LOGINThird Person's POV"You've got it all wrong! I didn't do anything!" Samantha backed away in a panic, letting out a terrified whimper."My daughter just got back into the country! How could she possibly be an extortionist?" Georgia shrieked, shielding her daughter.Angela joined in, pleading, "Exactly! We're just low-level wolves. How would we even dare mess with people in power?""The other party has provided a complete chain of evidence, including past transfer records and threatening messages," the officer said, pulling out cold metal handcuffs. "Whether or not you broke the law is for the interrogation room to decide."Samantha's world imploded.Who? Who wanted her dead only two days after her return?In her desperation, she grabbed Georgia's collar and hissed, "Go... find Thomasina. Tell her to use her pack connections to get me out!"Monday morning. Top floor of the Ironthorn Group, CEO's office.Humphrey knocked and entered. Due to his years of security work, his footsteps were
Third Person's POVHumphrey stepped aside, his face like stone as he avoided the stench of her cheap perfume, and slammed the door shut behind her.Cassian calmly crushed his cigarette into the ashtray, his wild Alpha aura vanishing instantly, replaced by a cold, sharp logic."The plan I gave you—is it time to reel them in?" Cassian asked."The evidence is already with the police," Humphrey replied with a slight bow, a ruthless glint in his eyes. "Between the money laundering and the visa issues, the feds have her pinned. It's only a matter of time before they kick in her door."Cassian stood up, smoothing out his sleeves that had wrinkled during his "performance," every last bit of warmth gone from his gaze.Ten minutes later, outside the Imperial Club.Samantha wiped her eyes and stared at the gold-trimmed doors, stomping her feet in a fit of rage.She had expected that by running out in tears, Cassian would chase after
Third Person's POV"Cassian, was it your grandfather who told you... that I took the sixty million?""Just explain what you need to explain." Cassian took a sip of strong liquor, his tone unreadable but tinged with a weary sense of seeing through everything.Samantha watched his reaction closely.She didn't understand why he hadn't immediately asked, with his usual protective stance, how much she had suffered.Had this man's instincts already picked up the scent of a lie?Under such suffocating scrutiny, Samantha guiltily dropped to one knee, pointing her fingertips to the sky in a sacrificial gesture. "Cassian, I swear by the Moon Goddess! It was really your grandfather who threatened my family's lives, forced me to take that money, and forced me to go abroad and get mated!"Cassian slowly lit a cigarette, the acrid scent of tobacco filling the air as if masking a nauseating truth.He shifted into a more commanding posture, hi
Third Person's POVWhile Samantha's ambition was enough to swallow her sanity, her methods were amateur in Trista's eyes.The deep-seated pain from her past life had always been rooted in Cassian's obsession and indulgence.As long as she no longer loved that man, Samantha wouldn't even qualify as her rival.After seeing Victoria off, Trista returned to the healing center.At 2:00 PM, Xander, the Alpha of the Blade Pack, walked in.His steady, cedar-like scent immediately calmed the restless air in the room.He handed her a cute cartoon gift bag. "My sister made these handmade fruit candies," he said. "She insisted I bring them to the 'genius healer.'""Thank you." Trista took the candies, their sweetness finally breaking through the heavy mood she'd carried all night.Xander watched her unguarded expression, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes. "Regarding your application for a permanent position—I took the
Third Person's POVThe next day, inside the Ironthorn mansion, the atmosphere was so heavy it was suffocating.Howard and Wilmot sat there, their faces grim.Cassian unbuttoned his suit jacket, radiating the unmistakable aura of a powerful leader.Trista's words from the night before echoed in his mind—for the sake of his loved ones, he had to stand at the peak of power to protect her from the shadows."Your grandfather has signed over the shares," Wilmot said coldly. "When are you returning to the company?""No rush. Once the paperwork is processed," Cassian replied steadily, his tone signaling a firm boundary.Alaina stood up abruptly, her elegant composure nearly crumbling. "You said you were finished with that Samantha woman! Why did she show up at the birthday party? Do you have any idea how much that hurt Trista?"A cold glint flashed in Cassian's eyes, his voice low like rolling thunder. "Mom, I'm going to investig
Third Person's POVThe night was heavy as two souls, both scarred by the wreckage of a past life, wept silently by the freezing lake.Deep in the suburban wilderness, Cassian held Trista in a crushing embrace from behind.Even though he had enough strength in his arms to shatter stone, he couldn't stop shivering.The agony of his rebirth was like a trapped beast, clawing at his sanity until he was on the verge of shifting into a wolf and howling at the moon in despair.With a suppressed growl, he forced himself to let go.He stood hunched over, a lonely and defeated figure in the dark. The crimson fire of obsession in his eyes finally flickered out as he met Trista's cold gaze."Don't cry, Trista... I'll respect your decision," he rasped, his voice sounding like it had been ground over gravel.Whatever she wanted, he had to give in.Even if it was a sentence that tore his soul apart.Falling back into being "child
Third Person's POVAs soon as Trista finished speaking, she felt a heavy shackle deep in her soul finally snap wide open.She could feel her wolf curling into itself, no longer even trying to reach out through that ragged, failing bond.She had already bled out every drop of loyalty and passion she
Third Person's POVHis wolf was whimpering. It could feel the bone-deep loathing radiating from its other half. This visceral rejection, coming from the very source of the bond, left the powerful Alpha feeling a frantic, unfamiliar sense of dread.Years ago, Samantha had been systematically destroy
Third Person's POV"If I had just given in when Howard forced me away... or if I hadn't been so soft-hearted during those dark years of abuse and chose not to bring this little life into the world, he wouldn't have to suffer like this now, living in the shadows."Cassian soothed her in a low voice.
Third Person's POVNot long after Trista drove off with Isaiah, Samantha stepped out from the shadows of a pillar near the entrance.She had been standing just far enough away to see everything clearly, but close enough to avoid drawing attention.The moment she saw Cassian's car pull up, Samantha







