Vengeance Awakened

Mortal Pact

The night forest was a labyrinth of shadows and disturbing silence. Under the full moon, I walked with my heart in my throat, my senses sharpened, but my mind still paralyzed by disbelief and despair. The m******e had destroyed everything I loved, and that encrypted information on a crumpled piece of paper still burned in my memory. The only clue, the one that seemed to be the key to understanding who had betrayed my lineage, was my last hope for justice.

For weeks, I had considered asking Luke for help, the legendary maximum alpha, whose figure had become a legend—a ruthless and feared hero across all territories. But I wasn’t naive; I knew his reputation. Luke was a narcissistic werewolf, used to having control, who saw everyone around him as pieces in his game, whether allies or enemies. He was so strong and powerful that, as they said, he didn’t need the full moon to prove his dominance. That made him even more dangerous and even more power-hungry.

I had reached the edge of the forest with the decision to confront the enormity of my destiny: if I wanted justice, I would have to risk asking for help from someone as unpredictable as him. I couldn’t trust my own pack; my telepathic link with them was a double-edged sword, and only an alpha could break that chain and decide who I connected with. Until now, I had avoided transforming into a she-wolf, hoping to keep my mind intact and distance myself from the voices and thoughts of those around me.

Luke was the alpha everyone feared, the one who imposed his authority with a hard hand and without complications, and his presence inspired both respect and fear. I knew Luke did not travel through minor territories, much less to places that did not call him. The only option was to find him, reach his sanctuary, and bow before him, begging for his help, enduring any humiliation or condition he imposed just to get him to cooperate with me.

The forest howled in the night, and I moved forward with steady steps, though fear throttled my heart. Each step was an act of courage and desperation. The full moon illuminated the path, revealing shadows that seemed to whisper that this encounter would be my final test.

Finally, I spotted in the distance rocks forming a small clearing, the symbol of a territory forbidden to anyone who did not have Luke’s favor. I knew that there, in that sacred place, I would have to do the unthinkable: kneel, humiliate myself, and beg him to accept me, even if that meant losing all dignity in his eyes.

With my body tense and my breath ragged, I entered that place with my head held high. From the darkness, the large, dominant figure of Luke appeared, rising like a king on his secret throne, with eyes blazing with an intensity that seemed to pierce my soul.

"What kind of she-wolf dares to come alone onto my territory?" his voice rang with a cold, mocking tone, filled with superiority and evident disdain. "Are you seeking something from me, or did you just want to get lost in the dark so I could find you?"

I swallowed hard and stood firm, though I trembled inside. I knew this would be the toughest test. The most humiliating. But it was my only option.

"I need your help, Luke" I whispered, with a trembling yet determined voice. "They betrayed my family, and I don’t know who or why. I have to stop the hunt, and only you can tell me what to do. Please, I beg you, help me."

The alpha looked at me with a sardonic smile, strolling slowly in a circle around me as if evaluating prey in a cage.

"And what are you willing to offer in exchange, little one?" he asked, savoring the impotence I could read in my eyes. "I don’t usually accept favors without something in return".

I held his gaze, resisting the inevitable humiliation. I knew that was the only way to save myself.

"Everything you desire" I whispered. "Just help me".

Christian c****d an eyebrow, delighted by my vulnerability, and stepped closer. The tension in the air was palpable, a mix of desire, domination, and desperation. I could not let my pride blind me either, because at that moment, only one thing mattered: that he accepted and that I survived that night with answers.

"Very well, desperate she-wolf" he said in a deep voice, his eyes gleaming with malice. "But remember this: if I agree to help you, you will not be the same when we’re done. You and your desire for justice is a very high price. But if you’re ready to pay, then we begin".

Luke took another step closer, his dominating presence nearly suffocating me. The shadow of his figure loomed over me, and for a moment I felt my resistance melt away. But with one last effort, I clenched my fists and raised my head, determined to meet his gaze and fulfill my mission, no matter the cost.

"I’m ready" I whispered, in a cold but firm voice. "I only want justice. I want to know who betrayed my family and stop this m******e".

Luke studied me for a few seconds in silence, assessing whether my words were sincere. Then a sardonic smile spread across his face.

"Very well, then, prepare yourself for what’s coming. "But first, there’s something you must understand" he said, while extending his left hand toward me. "This small object will not only grant you power. Real control is something you must learn to master yourself. Because, after all, in my hands you’re just another pawn in my game".

With those words, Luke bent down slowly and pulled out an object that looked like an ancient reliquary, dark gold and with enigmatic engravings. The shape was odd, almost futuristic, with lines that glowed faintly in the forest gloom. The light reflected on it woke in me a mix of curiosity and distrust.

"What is that?" I asked in a tremulous voice.

"This little one is a special accessory," Luke replied, bringing it closer with care. An artifact that can control your powers and, more importantly, your will. It’s an extension of me… and of your destiny.

I stepped back, feeling the tension in the air, aware that this object could be the key for Luke to have total dominion over me.

"And what happens if I don’t accept it?" I asked with a firm voice, trying to keep control.

"Then you’ll be alone tonight" Luke murmured, smiling with that arrogance that always characterized him. But if you want to save yourself, if you want to fight to find who betrayed your family, you’ll have to accept what I offer. Only then can you control yourself. Only then can you decide what to do… and what to leave behind".

I looked at him, my heart beating hard. The scene seemed suspended in time, all hope and despair in a single moment. My hands trembled, but my determination remained intact.

And at that instant, Christian extended that dark reliquary to me and I placed it around my neck. The night seemed to hold its breath, sustaining the tension of this mortal pact.