The Luna's Harem

Chapter 20: I Can Wait

"Lizzie, look at everything I bought for you! I didn’t know what you liked, so I just bought everything I thought would look good on you. See?"

Cassian happily stacked the gifts near where she sat, while Lynsandra remained seated on the divan with an empty expression. She watched him quietly, wondering how he had managed to recover so quickly from the humiliation he’d faced at his own brother’s business launch.

"Look at this!" He picked up a pink hair clip decorated with cherry shapes and lifted it for her to see. "Lizzie, I think this will suit you!"

Her already lifeless expression seemed to die even further as she stared at the hair clip meant for little girls. She met his eyes briefly, then sank back in resignation.

Her reaction showed either disinterest or confusion, which he noticed.

Cassian smacked his lips. "Lizzie, are you still angry that I didn’t answer your call that night?"

"Hm?" She arched a brow, rummaging through her memory to understand what he was referring to. To be honest, she had already forgotten that she’d tried calling him and that he hadn’t answered.

"I’m sorry," he said with a frown. "I was just too excited and forgot my phone after taking selfies. And since the hotel was close to the venue, I thought I wouldn’t be late. I didn’t expect the traffic the event would cause."

"..." She blinked, thinking,

He’s focusing on the wrong thing.

"So, I understand why you’re upset," he continued earnestly. "I deserved that punishment and humiliation!" He placed a hand dramatically over his chest. "I promise I’ll do better. So—"

Cassian slid his chair closer and fluttered his eyelashes, putting on his best puppy-eyed expression. "Please don’t be mad at me anymore, hmm?"

He clasped his hands together as if in prayer, his eyes glittering with hopeful charm. And yet, Lynsandra remained where she was, staring at him coldly. Just as she opened her mouth—despite having no idea what to say—a knock sounded at the door.

Both of them turned as the door opened, revealing Julian. Cassian’s face immediately soured.

"What are you doing here?" Cassian demanded, clearly displeased as he remembered Julian taking his spot beside Lynsandra during the launch.

Julian paused, his gaze dropping to the stacks of gifts piled near their feet. "What are those?"

"Nothing. Come in," Lynsandra said, finally shifting her attention. "Cassian, you bought all these gifts because you didn’t know what I liked."

She paused as Julian carefully stepped around the gifts to take an empty seat. "But I don’t like gifts of any kind."

"Eh?" Cassian blinked rapidly, completely ignoring Julian. "Then what do you like?"

His innocent question made Julian raise a brow, studying Lynsandra as if waiting for her answer. Even though she maintained her composed exterior, Lynsandra found herself wondering the same thing.

"I don’t know," she replied after a long silence, propping her knuckles against her temple. "And I don’t want to think about it." freēwebnovel.com

Her answer didn’t discourage Cassian in the slightest. Instead, he beamed brighter. "Then let’s check the gifts first! You might like something."

"I don’t think so."

"You don’t even have to lift a hand, my boo~" Cassian ignored her and happily picked up another box. "I’ll unbox everything for you, okay?"

Lynsandra let out a shallow breath, her eyes lingering on the sparkly half-breed prince. She could have told him to leave because there was no point pretending he was a viable choice. He couldn’t even withstand her presence, let alone her heat.

There was no reason to waste time on him.

But at the back of her mind, she also knew that if she shut him down too harshly, she could already imagine the endless drama he’d stir up.

Personality aside... that face is pleasant to look at. And it’s my fault he even made it into this harem. I shouldn’t have been so petty, thinking I was killing two birds with one stone.

Her wolf didn’t respond, but Lynsandra knew she agreed.

She turned to Julian, who spoke before she could.

"I don’t mind the company," Julian said, handing her a folder. "But the decision is yours."

"Don’t be noisy," she told Cassian, watching his face light up in surprise. "Otherwise, leave this room."

Cassian nodded profusely, zipping his mouth while hugging one of the gift boxes to his chest. Lynsandra shook her head and quietly began reading the document Julian handed her. Meanwhile, Julian picked up the folder she’d prepared for him.

As the two reviewed their reports in silence, Cassian muffled his giggles and carefully unboxed the gifts one by one.

Sure, Cassian had sulked the entire night of the launch. He’d thrown a tantrum after remembering Julian taking his place, followed by August and Elias crashing the event. Those men—and even Julian—made him feel inferior. On top of that, Victor had tried convincing him that he didn’t belong in the harem at all.

But after that night, Cassian woke up brimming with renewed motivation. He spent the entire next day planning how to shower Lynsandra with affection and how to earn her forgiveness.

In the back of his mind, he wanted to prove he deserved to be here too.

Once he finished unboxing, Cassian carefully slid down onto the floor without making a sound. He crawled like a snail toward the divan and gently poked her shin.

Lynsandra arched a brow and glanced down, only to see him holding up a small doll accessory.

She shook her head, and Cassian nodded obediently, set it aside, and picked up another box.

A moment later, he poked her leg again.

The cycle repeated... until she eventually kicked him out.

"You let him stay longer than I expected," Julian remarked, almost amused, as Lynsandra massaged her brow.

"I tried being nicer," she replied flatly, "but he reminded me why I’m not."

She placed the document on her lap and rose slowly. "The revisions are better. Just as I expected."

"Where are you going?" Julian asked, making her pause. "I was hoping we could discuss our contract."

She huffed quietly, considering their agreement. Julian stood and approached her, stopping just a step away.

"If you’re not ready, that’s fine," he said softly. "I can wait."

He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek before stepping back, smiling very subtly.

"Don’t forget the charity event," he added. "It’s still months away, but that day is mine."

With that, Julian walked past her. Once the door closed, Lynsandra touched her cheek briefly before stretching her neck in a circular motion.

"What’s wrong with him?" she muttered, but didn’t linger on the thought.

She and Julian had an agreement, just like she did with Severin. But each agreement came with its own conditions.

"For some reason, I feel especially tired," she murmured, heading toward the door. Perhaps to rest in her room, or idle in the garden.

But as she descended the stairs, she halted, catching a familiar figure from the corner of her eye.

Lynsandra tilted her head, watching Gareth’s retreating figure.

"So that’s Gary Stone," she hummed thoughtfully, a slow smile curling on her lips as an idea took shape. "Interesting."