No Bonds to Hold Me, but a Wolf to Run With Chapter 09

No Bonds to Hold Me, but a Wolf to Run With Chapter 09

As we reached the school gates, I broke the silence. “I used to resent you.”

Her pace slowed down.

“You didn’t have to lift a finger, and you still got thirty-six gifts. Back then, I used to think that if you just rejected one of them, maybe they’d finally notice me.”

Sienna didn’t rush to explain.

The rain beat a heavy rhythm against the fabric of our umbrellas.

After walking a few paces, she spoke. “I saw that you didn’t have any gifts either. But I was scared that if I spoke up for you, they’d think I was ungrateful and take away the love they’d just given me”

“I kept begging for everyone else’s love and forgot I could love people too. Big sis, I’m going to take good care of you from now on.”

No blood ties.

Just pure empathy.

I tightened my grip on the umbrella handle, then slowly let go.

“Fine. I’ll give it a try and give you a chance to butter me up.” I tilted my umbrella closer to hers. My heart leaned in a little closer too.

I didn’t push away family, friendship, or romance-as long as I could feel genuine warmth, I would accept it.

So even if it was Sienna, I could let her in.

Meanwhile, back at the Crimson Moon tribe.

Friends and relatives had started asking how the two families planned to handle the two daughters

after the mix-up.

The invitations for a makeup family banquet arrived while Sienna and I were eating.

Claire called to say that this time, the entire ceremony would revolve around the two of us.

Eleanor also promised she’d set aside six proper seats and wouldn’t make me look after anyone

else.

I hadn’t planned on paying attention, but the tribal elders hoped I would go back and show my face

I didn’t turn it down right away. I just asked Sienna to send me the full itinerary.

She sent over a twelve-page document.

Sienna had eighteen years of recorded milestones, speeches from both sets of parents, plus the official recognition, gift-giving, and name-updating rituals.

My section lasted a grand total of three minutes, with the host script reading: Iris has always been independent and sensible, requiring no family worry. We trust she’ll adapt quickly to her new family dynamics.

To this day, they still framed their neglect of me as one of my virtues.

Looks like there was no reason to go back.

Even putting up appearances was a waste of time.

Before the banquet started, both sets of parents drove up to Boston to fetch Sienna.

Perhaps struck by a sudden wave of conscience, they offered to pick me up too.

I let out a cold laugh. “The whole banquet features me for all of three minutes.”

Victor was quick to reply that the script could be changed.

Marcus offered to whip together a childhood video montage for me, while the two mothers asked what kind of gift I wanted.

I shook my head. “I’m not going.”

Love was love, and indifference was indifference.

I knew they didn’t love me, and luckily, I didn’t crave their love anymore either.

They didn’t take my seat down for the banquet that night.

Claire said the spot would be left open, and I could show up whenever I came to my senses.

I stayed at the library until closing time that evening.

My phone was on silent, and I only saw an unedited video file Sienna had sent me when I finally stepped outside.

I didn’t want to open it at first, but my finger lingered on the thumbnail for a long time.

On screen, guests kept asking where the other daughter was.

Plenty of people in the tribe still remembered me.

The four parents first claimed I was buried in schoolwork, but when someone asked how a welcome banquet could be less important than class, they couldn’t come up with an answer.

My seat remained empty, complete with cutlery, a nameplate, and gifts.

A belated sense of completeness hurt worse than never preparing anything at all.

They had convinced themselves that I’d eventually come crawling back like before, just to save face

for everyone.

Sienna didn’t stay seated in the center trying to smooth things over for them.

She took the microphone, her voice trembling slightly. “My sister isn’t busy. She just refused to attend another banquet where everyone pretends to share their love while the room still revolves entirely around me.”