92. No One's Tool.

Lucy POV

The atmosphere felt heavy...too heavy.

I lay on my bed in my father’s house, staring at the ceiling. The curtains were drawn, but the light still forced its way inside. It hurt my eyes. Everything hurt my eyes these days.

My body felt weak.

Not the normal tired kind of weak.

This was different.

It was like something inside me was slowly dying.

I tried to sit up.

Pain shot through my chest.

I coughed.

Blood filled my mouth.

I quickly covered it with my hand, breathing slowly, trying not to panic. But panic was already there. It had been there for days.

Ever since the ritual failed.

Ever since Adrian collapsed.

Ever since everything fell apart.

I wiped my mouth and looked at my hand.

Red.

Again.

I closed my eyes.

I was supposed to be Luna.

Now I could barely stand.

The door opened quietly.

I didn’t turn.

I already knew who it was.

“My daughter…”

My father’s voice sounded broken.

I slowly turned to look at him.

Rowan looked older. His shoulders were heavy. His eyes were tired. He looked like a man who had lost something important.

Maybe he had.

Maybe he lost me.

“I’m fine,” I said weakly.

It was a lie.

We both knew it.

He walked closer and sat beside my bed.

“I shouldn’t have done this to you,” he whispered.

I frowned.

“What do you mean?”

He didn’t answer.

He just held my hand.

His hands were shaking.

That scared me more than the blood.

After a long silence, he spoke.

“We’re going to see her.”

“Who?”

“The witch.”

My heart dropped.

The witch who did the ritual.

The witch who promised it would work.

The witch who told us everything would be fine.

I nodded slowly.

Maybe she could fix this.

Maybe this could still be fixed.

I didn’t know then that my life was already over.

The forest was cold.

The air was heavy.

Every step felt harder than the last.

Father helped me walk. Without him, I would have fallen many times.

By the time we reached the witch’s hut, I was breathing heavily.

She stepped outside before we knocked.

Her eyes immediately went to my father.

And her face hardened.

“I warned you,” she said.

My heart skipped.

Warned him?

“What do you mean?” I asked.

She didn’t look at me.

She looked at my father.

“I told you there would be consequences.”

My father lowered his head.

I felt fear rise inside me.

“What consequences?” I asked, my voice shaking.

Silence.

The witch finally looked at me.

Her eyes were full of pity.

That scared me more than anything.

“If the ritual fails,” she said slowly, “the female will lose her wolf.”

The world went quiet.

“I… what?”

“You won’t be able to transform anymore.”

My heart stopped.

“No.”

“And,” she continued softly, “you won’t be able to conceive.”

The words hit harder than any physical pain.

No wolf.

No children.

No future.

I slowly turned to my father.

“You knew?”

He couldn’t look at me.

“You knew?” I repeated.

“I… I thought it would work,” he whispered.

“You knew?” I shouted.

Tears filled my eyes.

“You knew the risk?!”

“I did it for you!” he cried.

“For me?” I laughed bitterly. “You destroyed me!”

The witch stepped closer.

“There is more.”

I looked at her, numb.

“The ritual only works if the Alpha does not completely reject you and I told your father.”

My stomach dropped.

“If his heart is filled with hatred… the ritual flips.”

Hatred.

Adrian hated me.

I knew it.

I just didn’t want to believe it.

That was why it failed.

That was why my body was breaking.

That was why my life was over.

The witch reached for my hand.

“I’m sorry, child.”

I pulled away.

Something inside me snapped.

I didn’t cry.

I didn’t scream.

I just turned.

And walked away.

“Lucy!” my father called.

I didn’t stop.

I didn’t look back.

I ran.

Lucy POV

I ran through the forest.

Fast.

Faster.

Super speed.

Branches scratched my skin. Stones cut my feet.

I didn’t feel anything.

I just ran.

Everything was gone.

No wolf.

No Luna.

No future.

No children.

No Adrian.

No life.

I stopped suddenly.

Pain exploded inside my chest.

