Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Flash back

Author's POV

Tyler stared back at Marcella in shock at the difficult circle her words created. "No, no it can't be." He shook his head, running his hand through his hair in frustration.

"After searching all this time," he muttered under his breath. "It is unacceptable."

Marcella looked back at him, watching the change in his expression as she bowed her head, recalling all that she had to endure just because people thought she was the goddess reincarnation.

"Until the truth," she said, her voice little more than a whisper, "I had no powers of the goddess. I lost my powers some months ago."

Tyler let out a loud sigh and sat on a chair, holding his head in defeat. "Damn it," he cursed under his breath. "Is there really no other way?" he asked.

Marcella was almost moved by his sincerity. He didn't sound like the rest of the men who just wanted her power for the fun of it. She knew that even though he looked harmless now, that was in seconds. She wasn't safe as long as he captured her with the intention of getting her powers.

"But he saved her," another voice in her head said, making her turn away from the handsome man, wondering what he really wanted to do with her now.

Tyler stood up and paced around, trying to figure out the next course of action. "Well, this is bizarre," he said to himself.

He stopped in front of the books that were open on the table. Reading through a few of the last pages, he knew he did everything just right. He kept on thinking, wondering why fate decided to play a prank on him.

After watching her for a while, he finally turned around to face Marcella. "Once I had heard your personal story, it wasn't really the most interesting. The target is actually as she constantly tried to run away from people who wanted to kill her, and at that point, the gift of the moon goddess looked more like a curse than ever."

Tyler continued walking towards Marcella. He stopped in front of her. "You stopped a while ago, settled down in a house with civilians with the Betters family of the Blue Ray Park. What was that?" he asked.

He was there, mere inches from Marcella as he crouched down on one knee, making his face level with hers. Marcella found herself unable to look away from his searching gaze. It was like he was seeing straight through her soul. Never had she seen a man so restrained yet beautiful, so incredibly dangerous at the same time.

"I... I was tired of running," she started, not even able to believe herself.

"Is that so?" Tyler asked, leaning closer, brushing his fingers across her cheek and tucking a stray hair behind her ear.

"Yes."

"Don't lie to me," he whispered.

Marcella tried to look away from his gaze, but found she couldn't. It was like he had some hypnotizing power, more like muscular charm. She blinked twice, trying to break free from whatever spell he was casting—if he was casting a spell in the first place.

"Please, what do you want with me?" she asked.

Tyler stopped as he sensed the fear in her eyes. Now wasn't the time to get close to her, he thought. Eventually, he would get the answers that he wanted, but first, he had to build a relationship based on trust.

"It's fine," he said, standing and withdrawing from her. "You can use this room for today," he offered, glancing across the room where his books were scattered on the table.

"You don't have to send me on my way," she said, standing up immediately.

"And send you off to certain death?" Tyler repeated, his eyebrows raising in question. "I'm sure you don't really mean that. You might have managed to convince me that you lost your powers as the goddess reincarnation, but I don't think people will be ready to believe that, or stick around long enough for you to tell them," he said plainly, making his point known.

"Step out of my manor and you'll be instantly recaptured. This time, I'm not sure you'll be able to survive it," he added.

Marcella looked down, knowing that he was right. She was trapped here, her life depending solely on his goodwill.

"Your safety," Tyler added, his gaze softening. He was sure that she didn't ask for this type of life, to be constantly on the run for powers that she didn't ask for. It was sad that she had spent all these years, maybe part of a lifetime, trying to hide from people that would kill her just because of what she possessed.

When he looked at her again, he didn't see someone who would willingly sacrifice herself for the greater good. He saw a little girl scared to death and deep down searching for anybody who could save her from the rest of the world.

Tyler felt something in him shift, like his heart going out to her.

"I better be going now," she said.

"I'll send in a maid to arrange the room and make it comfortable for you," he said, hurrying to the door. Closing it behind him, he leaned against it for a brief second, letting out a long sigh along with all the pent-up emotions that he felt.

He couldn't risk getting attached now, not after what happened the first time. His mind was a mess, and so was his heart, and after losing his powers, Tyler knew that he needed to be focused on trying to get them back.

"It can't happen," he said to himself, walking away from the room. He was going to use one of the spare rooms tonight and then maybe distance himself from the girl, Marcella.

As he headed over to the training ground to get his thoughts better, Diego approached him from the side.

"You've been absent," he said, but Tyler raised a hand, silencing him, not ready to deal with the politics matter right now.

"I heard you were down in the dungeons," Diego continued, not going to be silenced with a hand. "You've been acting in secret."

Finally, Tyler stopped walking and turned to face Diego, his eyes darkening. "If you have a problem, spit it out," he said curtly.

"Are you going to tell me about the lady hidden off in your room?" Diego asked, his expression neutral, but the darkness within his eyes was visible.

Tyler glared at him. He didn't expect Diego to understand, definitely not his better. "I don't recall that being any of your concerns," he said. After all, he couldn't exactly say that he wanted to use her for his sacrifice because then he would have to explain about how he lost his powers, and that wasn't a conversation he was ever going to be ready for.

"You might be making a mistake. She might be a spy," Diego argued, his eyes narrowed. "I'm just trying to look out for you."

"Thanks, but no thanks. Trust me, I'm fine," Tyler said, waving his hand, trying to play off the latter's concerns. "I'm always fine," he added.

Diego didn't look convinced, but obviously there was nothing that he could do to make him think otherwise. Tyler's mind was already made up.

"Your way then," Diego said finally, his shoulders slacking.

"Good," Tyler nodded to himself. Now he just had to wait and review his research here to locate the new goddess reincarnation, but he also had a feeling that Marcella would know exactly who the person was. That was why he was going to keep her, find a use for her, and slowly gain her trust. His plan would be delayed, but he'd get there eventually, Tyler thought, his fist clenched in determination.

Later that night, he spent his time gathering all the information he could find on Marcella. He had a last name, so things were easier. Bent over his laptop, Tyler made good use of his time, finding something that would be able to work for her.

After hours of searching, his eyes finally landed on something. Deep down, he wondered why getting information on a random citizen of the wolf pack would be so stressful. It was like she was intentionally trying to erase all traces.

"A degree in medicine," he read, a smirk forming on his face. "Bullseye," Tyler muttered.

So it was perfect. Now she would be his personal doctor, and they were bound to get close eventually. He'd be able to get the information out of her, and that was the best way to create some sense of mutual trust between them. But of course, he had to make sure that she wasn't poisoning him or trying to kill him.

He knew one thing for sure: this was an offer that she wouldn't be able to resist. It wasn't like she had much of a choice anyway—the other option was instant death.