CHAPTER 001"Ugh..."Pain shot through her entire being as the cold metal chains bit into her wrists, suspending her in the dimly lit room. The scent of blood in the room—her blood—hit her nose. At this point, it was all she could breathe in.Her mind was slipping.It was slowly becoming dark, and she tried to focus on something, anything. But it didn't work; the pain overwhelmed her, gnawing ruthlessly at her consciousness.She couldn't remember how long she'd been locked up here—months, years? She had no idea. Being locked up here, time had lost all meaning to her.Step...Step...The sound of footsteps approaching made her tremble subconsciously. Who was that?She looked up in a panic, and her eyes met a pair curved in a smile. She shivered from the chill she felt from those blue eyes she had once thought were warm.Matteo."Lucia..." he called out gently as he walked up in front of her. She could see his perfectly styled hair, his expensive immaculate suit, and the smile that hung
CHAPTER 002"Lucia, he's your mate.....""... Marry me, Lucia...""Stay away from him.... I'll be jealous....""Dante, Matteo is my mate. He asked me to marry him....""....Why won't you come to the ceremony....""... what are you doing?!... where are you taking me?!.... help!...""... All you have to do is just beg...""Stop, let me go! Please.... stop....""...I'll see you in hell, Matteo...""Ahhh!"Lucia opened her eyes, jolting awake as she sat up. The first thing she felt was the sharp sting in her side, the very spot where she had driven the knife.For a moment, she was confused. She wasn’t dead?Her hand flew to the wound, expecting to find the sticky warmth of blood. But there was nothing. Her fingers brushed over smooth, unbroken skin. She bolted upright, her breath catching in her throat. How was this possible?Why wasn’t she dead? What happened?Her heart pounded as she tried to make sense of what was happening. She remembered the blade, the pain, the darkness closing in...
CHAPTER 003 "Have you seen her?""No. Its like she disappeared...."Lucia crouched in a corner, her back pressed against a rotting wodden wall as she tried to mask her scent. She had learnt this trying to hide from Matteo, but he'd eventually found her and out her in a bare room with chains so she couldn't hide away.Now, it had come to use.Two days. She had hidden here for two days, barely daring to breathe.Her so called ‘family’ were quite eager to find her. The Roselli guards had searched the area desperately trying to find her, as if she was some thief who had stolen a treasure. And the treasure, was her own blood.It was amusing how she had thought his care and protection had been because he loved her as a daughter. She knew now, the only reason he adopted her was to keep her blood for himself and profit from her.But that wasn't going to happen anymore.Soon, the area became quiet.She waited for the scents of the guards to fully disperse before standing up, her joints creaki
CHAPTER 004Dante stared at the figure sprawled on the forest floor, his sharp amber eyes studying them calmly.Before this person had fainted, they'd called his name. Did they recognize him or was it just a coincidence?He tried to look at them to see if he recognised this person. But with the amount of dirt staining their face, he couldn't really see any features. And, his question couldn't be answered now since they were unconscious.He glanced at Fenrir, his oversized wolf-dog who was now sitting at his side, curiously staring at the person on the floor, with no sense of guilt after making them unconscious.Dante sighed, scratching behind his ears. "Scaring people wasn't part of the job, bud."The dog let out a small while, his massive tail thumping against the floor.His gaze drifted back to the unconscious person. Their scent was weak, almost human, but not quite. A werewolf. He was sure of it, but the fragility of their wolf was quite surprising. Even half wolves didn't have s
CHAPTER 005 “Come on, Lucia. You ’re moving like a damn snail.”Lucia quickly ducked as a pinch nearly severed her head off. It did reach her shoulder though, and she winced in pain, pushed back a couple steps."Don't get cocky. I'm just warming up" She gasped as she ducked under another punch.Rhea stood in front of her, attacking without a single pause. But she still and the time to brush her dark hair to the side with a smirk."You’ve been warning up for two years, sweetie. Time to get a punch in."Lucia moved back, circling around as she thought about the best way to land a hit on Rhea. Then she saw a loophole, Boom!— she landed a punch on her jaw.Rhea groaned and then kicked her lips with an excited smile. "You hit me!""Of course I did. You've been hitting me!" Lucia protested.Before she finished her words, Rhea attacked again, this time with more force than before. Lucia found herself ducking and dodging her blows. In the entire pack, Rhea was the best at close combat. She co
CHAPTER 006Lucia shut up her coat tighter around her shoulders as the wind bit at her cheeks. There she was, staring at the busting square edge, a building that seemed imposing as if it got erected here. This was not what she had anticipated from Nero Orsini. It was not exactly a city of neon signs. There were no obvious signs of mafia doings. It was instead a simple, well-guarded warehouse, its tall gates shading the men who stood by, hands on their weapons.Lucia took a deep breath. This was it. There was no turning back now. Her hands trembled a little, but she jammed them deep into her pockets, wrapping large fingers half about the small dagger kept hidden. This precaution was taken just in case.Her boots crunching with the gravel, she went up to the gate. The guards noticed her, and one nudged the other. Men turned to her, their expressions unreadable.The random man grumbled, 'Who are you?'She hadn’t said it, had it? Her heart pounded in her chest, afraid she might have made a
