LOGINThird Person's POVCassian's sudden mention of the sixty million caught Samantha completely off guard. She froze.As the judgmental stares of the crowd bore down on her, Samantha's survival instincts kicked in.Her eyes widened with shock, her face crumpling into a mask of pure, unadulterated heartbreak.She looked at Cassian, her voice trembling as she addressed the room through a veil of tears."Cassian... your grandfather forced me to take that money. He threatened my family. I haven't touched a single cent of it—believe me or don't, it's up to you!" She sobbed into her hands and bolted out of the ballroom.By dumping the entire blame on Howard before her grand exit, she left the crowd with just enough doubt to wonder if she truly was a victim of the Ironthorn elders.As Samantha brushed past Trista, Trista instinctively reached out to stop her.But before she could even touch Samantha's sleeve, her wrist was clamped i
Third Person's POVAs Samantha's words hung in the air, low gasps erupted from every corner of the ballroom.Trista stood at the back of the crowd, not moving an inch forward.That single "Alaina" Samantha had uttered was far too intimate.It wasn't the respectful address a junior gives a senior, nor the proper etiquette a stranger shows a high-ranking pack female—it was a calculated move to hint at a special bond. It was the sound of someone pushing a door that didn't belong to her, just so the onlookers would think she had once stood inside.Then came her reason for their "breakup." She didn't say it explicitly; to be direct would be amateur.Samantha Fernandez was never a fool—at least not in this life, before greed had completely clouded her judgment. Her instincts were sharp.She simply wove three keywords into her sentence: Ironthorn elders. Forced. Apart.Those words were all it took for everyone in the room
Third Person's POVFred lunged in from the side.His arm hooked under Wynn's raised limb, wrapping around her waist and hauling her back half a step.Wynn's palm swept through the air, only grazing a few stray strands of hair near Samantha's ear."Wynn!" Fred's voice was low, carrying a rare weight of authority. "Not here."Wynn struggled in his arms for a split second before freezing.Her chest heaved, her eyes were rimmed with red, and her lips were pressed into a trembling line.She didn't charge again, but she didn't back down either.Samantha stood her ground.Her shoulders were shaking, and tears continued to stream from her eyes.But her gaze—her gaze bypassed the fuming Wynn, bypassed the restraining Fred, and landed squarely on Cassian.He was looking at her.He stood there, hands at his sides, his expression as indifferent as if he were looking at a piece of furniture he didn't own.
Third Person's POVCassian didn't answer.His gaze bypassed Samantha entirely, locking onto Trista.His thin lips were pressed into a hard line, and the muscles in his jaw were pulled tight—his trademark expression when he was focused to the point of obsession.He didn't look at Samantha. He didn't look at Fred. He didn't look at a single onlooker.He only looked at Trista.The intensity of his stare was so heavy, so concentrated, that it felt like a beam of light focused through a magnifying glass, nearly burning through her skin.Trista felt her skin crawl. It wasn't guilt or nervousness; it was a primal, genetic alarm triggered by being targeted by an apex predator.Her wolf perked up its ears, letting out a low, uncertain whine in her mind."Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked softly, just loud enough for him to hear.Cassian's pupils contracted."Everyone else is asking who she is," h
Third Person's POVThe crowd wasn't letting up.Seeing no other way out, Fred quickly tried to pivot. "Trista, what about you? What did you get Cassian for his birthday? Let's see it!"Trista's gaze flicked toward Cassian, crashing straight into the depths of his dark eyes.They stared at each other in a heavy silence.Trista was the first to look away, a flicker of guilt crossing her face."Samantha, don't you dare let me down!" she thought.The crowd started heckling them with a suggestive edge. "Trista, are you finally going to propose to Cassian?"After all, everyone knew Trista had been chasing Cassian for years. It was the worst-kept secret in L.A.Cassian stood perfectly still, his eyes locked on Trista, swirling with an intense, raw emotion.He looked visibly nervous; his lips twitched several times, but he couldn't find the words.Just as the group started teasing again, pushing Trista toward Cassian's arms, a soft, trembling voice cut through the noise from behind the crowd,
Third Person's POVThe doors pushed open again, and Xander stepped in, followed by his younger sister, Penelope.Xander was dressed in a sharp navy suit, his tie knotted with military precision. He carried a cream-colored gift bag.Penelope trailed behind him in a primrose yellow dress, her hair in a loose side braid, her eyes darting around the room with curiosity from the moment she entered.Trista saw them and excused herself from Victoria and Wynn to meet them halfway."Alpha Xander," she said, her voice just loud enough for him to hear.Xander stopped. Seeing it was her, he gave a slight nod and handed over the gift.The cream paper bag was embossed with the Blade Pack crest—a silver longsword embedded in stone."Happy Birthday," he said, his voice deep and steady.Then he glanced back at Penelope, who was hiding slightly behind him, and knit his brows. "Where are your manners?"Penelope looked no more than sixteen or seventeen, still carrying a bit of teenage baby fat.She poppe
Third Person's POVSamantha scrambled to explain. "Algernon isn't just physically hurt; he's traumatized. He cried all through the night. His water gun is broken, and he's been throwing a fit for a new one since dawn. My mother took him out to try and calm him down."Cassian's brow twitched at the
Third Person's POVShe hadn't waited up for him, and she hadn't left a single light on in the house.This wasn't an oversight; it was a clear statement.Cassian entered the bedroom, switching on only the dimmest strip of floor lighting.The faint amber glow snaked along the baseboards like a smolde
Third Person's POVShe was playing her part to perfection—maintaining the Luna facade in public, staying quiet and obedient at home. It was as if she had finally learned how to submit.But the mask only slipped when it came to her family. That was the only time she showed any real emotion.And even
Third Person's POVSamantha's voice went up an octave, instantly casting herself as the victim. "Let go of my son right now! Even if you can't stand us, you have no right to lay a finger on a child!"Trista stepped forward, firmly pushing Samantha aside. She turned to Attwater. "Attwater, put him d







