Chapter 4: I'll Be Your Worst Nightmare

Sovia's Pov

“Congratulations, it is an honor for our daughter to marry into the royal family.” That voice sounded familiar, like my mother’s.

Then the words struck my chest.

Marriage?

Royal family?

Hearing those words made my blood boil, but wasn’t I supposed to be dead?

“Sovia, why aren’t you saying anything?” I snapped my eyes open, and the first thing that hit me was the blinding light.

I blinked, noticing the gothic wolf carvings on the walls. This was the Moonshade ancestral hall.

How is this possible? I was supposed to be dead.

A hand touched my cheek, making me jolt. My eyes met that monster Janova.

It was him, but he looked younger. Much younger than before.

Everything rushed through me at once. Vanessa’s body slumped to the floor. Janova’s deadly smile as he shoved me out the window.

It made my chest tighten, and I clutched it hard.

“Sovia,” Janova called, his cold hands touching my shoulders as he leaned in. “What’s wrong? You’re shaking.”

I shoved him aside just to breathe. He stumbled back.

We both stumbled away from each other, and that was when my eyes fell on a paper my mother was holding.

My heart stopped for a moment.

Engagement Contract.

Did I die and get reborn on the day it all began? Thinking back, if I hadn’t fallen for Janova and chased him blindly for years—he wouldn’t have ruined my life.

Killed Vanessa… this time I won’t let that happen.He killed Vanessa… this time I won’t let that happen.

A hand nudged my side. “Why are you acting strange? Go ahead and thank your mate—the royal family has approved your mating ceremony.”

“I’m not getting married.” The hall went silent for a moment.

My mother grabbed my wrist and yanked me as her voice came out in a whisper. “What is the meaning of this? Accept the royal decree and stop embarrassing the Moonshade pack.”

A mother who would do anything to strive for power, including selling off her own daughter—doesn’t qualify to be a mother.

Her face went pale as I snatched the paper from her hand. Then I lifted it up. Janova’s gaze steadied on mine.

“This life—I refuse to be bound to you, Janova Lockham.”

For the first time, Janova looked completely lost.

“The engagement is canceled.” With those words, I tore the paper. Tears filled my eyes, thinking of all the years I’d wasted on him—only to be murdered by the people closest to me.

“Sovia, what are you doing?” Janova groaned. He reached forward to grab my hand. I tossed the paper into the air and breathed a sigh of relief as the pieces scattered and fluttered down around us.

Janova’s grip tightened. “Sovia…”

I grabbed his hand off my shoulders and smiled. “Your Highness, we are no longer engaged. Please mind your distance or I won’t be polite.”

“Sovia, what the hell is going on? Have you forgotten you were the one who begged the royal family to grant this marriage? And now you’re acting this way.”

I crossed my arms over my chest firmly. What exactly did I see in this man that made me so stupid?

“Yes. I knelt at the palace gates for the Alpha King to grant our marriage. But now, I don’t want to marry you anymore.”

“Why?”

“You’re not my type,” I said bluntly.

”Janova’s face flushed red as his fists clenched. “What does that mean? This isn’t a joke.”

“And who said it was?” I smirked, lifting my chin. “I won’t marry you. Don’t be so full of yourself.”

“What?”

The elders in the hall started to shift uncomfortably as they whispered to one another.

“What’s going on?”

“I thought the second lady from Moonshade was proper and well-behaved. I guess it’s just rumors.”

Proper? Well-behaved? More like a pathetic puppet.

My mother’s mouth fell open. She turned toward the rest of the family. “Umm… this is a misunderstanding… I’m sure Sovia doesn’t mean it, right?”

She gave that warning frown that told me if I didn’t listen I was going to regret it.

It only made the smile on my lips curl further. “Mom, since you are so adamant about this marriage, why don’t you marry Prince Janova instead, hmm? At least the royal blood is still within the family.”

“Absurd!” Janova groaned. “Sovia, if you keep acting this way…”

“What?” I cut in. “What will you do? I’ve already told you. We. Are. Over.”

My gaze fell on the bracelet Janova had gifted me—the one I’d worn even until my death. I grabbed it. Janova’s eyes widened. “Sovia,” his voice edged with warning.

My heart slammed hard as I pulled it with force. The bracelet snapped in half.

Janova stood there frozen even as I lifted the broken pieces to his face. “From now on—I’ll be your worst nightmare.”

Janova’s eyes sharpened as his lips parted in shock. I let the bracelet drop to the floor. It clicked and shattered completely.

“Janova Lockham—you won’t escape me. The blood debt you owe must be paid.”

“Blood for blood.”

****

Whack! My mother’s hand connected with my face, whipping my neck to the side.

“Kneel,” she ordered. Her voice echoed through our family ancestral hall.

I stood there. Swallowed the pain as I scoffed.

“Why should I?”

My mother didn’t say a word. She just lifted her hands toward the lady beside me. Nanny Nicola, my mother's personal maid grabbed my arm, twisted it painfully, and forced me to my knees.

The sound of my knees meeting the floor sent a sharp crack, and it made both of them give a subtle nod.

Click! Click! Click!

My mother’s heels clipped the floor as she came closer. Her long nails grabbed my chin and raised it up. “Sovia Henric. Explain that nonsense you displayed.”

When I didn’t respond, she forced my chin even higher.

“Do you have any idea what you cost me today? I’m your mother. Fed you. Raised you. Gave you life—I own you. How dare you disrespect me.”

Her hand lifted again, but Nanny Nicola stepped in. “Luna.”

For a moment I thought she was going to help me. Instead, she leaned in. “Best not to ruin her face. Tomorrow is a very important day.”

She dipped into her sleeves and brought out an artifact I remembered too well.

I balled my hands into fists, watching my mother take the artifact in her hand.

“I’ve been going too soft on you,” she whispered, caressing the artifact gently.

My mother had a secret no one in the pack was aware of. She was a hybrid—part wolf and witch.

That was my control switch!

“Urgh!” Pain shot from my spine, and I arched until it surged into my skull.

She clutched the artifact, infusing it with her witch powers.

“Is this how you repay your mother?”

My teeth clenched, a metallic taste flooding my mouth. Sweat stung my eyes as a sharp, electric hum raced behind my skull.

I had to endure it.

Everyone who wronged me must pay—I don’t need justice. I want their lives. Even if I die, I’ll drag them to hell with me.