"NO"
Lila's eyes widened. She snapped her head to look at Severino. She did not care anymore. Whether Severino would kill her from looking or spare her, she would still look at him. She wanted to see the truth. She wanted to see on his face the validity of those words.
But seconds had passed, yet she had not heard a word or two of denial or repulsion she would usually hear from him.
Severino did not deny it.
"Why?" she asked. Her eyes started moistening. All those years of waiting--- patiently waiting for his acceptance---
In the end, Severino chose someone he barely knew!
Her effort was nothing! It was nothing in the eyes of the man she loved!
"I waited for you! I rejected all men who attempted to become my mate! I even killed for you! Those women you dislike, those men who undermined your name, I killed them!" she shouted, tears started pouring out of her eyes. Then, she added when Severino refused to speak with her, "All things you wanted, I gave them to you. I do not seek your love. I just wanted to be your companion for a lifetime. That was enough. Yet, why? All the efforts I made. Why do you still not see me?"
Finally, Severino looked at her and said indifferently, "You are weak."
Something snapped inside Lila's soul.
Weak?
She was weak, he said.
Suddenly, all blood rushed into Lila's head, and without warning, she shifted into a werewolf. Then, after a long howl, she went to Alinta's room.
---
Alinta Devereaux
Kill.
All I wanted was to kill. My nerves were trembling as I stopped myself from acting out my thoughts.
I should not kill.
I should not let myself be tempted!
I am a dark witch with the blood of the white witch clan. I could not let myself fall into darkness. Otherwise, I might suddenly lose control of myself--- my power!
I could not!
But fucking hell!
I want to tear him into pieces! I want him dead!
I want to see his body lying on the ground with his head detached from his body!
Oh, how much I hated him right now!
Severino Di Stefano, was it?
Should I curse him instead?
Should I let him taste pain--- endless pain until he asks for death?
But he was a powerful being, someone who could match my grandma. How am I, neither a white nor a dark witch, to kill someone like that?
I stood up and started pacing back and forth inside the room.
The bite on my neck was throbbing, but the pain was no longer there. Though, I felt something forming on my neck a while ago. It must be the mark of being mated.
Thinking about such a horrible thing, my fury that I barely lowered down came high again!
Gritting my teeth and palming my face, I finally decided to run away!
Go to hell, werewolves!
They can all die for all I care!
The plague could kill the fucking Severino. So, why should I dirty my hands for the likes of him?
It was not worth it!
Unfortunately, a big white furry wolf entered my room before I could even leave. Of course, not after the wolf destroyed it.
"Lila," I muttered coldly. The stupid growling wolf with saliva flowing from her mouth was the shrew. I could not help but sneer. "Let me guess," I said, "You came here to kill me, right?"
Having her companion for almost a day was enough for me to understand how crazy she was for the man who had just forcefully mated me.
Lila growled. And without warning, she lunged in my direction, which I swiftly avoided.
Moving to the side, two metres away from the furry wolf, I could finally see her golden streaks.
A grin unconsciously formed on my face.
Seven.
Seven golden streaks!
Hah!
The shrew was quite powerful!
I would be lying if I said I was not surprised.
I was surprised as heck!
Unfortunately, no matter how strong Lila was, she was not a match for me!
Thinking of not wasting any more time, I changed into my actual form. White and black streaks of hair joined my bloody hair. My eyes turned grey, with two red dots in the middle. And to fit my clothes to my appearance, I also changed my outfit. I wore a red dress snuggling my body and a black robe hanging on my shoulder.
I raised my hand, and an abundant amount of energy instantly surrounded the place. What I appreciate the most in this world is the bountiful energy it could offer for a witch. No wonder, despite looking like weaklings, there was one who could create a curse capable of wiping out an entire bloodline.
Moving forward, Lila started howling in pain. There was no fire, but the heat could torment someone alive.
She started struggling to breathe air.
Clawing, moving her big body around, and choking her neck, Lila almost did every action to breathe.
"Lila!"
I glanced over my shoulder to see who the heck shouted. Then, there, before the rubbles, stood the gang of werewolves. And the one who just cried out Lila's name was Elder Kirin.
I scoffed.
"Elder Kirin, I thought I was your only hope for the realm's safety. Then, why am I treated like garbage, and someone even tried killing me."
Slowly, I started closing my hand. And Lila began huffing. A little bit, and she will be close to death.
"Stop it!" said Elder Kirin, "No matter what offence Lila has done, I will compensate for it tenfold!"
I raised a brow. Then, I gave Severino a look. He was standing behind the group, observing my every move. And surprisingly, I could tell that he was amused and proud. Regardless of his emotionless face, I could point out that he was indeed feeling good.
I scowled before looking back at the elder.
"Then, kill Severino," I suggested. But I doubt he would do it. He was not rushing to me, offending me more, not because I could save the realm. Instead, he was afraid of Severino's retaliation once I got harmed. As that man's mate, how could he let me into danger?
The elder went still.
So, I encouraged him more.
"Come on, elder. Kill him. Otherwise," I trailed and gestured to where Lila was, "she would die."
To make it more like I was not kidding, I decreased the amount of oxygen the shrew could get.
"No matter how angry you are, Severino is already your mate! How could you let him die?"
I smiled.
"Of course, I know that," I remarked, "That is why I was asking the elder to do it on my behalf."
The instant the mark on my neck formed, I understood that the bond had also developed. Now that my mind was cleared, I could already think well.
"So, elder. Hurry up! My patience is running out. Especially now that I am eager to kill someone!"
---
WHEN EVERYONE THOUGHT that Lila was about to die (myself included), I retracted my energy, slumping her down to the ground. Immediately, she shifted back to her original form.
