Chapter 96
Third Person's POV
Cassian held Samantha's injured hand, pressing her fingers back onto the sheet to keep her still.
He didn't use a sweet, soothing scent to placate her. Instead, he compressed his pheromones into a thin, calm layer, acting as a clear boundary, slowly pulling her breathing back into rhythm.
"Samantha," he stated, word by word. "You are Algernon's only stable support. Stop making these choices."
Hearing that, Samantha's reservoir of hurt burst open. Her suppressed sobs broke free.
Shoulders shaking, she ripped the old wound open. "Cassian... back then, your grandfather threatened me. He said if I stayed with you, he would strip you of everything—handing the Ironthorn alpha position to your half-brother."
Gasping, she continued in ragged bursts. "For your f
