Chapter 5
I ripped the last shred of decency away, dragging both him and Claire into public disgrace, just to
disgust them, just to make them choke on their own shame.
“Let them have each other. Love is a pleasure, but bonding is just tolerance.”
Marrying the prince didn’t guarantee Cinderella a happy ending. The real story started after the fairytale, when love met real life and the sparkle wore off.
When you hit a dead end, you should turn around.
Dodging an unhappy bonding was something worth celebrating.
Years ago, my Alpha parents had already relocated our pack overseas, where love and relationships were treated with more freedom and ease.
And fortunately, Kyle and I had never sealed the mate bond. Legally speaking, we weren’t even
mates.
So when I said I wanted to return home, my parents didn’t hesitate.
In fact, by the time I got off the plane, their beta was already waiting to pick me up.
I climbed into the car as Summer’s voice chirped excitedly over the phone, still buzzing from the aftermath.
“The bonding ceremony ended in complete disaster. Most of the guests left in awkward little groups. Only a few staff remained. Kyle’s mom, Luna Lily, was so furious she could barely stand.”
“Luna Lily was so angry she even slapped Kyle. Honestly, he deserved it. Everyone knows how much you helped him win the Alpha trail and secure his title as the Alpha. And Claire? She’s just a lovechild who showed up out of nowhere to pull this dramatic runaway bonding ceremony stunt. It’s disgraceful.”
“The former Alpha, Alpha Ben, didn’t even look at him. He just walked off without a word. Claire was left sobbing on the side of the altar.”
“When I left, she was still clinging to Kyle’s arm, begging him to hold another bonding ceremony. You could tell even she knew she’d made a complete fool of herself.”
I let out a cold laugh.
Chapter 5
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“Those who humiliate others usually end up humiliated. I hope they do hold another bonding
ceremony.
If they really make it to the altar, I’ll offer them my most sincere blessings.”
The true sting of first love was that even her presence could shatter everything.
Kyle was about to learn that the hard way very soon.
He and I had met at an Alpha ball.
Even though my parents‘ pack and businesses had moved overseas, our roots were still in Sableford.
They were getting older, and long–haul flights were starting to take a toll on their health.
So that visit had been part business trip, part nostalgic return, and that was when I thought I met my supposed fated mate.
Kyle had stopped me that night, holding a glass of red wine with a soft smile and a relaxed charm.
Because of my mind–reading ability, I rarely engaged in conversation during public events unless absolutely necessary.
The vanity and ambition in those circles always created a clamor that was hard to ignore.
When Kyle called out to me, I hadn’t even wiped the impatience off my face.
But strangely, I heard nothing from him.
Maybe it was that silence that gave me the patience to stay and talk.
Later, when he confessed, he was even shy, not knowing what to do with his hands; the rose in his trembling hands betrayed his nerves,
“Heather, I’ll treat you well for the rest of my life,” he’d said.
I looked into his eyes and heard nothing.
So I said yes.
I believed his promise. I chose to stay in the country to seal the mate bond with him.
I never doubted that promise in that moment, but promises only truly mattered when they were made in love.
Chapter 5
In my eyes, Kyle and Claire’s “love story” was nothing more than a case of teenage longing.
Claire probably wasn’t as perfect as Kyle imagined. And Kyle definitely didn’t love her as much as he thought he did.
Love only felt epic when it was unattainable.
Half a month later, after finishing a design class with Professor Parsons, I got a call from Summer.
“Heather, do you remember that god–awful bonding ceremony invite I got the other day from that? Well, I showed up today, and Heather bear, let me tell you, I thought I had accidentally wandered into some sad little country potluck. I’ve seen livelier crowds at a pig roast up North! And not a single decent–looking wolf in sight!”
As always, Summer was the first to catch wind of all the gossip, and she went on and on telling me about the drama–filled bonding ceremony.
“Alpha Ben didn’t even show up. A lot of pack members skipped this bonding ceremony too. It couldn’t hold a candle to your original ceremony. The venue was tiny. Only Luna Lily showed looking grim. She coldly watched them seal the mate bond. Forget handing over the Luna seal, she
up,
insisted on being called Luna Lily, not just Lily.”
“And get this, during the speeches, Luna Lily gave Claire a full public scolding about knowing her place and respecting pack traditions. Seriously, old–school burn. It was savage.”
“Claire was so pissed she threw her bouquet on the floor offstage. Kyle had to play mediator, trying to calm down both his mother and his bride. I was laughing so hard I nearly passed out.”
Honestly, none of it surprised me.
Luna Lily had never approved of the match. If she had her way, the whole bonding ceremony would’ve been canceled.
But Claire must’ve sweet–talked Kyle into going through with it. So she had to swallow her anger and attend.
Still, Claire had already offended Luna Lily before even sealing the mate bond.
She was in for a rough ride.
