The second—after Draven insisted on guiding me through an enchanted lake and I nearly drowned.
The third—after a supposed “enemy” stabbed me during a nighttime ambush.
But now I knew the truth.
Each tragedy… each “accident”… orchestrated by him.
Because he never wanted to bond with me.
And this time, to escape the binding, he let Myrielle’s treatment fail—leaving my grandmother trapped in a silent body.
Tears blurred my vision. My heart felt carved open, but one truth rose sharp as a fang: I would never remain in this false engagement.
With shaking hands, I called Draven’s mother, Carmina—the Blackspire Matriarch.
My voice trembled, but my will did not.
“I accept your offer. One hundred million moon-credits. I’ll leave Draven and disappear from his life forever.”
——
There was a cold pause, then her elegant voice drifted through the receiver.
“Seven days. You have seven days to pack and vanish from Draven’s territory.”
“I’ll transfer one million now. The remaining ninety-nine will be released the moment you leave.”
She hung up without another word.
I sat frozen on the healing bed. Tears refused to fall, yet an impossible weight crushed my chest.
The door opened.
Draven stepped inside, lifting my hand as if the carriage accident he caused was nothing more than an unfortunate mishap.
“Don’t blame Myrielle,” he said softly. “She overreached, that’s all. The failed treatment wasn’t entirely her fault.”
“She…” My voice cracked. “She turned my grandmother into a lifeless husk!”
“She regrets it,” he interrupted gently. “She hasn’t eaten, hasn’t slept. She plans to apologize to you.”
Then, in that calm, coaxing Alpha tone:
“I’ll handle your father’s case and your grandmother’s care. Just trust me, Lunessa. Don’t cause trouble. We’ll complete our Moonbinding soon.”
Moonbinding…
His eyes flickered with something I couldn’t name.
I remembered the conversation I overheard—and understanding hit me like a blade.
“I don’t want her apology!” I snapped. “She hurt someone—she must pay!”
His expression darkened instantly. “Lunessa, you continue to disappoint me.”
He lifted his crystal communicator, its cold light glinting in his eyes.
“Withdraw the charges against Myrielle… or your father loses his chance to ever walk again. You have thirty seconds.”
My lungs seized. Breath escaped me.
Why? Why had everything twisted into this nightmare?