LOGINThird Person's POVNight had fully fallen by the time they walked out of the restaurant.A chilly evening breeze cut right through Wynn's thin dress, completely clearing away the last lingering trace of alcohol from her system.An Ironthorn omega was already waiting by the car, bowing low, though his voice carried a stone-cold, unyielding tone. "Alpha Cassian, Alpha Howard requests Wynn's immediate return to the estate. Right now."Wynn, who had still been riding the high of her lingering, post-debacle romance with Fred, reacted like a pup whose tail had been stepped on. She instinctively shrank right behind Fred's back."Grandfather never wants anything good," she grumbled. "I'm not going."Fred gave her fingertips a reassuring squeeze and looked up at Cassian, a silent understanding passing between the two men.He turned back and coaxed her in a low whisper, "Don't be scared. I'm coming with you. No matter how bad it gets, I'll take the hit."The omega's expression grew even more st
Third Person's POVWatching Mrs. Crees practically flee the scene, Wynn wasted no time and speed-dialed Cassian.Her voice vibrated with the excitement of someone looking to score brownie points. "Cassian, just like you planned, the bait has been snapped up by Mrs. Crees. It won't be long before a glorious dogfight breaks out inside Blackthorn."The moment she hung up, Wynn couldn't wait to harass Trista all the way across the world.Hearing that Samantha had plunged into a bottomless abyss once again, Trista's usually detached, cool voice actually carried a rare, satisfying hint of pure delight.Wynn grandly declared that they needed to celebrate with a drink, and promptly dragged Fred straight to a private club.An hour later, as they walked out of the restaurant, the alcohol hit Wynn's system. With her instincts taking over, the wild, chaotic wolf energy she usually kept under wraps started to break completely loose.Fred hadn't to
Third Person's POVThomasina took a deep breath, forcing herself to look completely calm. "Mrs. Crees, we've been friends for years. Don't let her play you like this."Samantha quickly adjusted her act, squeezing out a few fake tears. "I won't lie—Cassian and I used to be deeply in love. But the Ironthorn elders always looked down on my bloodline and forced us apart. Wynn is probably just terrified I'll win Cassian back, so she's making up these disgusting lies to humiliate me."Thomasina immediately leaned into Mrs. Crees's ear, dropping her voice to a low whisper. "They used to be lovers, and Cassian definitely felt guilty when they broke up. Wynn is just taking it out on her, trying to ruin Samantha's social standing for good. Mrs. Crees, if you lose your temper now, you're walking right into an Ironthorn trap."Mrs. Crees's fury deflated a bit under the half-truths. "Is it really just a misunderstanding?"Thomasina nodded firmly. "Wynn br
Third Person's POVUlrik adjusted his glasses, his eyes gleaming with a dark intensity. "Fred, I thought you were under the weather. Where did you find the energy to escort Miss Simmons through the gardens?"Fred flashed a smooth, practiced smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Cassian explicitly told me before his business trip that I am fully responsible for Wynn's safety tonight. Not a single thing can go wrong."Wynn wasn't having any of it. She snatched her coat right back from Fred's hands. "Do your own thing, Fred. I'm going to go clean up the trash myself."Wynn marched straight over and stopped right in front of Samantha.Samantha obviously recognized the little princess of the Ironthorns.She had been stressing over how to get close to Cassian, and while Wynn's sudden appearance was dangerous, it was also a perfect stepping stone.Samantha forced a fake, pleasant smile. "Miss Simmons, long time no see. You're as radiant as ever
Third Person's POVAt noon, the Los Angeles sun beat down mercilessly through the blinds. Samantha dragged her exhausted body back into Thomasina's beauty spa.Thomasina was sharp; she immediately picked up on the anxious pheromones bleeding into the air.She quickly double-locked the door and lowered her voice. "Samantha, that kid—Algernon. Are you absolutely sure no other wolves know he exists, besides your mother and that useless brother of yours?"Samantha shook her head weakly. "No one, Auntie. I swear. I originally wanted to keep him as my ultimate trump card to trigger Cassian's paternal instincts and get him to take me back. But I never expected him to completely shred our history before he even saw the kid."Thank goodness she hadn't played that card yet, or Cassian would have immediately branded her a blasphemer without a second thought.Thomasina let out a sigh of relief, a ruthless, calculating glint flashing in her eyes. "
Third Person's POVCassian squeezed the shopping bags in his hands so hard his knuckles turned white.Watching Xander take such perfect care of her—booking her into the closest hotel, flying over just to go shopping with her, and even dropping to one knee in front of everyone without a second thought—slammed a bitter truth right into his chest.That was a level of decency and respect he had never given her during those three years in the prison they called a "marriage."Even an Alpha like Xander, who had zero dating experience, understood loyalty, favoritism, and a wife's dignity.Yet Cassian, in his past life, had just stood by and let Samantha trample all over Trista's boundaries time and time again."I don't deserve her," Cassian muttered. He leaned heavily against the car door, hunching over as a sharp, crushing ache rippled from his chest through his entire body, making it hard to breathe.He didn't deserve her love. He didn't even deserve the chance to say sorry.At 2:00 PM, Tri
Third Person's POVThe next morning, Ironthorn Group Headquarters, CEO Office.Two sharp knocks hit the door."Come in."Humphrey walked in, his gland scent tightly controlled. "Alpha Cassian, Mr. Howard sent the omega over. He insists you go back to the pack manor today."Cassian signed the final
Third Person's POVLate at night, West Side.On a street where human and werewolf territories overlapped, a dimly lit wolf bar hung its neon sign, "Moonlit Rest."After midnight, they stopped serving humans. The clientele passing in and out were almost exclusively wolves, their gland scents heavy i
Third Person's POVThwack. Cassian slammed the termination agreement and the bank card onto the coffee table. "The driver will be here immediately. Go pack your things."He spoke with ruthless finality, then sat on the sofa and lit a cigarette.The flame jumped. He took a long drag.One million, ju
Trista's POVHis kiss was frantic, almost out of control.It held desire, undisguised possession, but mostly a kind of agitation I didn't recognize—I could feel his pheromones spreading in waves around my body.It was the usual cold, smoky wood scent of the Ironthorn Alpha, but now it felt ignited