CHAPTER 007The room pulsed with quiet efficiency; men and women in tailored suits, each with a reason to be there and clearly on purpose, circulated in and out of Nero’s expansive office. Near the window, Lucia stared at the streets below them. Her thoughts, like the city itself, never slumbered. She never made a decision or a move that didn't bring her closer to her revenge.“Lost in thought, Lucia?” Nero's voice broke through her reverie. Seated behind his desk, his sharp gray eyes studied her like a puzzle he hadn't yet solved.She forced a faint smile and turned. “Always. It keeps me focused.”Nero smiled and waved her in closer. ‘You’ve done good; you’ve earned trust and respect perhaps faster than I had thought.’ What’s on your mind today?”Her fingers brushed the hem of her jacket, and she hesitated. This was her chance. She couldn’t falter now. Her voice was steady but firm, but she began, ‘I’m going to need a favor.’Nero arched a brow. “A favor? That’s a bold request. Go on
CHAPTER 008Sophia paced back and forth in the dim room, her heels creating an unhappy snick on the polished floor. Her fingers clenched and unclenched at her sides, and every now and then she glanced toward the door as if she could allow Lucia to appear. It was hard having so much jealousy burning inside of her. It was all becoming too much.Lucia was everywhere. She had wormed her way into the Roselli family, into Matteo’s life, and now she was beginning to worm her way past all of Sophia’s defenses. The closeness between Lucia and Matteo wasn't just what bothered her. No, it was more profound than that; it gnawed at her whenever she saw them together. Lucia was too perfect, too calm, too composed. She hated Sophia being jealous; it made her feel small, smaller, and insignificant.She had to do something. She was going to have to stop Lucia before it was too late.The plan was simple. Expose her as a fraud. She will expose herself as merely exploiting Matteo to ascend the family hie
Chapter 184The moonlight barely broke through the dense clouds overhead, bathing the deserted courtyard in a pale glow. With his eyes sweeping the group in front of him, Eldrin stood in the middle, a commanding yet unsettling presence.Tension pervaded the air, and an unsaid uneasiness hung over them like a mist. Despite the preparation of Lucia, Nero, and their closest allies, the uneasiness in their eyes revealed their concern.Eldrin's icy, decisive voice broke the silence, "I've seen enough." His hands clenched at his sides, he took a step forward. There was an unavoidable weight to his words. Lucia squinted, her posture defensive. "Eldrin, what do you mean? We have already fought together and accomplished a tremendous deal. This—this isn't you.Eldrin's eyes shifted to her, but they were no longer warm or respectful. Eldrin's gaze had turned gloomier. Lucia, you are blind. All of you, including Nero, are playing like kids in the dark. You don't realise how ugly the truth is. W
Chapter 183Lucia stood looking around the ruins at the entrance to the ancient, dilapidated temple. Her lungs were filled with the subtle smell of old stone and the heavy dust. As if the walls themselves were speaking to her, she could almost hear the echoes of the past.The uncertainty weighed heavily on her chest, even though she had come here to find answers. But what if it was already too late? What if they'd already lost the artefact they were looking for?"Are we certain that this is the location?" As he stepped next to her, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, Nero's voice broke the stillness with doubtful words.Lucia looked at him, frowning. "We have no other option. There's a reason Dante left this behind. This artefact may be our only chance to defeat Kalyndria, Eldrin, and the others.Nero looked at her and said, "I know," his voice growing softer as his worry became apparent. "However, what if it's too risky? "What if this is just another trap?"Lucia bit her lip i
Chapter 182It was difficult for Lucia to breathe because of the oppressive darkness in her head, which felt like a heavy weight against her chest.This was different because she had been through a lot and fought battles that left her emotionally and physically exhausted.This seemed more profound and intimate. She was losing herself— losing control.Then she noticed a flicker, a glimmer of light, as though the world around her were momentarily withdrawing. "Lucia..."The sound was barely audible above the wind. However, it was recognisable. "Valeria?" The name came out incredulously as Lucia's voice broke.She spun around and looked around, but there was something there. In front of her was a figure that glowed dimly, like a moonlit ghost.It was Valeria—her soul, her gentle face— with an indisputable sadness.Valeria's voice echoed, "I'm still here," but this time it was in her head, as distinct as if she were standing next to her. "Lucia, I'll be here forever. when you require my
