The Lycan's Revenge: The Devil She created

The best gift he ever gave

FIVE YEARS LATER

MIA

I ran through the diner, taking orders and making certain not to get on anyone's nerves. I had been on my feet for ten freaking hours, changing from one job to the other when each shift ended. It had been this way for four years after I gave birth to Diamond.

For five years, I had lived in the human world, banished from my pack after my father discovered I was pregnant with Damien's child. It was a week before my marriage to Micah, and he was angry when he realised I had slept with a Lycan. To save my life, my father had me leave the pack that night, and since then, I haven't returned to the pack, and I haven't heard from Damien, not like I was expecting to.

He left the pack five years ago, before me, and no one knew where he went. I had this suspicion he was in the human world, but I knew a reunion would be next to impossible. That was if he hadn't returned to his kingdom. It had been five years, after all.

“Sarah!” someone yelled, startling me from my thoughts. Blinking, I looked up at my coworker and the greatest enemy I have at the diner. Sarah was the name I went by after I left my pack, and I had gotten used to hearing it instead of Mia.

Bridget had her hands on her waist as she glared at me. “Lost in thoughts again, are we?”

“No, at all.” I forced a smile and lifted the tray of food to evade a conversation with her. I knew how one would end and wanted to avoid it as much as I could.

With the tray balanced on my right palm, I left, giving the people their order and smiled. When I cleaned the table, most of them left a handsome tip for me. It was one thing I liked about this place. Just flash a smile at the customers and speak politely to them, and you will get a generous tip.

I cleared the tables and went through the rest of my shift. By the time I clocked out, I was already exhausted. I exhaled, leaning back on a car parked in the lot, wiping sweat off my brows.

The sun had gone down, but the moon was yet to be out. It looked like it might rain tonight, and the streak of lightning in the cloud hinted at a heavy one.

Luckily, that was the last job for the day. I checked the time on my wristwatch and got up instantly. It was late.

I rushed to my bicycle and cycled out, heading to the hospital. My muscles protested, and my bones ached, but I didn't care. I had to be there in time to beat the visiting hours. Unlike the others, I was lucky enough to get an extended visitation hour when the kind doctor heard my story.

I paddled faster and got there in less than ten minutes. I parked my bicycle and raced into the hospital. A few people cast glances my way as I hurried to the elevator. I know I looked a mess, with my hair all over the place and my clothes wrinkled, and let's not forget the scent of garlic and spices on me.

Luckily, I was the only one in the elevator. It saved me the embarrassment of getting stared at hard and avoided by those who couldn't stand my smell. When I reached her floor, I ran out and hurried to her room.

A month ago, Diamond was diagnosed with a rare case of Craniopharyngioma, and I had to work extra hard to save the money. I had applied for a loan severely, but haven't been successful. Not that I blamed them. I had nothing to use as collateral. No business, and no f*****g house. I was living in the attic of a kind old woman who didn't bother asking for rent. Just a look at baby Diamond, and she allowed us to stay with her. We have been living together for four years.

I stood outside the door, catching my breath before I opened the door and stepped in, closing it gently behind me. I strode to her bed and looked down at the peaceful look on her face.

Diamond looked so much like her father, with her golden hair and grey eyes. Fate surely played a joke on me by giving me a female version of the man I love. Each time I look at her, I remember the last look he had given me, how broken he looked and how I caused it all.

“Baby.” I squatted next to the bed and patted her hair, smiling down at my baby. She was already asleep, and I knew she must have stayed awake, waiting for Mummy to show up. Sadly, I had to work to pay her bills. She was yet to be surgically operated on, and I was asked to get a certain amount. It will take time to gather that amount, but I wasn't giving up. Not now, and certainly not ever.

I touched her cheeks and leaned down to place a soft kiss there. Seeing Diamond every day after a strenuous day at work always helped ease my pain. A look at her pretty face was all it took to erase all the bad things that had never happened. She was my source of strength, and I couldn't think of a life without her.

Damien gave me the best gift anyone had ever given me. It saved me from getting married to Micah and from dying of depression when I was sent away from home.

Even though he didn't know about her and would never know about Diamond, I will forever be grateful.

…

I stayed with her until the visiting time was over before I headed to the doctor's office to pay my bill for the day. I walked into her office smiling and exited with a heavy heart. I got the worst news ever. Diamond was advancing slowly into the critical stage and had to be operated on, fast. They asked me to provide the deposit for the operation in two days if I wanted to see my daughter alive. As if things couldn't get any worse, I got a message on my way back that the old lady I was staying with had fallen critically ill and was taken to the hospital.

Her children called to give me an eviction notice. I have until three days to leave the house…