MasukThird 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 POVThe elevator doors slid open, and the warm hallway light flooded in, tracing a soft, glowing edge around the hem of Trista's light-colored skirt.She walked to Alaina's right while Wynn linked arms on her left, their footsteps creating a rhythmic clicking against the marble floor.The waiters pulled open the grand doors to the ballroom, and the scent of white roses hit her like a physical wave.The crisp, cool fragrance poured out of the room like liquid moonlight—like powdered snow falling on her shoulders, her hair, and her lashes.Trista stood at the entrance, frozen for a second.The edges of the stage were encrusted with white roses, their petals layered to form a soft, organic boundary.Every tier of the champagne tower was encircled by blooms, the crystal glasses reflecting the petals until it looked as if a tiny piece of white moonlight was submerged in every drink.The floor—she could barely find a place to step—was evenly blanketed in white rose petals, lo
Third Person's POVCassian reached out and clamped Trista's arm, pulling her toward him.His grip wasn't rough, but it was undeniably strong.He raised his hand to wipe her tears. When his thumb touched her cheek, she only felt colder.He looked at her, his voice deepening. "Just for this, you're f
Trista's POVThe mattress sagged. My wrists were securely pinned, unable to brace myself, unable to turn over.I lay on my back beneath him in the most intimate, yet most humiliating position. Blood rushed to my face. Shame and fury exploded simultaneously.I gritted my teeth, my voice shaking but
Trista's POVI stood in the bathroom for a long time, hands braced on the counter, staring at my reflection.My face was pale, but my eyes were hard and cold.I didn't cry.I just suddenly realized I had endured this exact scenario too many times.When I emerged, the living room was already full of
Third Person's POVThe car cabin was instantly stifling.The two drove in silence, each guarding an invisible boundary.The line was sharp and clear, and neither was willing to cross it first.Just as dusk fell, the car smoothly pulled into the Ironthorn pack's main estate.Lights lined the fence.







