Lila's Cruelty

The rogues froze, terror draining the color from their faces. Their bodies trembled as they tried to flee, but the Alpha moved faster — a blur of fury and power. His claws slashed through the air, striking with deadly precision. In moments, two rogues lay lifeless at his feet, their bodies broken and still.

“Go,” the Alpha snarled at the last one, his voice like thunder. “Tell your worthless boss — no one spills blood on my land and lives!”

The surviving rogue didn’t hesitate. He bolted into the woods, stumbling over himself in his rush to escape.

Then the Alpha turned to Ella. His fierce eyes softened as he knelt beside her, his touch unexpectedly gentle as he brushed the hair from her bruised face. “You’re safe now. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”

Ella’s heart raced as her vision blurred, the edges of the world darkening. The last thing she saw before the shadows claimed her was his face — fierce, protective, and filled with something she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Hope.

---

Lila paced her chamber, fury simmering beneath her skin. Days had passed since she’d ordered Ella’s death, and yet no news. No confirmation. No closure.

What was taking so long?

A sharp knock at the door snapped her from her thoughts. Her pulse quickened, and a cold smile played at her lips. Finally.

She smoothed her expression into one of polite curiosity before opening the door. The rogue she’d hired stood there, pale and trembling, fear written across his face.

“Well?” she demanded, her voice like ice. “Is it done?”

The rogue swallowed hard, his gaze dropping. “We… we tried, my lady, but…”

“But?” Her tone dropped lower, dangerous and sharp. “You were supposed to make sure she never returned. How did you fail?”

The man shrank beneath her glare. “She was weak… we had her cornered… she wouldn’t have lasted much longer…”

“Then why is she still breathing?” Lila snapped, her smile vanishing, replaced by fury.

The rogue’s hands shook. “An Alpha. The Alpha of the Shadow Fang Pack… he killed the others. He let me live only to bring you his warning. He… he saved her.”

Lila’s world tilted. Her breath hitched. Alpha Damian? The most feared Alpha in the region? Unstoppable. Untouchable.

“He saved her?” she whispered, the words tasting bitter on her tongue.

The rogue nodded, trembling. “He called her his. Said no one would harm what’s his.”

Lila swayed, nausea churning in her gut. His? What did that mean? Why would he — of all Alphas — claim a useless girl like Ella?

None of it made sense. Ella was supposed to die, lost to the wilderness, forgotten. Not fall under the protection of the most powerful Alpha around.

“No… no, no, no…” Lila staggered back, her mind spinning, panic clawing at her chest. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. This wasn’t the plan.

She’d been so close. So close to erasing Ella for good. So close to securing her future beside Kaden. And now it was all crumbling.

“You failed me!” Lila shrieked, lunging at the rogue. Her nails raked across his face, drawing blood. “You were supposed to end her! To make her disappear forever!”

He dropped to his knees, blood dripping from the gashes, his voice shaking. “I tried! Please — mercy!”

“Mercy?” Lila laughed, bitter and cruel. “Why would I show mercy to failure?”

She turned to the guards at the door, her voice cold as stone. “Take him. Make sure he regrets ever disappointing me.”

The rogue’s screams echoed down the hall as the guards dragged him away. Lila stood, breath heaving, her heart pounding with rage and fear.

Ella was still alive — and worse, she had the protection of a powerful Alpha. This wasn’t over. Lila would find a way. Ella couldn’t return. She couldn’t expose the lies. Couldn’t steal Kaden away.

Ella had to die.

Lila sat at her vanity, gripping her brush, her reflection filled with hatred. She had underestimated Ella. Somehow that weak, pitiful girl had slipped through her grasp.

But no more.

Lila’s lips curved into a cold, calculated smile as she reached for parchment and quill. If force wouldn’t work, then she would use something far deadlier.

Manipulation.

“No one is beyond control,” she whispered, smirking as she began

to write. “Not Kaden. And not that little rat. Your time is up, Ella.”