LOGINThird Person's POVCassian's gaze cut through the crowd, locking onto Fred, who stood strategically behind a line of pack guards.Fred didn't flinch. His eyes were bright with pure provocation. "Yeah, I'm the one who called in the Ironthorn reinforcements. Go ahead—see if you can get your old man to ship me off and lock me up again like last time."Cassian looked down, a heavy silence settling over him for a long beat.Finally, he turned his head toward Samantha, his voice a flat, emotionless line. "Go. Head back."Samantha looked like she'd just been handed a stay of execution. She started edging toward the exit, her movements small and frantic.But Howard's beta, Brooke, stepped forward, his arm forming an immovable barrier. "I'm afraid you aren't going anywhere tonight, Miss Fernandez."The color drained from Samantha's face instantly.Like a cornered prey animal, she shot a pleading, terrified look at Cassian. "Cassian... I'm scared..."Cassian glanced at Trista. A flicker of hesi
Third Person's POVIn Samantha's mind, she didn't see herself as any less than Trista. After all, Trista's family, the Silverlight Pack, was a sinking ship.In terms of looks, Samantha felt she was just as captivating.And as for personality? She had perfected the role of the sweet, submissive, and "independent" woman whenever Cassian was around.She truly couldn't wrap her head around it. Why did Trista get to walk among these werewolves like she owned the place, while she was forced to swallow their insults and mockery?Samantha cast a heartbroken look at Cassian, her voice a fragile whisper. "I'm so sorry, Alpha Cassian. It seems I've caused you more trouble."Seeing the crowd's pheromones turning hostile—everyone lining up to tear Samantha apart—Cassian finally snapped.Avoiding the judgmental glares of the room, he muttered to her, "Go. Get out of here."Samantha had already achieved what she came for, and she had no intention of staying to be a punching bag.Before she turned to
Third Person's POVTrista's sharp, final question hit the room like a localized explosion.Instantly, the air was flooded with the agitated pheromones of the high-ranking wolves present.The noble she-wolves nearby traded scandalous looks, their hushed whispers swirling through the hallway like a growing storm.Samantha felt the floor falling out from under her. Her low-level omega scent grew sour and erratic with panic. She scrambled forward, trying to wrap herself back in her cloak of innocence."Luna Trista, please... don't be angry, you're misunderstanding everything!" she stammered, her voice trembling. "I... I had a feminine emergency. My cycle started early and I ruined my clothes. Alpha Cassian was only being a gentleman, stepping in to help someone in need."Trista let out a sharp, cold snort. Inside her, the wolf that had been dormant for so long let out a low, guttural snarl.She looked at Samantha, her voice like ice shards grinding together. "Since you're such a 'dear fri
Third Person's POVSamantha's eyes flooded with tears instantly, her voice trembling with a well-rehearsed sob. "Cassian... are we really doing this? Are you seriously drawing a line between us over a name?"Alpha Cassian stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his silhouette rigid and unyielding.Outside, the night was pitch black, but his presence was colder than the winter air."Whatever happens in private stays there," he said, his voice flat and controlled. "In public, the pet names end. Now."It wasn't a suggestion; it was an order.Samantha's pupils contracted for a fraction of a second.She quickly looked down, twisting her fingers together and thinning her scent, making herself look small under the weight of his Alpha aura."I understand, Alpha Cassian," she whispered, her voice slow and deliberate. "But if we act like total strangers, Howard is going to get suspicious. And if that happens... keeping the boy's secret is going to be impossible."Cassian's gaze dropped.His golde
Third Person's POVAfter the way Fred had torn Samantha apart in front of the entire room, followed by the relentless mockery from the high-born wolves, Cassian's heart was likely bleeding for her.Trista knew exactly how he operated. Right now, he was probably hidden away in some quiet corner, doing everything in his power to soothe his traumatized omega. He wouldn't have a single thought to spare for his Luna in name only."So, you're the one? Cassian's Luna?"Near the shadow-drenched pillars at the exit, Madison Poole stepped out to block Trista's path.Trista slowed to a stop, giving a faint, clinical nod. Her expression was as stagnant as a dead pool of water.Madison's eyes raked over her, dripping with a brand of jealousy that only comes from someone insecure about their own bloodline. "Don't think a pretty face keeps you in that seat forever," Madison sneered. "In our world, a title is just a piece of paper if you can't hold onto your man. The only woman branded into Cassian's
Trista's POVAlpha Forrest's brow deepened. He was clearly done with the drama.He signaled his guards, his voice hardening into a cold command. "Did I stutter? Get this unidentified rogue out of Shadowfang territory. Now."Faced with the crushing weight of a high-level Alpha's aura, Samantha's legs went weak.Her first instinct was to scramble toward Cassian. It was a practiced move—she'd clearly spent years making "seeking protection" her default setting.I watched her lean into his space and took a deliberate step back.I didn't stop her, and I didn't fight to keep my spot. I cleared the floor for her, watching the whole thing like a spectator at a play that had nothing to do with me.The next second, Cassian's arm snaked around my waist, dragging me back flush against his side.He leaned in close, his scent flooding my senses in a clear, possessive claim.He shot me a look—part warning, part command.I didn't challenge him.I just pulled my emotions inward and flattened my wolf's







