5

The faint scent of lavender and cedar teased my senses as I stirred. My eyelids fluttered, my lashes brushing against soft linen. Slowly, I opened my eyes, blinking away the haze. My gaze swept across the room—unfamiliar and unnervingly luxurious.

The soft hues of gold and cream adorned the space, not too bright but warm as if the room were designed to soothe the soul. Intricate carvings lined the edges of the tall ceiling, and the plush bed beneath me felt like a cloud. It resembled a miniature castle—a space too exquisite for someone like me. My throat tightened. Was this heaven? Or... no. Could it be the goddess’ house?

The thought was shattered by the sound of footsteps approaching. They were steady, deliberate, cutting through the tranquility like a blade. I sat upright, my heart pounding. The door opened with a soft creak, and my eyes instinctively trailed up the intruder’s form.

Booted feet. Long, lean legs. My gaze moved upward—broad shoulders, a sharp jawline, and eyes that made my breath hitch. Alpha Lucian. No. It couldn’t be.

“You’re awake.” His deep, velvety tone resonated in the space, sending a shiver down my spine.

“You…” My voice faltered, my disbelief evident.

“Hello, Alina Liera. Good to meet you again.”

His words were like a punch to my gut. My brows furrowed. “Why are you here? Where am I?”

He arched a single brow, his lips curving into a smile so faint it was almost mocking. That smile churned my insides, and before I could stop myself, a gasp escaped me.

“Am I in hell?” The words tumbled from my lips unbidden. This place—it was beautiful, almost too beautiful, like the kind of illusion the devil would use to entrap his victims. A chill crept up my spine at the thought.

“Hell?” His incredulous tone snapped me back to reality. He stepped closer, his hands slipping casually into his tailored pants. His gaze locked onto mine, making me feel trapped yet defiant. My fists clenched at my sides as I resisted the sudden urge to wipe that smug expression off his face. Why did he always have to look so unshaken?

“Why would you think this is hell?” he asked, his voice laced with curiosity and amusement.

I tilted my chin, meeting his piercing gaze. “Because that’s where people like you tend to end up after the horrible things you’ve done.”

His lips twitched, and he shook his head briskly, the movement almost too graceful. His silver-gray eyes held mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. “No. You’re not in hell.”

“Then why the hell are you here?” I shot back, my voice rising.

He smirked, tilting his head. “Don’t yell at me, Cutey Kitty.”

The nickname made my blood boil. “Cutey? Kitty?!” I hissed, heat flooding my cheeks. “How dare you call me that so… lovingly!”

“You’re in my territory, Dark Moon Pack,” he said simply, his voice as steady as ever.

I froze. “What? Your pack? How’s that possible?”

Lucian crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. “I brought you here after saving you from dying in the waters.”

My breath hitched. “Saving me? Waters?” My mind scrambled as fragmented memories flashed before me. The sharp pain of the knife, Lydia’s wicked smirk, the laughter ringing in my ears, the cold, unforgiving embrace of the water—it all came rushing back.

I swallowed hard, my gaze drifting to him. He was the last person I wanted to owe my life to, let alone encounter again.

“Are you sure?” I asked skeptically, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes,” he said, his tone devoid of its usual mockery. His straight, unyielding expression was the same one I remembered too well. “I know it’s hard to believe, considering…”

“What you did to me in the past,” I interjected, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and hurt. The memories of how he’d treated me—how he’d made my life hell—flashed vividly in my mind.

His gaze didn’t waver. Instead, he seemed unnervingly calm, composed in a way that only added to my unease. He hadn’t changed. Not his sharp features, not his aura of dominance, and certainly not the way his presence seemed to fill the room, leaving no space for me to breathe.

“Let’s forget about the past,” he said, his tone softer than I expected. “I don’t know how you ended up there—in the depths of the water, almost dead. But,” he paused, stepping closer to the edge of the bed, his eyes never leaving mine, “it seems the very ones you were always proud of made it so.”

His words struck a chord, making my chest tighten. My gaze fell to my lap, unable to meet his eyes. He wasn’t wrong. The betrayal still burned, fresh and raw.

But my head shot up as defiance flared within me. “You’re no different,” I countered sharply.

His lips curved into that familiar, infuriating smile. “I am,” he said with quiet confidence, “because I can help you get back at them. Deplorably.”