I fell to my knees.

I coughed.

Blood poured out of my mouth.

More than before.

My hands shook.

My body felt cold.

So cold.

I tried to breathe slowly.

That was when I smelled it.

Blood.

Cold.

Dark.

Vampire.

I slowly looked up.

He was standing there.

Tall.

Calm.

Watching me.

The Vampire King.

Damien.

Damien POV

I had been following the scent.

It was weak.

Broken.

Fading.

When I saw her, I understood why.

She looked like someone already dying.

The former Luna.

The rejected one.

The forgotten one.

I walked closer slowly.

She tried to stand.

She failed.

Blood covered her lips.

I took out my handkerchief and held it out.

“Here.”

She stared at it.

Then at me.

“Are you here to kill me?” she asked.

Her voice was empty.

“No,” I said calmly. “I’m here to talk.”

She took the cloth slowly and wiped her mouth.

I studied her.

Weak.

Broken.

Alone.

Perfect.

“So,” I said. “You’re the fake Luna.”

Her eyes flashed.

But she didn’t deny it.

“Everyone moved on,” I continued. “The Alpha didn’t come for you.”

Silence.

“The council abandoned you.”

Her hands tightened.

“You’re sick.”

Her breathing became heavier.

“You’re useless to them now.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

Good.

Pain makes people listen.

“I have an offer,” I said.

She looked at me.

“Join me.”

Silence.

“Help me destroy the wolves.”

Her eyes widened.

“They used you,” I continued softly. “Let’s use them back.”

For a moment, she just stared at me.

Then...

She laughed.

Not happy laughter.

Broken laughter.

“You’re funny,” she said.

I frowned slightly.

“You think you’re different?” she continued.

Her eyes were sharp now.

“You want to use me too.”

I didn’t answer.

Because she was right.

“I won’t be anyone’s tool again,” she said.

Her voice was calm.

Cold.

“I’d rather die.”

Then she attacked.

Lucy POV

I didn’t care anymore.

I attacked him with everything I had.

Claws.

Speed.

Strength.

But my body was weak.

Too weak.

He didn’t fight back.

He just dodged.

Every attack.

Easily.

I became angrier.

I attacked again.

And again.

And again.

Then I coughed.

Blood spilled again.

My legs gave out.

I dropped to one knee.

He watched me quietly.

No fear.

No anger.

Just calm.

That made me angrier.

I reached into my pocket.

The silver knife.

I had carried it for protection.

Funny.

Now I knew what it was really for.

He noticed the knife.

“You don’t have to do this,” he said.

I smiled.

“For the first time,” I whispered, “I’m choosing something for myself.”

I pressed the blade against my chest.

And pushed.

Pain exploded.

Then everything finally became quiet.

I lie down, looking up at the sky covered with tree branches.... Thought about Adrian, about how no one would notice me gone.

Then the pain slowly fading away...

Then I close my eyes slowly welcoming the peace I've always longed for.

Damien POV

She didn’t hesitate.

The blade went in.

Deep.

Her body fell backward.

I stepped forward.

Too late.

Her heart had stopped.

I stared at her.

She chose death over being used.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Then I heard footsteps approaching.

Wolf.

I disappeared.

Rowan POV

I followed her scent.

Fear filled my chest.

When I saw her...

My world ended.

Lucy lay on the ground.

Blood everywhere.

Her eyes were open.

But empty.

“No,” I whispered.

I ran to her.

I lifted her into my arms.

Her body was cold.

“My daughter…”

My voice broke.

“I’m sorry.”

Tears fell freely.

“I did this.”

If I hadn’t forced the ritual…

If I hadn’t pushed her…

If I had listened…

She would still be alive.

“I’m sorry,” I repeated again and again.

The forest was silent.

No one answered.

I held her for a long time.

Then I stood.

I carried her deeper into the forest.

Away from everyone.

Away from the world that destroyed her.

“My daughter,” I whispered.

“I failed you.”

And I disappeared into the shadows.