The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. Chapter 198 198: 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 , making last-minute adjustnts 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, chanical, 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 , staring at with uncertainty.

"Whatever you please," I murmured, refusing to et 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 beco 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 re 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 chid and in the mirror's reflection, I saw my grandfather enter. The temperature in the room seed to drop several degrees.

"Ramsey," he started in a gruff voice. "When they told 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 als together and the only ti we'd bump into each other was at the eting hall or sothing 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 , inspecting. "Your wedding is tomorrow. Shouldn't you be… preparing?"

"This is preparing," I said flatly.

He wanted to say sothing in reply to that but decided against it. "The suits fit well," he comnted. "At least sothing is going according to tradition around here."

My jaw clenched. "Did you need sothing?"

"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 disappointnt 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 na…"

"Is that what you were worried about? The family na?" 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 judgnt. Just like your father."

The ntion of my father's na made 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 seed to be ready to beco 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."

ntioning Lyla's na 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 since the Festival when you know it's just and you now and any other family you'll make with Cassidy. It's ti 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 sothing I learned from you."

My grandfather laughed, crossing his arms. "I will let you disrespect 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 ho."

I ca down from the fitting platform, sttripping myself of the fitting clothes. "This conversation is over. If you'll excuse , I have a wedding to attend tomorrow."

He only sighed but didn't press further. "One day, Ramsey… you'll thank 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 with surprise. My secretary walked up to imdiately 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.