I stared at him, my heart racing as his words hung in the air. His silver-gray eyes held a seriousness that sent a shiver down my spine. 

I jolted upright, my pulse hammering in my ears. My mind was a battlefield, caught between trust and defiance. The scar I had lived with for years was gone, and standing in front of me was the very man I despised. Yet, his words—his offer—lingered like a poisoned honeyed promise.

“No. I can’t fall for this trap again.” My voice was firm, but I couldn’t help the crack that betrayed my unease.

Lucian tilted his head slightly, his silver-gray eyes narrowing as if amused by my resistance. “I won’t need your help,” I added bluntly, attempting to sound resolute.

"But I already started helping you," he countered smoothly, his lips curling into that infuriating smirk.

I scowled, forcing myself off the bed. My legs felt weak, but I straightened my back, trying to muster the strength to appear unshaken. “You…” I began, but my voice faltered when my gaze caught the mirror across the room.

My breath hitched. My reflection...it wasn’t mine—not the one I had grown to detest over the years. My lips parted, disbelief coursing through me as I hesitantly raised a trembling hand to my face. Smooth, flawless skin met my fingertips.

“No...no...I’m dreaming,” I whispered, stumbling toward the mirror. My fingers traced the place where the jagged scar once marred my cheek. It was gone. Completely gone.

I blinked rapidly, gasping as I pressed closer to the glass. “How...how is this possible?” My voice was barely audible.

“You shouldn’t have to live with such a scar,” Lucian’s voice broke through, low and filled with something I couldn’t quite place.

I spun around, my heart pounding. “Y-you...how did you? My scar...it was...” Words failed me, my mind reeling with a mixture of fear and astonishment.

“I mean it when I say I want to be your redeemer, Kitty,” he said softly, stepping closer. The nickname sent a jolt of irritation and something else I couldn’t name through me.

His fingers grazed my arm, and I felt an inexplicable spark that took my breath away for a brief second. My skin tingled where he touched me, and I hated the way my body reacted to him, betraying my resolve.

“What do you say about that?” His voice was almost a whisper now, and his piercing gaze seemed to reach into the very depths of my soul.

I turned back to the mirror, needing a moment to ground myself. Staring at my renewed face—perfect, unscarred—I grappled with the whirlwind of emotions flooding me. Could he really mean it? Could I trust him?

I couldn’t express what I felt. Excitement, perhaps even gratitude, simmered beneath the surface, but I couldn’t afford to let it show. Not when his offer loomed over me like a dark cloud.

Pulling myself together, I turned back to face him. “You, my redeemer? Why? We’ve got nothing in common, and I detest you with every fiber of my being.”

“I know that well,” he admitted, his smirk never wavering. “I just want to make up for the past. I want to shield you and help you get what you want.”

“Be clear with your offer,” I demanded, my voice sharp despite the unease in my chest.

He took another step forward, eliminating the distance between us. His presence was overwhelming, his scent intoxicatingly earthy and dark. Our breaths mingled, and I couldn’t move as his eyes locked onto mine.

“Just act like you’re my Luna,” he murmured, his voice dripping with a mixture of seduction and command. “In return, I’ll make the ones who hurt you bend until they break.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine. The promise in his tone was as alluring as it was terrifying.

“What makes you think I’d take help from my worst enemy?” I blurted, my voice trembling slightly as I forced myself to meet his gaze.

Lucian’s smirk deepened, but his voice grew colder, sharper. “Because, girl, we both know revenge doesn’t come from weakness. And you’re far too strong to die in their shadow.”

A bitter chuckle escaped me, though it carried none of the humor I intended. “Whatever you say, Alpha Lucian. I’d be the biggest fool to trust the devil.”

His smirk faltered, and his eyes darkened, an almost predatory gleam taking over. “Then perhaps it’s time the devil teaches you how to win.”

The words hit harder than I expected, igniting something deep within me. Our eyes locked, and for a fleeting moment, I felt the pull of something I didn’t quite understand. There was just something about him—something dangerous, magnetic, and utterly irresistible.

“Will you accept my offer?” His voice was a low rumble, and I could feel the weight of his question settling over me like a heavy cloak.

My thirst for revenge burned brighter than my doubts, and in that moment, I realized there was no turning back. Whatever path I chose now, it would change everything.