Chapter 73 073

Chapter 73 073
LYKA

I looked around the hallway, my gaze sweeping slowly across the space, and what I saw made my chest tighten.
The maids.
They were whispering.
Pointing.
At me.
Their fingers weren’t even subtle about it, their eyes filled with open disdain as if I had suddenly become something vile in their midst. Their murmurs blended into a low hum, but even without hearing every word, I could already tell that whatever rumor had spread about me… it was far worse than I had initially imagined.
A chill ran down my spine.
What was going to happen if people actually acted on it?
The thought alone made my stomach twist uneasily.
I couldn’t believe that someone would go this far... targeting me, spreading malicious lies, turning the entire pack against me in such a short time. It was calculated. Intentional. Cruel.
‘But who could it be? This kind of rumor could be dangerous, and the other pack members could be affected as well,’ Elysia purred within me, her voice low but sharp with awareness.
I clenched my jaw.
She wasn’t wrong.
If this continued, it wouldn’t just stop at me. My pack... my people... could get dragged into this mess too. And judging by the way the maids were already acting... rude, hostile, almost eager for conflict... it was clear that the damage had already begun.
“If I truly want to know who is busy spreading these lies, then I don’t think there is any reason why I shouldn’t confront that person,” I muttered to myself, my voice laced with quiet determination.
Enough was enough.
I wasn’t going to stand here and let people tear me apart without knowing why.
Without another glance at the maids, I turned on my heel and walked out of the hallway, ignoring their piercing glares that followed me like shadows. Each step I took felt heavier, fueled by anger, suspicion, and something darker simmering beneath the surface.
I knew exactly where I was going.
And this time, I wasn’t going to hold back.
Moments later, I stood in front of her door.
Zuri’s room.
I paused for only a second, my senses sharpening as I listened carefully. The steady rhythm of heartbeats echoed faintly from within the room, confirming her presence.
A dangerous smirk curled onto my lips.
Without bothering to knock... without caring about etiquette or boundaries... I shoved the door open with force, the loud bang echoing through the room as it slammed against the wall.
“What is going on? How dare you storm into this place without reserve, and... ” the maid inside began, rushing toward me in outrage.
But I didn’t even spare her a glance.
My focus was locked elsewhere.
“Are you the one?” I asked coldly, my voice cutting through the room like a blade.
I saw Zuri’s eyebrow arch in surprise as her gaze landed on me, but I didn’t care about her composure or whatever act she was trying to maintain. Without hesitation, I strode further into the room, shoving her maid aside as if she were nothing more than an obstacle.
I wasn’t here for politeness.
I wasn’t here for pretense.
“What are you doing in my room?” Zuri asked, her tone laced with irritation.
A hiss escaped my lips.
Wrong question.
“Wrong question,” I snapped, my eyes narrowing dangerously. “You should be asking yourself what kind of crazy thing you’ve done.”
Her expression darkened instantly, anger flashing across her features as she charged toward me.
But I was faster.
I sidestepped her attack effortlessly, watching as her momentum betrayed her. She stumbled forward, losing her balance completely before crashing down onto the floor.
“Ouch!” she cried out, wincing as she looked down at her hands.
I didn’t even blink.
I simply turned to face her, my gaze cold and unyielding as she remained sprawled on the ground.
“What crazy thing have you done, Zuri?” I demanded, my voice rising with fury. “How dare you ask the maids to spread rumors about me!”
She scoffed, clearly unbothered despite her position.
“Are you crazy?” she shot back, pushing herself up slightly. “You can’t just call it a lie because it’s being talked about. Just because something is being said doesn’t mean it isn’t the truth.”
Her words made my brows furrow.
What nonsense was she spewing?
“So you’re saying my pack is being labeled as traitors for attacking yours… and that it’s the truth?” I asked, my tone sharp, each word deliberate.
She nodded without hesitation.
