Chapter 1 : Lila’s Pov

Lila's POV:

Branches whipped against my skin as I ran through the underbrush, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I stumbled over roots and stones, but I couldn’t stop. I wouldn’t let it catch me. 

I could hear it behind me—the growls, the snarls, the howls piercing the night, chilling me to my core. Prompting me to run faster, but I was already on the edge of exhaustion.

In an instant, my foot slipped and I tumbled into a ditch. The world began to spin as I hit my head against something hard. Pain exploded through my skull, blood oozed out of the side of my head, and before everything went dark, I saw him— standing before me.

“You should have just let me have my way with you, you would have been useful that way. Now you will rot away, and become useless.” He said, with his right leg placed on top of my belly. “Mtch.” I heard him hiss, and that was the last thing I heard before I blacked out.

_____

I jolted awake, the scent of wood polish and beer was familiar. I pushed myself up, my heart still racing, only to find myself sitting at the Bar where I used to work. The clatter of glasses and distant laughter filled my ears. 

How did I get here? I felt a soft tap on my shoulder. “Hey! You okay?”

I turned to see Jess, my best friend/ co-worker. “I can't believe you fell asleep at the bar. Are you feeling sick?”

For a moment, I could only stare at her, stunned into silence. The memories of the past few days came flooding back. 

Roman, my boyfriend—no, he was more of a monster—abducting me, the escape, the chase through the forest, the ditch. 

I remember it all too vividly, So I am certain that it wasn't a dream. “Jess, what’s today’s date?” My voice trembled, barely above a whisper.

Tilting her head, she glanced at her phone before answering. “It’s the fourth of May 2024. Why?”

Fear surged through me as I closed my eyes. The first day I met him, the first day that I felt the charm that had pulled me to him, was the twelfth of May 2024. 

How could I be here, alive, after everything?

Before I could process my thoughts, Jess turned away as someone called her name. “I’ll be right back!” She said, disappearing into the crowd.

I blinked, trying to piece it all together, when my phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket. My heart leapt. I fumbled to pull it out, glancing at the screen. My landlady’s name flashed on the screen. Why would she be calling me?

As I stared blankly at the screen of my phone, my mind flickered back to this very day, in the past before my Rebirth. 

I remembered bustling through the bar, my hands full of drinks, music blaring, while my phone vibrated constantly in my pocket. I had ignored her calls, too busy to worry about the rent. When I finally returned home, I received an earful from her. “Why were you ignoring my calls, knowing fully well that you owe me this month’s rent?” I winced at the memory.

I shook off the recollection. I needed to focus on the present. I stepped outside quickly to answer Ma. Flora's call.

“Lila! Why did you take so much time to pick my call?” She shouted, her voice echoing through the phone. “I’ve been waiting for your rent! And your mother—she’s been disturbing the other tenants with her noise! You need to get her to act sensibly; otherwise...”

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, my eyes caught movement from the corner of the bar. A group of people—a mixture of men and women, making their way toward the backyard. 

There was something unsettling about their energy, a strange feeling that made the back of my neck tingle. “Ma. Flora, I’ll call you back!” I said, cutting her off and hanging up.

I approached the group. “Hey!” I called out. “What are you doing back here?”

As I drew closer, the distinct scent of their kind hit me—an odd mix of musk and wildness. They were Panther Shifters. My heart raced as I recalled the stories I had heard about them: Strong, cunning, and notorious troublemakers.

Was I reborn just to be killed again?

“Mind your own business, little girl.” One of them sneered.

“Doesn’t look like you’re here for a casual drink,” I shot back, trying to keep my voice calm. “What do you want?”

Suddenly, the tension in the air thickened. The group shifted, their gaze flickering towards me. I turned, and that’s when he emerged. A man stepped out from the shadows, tall, handsome, with dark hair, deep blue eyes and he was fully dressed in black; Black turtleneck sweater, black pants, black trench coat, and black gloves. His cold aura sent shivers down my spine, and it became clear immediately that he was someone powerful. 

The Panther Shifters also flinched, their boldness crumbling in an instant. “Back off.” He said, sending a ripple of fear through the group. They hesitated for a moment, and then, one by one, they turned and fled. 

His presence was menacing; I would have guessed he was an Alpha, but Alphas wouldn’t visit such places like this, besides what would an Alpha be doing in WolfsBane. He had to be a Beta—nothing lower.

‘But, I never felt such immense power from Roman in the past, despite his Beta lineage.’

I stood frozen, my heart racing—not from fear, but from the undeniable pull I felt towards the stranger. The air around him felt different. He turned to me, and for a moment, it felt as if the world had narrowed down to just us.

“Are you alright?”He asked, his voice softening, though it still had that cold edge.

I blinked, trying to shake off the confusion. “I—uh, yeah. I was just trying to figure out what they were up to.”

He stepped closer. “You shouldn’t be out here alone, especially with those kinds of people around. They’re trouble.”

I swallowed hard, suddenly aware of how close he was. “I can handle myself,” I replied.

“Can you?” His expression shifted, as he smirked widely. “Because from what I saw earlier, you nearly got yourself killed.”

Even though I knew I shouldn’t. “And who are you to give me advice?” I challenged, crossing my arms defensively.

He smirked. “Just saying.”

“My name's Lila.” I said, surprised by my own boldness. “Do you know those panther shifters?”

“Not exactly.” He replied, glancing back toward the direction they’d vanished. “They’ve been causing problems around here lately. You should stay away from them.”

“Thanks for... scaring them off. But I can't possibly run away from them, I mean I work here.” I managed, not entirely sure how to respond.

“Sure.” He shrugged. “Although this isn’t a safe place for someone like you.”

“Someone like me?” I echoed.

Smiling, he replied. “Someone who doesn’t know what they’re getting into.”