My Binding, His Charade

Lyssandra's POV

"Today’s the drop-dead date. I’ll etch your name on the list. You can return as soon as possible so we can dive into the work and join the team on the field. Engaging in activities will help you to shift your mind off things."

"Don’t think I’m interfering in your relationship, but over the past six years, it’s always been you visiting Shadowvale pack , while he’s never seen the reason to come to Crimson Moon pack to see you at least once.

That’s a red flag that he doesn't love you as much as you hoped."

"Once you’ve made up your mind, just move on, don't allow the past to tie you down.”

If it weren’t for those train tickets I saw,

I could have unhesitatingly disregarded my chief comment that “he doesn’t love you as much as you hoped.”

I know he has scheduled for himself and he's preoccupied. But I noticed something strange about our communication during weekends,he was always out of reach.

Turns out, he was busy traveling to be with Eira!

For the past six years, I’ve been a coward- so stupid and ignorant.

I was desperately squeezing out time from my professional duties and even abandoning my studies just to see him.

Those brief meetings accompanied by the rest I forfeited to observe just to meet and have a good time with him were once the happiest moments of my life.

Yet, my unceasing love, in the face of those train tickets Kellan cherished, had become a joke and fairy tales.

As I made my way to the arena where the proposal will take place, I tried to convince myself that maybe he had traveled to the Dark Wood Alliance Park for a contract.

When I saw him proposing to Eira—the very lady who collaborated with her mom to make my family's life miserable. —it became crystal clear why he hadn’t visited me despite the proximity in distance between us.

Eira had barred him from seeing me, leaving him to weave stories of longing and sorrow to explain his absence.

He knew exactly that I and Eira had a bizarre family background. We were sworn eternal enemies.

My Mother died as a result of what her family did. Something happened and my mother was framed up for it. My mother was a cook for the royal palace. She was extremely good at her job.

Luna was poisoned and the alpha called all the servants to swear with their life. Eira's mom was the chief maid and she accused my mom of the crime. My mom was not shown clemency. She was killed instantly.

I was barely eight when the ugly incident happened.

What baffled me was how life and fate decided to be cruel to me. My father later married her mom’s sister and we became related.

I had imagined countless scenarios over the past six years of our ill-fated relationship. Kellan might fall for someone else, I thought, but I never in my wildest dreams expected him to settle for Eira.

I never anticipated that he would go so far as to consent to let me be humiliated at the proposal site just to please her.

I immersed myself in a warm bath, the heat gradually stopping my wobbling.

Then, my phone started vibrating and I looked at it. It was a call from Kellan.

I picked it and he spoke loudly,

“Lyssandra, where are you? I’m already at the amusement park!”

I stayed mute.

Kellan was nervous.

“Lyssandra, what’s the matter? Are you angry?”

“Describe your location, I’ll come pick you up right away!”

He remained as attentive and caring as ever, able to pick up on my emotions and offer me solace.

“I’m at home. I don’t want to go to the park again.”

There was an instant silence before he spoke again, still trying to reassure me.

“Alright, I’ll come home right away to be with you.”

He didn’t query my opinion of canceling our meeting.

It wasn’t that his love for me was so deep that he could brushed aside my inclinations.

The notion was crystal clear. He had successfully proposed to Eira Cassian in the precisely beautified and arranged arena.

I was merely his fallback option for when the proposal didn't go as expected.

When Kellan stepped in, I was just coming out of the kitchen.

At the sight of Eira behind him, I couldn’t help but grimace.

“What the hell is she doing here ?” I asked with an angry tone.

Was he so desperate to bring her home just to shame me?

Kellan,looking a bit guilty, caressed his forehead.

“Lyssandra, I ran into Eira at the amusement park and found out that she came to see a friend in our neighborhood.

She heard you were around and insisted on coming with me to apologize formally for what her mother did.”

I watched him coldly, unimpressed by his performance.

“Lyssandra, My mom was in the wrong back then. I’m apologizing on her behalf.

I know nothing I will say can bring your Mom back.

Can you find a place in your heart to forgive us?”

I turned and glare at Kellan, my voice trembling

“So, you think I should forgive them—both mother and daughter?”

The pain of living without my mom as a Kid. The emotional torture I had to pass through and endure all those while. The shame and embarrassment my family faced.

We were mocked, ridiculed and my family were even declared as rogues and sent away from the pack. To cap it all,

the torment of seeing my mother’s belongings reduced to ashes.

This is highly unforgettable and unforgivable.”

I didn’t ask why he fell for Eira. It would have portrayed me as someone too vulnerable.

As I tenaciously awaited his response,

Kellan’s contrition faded away into nothingness.

He walked forward a little and gently opened his mouth to speak.