Chapter 181The once-bright glow that surrounded Lucia now flickered like a dim candle, fighting the cold, and her breath was shallow.Uncomfortably, she felt weak. Like sand through her fingers, the divine energy that had always flowed through her, steady and unwavering, was vanishing. Every step she took felt heavier than the one before it.How much time had passed since Kalyndria was first affected by her enchantment? Days, perhaps weeks, passed. However, time no longer mattered. It was this overwhelming sense of helplessness that consumed her with every breath.Before it was too late, she needed to figure out how to escape and get back on her feet.She stumbled into the old temple, its walls weathered and ancient yet eerily serene. Here, the quiet seemed different, as if it were awaiting an event for her to take action."What's causing my weakness?" With her hand leaning against the chilly stone wall for balance, Lucia pondered."Whatever became of me? Why am I unable to fight thi
Chapter 180Standing in the shadows of the celestial hall, Alessandro's eyes glowed with a darkness so dark that it was like a chill wind on the skin.They were assembling for another session of their never-ending bureaucracy, the gods who ruled supremely, who made the decisions for every realm.However, things weren't going as planned this time. He was determined to destroy everything this time.He was no longer simply Alessandro Stellini. He was no longer the same person who had once been lost, perplexed, and looking for purpose.He was so much more now. He had transformed into a more profound entity. This event has the potential to shake the sky to its core.He realised that now was the time, as he stood there observing the celestial council's gods. He would make his move at this point.The gods were certain that no one could challenge their authority because they were so sure of their own power. However, they were mistaken.The gods sat around the enormous table, one by one. There
Chapter 179With the horizon blazing with the first rays of dawn and the wind ripping at her hair, Lucia stood at the edge of the battle-scarred hill. The crimson-streaked sky appeared to be lamenting the losses of the previous few days.She could still hear Dante's final act of bravery and sacrifice. She could hear his voice, determined and firm, telling her to keep fighting. The thought of him made her heart ache, but she had no time to be sad. She needed to respect his legacy. It couldn't be a pointless sacrifice."Dante..." she murmured to the wind. "I'll ensure that your battle was worthwhile. I promise not to disappoint you.Her allies' well-known faces started to assemble around her as she spoke. Aidan approached with a slow but determined gait, his normally upbeat face tinged with sorrow. A shared pain filled his eyes as they met hers. He spoke softly, his voice bearing the weight of their shared loss, "Lucia, we all feel it." "Dante is no longer there. However, his battle i
Chapter 178Valeria stood in the middle of the darkened room, and the tension in the air was palpable. Outside, the wind howled as its icy fingers slithered through the stone walls' crevices. Lucia was at her side, her eyes wide with terror, but now there was no time for comfort. Valeria could no longer ignore the weight of fate pressing down on her chest. Lucia looked at her, her face whitened, her voice growing panicked. "What's going on, Valeria? Why do you appear so...?"Lucia, I don't have time to explain." Although Valeria spoke steadily, a storm raged within. The prophecy, an old power that had always been just out of her grasp, began to pull her. It had led her to this point— to this decision. She had anticipated it. Wasn't it always supposed to be her?When Lucia reached for Valeria's arm, her hand shook. "I'm afraid of you. "There isn't enough time for an explanation. Could you clarify what you mean? What is going on?Valeria looked directly into the younger woman's eyes an
Chapter 177Lucia stood in the middle of the war room, looking at her trusted allies' faces. The tension in the room was palpable, as if the walls themselves carried the weight of the decision hovering over them.She sensed the familiar unity—until it vanished. The sensation of something shifting or going wrong created a pit of coldness in her stomach.Even though Kalyndria was standing at the big wooden table with her back straight and her eyes focused, there was a slight change in her demeanour today.There was something strange about the way she gazed at Lucia.In an attempt to dispel the nagging doubt, Lucia forced a smile. She tried to sound more assured than she actually was when she said, "We need to move quickly." "The forces of the enemy are near. We must attack while they are still gaining ground.Kalyndria gave a nod but remained silent. Given that she had been one of Lucia's most ardent supporters, her silence was unnerving.Lucia noticed the tension in the room and looked
Chapter 176Eldrin stood on the edge of the world, his body encircled by tendrils of shadow, his form fluttering with dark energy. The earth shuddered beneath him, and the air crackled with raw power,He sensed the blending of his spirit with the evil powers.He became stronger and more dangerous with each connection and dark entity he absorbed. There was clarity amidst the chaos that swirled inside his mind. Every thought, every soul, every glimmer of magic in the realms he could feel it all.This was more power than he could have ever imagined.He let out a quiet laugh, barely audible above the sound of the wind. He whispered to himself, "Soon, all will be mine." With the strength he had acquired, his voice reverberated in a deep, resonant hum that shook the very fabric of reality.He had once been a mere mortal, an ambitious man who aspired to be in charge of his own fate. He was more now, a creature of the dark, a symbol of chaos and devastation.He gained control over forces he ha