**Where Soft Light Shines Darkness Fades From Tired Hearts**
by Evan Holt Crane
**Trista’s POV**
I hesitated for a brief moment, instinctively stepping back from the door as if it were a barrier I could no longer face.
“Enough,” a voice echoed in my mind, firm and resolute, a mantra I desperately needed to hear.
+5 Pears
With trembling fingers, I unclasped the bracelet from around my wrist. The cool metal grazed my skin, a sharp sting that jolted me back to the present moment.
I let it slip from my grasp. The bracelet tumbled onto the edge of the hallway carpet, the diamonds catching the light and scattering it in a cascade of cold brilliance beneath the lamp’s glow.
In the background, I caught a faint whisper of Cassian’s voice. It was gentle, like the softest of feathers brushing against my skin. “You need to rest. I’ll get the shifter healer…”
My mind was a whirlwind, buzzing with thoughts I could no longer untangle. Their conversation faded into a distant hum, lost in the chaos of my swirling emotions.
With a heavy heart, I forced my feet to move. I exited the Evening Primrose Ward, searching for solitude. I found a vacant corner and leaned against the wall, feeling the urge to shift rise up my spine, a primal instinct battling against my will. The desperate need to cry clawed at my throat, threatening to break free.
I struggled against it, whispering soothing words to my wolf. “Even in our most vulnerable moments, we must choose the right time and place to let go. We are the Luna,” I reminded my wolf, hoping to instill some sense of calm.
It responded with a soft whimper, retreating its claws as if understanding the weight of my words.
The journey back to Ironthorn was a blur; I couldn’t recall the steps I took, only the night wind whistling through the crack of the window, a haunting melody that echoed my own turmoil. His scent lingered in the air, faint and diluted, almost like a ghost of what once was.
I stepped into the shower, the water cascading over me like a gentle embrace, but even the hairdryer felt heavy in my grasp. My fingers, leaden and unresponsive, refused to press the button.
Eventually, I sank into my bed, my eyes wide and red, staring into the darkness until exhaustion finally claimed them.
I gathered all the resentment and pain I felt, pressing them against my heart like small, jagged pebbles until they settled into a quiet ache.
Once Ulva was well again, I would lay those papers on the stone table at the center of the packhouse, a testament to my resolve.
Then, I would wait, heart pounding, for him to accept my rejection.
1/4
**10:59 Sat, Dec 6**
**Chapter 6.**
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+ +5 Pearls
That would be my answer, not just to myself, but to the pack’s order: Sometimes, mending a torn mating bond isn’t about stitching it back together; it’s about severing it completely.
Yet, the mere thought of rejecting him sent waves of despair crashing over my wolf.
In the stillness of the night, all my emotions surged forth, overwhelming me as my agony reached its peak.
I curled up, burying my face in my hands, but the soft gasps I tried to suppress escaped, betraying my struggle.
At that moment, the border ward vibrated gently, a subtle ripple like wind across still water, signaling that our Alpha had returned home. Soon, I heard the familiar sound of a car engine outside the villa come to a halt, followed by the click of the lock turning.
The scent of Ironthorn enveloped me, steady and warm, carrying the lingering heat of metal and fire.
I heard the bedroom door creak open softly, and that familiar scent washed over me, wrapping around me like a blanket.
He approached the bed, taking a seat beside me, his breath a cool breeze reminiscent of the sea and the night. It brushed softly against my face, igniting a flicker of warmth in my chest.
I sensed his wolf bowing to me—not in an act of dominance, but in a sincere attempt to find peace between us.
In my mind, I conjured an image of him: shoulders relaxed, neck tilted slightly, his presence radiating an unspoken apology.
He deliberately lowered the intensity of his pheromones, letting them flow through our mating bond, a familiar gesture he often employed after a disagreement.
But layered beneath that comforting scent was another, thinner and sweeter—a misty aroma that reminded me of melting ice. Samantha.
That fleeting scent pierced my senses like a needle, sending a shiver through our bond, igniting my wolf’s protective instincts.
It snapped to attention, ears perked, as it let out a low growl, a warning: “Back off.”
I instinctively pulled the blanket up, wrapping it tightly around myself, a barrier against the world. At the same time, I pushed my aura back, creating a thin perimeter that kept his scent at bay.
He reached out, tugging gently at the corner of my blanket, but I held on fiercely, unwilling to let go.
A moment passed before he sighed softly, the sound filled with resignation. He stood up and left the room, and soon after, the shower began to run.
I took a deep breath, slowly easing my racing heart, closing my eyes as I pushed the pain and power back into my chest, layer by layer, trying to regain my composure.
2/4
**10:59 Sat, Dec 6**
**Chapter 6**
That night, silence enveloped us, neither of us daring to break the stillness with words.
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+5 Pearls
As dawn broke, I forced myself to rise, to wash away the remnants of the night. I had plans to take breakfast to my parents at the Healing Center, a small act of normalcy I clung to.
In the mirror, my eyes stared back at me, still red and puffy. I placed a cold cloth over them, hoping to soothe the evidence of my sleepless night.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I found him already dressed, emerging from the shadows of the walk-in closet.
His gaze flickered to my wrist for just a moment before he asked, “Where is the bracelet I gave you yesterday? Why aren’t you wearing it?”
I averted my eyes, feeling a lump form in my throat. My voice came out raspy, barely above a whisper, “It’s gone. I might have lost it.”
My response was dismissive, a shield I raised to deflect his concern. I turned to leave, eager to escape the conversation.
But then he pulled the diamond bracelet from his jacket pocket, the light refracting off its facets like shards of cold fire. “You dropped it at the Healing Center. I found it.”
He didn’t mention the events of the previous night, nor did he elaborate on why the bracelet had ended up at the Evening Primrose Ward.
Instead, he held it up to my wrist, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I recoiled, pulling my hand away instinctively. “I don’t want it.”
His patience was remarkable, his voice softening as he replied, “Just wear it for now. Once things calm down, I’ll go with you and help you pick out one that you truly love.”
His words struck a chord within me, causing my breath to hitch as a wave of humiliation washed over me. It felt as if someone had lifted the corner of a heavy blanket, allowing the cold air of reality to rush in.
“I don’t want a gift that isn’t ‘the only one,’” I shot back, glaring at the diamonds. “I don’t want anything from a mate who isn’t only mine.”
A flicker of relief crossed his face, but it was fleeting. He reached out, attempting to wrap his arms around my waist, leaning in to kiss me.
I turned my head away, my palms pressing firmly against his chest, pushing him back with all my might.
The moment I rejected him, I felt a spike in my scent—an acrid mix of iron and bitterness.
“Don’t,” my voice trembled, yet it was resolute. “I don’t want you. I don’t!”
His fingers tightened around my wrist, his grip firm yet controlled. “Trista, stop the drama.”
3/4
**10:59 Sat, Dec 6**
**Chapter 6**
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I looked up at him, my heart pounding. “I’ve always been like this. Is this the first day you’ve met me?”
+5 Pearls
The corners of his mouth turned down, a shadow of suppressed rage flickering in his expression. “It’s just a bracelet. Is this really necessary?”
I let out a short, bitter laugh, the sound thin and sharp, like wind scraping against metal. “You know exactly what you did.”
