Brielle's POV
"You had your chance," Alpha Cassian said coldly, his voice slicing through the tension like a knife. "You know what you are. A cursed descendant of the Evil Moon Goddess. I gave you an opportunity to prove yourself—one chance. And now, since you dared to defy it, your execution will proceed immediately after the Lycan Alpha arrives."
My throat tightened. My knees buckled slightly.
"I… I didn't defy anything," I choked, tears spilling despite myself. "I didn't refuse the chance you gave me. I swear… I don't want to die. Please, Alpha… but I can't kill him. I can't! If there was even the slightest way to do it—I wouldn't hesitate! But there's no way—no way to kill Draven Valrath."
I was crying now. Begging.
And still, he stepped toward me.
The cold tips of his fingers suddenly lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his burning eyes. His lips curled into a cruel smirk.
"And who said there isn't a way to kill him?"
I blinked at him, stunned. "W-What?"
"There is a way," he murmured slowly. "But you won't hear it from me… unless you agree to do it."
My heart pounded hard. "If there's truly a way… then why not do it yourself? Why trust me?"
Cassian sneered. "If I could kill him, I would've done it years ago. But I can't. Only you can. You're the one suitable enough."
That made no sense. Not one bit. Why did he want Draven dead so badly? Why me? The thoughts rushed through my mind, but I held my tongue. Asking questions would only get me punished—or worse.
So I swallowed the lump in my throat, wiped at my cheeks, and forced out a shaky breath. "Fine," I whispered. "I'll do it. What's the plan?"
He scoffed. "You think I'll waste my time explaining it to you? You're not worth that much."
I stiffened.
"I've sent for someone else," he added, eyes flickering toward the door. "He'll brief you."
When the door opened, my stomach dropped.
Daniel.
My breath caught.
The man who once held my heart… the same man who shattered it without flinching.
I hated that just the sight of him still made something shift in my chest—not hatred. Not rage. But something far more painful. A reminder of what I once loved… and how deeply it destroyed me.
He stood awkwardly by the door until Alpha Cassian ordered him, "Tell her everything."
Daniel nodded once.
The alpha left us alone.
The silence between us was suffocating.
I could feel his gaze on me like a heat I didn't ask for. I didn't meet his eyes. I didn't want to see whatever was in them—guilt, pity, desire—I didn't care. I just wanted to be done with him.
"Let's go somewhere else," he said at last, clearing his throat. "We're not permitted to stay in the Alpha's chamber."
I gave a tight nod.
He led me out of the house, into the open air, near the edge of the trees. Somewhere just far enough to be alone, but not close enough to feel safe.
We sat in silence.
"I'm listening," I muttered, keeping my arms crossed. "Tell me the plan. I've got work to do."
He chuckled darkly. "So much work, you can't even spare a second to be with me?"
I tensed.
"What?" I asked coldly.
He moved closer.
"Brielle," he said softly, reaching out to touch me. "Don't pretend you don't miss me."
I slapped his hand off instantly, anger rising through the pain in my chest.
"You still have the audacity to talk to me like this? After everything you did?!"
He sighed. "Lyra doesn't mean anything. I was forced into all that. She seduced me. I didn't love her. I never did. I only wanted you."
I laughed bitterly. "Then why? Because I didn't let you fuck me?"
His eyes darkened. "If you had… if you hadn't pushed me away… I wouldn't have been tempted."
My blood ran cold as his hand suddenly touched my waist.
I froze.
"You're disgusting," I spat, eyes stinging. "So because I didn't give you my body, you fucked her? You disgraced me? Rejected me?"
He grabbed my chin now. "I love you, Brielle. And once this is over, we'll be together again. I have a plan—"
"No!" I screamed, pushing him hard, struggling to breathe as he kissed me forcefully. My tears fell faster now, as his lips forced down on mine, ignoring my trembling, my panic, my pain.
This wasn't him. Or maybe… this had always been him.
"Let me go!" I cried, yanking myself away.
"I want you!" he shouted. "I always have. Just let me have you—"
"No! Don't touch me!" I screamed again, pushing him with all the strength I had and bolting.
"BRIELLE!" he shouted after me.
I ran.
I didn't know where I was going. My bare feet pounded the earth. My lungs screamed for air. My body ached—but I didn't care. I needed to get away. From Daniel. From Cassian. From everything.
"Brielle!"
I kept running. Through the trees. Through the clearing. Until—
I hit something.
Hard.
Like steel.
I bounced back slightly, gasping, stumbling into the grass, my chest heaving.
My heart stopped.
I looked up slowly… and what I saw made the world freeze around me.
A face.
No… his face.