If what he said was true – that the bonding was just to break the curse, an unavoidable “responsibility” and “sacrifice” – then what did this expensive, lovingly crafted cosmos garden represent? These meticulously planned ceremony details? These romantic gestures that went far beyond mere “life-saving” into pure courtship?
Damon approached with a deeply furrowed brow, his voice urgent with worry.
“Aria, it really is you.”
“It’s so late. Why are you out here alone? You didn’t even bring a Gamma guard. What if you encountered danger?”
Seeing his anxious expression, my eyes held no warmth whatsoever.
“Alpha, how I am seems to have nothing to do with you.”
“You’re about to become mates with my sister. Isn’t it inappropriate for you to still show such concern for me?”
Damon’s face went rigid.
He looked at me with darkened eyes, seemingly wounded by my words.
Serena intimately linked her arm through his, hiding smugness in her eyes as she laughed sweetly.
“Sister, Damon and I are about to hold our mating ceremony and become true mates. He loves me so much, and love extends to caring about those connected to me. Isn’t his concern for you only natural?”
“Don’t you think these cosmos flowers are beautiful? I remember you love them too. Damon spent a fortune having them air-shipped from Asia specifically for our mating ceremony. What do you think?”
My expression remained flat as I smiled lightly.
“Beautiful.”
“The Alpha put a lot of thought into this for you.”
Damon looked down with shifty eyes, perhaps remembering I had lost my memory, then raised his head to look at me.
“This is all what I should do. If you like them too, I’ll have someone send you some.”
I looked at him calmly.
“No need. There’s no relationship between us. What would it mean for you to send me flowers? If other wolves found out, they’d say inappropriate things.”
In the night, Damon’s face went paper-white. He stared at me blankly, unable to utter another word.
I turned around.
“I won’t disturb you two any longer. I’m leaving.”
Before I finished speaking, a violent explosion suddenly thundered through the square.
