Chapter 25 025
~LYKA~
My brain struggled to process everything happening at once. The room felt too small, my chest too tight, and my thoughts came crashing into each other like waves during a storm. Nothing made sense anymore....nothing felt stable.
But one thing cut through the confusion like a blade.
I wasn’t seducing my mate.
I wasn’t facing Derrick.
I was facing someone else entirely.
“I....I have to go… I got....” I tried to say, my voice trembling as I took a step back, but before the words could fully leave my mouth, his hand shot out and clamped around my neck.
A sharp gasp tore from my throat.
My feet barely touched the floor as he lifted me slightly, his grip tightening just enough to remind me that he could crush my windpipe if he wanted to. My hands flew to his wrist, my nails digging into his skin as I struggled to breathe.
His eyes bored into mine, dark and unsettling, filled with something twisted....curiosity mixed with cruel amusement.
“You are quite an interesting girl,” he murmured calmly, as if he wasn’t choking the life out of me. “Far more interesting than the first girl.”
My eyes burned instantly.
The first girl?
My heart skipped painfully, and dread pooled in my stomach.
The former Luna.
Before I could ask, before I could even think clearly, he tilted his head slightly, watching my expression like he was savoring every flicker of fear.
“Are you not curious?” he continued softly. “You’ve just witnessed something fascinating, yet you’re not asking questions. That saddens me.”
Rage flared through the panic.
With a surge of desperation, I slammed my palm against his chest and twisted my body, slipping from his hold as my feet hit the ground. I didn’t think....I ran.
But I didn’t make it far.
His hand caught my arm, and in the next second, my body was airborne.
“Ahh!” I cried out as I was thrown violently across the room, my back slamming into the door. Pain exploded through my spine, knocking the breath from my lungs. I slid down helplessly, my limbs shaking.
My vision blurred, but I forced myself to move.
I couldn’t die like this.
Not here.
Not without Derrick knowing.
I pushed myself up just as he advanced toward me again, his movements unhurried, almost lazy....as if he knew I posed no threat. I lunged at him with all the strength I had left, claws threatening to come out despite my restraint.
He dodged effortlessly.
In a blink, I was grabbed and thrown again, my body crashing into the far side of the room.
I hit the floor hard.
“That monster…” I whispered hoarsely, pain radiating through my ribs. “Why is he doing this?”
My chest heaved as panic tightened its grip. I could feel my strength draining rapidly. Elysia stirred weakly inside me, her power fading along with mine.
She couldn’t help me like this.
And shifting wasn’t an option.
If I shifted, the guards would rush in, and I wouldn’t be able to explain why I was attacking the Alpha....or why the Alpha had turned into something else entirely.
I scrambled away from him, crawling across the floor, desperate to hide. My breaths came in short, broken gasps as my muscles screamed in protest.
“Oh, sweet mate,” his voice echoed through the room, playful and mocking. He whistled softly.
“Where are you hiding?”
My stomach twisted violently.
He could smell me.
Hiding was pointless.
Why weren’t the guards coming? Had no one heard the destruction? The crashing? My screams?
“And here you are!” he exclaimed brightly.
I looked up, my heart sinking as my gaze met those dark, merciless eyes. Fear crawled down my spine, chilling me to the bone.
“Why are you doing this?” I pleaded, my voice shaking despite my effort to sound strong. “Why are you making everything so hard? Isn’t it enough already? Don’t you think it’s time you came out?”
I was calling out to Derrick.
Begging him to take control.
Hope shattered instantly.
His hand tangled in my hair, yanking my head back sharply. A cry escaped my lips as pain exploded across my scalp, tears finally spilling from my eyes.
His strength was terrifying.
It felt endless.
Did he even feel exhaustion?
“Why aren’t you begging me for your life?” he asked softly, dangerously calm. “If you beg now, I might spare you.”
Disgust burned through my fear.
My gaze flickered to the side....and landed on a flower vase sitting on a nearby table.
An idea sparked.
“You want me to beg?” I spat, forcing strength into my voice. “You’re just a coward hiding inside another man’s body. I will never beg a coward for my life.”
His eyes darkened instantly.
Before he could react, I slammed my knee upward, striking his groin with everything I had.
He grunted in pain.
I grabbed the vase and swung.
It shattered against his head.
“Ahhh!” he roared, staggering backward.
His voice....
It sounded weaker.
Different.
I reached for another object, ready to strike again....but a voice stopped me.
“Stop! That’s enough....don’t kill me!”
I froze.
That voice…
I turned slowly.
“Derrick?” I whispered. “Is that you? Are you back?”
He stared at me with wide eyes filled with fear.
Fear of me.
No....fear that I had seen something I shouldn’t have.
“You....you....” he stammered.
I didn’t let him finish.
I rushed to him, steadying his unbalanced form and guiding him toward the bed. I didn’t know why I was doing it. I should have been angry. Terrified.
But instead, all I felt was the need to protect him.
To shield his secret.
“Are you thirsty?” I asked quietly. “Do you need water?”
He didn’t respond.
I leaned closer, carefully touching his head where I had struck him....but his eyes snapped open instantly, and I jumped back in alarm.
Then I saw it.
It was him.
Really him.
“You scared me,” I whispered, exhaling shakily as I moved closer again.
His eyes searched my face, disbelief etched into his features.
“Why are you still here?” he snapped. “Why didn’t you leave?”
I glanced around the room....the shattered furniture, broken glass, overturned tables.
That presence had done all of this.
Guilt flickered across his face.
“Really?” I asked softly. “You wanted me to leave?”
He fell silent.
I turned as if to walk away....but his hand shot out, gripping mine tightly.
“Don’t,” he said hoarsely. “Just… stay. Stay tonight.”
Before I could answer, he pulled me closer and crushed his lips against mine.
I gasped softly.
My lips were bruised. My body ached. My heart was still racing.
But this time, the kiss didn’t repulse me.
It was warm.
Familiar.
Safe.
And for the first time since the nightmare began, I felt something dangerously close to peace.