Chapter 5
- Elara’s POV
- King Holden reigns as the Lycan king of the Blackthorn pack and is renowned as the most powerful and affluent king in history, securing his position at the top of the wolf pack hierarchy.
- Lycans possess an innate strength that surpasses that of ordinary wolves, and their numbers are dwindling in the world today.
- Much about King Holden remains shrouded in mystery; some claim he was once a rogue who united his followers to form a pack, receiving blessings from the moon goddess, while others say that he is an immortal who escaped the afterlife to live among mortals.
- These tales never quite resonated with me, but one thing was clear: he was the ultimate adversary for every wolf.
- Though I had never met him directly, I found myself at odds with him because of Sebastian.
- I’m not sure how their paths intertwined, but Sebastian shared stories of their long standing rivalry, and as a supposed loyal Luna, I instinctively took up arms against King Holden.
- I even resorted to hiring bloggers to publish slanderous articles about him and reported him to the wolf council, all in a misguided attempt to support my mate.
- Looking back, I realize how foolish I was, and seeing him standing before me now fills me with a sense of guilt.
- On the flip side, I’m determined to extract my own measure of retribution from Sebastian. This is just the first step toward achieving the ultimate revenge against him.
- “You were unconscious for far too long due to your own foolishness,” the Lycan king’s voice reverberated through the room, and I felt a lump form in my throat.
- His tone was icy and devoid of emotion, sending a chill racing down my spine.
- Until now, I hadn’t been close enough to grasp the true nature of the man, but I can assure you, the wolves were right to label him a monster.
- Why else would I tremble at just one of his remarks? How did the real Odessa manage to endure his presence all this time?
- Before my demise, he was without a mate, and it was widely believed that the moon goddess had cursed him for his wicked heart.
- It was astonishing that any woman would ever submit to him; it made sense that he preyed on Odessa’s parents' vulnerabilities, knowing no sane woman would willingly accept him with such a foul demeanor.
- Don’t misunderstand me. He is undeniably the most handsome man I’ve ever encountered. Everything about him radiated perfection, yet there was an unsettling aura that repelled people, perhaps it was his Lycan nature.
- “I don’t care if you’re still healing, but you will be my Luna whether you want to be or not, and your foolish parents will pay dearly for disrespecting me! I’ll ensure they face public humiliation!”
- I remained silent, letting him vent. I didn’t spend years studying behavioral strategies from my mother’s library just to be unprepared for this moment.
- I knew exactly how to deal with someone like him.
- I would let him rant and carry on without uttering a word. Silence often provokes those with severe anger issues; they interpret it as disrespect or a slight, but the real advantage is that it undermines their ego.
- "Are you really just going to lie there like a lifeless log and not utter a word? You make me sick!" he exclaimed, tears already welling up in my eyes.
- His words left me in a whirlwind of emotions.
- The way he acted brought back haunting memories of Sebastian from my past life. His voice echoed in my mind, each word feeling like a sharp needle piercing my skin, pushing me closer to the brink of madness.
- "I'm heading to the parking lot right now. You better meet me there, and if you're even a minute late, I swear I'll throw you off that cliff again, you fool!"
- He glared at me with contempt, hissing loudly before storming out.
- Fear twisted in my gut. Staying with the Lycan king offered a chance for revenge, a way to channel my anger towards Willa and Sebastian. But if I fled, I would have to start anew, delaying my plans for vengeance.
- I glanced out the window, contemplating escape. I knew the layout well enough, but the thought of Odessa's parents suffering for their daughter and her wolf's incessant whining kept me tethered to this fate.
- My plan seemed straightforward, yet there was something about the Lycan king that triggered his volatile behavior. I needed to uncover his weaknesses and turn them to my advantage.
- Taking a deep breath, I tried to gather my thoughts. My wolf was silent, urging me to flee; she despised the Lycan king. Her pain from Sebastian's betrayal still lingered, and while I understood her fears, I was determined not to start over as a rogue.
- The world was unforgiving to rogues.
- I had to seize the opportunity before me with both hands and trust that the moon goddess would guide me in executing my mission successfully.
- I stopped overthinking; any thought would just lead me back to the beginning. My backup plan was off the table—I wasn’t willing to take that chance. The Lycan king was on my trail, and I didn’t need anyone to warn me of the danger that awaited.
- As pain surged through my body, I signaled to one of the nurses to help me down to the king's car.
- This is my destiny, and I must come to terms with it.
- The nurse assigned to assist me trembled at the mere sight of the Lycan king.
- I couldn't fault her; he was truly intimidating, and I found myself pondering how he viewed his own existence.
- The driver stepped out of his seat and opened the door for me.
- My heart sank as I realized I would be sitting next to the Lycan king for an hour or more, heading to an unknown destination.
- With the help of the nurse and the driver, I climbed into the car. King Holden made no effort to assist; instead, he fixed his gaze ahead with a look of disdain, deliberately keeping his distance from me.
- I silently offered a prayer to the moon goddess,hoping for survival on this day when I was granted a second chance at life.