“Yes. That’s exactly it,” she replied coolly. “And even if Derrick has been trying to be lenient with you, I don’t see why I should. Why should I bother being lenient when you... ”
Before she could finish, I lashed out.
The vase on the table beside me went crashing to the ground as I struck it off with a single motion, the shattering sound silencing her instantly.
The tension in the room thickened.
“I know you’re nothing but an empty vessel that only knows how to brag,” I said coldly, stepping closer to her. “So I’m going to ask you something simple... who sent you? Who told you to target me?”
For a brief moment, I hoped... truly hoped... that I was wrong.
That she wasn’t acting under someone else’s influence.
That this wasn’t part of something bigger.
But the look in her eyes told me everything.
“Are you this smart because you’ve tasted death?” she mocked with a smirk. “I mean, you’re good… but I don’t see the point in wasting more words with you.”
She paused briefly before delivering the answer.
“It’s Morgan.”
The name hit me like a quiet explosion.
So it was true.
I knew it.
I couldn’t believe that the girl who had just returned was already stretching her influence this far, pulling strings behind the scenes, stirring chaos as if it were second nature.
But then again…
Who was I to blame?
“What do you mean, Morgan?” I pressed, my voice tight.
Zuri shrugged carelessly.
“I don’t know,” she replied dismissively. “But you should know I already don’t like you, so ruining someone like you isn’t exactly a problem for me.”
My fists clenched at her words.
This wasn’t just about me anymore.
If things escalated, my pack members would suffer too.
And I wouldn’t allow that.
“I don’t care what you or your people want,” I said firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument. “But I suggest you stop these rumors. We don’t want this to get any messier than it already is.”
Zuri only smirked, completely unfazed.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you,” she said lazily, “but that’s not going to happen.”
My eyes darkened.
“So you’re saying you’re going to keep messing with me?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous.
She chuckled, clearly amused.
“Yes,” she replied without hesitation. “Just as you heard. I’m going to make sure you suffer for it.”
A scoff left my lips.
Who did she think she was?
Threatening me?
That was her first mistake.
“Really?” I said, stepping closer to her, my presence looming. “Then I don’t think you should be this smug. Because I’m exactly the kind of person your mother must have warned you about.”
Her expression flickered slightly.
“I’m not lenient with anyone,” I continued, my voice dropping into something colder, darker. “And I’ll make sure you regret ever doing this.”
For the first time, I saw it.
A flicker of unease in her eyes.
“What can you even do?” she challenged, though her voice lacked the same confidence as before.
I moved closer, closing the distance between us until I was right in front of her. Close enough for my breath to brush against her ear.
Close enough for her to feel the weight of my words.
“I’m going to make sure that whenever you see water on your runway…” I whispered slowly, deliberately, “…it becomes the very thing you fear the most.”
I didn’t say the rest aloud.
But I didn’t need to.
The way her body stiffened told me everything.
She had read my lips.
“Y-you demon!” she stammered, her voice rising with panic. “What kind of crazy thing are you planning to do?!”
I straightened, shrugging lightly as if her fear meant nothing.
“You’re going to hell!” she shouted, her voice trembling now. “If you do whatever you’re thinking... you’re going to hell!”
I almost smiled.
I never knew it would be this easy to shake her.
“Maybe you’re right,” I said calmly, tilting my head slightly. “Maybe I am going to hell.”
I paused, letting the silence stretch just enough to make her uneasy.
“But do you want to know the good part?” I added softly.
She glared at me, her expression filled with resentment.
“What?”
A slow, dangerous smile spread across my lips.
“You’re coming with me,” I said.
My grip tightened briefly before I shoved her hands away from me and turned toward the door.
“And we’re going to have a blast together.”
Without another word, I stormed out of the room, leaving behind the heavy tension and her shaken expression.
As I walked away, one thought echoed clearly in my mind.
Cold.
Final.
I wasn’t going to be the victim in this story.
I was going to be the reckoning.
The grim reaper that dragged them all to hell.