I could not help but raise a brow when I saw her still in her clothes.
How magical.
I thought once she was back to her original form, she would be slumped on the ground, naked.
Then, again, although this was the world of the beast, all women were witches. It was understandable that all beings could use a spell, no matter if it was just a minor one.
“Alright,” I said. Then, they all looked at me, not exactly understanding why I was saying such a word.
Well, I was having a hard time understanding myself, either.
“I will compromise.”
The look on their face became vigilant.
I raised my hands and smiled to assure them of my word. “I do not think I will win against all of you, anyway.”
“I won’t fight you. Count me out,” the blond guy cut off.
Funny guy, encouraging me to fly into a rage.
“Is that true?” Elder Kirin asked while frowning.
I nodded.
“You have one of a heck of a mood there, milady,” said the man who had the aura of a gamma.
“My people said so,” I replied, “My mother’s training did not come to nought.”
“Your mother trained you to become moody?” asked the gamma.
“You can say that,” I answered before looking into Severino’s eyes, “you are now my mate. Since your looks are passable, and I am not a match against your strength, I will compromise.”
Just as Elder Kirin was about to heave a sigh of relief, I added---
“But I won’t help you with your plague anymore.”
“Not a chance! We have already talked about it!”
I raised a brow to the elder. Sneering, I replied, “I was treated like this, yet you want me to work with you. For what? For nothing. You have nothing. Unless you have something valuable in your hands that can change my mind, I might compromise again. Until then, you will gain nothing from me.”
“What is it that you want?” Elder Kirin asked, somewhat forceful, “Tell me, and I will give it to you this instant!”
“I have not thought of anything yet. It was the reason I did not give you an answer right away. But I do not want your blank edict anymore. I would rather see all of you die gradually.”
I raised a foot and began walking towards Severino. When I reached his side, I stopped and said, “Shall we go?”
Severino looked at me with his left brow raised and said, “Amusing. You are truly taking this well. Not precisely the way I was expecting.”
I smiled. “I will show you more surprises in the future. I hope you are looking forward to it. So, shall we?” I said, gesturing for the way out.
“Milady, you won’t ask about the Dark Region Pack’s gamma?” Severino’s gamma asked.
“He is dead. What is there for me to ask about? Rather,” I paused and said to the man, “bring his body back to the Dark Regions. I am certain they are looking forward to his arrival.”
Right after I said those words, I left the premises.
My anger has not yet receded. But I do not want to succumb to darkness.
I might stay here longer than expected. However, my age is eternal. There might be a time when I could finally return to the Hex Kingdom. Once that happened, whether Nieva was acting as the queen, the crown would still be passed on to me.
My coronation was not only based on my birthright but also a way of showing that the white and dark witches were now united.
Nieva was a pure white witch. She could not represent the unity of both clans.
I could.
But...
Once I killed someone, I would finally become the pure dark witch my grandma had been hoping for.
If I became a dark witch, I would no longer have the right to inherit the throne. The kingdom was composed of white witches. Even if they did not care about my roots, they would still complain and rebel if a pure dark witch sat on the throne.
Things would not be that complicated if grandma did not vanish out of thin air. As the most powerful witch, equal to my father, the Hex Kingdom would not dare rebel even if I turned into a dark witch.
I sighed.
But then, again, there was also a possibility that I would never return. That was why I compromised. Since the mark had already formed, and our bond would get stronger sooner or later, I might just as well compromise for my sanity.
I looked at the sky as soon as I got out. The sun was blinding, but my mood was quite heavy.
It took almost five minutes before the Blood Clad pack left the mountain.
Three pack warriors, who I had not seen a while ago, suddenly emerged out of nowhere.
I looked at Severino. Looking at his face, regardless of whether I already succumb to fate, I still could not show him a smile, even if it was sarcastic.
“Your beta and gamma,” I said, looking at the two, “I do not know their names yet. As their luna, I presume, I have the right to know, right?”
Otherwise, I would call them based on their eye colour. Speaking of which, the blond guy, I have yet to know his name. If given the opportunity, I would ask about it.
Severino glanced at the two. And they immediately complied.
“Cross Di Stefano at your service, milady,” said the gamma, bowing his head like a gentleman.
“Parviz,” the beta merely said. His tone was rough, and he was glaring at me.
Oh, this one hated me. Then...
“Where is Lance’s body?”
Severino did not answer, so I continued, “Let the beta transport his body back to the Dark Regions.”
“Who do you think you are, giving me orders?!” he barked.
My brow furrowed immediately. He didn’t know who I was, did he? So, allow me to introduce myself. But first, let me show them the mark on my neck. “I am your luna,” I said, tilting my neck to the side, showing them the imprint of their alpha. "And my name is Alinta. Remember that. I hate repeating myself. I tend to get crazy if I do. So, now, shall you go and transport the body? And please, do not forget to convey my words to them. Tell them, I am well. And I hope they will not appear in front of me again. I do not condone betrayal.”
"Hah! I am the beta! My role in this pack---"
"Just a beta, yet you dare shout at your luna," I said, cutting him off. Then, I sighed as I gave Severino a look, "I believe being a luna in your pack means the highest, second only to you, right? But the beta thinks he has all the power---"
"Bull!"
"---So, please enlighten me. Don't I have the right to order him around? If so, then I am terribly sorry. I never knew that the role of a luna is the lowest of the low and that even a beta could raise his voice at me."
Severino remained emotionless.
How boring of him.
When I thought he would not say a word, he suddenly spoke, "Parviz, do what your luna told you to do."
In that instant, my face broke into a smile. Then, it turned into a smug as I looked at the seething beta.
He trembled from anger for a moment before bowing his head and leaving with his heart full of hatred towards me.