128 Ramsey is not the prize!
Lyla
The number was Cassidy’s.
I watched the phone ring until the call ended and went back to my reading. The phone rang for the second time and my thumb hovered over the screen as a wave of unease settled over me.
Finally, I took a deep breath and accepted the call.
“Hello?”
“I was wondering if you’d pick up.” She said without bothering to return my greeting.
I gritted my teeth. “What do you want Cassidy? If you have something to say, get to the point.”
She huffed in disbelief. “Two days,” she shouted, “I sent you that address two days ago, waited for you and you didn’t even bother to show up?”
I leaned back in my chair, a wry smile playing on my lips. “Oh, I was busy… still busy. You could have
checked if I was free before sending me random addresses, you know.”
128 Ramsey is not the prize!
The line went quiet for a moment until Cassidy’s voice came up again. She sounded frustrated. “Where are you now?” she snapped.
“The library,” I responded. “What do you want, Cassidy?”
The line went dead. I stared at my phone for a moment, before shrugging and returning to the book I was reading.
An hour later, my phone buzzed again. Cassidy’s
number flashed across the screen.
“Yes?”
“I’m at the café across from the library,” she
announced. Come meet me.”
“No, thank you, I’d rather not. I’m too busy to step out,” I replied without closing my book.
“I really am at the café. I can see the library from here,” Cassidy insisted “And I won’t take your time. Just a few minutes, hmm?”
“I can’t, Cassidy. I don’t like you too much to inconvenience myself. I have no plans to leave this position until much later. So I’m sorry my dear but
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128 Ramsey is not the prize!
No…”
I hung up without waiting for another explanation
from her.
Minutes later, a shadow fell across me, when I looked
up, I saw Cassidy standing in front of me, her brows drawn in disdain but she managed a smile as soon as
our gaze met.
“I came here to get you myself. If you do not cooperate and come out with me, I’m, going to make a scene.”
I laughed, leaning back on my chair. “Go ahead, my dear, I’m sure people won’t mind seeing that you’re not as scary as you try to make yourself seem. Live a little, I’ll be here cheering for you.
“Don’t make this more difficult than it already is. Just come out with me.”
“Ask nicely, Cassidy Thorne. I’m not your little maids at home…”
She rolled her eyes and took a deep breath before
turning to me again. “Please Lyla, would you be kind
enough to share a cup of coffee with me? The weather
seems nice for it.”
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128 Ramsey is not the prize!
I studied her for a few minutes, looked at the books spread before me, and then back at her smiling expression. Sighing, I began gathering my things. Sometimes it was easier to give in than to resist the force of nature that was Cassidy.
Knowing who she is, she won’t let me rest until she gets what she wants.
I followed her out of the library and some minutes later, we were sitting, facing each other in the coffee shop. I took a sip from my iced coffee giving her a pointed stare.
“Why am I here?”
“I have something to show you and to tell you,” she said happily.
Reaching for the bag near the foot of the table, she pulled out a blue box with a pink ribbon adorning the cover which she placed on the table and slid it towards.
- me.
“Open it,” she said, practically vibrating with excitement.
I stared at the box arching my brow at her. “What is
this?”
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128 Ramsey is not the prize!
“It’s right in front of you, open it,” she said again, flashing me a smile that seemed genuine.
My experience with Xander made me never take anyone at face value. I leaned back in my chair, studying the box as though it might explode. “Why don’t you tell me what’s inside instead?”
She rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath before she pulled the box closer and pulled off the lid. Then she turned the box towards me, revealing a luxurious wedding invitation adorned with gold accents and elegant calligraphy.
I arched my brow higher waiting for an explanation.
“Ramsey has agreed to a modern wedding! We would have this after the Moon Priest and Priestess join us of course. This would be like a pre–reception, just like the humans do it. Isn’t it fabulous?” she clapped her hands with glee. “And guess what? I want you to be my veil lady.”
My lips twitched as I fought back laughter. “Your veil lady? That’s quite the honour, Cassidy but I’m trying to remember since when we became close. We only attended training school for two years where you
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128 Ramsey is not the prize!
made every single second of my life a living hell. You would team up with those other Lycan daughters to bully me every day. Or is it recording an intimate video of me and posting it for everyone to see… we’re not close, Cassidy… why am I getting an invitation?”
“Don’t hold grudges, Lyla and you’d agree with me that you always had an ego bigger than you, so it was just me trying to clip it for you and as for the video, Ramsey made me angry, just wanted to teach him a few lessons. Seems like I didn’t succeed.”
I chuckled dryly. “Anyways, I’m afraid I’ll have to decline. I have no intention of attending your joining ceremony or wedding, much less being your veil lady.”
Cassidy’s smile faltered, then transformed into
something that looked almost like pity as she leaned forward. “Oh, sweetie, is it because you can’t stand seeing your mate marry another woman?”
Your mate who was ready to reject you if I had said yes to him a few days ago. I thought in my head but my smirk deepened as I replied.
“My former mate. And no, that’s not it.”
She reached into her designer bag and pulled out a
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128 Ramsey is not the prize!
small glass vial filled with a shimmering liquid which she placed on the table with a dramatic flourish.
“Everyone who’s ever been rejected by their mates swear by this. It’s quite pricey, so, it’s worth every price. It’ll help soothe your broken heart that day. Don’t worry, Lyla. You’ll find a mate soon enough.”
I chuckled, shaking my head as I rose to my feet, looking down at Cassidy and her offerings.
“The only reason I don’t want to come is because I am worried Ramsey might leave you standing at the altar looking like a fool when he comes running after me.”
Her face went slack with shock but I continued,
unfazed.
“Don’t get me wrong,” I added with a smile. “I’m so happy for you. I love that you’re finally taking him off my hands so I won’t have to deal with his pleas and all the messages he sends via his Beta. Anyways, good luck with everything.”
As I turned to go, she grabbed my hand, rising to face me, easily towering over me. She was a Lycan after all.
Her face which had smile a while ago, was now twisted into anger. “I’m warning you Lyla.” she said quietly
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128 Ramsey is not the prize!
“Don’t do anything to try to come in between me and Ramsey’s marriage. I’ll not sit back this time around and consider the video a warning.”
“It is you who I should warn,” I pressed closer “Don’t call me for such stupid things. What were you expecting? A clap from me to say well done? You think Ramsey is the prize and winning him means anything
to me? If you want validation so much, you should
make a merch that says ‘Snatched him from his mate‘ That would be a better idea than disrupting my perfect
afternoon to act like a ten–year–old.”
I took a step back, hissing. can’t believe I actually
came.”
I started to leave, then remembered something. I came back to where she stood, pulled out a few wads of money from my purse and threw it at her face.
“Since I can’t make it to the wedding, consider this an early wedding gift and the next time you try to destroy my image in any way, I’ll take him off your hands and make you suffer for it. Bye now!”
I flashed her a smile and spun on my heels, walking… hurrying out of the café… more like.
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