006

RAFAEL 

Power. It's intoxicating, isn't it? Should it be a thing of joy or happiness? That rush I feel in my chest is something no one can ever fully understand. It's that high I've been chasing for years-the knowledge that I have her daughter under my control, in my hands, in my bed. And she's mine to do with as I please. It's the ultimate satisfaction, the kind that numbs the pain of every single memory that haunts me-the times my father used my mother as a punching bag at that witch's command, the nights I wandered the streets like a stray dog, begging for food.

He's dead now. Finally. But my one regret? Not tearing his heart out myself. Leaving him to the Moon Goddess felt too merciful. And as for her-his puppet master, the one who ruined us-her daughter is mine now. I won't kill her. No, death would be too easy. Instead, I'll make every second she spends in my pack a living hell. Every breath she takes will be a reminder of the monster her mother created in me. This is revenge. A tit for tat.

My future was stolen from me the moment my mother died-assaulted, broken, her heart shattered. And for what? Because of that woman, that wench, her mother, who pushed my father to the brink. My mother's only concern had been me, and it destroyed her. Now tell me, how the hell am I supposed to let her daughter walk away? Am I supposed to let her go free? No. She'll suffer like I suffered. She'll break like I broke.

And yet, despite everything, I can't deny it-she's strong. Resilient. There's fire in her, and I see it every time she stands up to me. It's infuriating. She's got this innocence, this defiance, and damn it, I'm not blind. She's beautiful. Creamy skin, plush breasts, long dark hair, and that smile... that smile could drive any man insane. But not me. Not after what her mother did. Maybe, if it had only been me that suffered, I could have spared her. But my mother? No way. Her Luna title was stripped, her dignity shredded, and now it's her daughter's turn. She'll be my Luna, sure, but I'll grind her worth into the dirt until even the servants pity her.

I step into the room, and she doesn't even notice me at first. She's talking to Nina, no doubt about me. How cute-like that'll help her. Does she really think she can charm her way out of this? Desperate little wannabe. But whatever magic her mother used to twist my father around her finger won't work on me.

I move closer, slow and deliberate. Her gray eyes catch mine, flickering with fear, and she takes a step back. Good. That fear, that's what I want. It's just the beginning-I haven't even touched her yet. But I will. Oh, I will. And when I do, I'll make sure every shred of resistance she has is gone. She'll break, and when she does, she'll know exactly what it feels like to live in the hell I've been trapped in for years.

I cage her in against the wall, leaning in close. "You really want to know how ruthless I can be?" My voice is low, dangerous, and I can feel the thudding of her heart. She's scared, but it's not enough. Not fully. 

Then she rolls her eyes. Rolls. Her. Eyes.The nerve. The audacity. My blood rushes south, and I hate that she has any effect on me at all. What game is she playing here? She's cut from the same cloth as her mother, and that thought alone sends a wave of disgust through me. But there's no denying it-she's under my skin, and it's driving me insane.

"Do that again," I warn, my voice sharp, "and you'll see just how ruthless I can be."

What the hell am I doing, giving her warnings? She's supposed to be suffering for her mother's crimes, and here I am, letting her get under my skin. She tilts her chin up, her eyes meeting mine, and what do I see? Lust. She's actually lusting after me. It's written all over her face. If there's one thing I got from my bastard of a father, it's his looks. And she's falling for it, just like everyone else. Pathetic.

And then she rolls her eyes again.

I grit my teeth, fury building. Who the hell does she think she is? I'm her Alpha, and I made it clear-she's going to obey every damn command I give her. Ace, my wolf, snarls in the back of my mind. He's pissed off too. She's defying me, and that's something I won't tolerate. I'll show her exactly what it means to disobey her Alpha.

I grab her chin, forcing her to look at me. "You think I'm going to let this slide? You're going to regret testing me. You'll learn your place, and when I'm done with you, you'll be nothing but a slave. Mine to use, mine to discard when I'm finished. You'll wish you never crossed me."

Her eyes widen, but it's not fear I see this time-it's pity. Pity. The nerve. As if I need her damn sympathy. 

I told her why she's here, why she has to pay for her mother's sins. But all she does is look at me with those pitiful eyes. That same look my mother used to give my father before he'd hit her. It makes my blood boil.

"I don't need your pity," I snap, my grip tightening. "You're going to suffer for everything she did. There's no escape, no redemption."

I step back, giving her room to breathe, but it doesn't matter. I've already made up my mind. She'll pay. And this is just the beginning. I have a whole list of things planned for her, dark things, things she won't survive.

"Please," she whispers, her voice shaking. It almost sounds like a prayer, but it only fuels the fire inside me. Does she think begging will save her? She has no idea what's coming.

Let her beg. Let her plead. I won't stop. Not until she's broken, not until she's shattered into pieces. And even then, I won't let her go. She's mine, and she'll pay for every single sin her mother committed. 

Because the truth is, I'm not the villain

of this story. I'm just a man who's paying back th

e debt I owe. So don't blame me. Blame her.