Mated To The Crippled Alpha-Chapter 353: Explain TO ME

That question hit me harder than anything else.

I knew him too well. I knew how quickly his mind could turn inward, how easily he could start blaming himself. If I kept hiding this, he would only think worse things.

So I let out a slow breath and stopped resisting.

"Let me see your hand," he said again.

This time, I nodded.

He carefully pulled back my sleeve, and the moment he saw the white bandage wrapped around my wrist, stained through with fresh blood, his whole expression changed. His eyes darkened. His pupils narrowed. The air around him went cold enough to make my skin tighten.

"Who hurt you?" he asked.

I had never seen him look so frightening.

The Alpha in him had risen fully now, silent and dangerous.

"It’s not what you think," I said quickly. "I did it myself."

He went very still. For a moment, he said nothing at all.

Then, in a low, rough voice, he asked, "So you know everything now, don’t you?"

I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him.

"Yes, you fool," I whispered. "How long did you think you could keep lying to me?"

He held me tighter, and I heard his voice near my ear.

"So when you went back to the town last time... it was to learn the truth about the Stone of Duality?"

I nodded against him.

"Yes."

I had been hurt, but he was untouched. Amber’s behavior toward me had already given him enough clues to understand that I knew.

"What exactly is the Stone of Duality?" I asked.

"It was something Grandma gave me," he said. "She told me it could fool you completely. That you would never notice."

The arms around me began to tremble.

"Elena," he said, "do you understand what this means?"

I pulled back enough to look at him.

"Lewis, I know you love me, and I’m grateful for that. But did you really think I could accept you taking my place and facing death for me? If you died, how could I keep living? I don’t know when this so-called death calamity will come, but I only want us to spend whatever time we have left together and happy."

His hand rose to my cheek, trembling slightly.

"Elena, if you die—"

"I’m not afraid," I said, meeting his gaze. "You left me once already. Are you planning to do it again?"

His expression changed instantly.

"You remember everything?"

"Yes."

A small smile touched my lips, though my throat felt tight.

"I saw what happened after I brought you back. You took back your lands. You became a wise ruler. Your people lived in peace, and you gave everything to them. You never took a mate. Before your next reincarnation, you said you regretted failing me in that life. You said you hoped in the next one, someone would finally cherish me the way I deserved. That is why we have this life now. I loved Juilian, and you stayed beside me in silence for twenty years."

I held his gaze and spoke more softly.

"But Lewis, everything I did was my own choice. I never regretted it. You do not owe me your life in return. Being together again is already enough for me."

His breath caught.

"All I ever wanted," he said hoarsely, "was for you to live well. Why is it that in every life, you never seem to find peace?"

I swallowed the ache in my throat.

"It doesn’t matter. Tell me the truth. When did you regain your memories?"

"A long time ago."

I let out a soft breath.

"That explains it. I always thought it was strange how kind you were to me when we had not known each other for long. Now it all makes sense."

"Elena," he said, almost painfully, "it should never have been like this."

I reached for his face.

"I’m more afraid of losing you than I am of dying."

His hand covered mine, warm and steady despite the storm in his eyes.

"If this is truly how things are," he said, "then I’ll protect you with everything I have. Amber didn’t hurt you because she thinks our fates have already been switched, doesn’t she?"

I nodded.

"Yes. I lied to her. I told her the switch had already happened. That if I live, you live, and if I die, you die too. She originally wanted to kill me before the Stone of Duality could take effect. Say what you want about her, but she really does care about you."

"Foolish girl," he murmured.

There was frustration in his voice, but so much tenderness too.

"Next time, don’t do something so reckless. And don’t lie to me again."

"Alright."

At this point, there really was not much either of us could do.

So I looked at him and said, "Just make sure you do not reveal anything. As long as Amber keeps believing the lie, I’ll stay safe."

His gaze dropped back to my wrist.

"Does it hurt?"

"I’m used to it," I said quietly. "Don’t worry. I was careful. The first time I came back to life, I nearly fainted just from seeing the blood on my wrist. So this time, I made sure the cut stayed shallow."

His face tightened with pain.

"You are never doing this again." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Okay," I said softly. "But you’re not allowed to stay angry at me anymore."

His expression finally softened.

"Silly girl. How could I ever stay angry with you? No matter what you choose, I will stay by your side. And if the day really comes when death catches up to us... then I’ll go with you. That way, you won’t have to walk into heaven alone."

My eyes burned, but I still smiled.

"Right."

We looked at each other and smiled the same sad, foolish smile.

Then we turned and started walking away together.

Behind us, from the shadow of the plum tree, someone stepped out quietly and watched me leave. Their eyes followed my back in silence, fixed and unreadable.