everyone jump.

Her eyes were feral, like a wolf protecting its kill. “You must have a death wish!”

Wynn almost let a “Luna” slip out of habit, but she caught Trista’s warning glare and choked the word back just in time.

Thomasina clutched her face, shaking with a mix of shock and rage.

Madison, hiding safely in the back, started screeching, “Wynn Simmons, have you lost your mind? She’s carrying the Blackthorn heir! This is an act of war!”

Trista didn’t want Wynn falling into a verbal trap. she shoved Madison back and followed up with a slap of her own. “I’m the one who hit her. Go tell your boss to come find me if he’s got a problem with it.”

“Trista, you’re nothing without Cassian’s protection! Who do you think you are?” Madison shrieked, clutching her burning cheek.

Wynn’s predatory side was fully unleashed now. She shoved Trista aside, rolled up her sleeves, and grabbed a handful of Thomasina’s hair. “Oh, so being pregnant is your shield? Since you can’t keep your mouth shut, I guess I’ll have to teach you some manners for your Alpha!”

Thomasina screamed, frantically trying to protect her stomach.

Angela, acting like a rabid dog, lunged into the fray.

Seeing things spiral out of control, Fred and Humphrey dove into the middle of the screaming women to try and break it up–mostly by getting in the way.

“I’ll kill you all!” Angela screamed. As a rogue who had spent her life on the streets, she had zero boundaries when it came to a fight.

To her, the baby in Thomasina’s womb was her ticket to the high life, and she wasn’t letting anything happen to it. She circled around Fred and grabbed a fistful of his hair, pulling with everything she had.

Humphrey, having short hair, managed to slip away.

But Fred’s perfectly styled hair took a beating, and he let out a jagged yelp of pain.

2:59 pm DXXM.

Finished

The restaurant was a disaster zone until a group of massive security guards managed to peel the women

apart.

Thomasina’s face was already swelling, her skin marked by a bright red handprint.

She slumped into a chair, trembling as she told Angela to call the LAPD.

“Nobody leaves!” Angela barked, her hair a wild mess.

Madison’s custom coat was on the floor, ruined, but she still managed to sneer, “The police brass are tight with Alpha Edwin. You’re all going to a holding cell!”

Trista ignored the threats.

She saw that Humphrey’s shirt was missing buttons and his neck was covered in scratches. She felt a wave of guilt. “I’m sorry, Humphrey. I shouldn’t have pulled you into this.”

Humphrey looked at the floor, not saying a word.

Fred was on the verge of a total breakdown, trying to fix his hair–which now looked like a bird’s nest- while muttering, “Goddamn psycho women.”

Trista reached out to fix Fred’s collar and realized her own hair clip was gone.

Her hair fell over her shoulders, her dress was torn at the waist, and there was a bright red scratch on her cheek from Madison’s nails.

Among everyone there, only Wynn looked untouched–the result of a lifetime of combat training.

If Cassian hadn’t always suppressed her, these people would probably have been carried out today.

Soon, Thomasina was taken away by an emergency medical team, and the rest were all brought back to the police station.

7:00 PM. LAPD Headquarters.

The power players arrived one after another: Alpha Edwin from Blackthorn, Cassian, and the Simmons family.

Alpha Edwin was livid. “Cassian! If anything happens to my Luna or my pup, I promise you this turns into a border war!”

Alaina stepped in immediately to play peacemaker. “Edwin, if my daughter is at fault, Ironthorn will take full responsibility. But until we have the facts, stay in your lane.”

Cassian stood to the side, his face dark and unreadable.

A few minutes later, the group was bailed out.

When the Alphas saw the state of Fred and Humphrey–scratched up and bleeding–they all froze.

Humphrey caught Cassian’s eye. He took a breath and leaned into a sudden, brilliant bit of improv.

2:59 pm 0 ZZN.

≈0:41

Finished

He walked up to Cassian, looking like a man of pure integrity. “Alpha Cassian, I was just passing by on my day off when I heard Mrs. Crees and her friends plotting to humiliate Healer Trista. They were planning to film a disgusting video to ruin her reputation. I tried to de–escalate, but they went into a frenzy and

attacked us.”

Edwin’s face went white. “Lies! My Luna would never do that!”

Madison jumped in, desperate. “Alpha Edwin, he’s making it up! He’s the one who was threatening us with his guards!”

Angela started screaming insults at Humphrey, her language turning the air blue.

Cassian didn’t even look at them. He just patted Humphrey on the shoulder, his voice calm but terrifyingly heavy. “You’re an Ironthorn beta. When someone marks you like this, they’re insulting me. Go get your injuries documented. I’m taking this to court.”

Wynn hid behind Fred, looking guilty.

Fred, however, pointed at his own bruised face. “I want a medical report too! They played dirty!”

Edwin looked at them, his face turning a bruised purple from the sheer audacity of their counter–attack.

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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.