Three

~Adinah~

The encounter with the Lycan King still lingered in my mind when a sudden force pulled me to the side. I found myself facing the wrath of Jeremy, his eyes ablaze with anger.

"Babe, what the hell was that?!" he roared, his voice echoing through the corridor.

The intensity of his anger was evident, but I couldn't let it shake me. Not this time. I took a deep breath, steadying myself, before meeting his gaze. "Jer, calm down. We can't afford a scene here."

"Calm down?" he scoffed, a cruel grin forming. "After you left me standing there like a fool, Explain yourself."

His anger washed over me like a wave, but I refused to be swept away. "I didn't choose this, baby. My father arranged the marriage. I had no say in it."

He glared at me, his nostrils flaring. "And you just go along with it? After everything we've been through?"

My fists clenched, but I couldn't let my emotions betray me. "I wanted to be with you. But my father ambushed me with this arrangement. I had no choice."

His eyes narrowed, studying my face for any sign of deceit. "Your father, huh?"

I nodded, weaving a web of lies. "He threatened me. I wanted to go with you, but he forced me into this."

His anger shifted, and the focus is now on my father. "That bastard! I knew he never liked me."

"He's trying to control my life," I lied, my voice strained. "But I won't let him. I need your help to break free from this."

A twisted satisfaction flickered in Jeremy's eyes. "So, you still want to be with me?"

"Yes, more than anything," I assured him, suppressing the disgust building within me. "But we need to be smart about this. I'll handle my father; you just have to trust me."

His gaze softened, and for a moment, I wondered if he was capable of trust. "I've been waiting for you to come to your senses, Dinah. I knew you couldn't stay away."

I forced a smile, playing my part in this twisted game. "I'll fix everything, my love. Just give me some time."

He nodded, a sense of satisfaction evident on his face. "Make it quick, babe. I won't wait forever."

I thought so.

As he walked away, leaving me standing alone in the corridor, a wave of disgust and regret washed over me. The game with Jeremy was treacherous, but I knew I had to play it carefully. My revenge was a puzzle, and I needed to piece together the right moves.

The first step was to expose Sienna and Jeremy's betrayal. I discreetly tried to have them followed, but my mind raced, contemplating the best way to catch them in the act. Little did I know, while weaving this plan, my father called me over.

In his office, the air hung heavy with a peculiar solemnity. He looked at me with an odd mix of gratitude and pride. "My Luna, you've done the right thing," he said, his tone laden with approval.

His words echoed in my ears. The right thing? Was it right to sacrifice my own happiness—my chance at revenge—just to please him? I pushed aside my internal turmoil and forced a smile. "Thank you, Dad. I just want what's best for the pack."

He nodded, his expression becoming more serious. "That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. The Lycan King has declared he's leaving. The tension between werewolves and lycans is too much for him to bear, and he believes it's time for him to go."

Panic surged within me, a storm threatening to consume my carefully crafted plans. "Leaving? But... I thought we were supposed to strengthen the alliance. Why now?"

My father's gaze softened, and he placed a hand on mine. "Our relationship with Lycans has always been strained. The King's departure is inevitable, and we need to accept it. You, too, should be prepared to move on."

Move on?

"Pack your bags. The car is waiting for you outside," he instructed, unaware of the internal turmoil he had ignited.

“Alright, father.”

My bags were hastily packed by the maids, and I was thrust into a car, the engine humming with anticipation. The car idled for what felt like an eternity, my anxiety building with each passing moment. The door swung open, and a figure stepped in, making my heart race faster.

The fact that we were friends didn't make him share the same shock. Instead, a cold indifference settled over his features. "Adinah," he acknowledged, his voice devoid of warmth.

"King Killian," I replied, my mind racing to comprehend the unexpected twist in my fate.

He took a seat, his eyes avoiding mine. "Let's get one thing straight. I will never love you, so don't expect it."

I felt numb when I heard the declaration, as well as a mix of relief and disappointment. My plan of retaliation hung barely, and there was nothing I could do to stop it from falling.

My father's power over me, my chance for revenge, and the distance between me and the pack all grew as the car drove away. However, the bitter truth of an unwanted partner persisted, and I found myself in a future where finding love and getting even seemed equally elusive.

“Tell him the same thing back; we are not here to love.” Dera stated.

I couldn't help it. A burst of laughter escaped me, echoing in the confined space of the car. The absurdity of my situation, the unexpected twist of fate, and the irony of it all struck me like a cruel joke.

"You find this amusing?" King Killian's voice cut through my laughter, his eyes narrowing in confusion.

I took a moment to compose myself, wiping away a stray tear from the corner of my eye. "Sorry, it's just... This whole situation is a bit surreal, don't you think?"

He remained stoic, unmoved by my amusement. "Surreal or not, we have to deal with it. What do you want?"

His straightforward question lingered in the air. What did I want? The car rolled on, and I looked out of the window, contemplating my answer. Love? Companionship? No, those were never on my list.

"I don't want love, commitment, or any of those romantic ideals," I said, meeting his gaze. "What I want is revenge."

His eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "Revenge? Against whom?"

I sighed, deciding to unravel the web of deceit that bound me. "Against those who wronged me—those who betrayed me."