Love to Malice.

The forest Clarice had wandered off to was alive with the sounds of the night, the rustle of leaves, the distant hoot of an owl, the soft footsteps but she barely noticed the beautiful scenery. Her mind was a storm, her thoughts swirling with a toxic mix of jealousy, rage, and bitter nostalgia. The cool night air did nothing to soothe the fire burning in her chest. She despised the forest in that instant.

She stopped in a small clearing, the moonlight filtering through the trees and casting eerie shadows on the ground. This place, so quiet and calm, felt like a mockery of the chaos inside her. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she stared up at the sky.

“Yolanda,” she spat the name like a curse, her voice trembling with barely contained fury. “That insignificant little omega. How dare she?”

The memories came sharp and painful. Alejandro. Her Alejandro. They had been inseparable once, their bond forged in fire and blood. She had stood by his side for centuries, his confidante, his ally, his equal. They had shared everything, dreams, battles, secrets. And love. Yes, there had been love. Or so she had thought.

The first memory struck her like a blow.

They were standing on the castle’s balcony, the wind passing through their hair, the sun was barely bright, it was the perfect atmosphere. Alejandro’s laughter rang out, deep and unrestrained, as Clarice remembered a story of their latest skirmish with a rival pack. She had taken down three wolves single-handedly, and Alejandro had teased her for showing off. “You’re going to make the rest of us look bad,” he had said, his red piercing eyes gleaming with pride. She had smirked, leaning into him. “Someone has to keep you on your toes, Your Majesty.”

The memory was so vivid she could almost feel the warmth of his arm around her shoulders, the way his laughter had vibrated through her. Back then, she had been his equal, his partner. Not just in battle, but in everything.

Another memory surfaced,

It was one of those Winter nights, the castle alive with music and laughter. Alejandro had pulled her onto the dance floor, his hand warm in hers as they moved to the rhythm of the drums. She had never been one for dancing, but with him, it felt natural. Effortless. “You’re full of surprises,” he had murmured, his breath warm against her ear. She had laughed, a rare, genuine sound. “You have no idea.”

That night, she had felt invincible. Like they were untouchable. Like nothing could ever come between them.

But the memories weren’t all laughter and light. There were darker moments too, moments that had bound them together in ways no one else could understand or at least she thought.

They were in the forest, the air thick with the scent of blood. Alejandro was wounded, his side torn open by a rogue Lycan’s claws. Clarice had dragged him to safety, her own body battered and bruised, but she hadn’t cared. She had stayed by his side all night, pressing cloths to his wounds and reassuring him“You’re not dying on me,” she had said, her voice fierce. “Not today. Not ever.” He had smiled weakly, his hand finding hers. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

That night felt like a bond had been sealed.She had saved his life, and in return, he had given her his trust. His loyalty. Or so she had thought.

But then Yolanda had come along. A fragile, trembling omega who had no business being anywhere near a king like Alejandro. And yet, he had chosen her. He had looked at Clarice, his loyal companion, and then at Yolanda, and chosen her. The betrayal had cut deeper than any blade.

“You were supposed to be mine,” Clarice whispered, her voice breaking. “We were supposed to rule together. But you threw it all away for her.”

Her chest heaved as the anger surged, hot and uncontrollable. She could still see Yolanda in the courtyard, her movements powerful, her newfound abilities making her a force to be reckoned with. The way Marcus had looked at her proud, approving, only added fuel to the fire. Even the universe seemed to be conspiring to give Yolanda everything Clarice had ever wanted.

“No,” Clarice growled, her voice low and dangerous. “I won’t let her win. I won’t let her take everything from me.”

Her body began to tremble, not from fear, but from the raw power building inside her. Her Lycan form stirred, the beast within itching to break free. She didn’t fight it. She let it come, her bones cracking and shifting, her muscles stretching and reforming. The transformation was swift and brutal, her human form giving way to the towering, primal figure of her Lycan self.

The forest seemed to hold its breath as she stood there, her red eyes glowing in the darkness. She tilted her head back and let out a howl, the sound echoing through the trees and sending a flock of birds scattering into the night. It was a cry of pain, of rage, of defiance.

Then she moved.

Her claws slashed through the air, tearing into the nearest tree with a force that sent splinters flying. The trunk groaned and cracked before landing to the ground with a thunderous crash. She didn’t stop. She moved to the next tree, and the next, her claws and fists reducing them to kindling. The forest was no match for her fury, the once-peaceful clearing now a battlefield of broken branches and shattered trunks.

“You think you’ve won, Yolanda?” she snarled, her voice a guttural growl. “You think your little powers make you special? You’re nothing. A pawn. A distraction. And I will make you regret the day you crossed me.”

She paused, her chest heaving as she stared at the destruction around her. The moonlight glinted off her claws, the only sound now the faint creak of a damaged tree swaying in the wind. Her mind raced, plotting, scheming. Death was too easy for Yolanda. Too quick. No, Clarice wanted her to suffer. To feel the same pain, the same betrayal, that she had felt.

“I’ll take everything from you,” she vowed, her voice cold and steady now. “Your power, your confidence, your precious Alejandro. I’ll strip it all away, piece by piece, until there’s nothing left but the broken, pathetic omega you really are.”

With one final roar, she turned and disappeared into the forest, her Lycan form melting back into her human shape as she went. The trees seemed to shudder in her wake, the night itself holding its breath as if aware of the darkness she carried with her.

Clarice had made her promise. And she always kept her promises.