The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. - Chapter 198

Chapter 198: The other side of love…
A few hours before

Ramsey

I stood on the fitting platform, the wedding shop’s mirror reflecting my image as the tailors ran around me, making last-minute adjustments to the Tuxedo I had on.

According to their plans, I will be dressed in a tux for the first part of the wedding, while the second part will be our official Ceremonial Joining attire. I stood still, mechanical, trying to focus on anything except the thought of Lyla getting married today.

Each tick of the clock on the wall felt like a countdown to my hell.

“Do you want us to shorten the cuffs?” the tailor suddenly asked me, staring at me with uncertainty.

“Whatever you please,” I murmured, refusing to meet his gaze.

Despite my calm expression, my thoughts inside were far from calm. I couldn’t stop thinking about Lyla. I had purposely avoided my phone today because I had to resist the temptation to look up the ceremony.

Although Nathan had ruled for barely a year as an Alpha, he had become influential in our world. Many werewolves looked up to him, and despite his insistence that he wanted a simple wedding, everyone couldn’t stop talking about it, and I didn’t have an issue with Nathan.

I just couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that Lyla would be walking down the aisle to another man. The mere thought sent a sharp pain through my chest which I swallowed; I couldn’t afford to let it show.

As the tailors went away to adjust the cuffs, the bell above the shop door chimed and in the mirror’s reflection, I saw my grandfather enter. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

“Ramsey,” he started in a gruff voice. “When they told me you were here, I thought they were joking.”

“I have fittings,” I replied curtly, adjusting the lapels of my tuxedo.

After the Harvest Moon Festival, we had avoided each other like plague. We barely had our meals together and the only time we’d bump into each other was at the meeting hall or something else. There was one night when I got up to get myself snacks from the small kitchenette downstairs, I caught him making out with one of the pack housemaids.

Aside from that, we’ve not said two words to each other.

“You’re cutting it close,” he murmured, walking around me, inspecting. “Your wedding is tomorrow. Shouldn’t you be… preparing?”

“This is preparing,” I said flatly.

He wanted to say something in reply to that but decided against it. “The suits fit well,” he commented. “At least something is going according to tradition around here.”

My jaw clenched. “Did you need something?”

“I thought you might want to know how Alpha Nathan’s wedding is progressing. I hope you have settled with him because he’s an influential link between us and the werewolf now according to my sources. You would need him in the long run.”

He settled into one of the waiting chairs. “Anyways, the wedding will start soon. It’s a pity you declined his invitation to go, it would have been…”

“I didn’t ask to be filled in…” I cut him short.

“No, you never do ask the important questions, do you?” His voice carried that familiar note of disappointment I was used to. “Just like you didn’t ask before making a fool of yourself at the Harvest Moon Festival.”

I finally turned, dismissing the tailor who had returned a while ago with a gesture. “We’ve been through this.”

“Have we? Because I don’t recall you ever explaining why you chose to disgrace our family name…”

“Is that what you were worried about? The family name?” I laughed bitterly. “Not the fact that you manipulated and lied…”

“I protected our legacy!” his voice rose. “Everything I did was to ensure our bloodline remained pure, remained strong. But you…” he shook his head. “You let your emotions cloud your judgment. Just like your father.”

The mention of my father’s name made me clench my fists. “Are we done here?”

He rose to his feet, straightening his jacket. “The ceremony should be starting soon and our representative said Nathan looked quite… satisfied with his choice and Lyla seemed to be ready to become the next Luna of Blue Ridge. I hope you stop chasing her now. It’s enough that you had her before her mate but… I’m hoping that would not be a trouble in the future.”

Mentioning Lyla’s name felt like a dagger to my chest. “Great, Grandpa. I’m happy for Nathan and I wish them the best of luck. Any other thing you’d want to report on?”

He snorted. “You’re such a terrible liar, Ramsey. I know you’ve been thinking about her.”

I shot him a warning glance. “Drop it!”

“You’ve been avoiding me since the Festival when you know it’s just me and you now and any other family you’ll make with Cassidy. It’s time you stop sulking and act like the Lycan Leader you were raised to be. Furthermore, I hope you’ve done away with your mistresses?”

“Why? You want to have them too?” I fired back, holding his gaze. “Sleeping around with the maids in the pack house? I guess it’s something I learned from you.”

My grandfather laughed, crossing his arms. “I will let you disrespect me today but in the end, you still did my will so I won’t take offence. Besides, burying yourself in work and pretending you don’t care will not solve anything. Lyla’s not coming back, Ramsey. She’s sealed to Nathan Tanner already, focus on your future and your new home.”

I came down from the fitting platform, sttripping myself of the fitting clothes. “This conversation is over. If you’ll excuse me, I have a wedding to attend tomorrow.”

He only sighed but didn’t press further. “One day, Ramsey… you’ll thank me for everything.” With those parting words, he left the bell chiming mockingly behind him.

Back at my office, as soon as I entered, my staff looked up, each of them were staring at me with surprise. My secretary walked up to me immediately I settled behind my desk.

“Alpha, what are you doing here? Your wedding is tormmorow. Shouldn’t you be … I don’t know, taking the day off?”

I waved her away. “I have work to finish. The less I have to deal with after the honeymoon, the better.”

My secretary hesitated and I know she wanted to talk more but decided against it. “Alright,” she said cautiously. “But don’t overwork yourself.”

I nodded and waited for her until she closed the door. I shifted my attention back to the little pile of work on my desk.