90

90
 Tiara’s Pov  

I had no intention of ruining anyone's life, but who's to say? Mine was going to be ruined. I didn't hesitate to draw out my blade and cut a part of Aria's body, drawing out blood into a small bottle. 

The liquid dripped into the small container I had it falling into and a smile crept onto my lips. There wasn't anything more entertaining or interesting than watching the supreme Luna getting tortured my me. I didn't even think I was going to be good at taking what I wanted until I knew I still had a few more days to get it. 

Her eyes rolled, not in mockery, but in pain. She couldn't even speak. It was such a wonder how she could easily get wasted even as she had so much power. 

"Please, stop this," she whispered, her voice trembling but still laced with determination. "You don’t have to do this, Tiara."  

I laughed, a bitter sound that echoed through the chamber. “You think you can talk me out of this? Do you really believe I care about your pleas?” I leaned in closer, my face inches from hers. “I want my powers back, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get them. Even if it means breaking you piece by piece.”  

I swirled the blood in the container, watching as it shinned unnaturally under the moonlight. “Your blood isn’t just any blood, Aria. It’s royal. Sacred. And it’s going to give me everything I need. Except it isn’t as strong as it should be”  

Aria struggled against her bindings, desperation flashing across her face. “You don’t have to hurt me,” she pleaded. “If it’s power you want, we can find another way. Just…”  

I silenced her with a sharp slap across the face, her head snapping to the side. “There is no other way!” I shouted, my voice cracking with emotion. “Do you think this is some negotiation? That I’ll sit down and have a civilized chat with you while Connor continues to take everything from me?”  

Her stunned silence gave me the moment I needed to gather myself. I paced around the room, clutching the container tightly in my hands.  

“This isn’t about you, Aria. This is about them,” I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. “The pack ruined me. They made me believe I had a place in his world, only to cast me aside like I was nothing. And now… now I’ll take everything from you all.”  

Aria’s voice was quiet, but firm. “Hurting me won’t fix what’s broken in you, Tiara. It’ll only make you more lost.”  

I spun around, my eyes blazing with fury. “I’m not lost!” I screamed. “I’m taking control of my life for the first time. And if that means draining you of every ounce of power, so be it.”  

Aria’s expression shifted, a flash of recognition crossing her face. “Why are you doing this, Tiara? What happened to you?”  

I paused, staring at her for a long moment. Then, almost involuntarily, the words spilled out of me.  

“I was born in your pack, how couldn't you even know that?” I said, my voice taunted, “I lived among your people, our people, Aria, played in the same fields, laughed under the same moon. But when my powers emerged, they turned on me. My own family cast me out, called me an abomination. How weren't you even aware? You didn't even recognize me! I did, the instant I saw you”  

Aria’s eyes widened, and I could see the pity pooling in them. I hated it.  

“You think I want your sympathy?” I spat. “I lived in exile for years, wandering from place to place, scraping by. And then I discovered a way to harness my powers, to make myself stronger, untouchable. But even that wasn’t enough. The moon goddess cursed me, tied my powers to this pitiful existence. Now, the only way to break free is through a bloody sacrifice which Connor has been getting in the way of. Now he has to pay the price.”  

I placed the container on the altar and began tracing symbols in the air with my fingers. The blood rose, forming crimson threads that wove through the air like a living web.  

“If I don’t get my powers back, the moon goddess wins,” I said, my voice trembling with anger. “She’ll keep me trapped in this half-life, unable to shift, unable to lead. But if I take your power or probably, Connor since he refused to step done from being Alpha, I’ll break free. I’ll shift whenever I please. I’ll rule, even better than being the Luna. Do you even know what that means? I'll need no one to help me, I wouldn't mind helping others though, and that with a price.”  

Aria shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “You’re letting hate consume you. This won’t end well for you, Tiara.”  

“Save your breath,” I said, rolling my eyes. “If Connor doesn’t come for you in 24 hours, I’ll drain you dry. Every drop of blood, every ounce of power. And I’ll finally be free. You should be thankful I'm giving an option here”  

Aria struggled harder against her bindings, her voice cracking as she screamed, “Connor will come for me! And when he does, you’ll regret everything you’ve done!”  

I laughed, a cold, hollow sound that echoed through the chamber. “Let him come,” I said. “I’ll be ready for him. And when he sees what I’ve done to you, he’ll finally understand what it feels like to lose everything.”  

I stepped closer to her, my voice softening. “Do you know what it feels like to be abandoned, Aria? To be cast aside like you don’t matter? Of course you don't”  

Aria’s eyes locked onto mine, her voice trembling. “I know pain, Tiara. I’ve lost people I loved. But I didn’t let it destroy me. You don’t have to let it destroy you either.”  

I stared at her, my chest tightening with a strange, unwelcome feeling. For a moment, I faltered, the weight of her words pressing down on me. But then I shook it off, anger surging back to the surface.  

“Enough of this,” I said, turning away from her. “You’re trying to manipulate me, just like everyone else. But it won’t work. I’ll have what I want, and there’s nothing you or Connor can do to stop me.”  

I tightened the bonds around her wrists and stepped back, admiring my work. The blood threads continued to weave through the air, pulsating with a dark, ominous energy.  

“This is your fate, Aria,” I said, my voice cold. “Accept it.”  

Aria’s voice cut through the air, steady and strong. “You’ll regret this, Tiara. Connor will come for me, and when he does, you’ll wish you’d listened to me.”  

I smirked, my confidence unwavering. “Let him try. You would know then now much I can absorb his stupidity and probably get him even more certified as a cripple.”