POV: MASON

The "Off-Limit" party was the only place Vampires and Werewolves had a mutual agreement of no violence and bloodshed. The name sucks I know, but My father(the vampire lord) and the Alpha of the blue moon pack decided to have this party once in three months because they wanted to put and end to the conflict and work towards a pact. The conflict had been going on for decades and so they pitched this idea that this kind of party would make both the vampires and Werewolves get accostumed with each other. It seemed to work because the bloodshed and fighting reduced.

I was ecstatic whenever the party was approaching because it meant I could see and play with my friend from the werewolf pack. Her name is Elle. We became friends when we bonded over our love for watermelon. It wasn't the typical food people bonded over but I remember that day clearly. 11 years old me and 9 years old Elle laughed and bashed people who think watermelon isn't the top five fruit in the world.

Elle was a brunette with bright blue eyes. I always thought she had nice eyes. she was funny and caring. She had a great sense of fashion as a 9 years old, saying she wanted to be a fashion designer. Elle was cool. She wasn't my best friend but we were close.

That's why I told her of the crush I had on my classmate; Kylie. Only my best friend Josh and Elle knew about it. I wanted to marry Kylie when I grew up. Elle supported me and told me to confess to Kylie. I even introduced josh to Elle and they became friends. I was happy.

I got the first shock of my happy life when my parents told me I was in an arranged marriage with Elle. They explained that it was to help put the conflict to an end once and for all. I was devastated but I was optimistic that if Elle and I didn't agree to it together then at least our parents would re-consider.

"Dad, mom, Elle and I don't want to get married in the future. Elle and I are just friends. we don't like each other like that. Elle would never agree to this and I don't too!" I had told them, stomping my feet like the 11years old child I was.

I got the second shock when my parents told me Elle agreed to it immediately. That her parents had called and told them Elle didn't object to it and was even happy.

But Elle knows I like Kylie, why did she agree to it? And worse of all happy? Didn't she care about me? I had thought

I was angry. Angry that I didn't see past the pretentious person that she was. Angry that I genuinely thought she was my friend. Angry that I trusted her and she took the first opportunity in breaking that trust.

"Fine, two could play the game." I muttered

I had told Josh about it and he told I should speak to Elle about it. But I told him I would not. speaking to her would be like admitting defeat.

The next "Off-Limit" party I pretended that I wasn't mad at her. We didn't even talk about the marriage thing. I pretended the friendship and trust wasn't broken. I played the 'pretense game' for three years before I went to boarding school across the country. I was fourteen at the time and wanted to start high school. I unfollowed her across all social media, and stopped replying her messages.

Maybe I regretted not talking to her about it but I was already far gone to back down. I was going to resume the 'pretense game' when we would get married and the make it a living hell for her.