Luna's Payback: Claiming My Fate!

38:

Veronica hesitated for a moment, staring at the black potion in her glass cup. The smell was overpowering—a mix of earthy bitterness and something else she couldn't quite place. But she had to do this. She needed to erase her human scent and replace it with that of a she-wolf’s. Her fate depended on it.

With a deep breath, she tilted the cup to her lips and took a quick gulp. Instantly, her mouth was assaulted by a taste so foul it nearly made her gag. It was like drinking a mix of burnt rubber and rotten eggs, and the aftertaste lingered unpleasantly. Her stomach churned, a gnawing discomfort spreading through her insides.

Veronica stumbled backward, her hand clutching her stomach as she fell to her knees. The world spun around her, and she felt a wave of nausea hit her like a freight train. Her vision blurred, and she struggled to stay upright. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead, and her breaths came in ragged gasps. She tried to speak, to call out for help, but all that escaped her lips were low moans and involuntary grunts.

Javier and Nick rushed to her side, their faces etched with concern. Javier’s voice cut through the haze of Veronica’s discomfort, his tone urgent. “Veronica! How are you feeling? Can you speak to us?”

Veronica’s eyes fluttered open for a moment, locking onto Javier’s worried face. She wanted to reassure them, to tell them she was okay, but the words wouldn’t come. Her throat felt tight, and she could only manage weak, pained noises. She could see the worry in their eyes, the way they hovered over her as if their presence alone could somehow ease her suffering.

Nick crouched beside her, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. “Is there anything we can do? What’s happening to her?”

Veronica wanted to scream, to express the agony that was twisting inside her, but she could barely muster the strength to move. The potion’s effects were taking a toll on her body, and she had no idea if it was supposed to feel this way. The pain was intense, a relentless pressure that seemed to seep into every part of her being.

Javier's hand gently rested on her shoulder, his voice softening as he tried to comfort her. “Hang in there, Veronica. We’re going to figure this out. Just stay with us.”

Veronica nodded weakly, her eyes filling with tears. The potion had done something to her, and she could feel it—this burning sensation in her stomach, the disorienting dizziness. It was as if her body was rejecting the potion, fighting against the changes it was meant to bring.

The minutes stretched out, each one feeling like an eternity as Javier and Nick watched over her, their worry palpable. Veronica’s only response was to continue her moans and grunts, her strength ebbing away with each passing second. The pain was overwhelming, and all she could do was hope that the potion would eventually work as intended, despite the agonizing process she was enduring.

Her body wracked with spasms. Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion and pain. Her subconscious kept asking her questions, demanding answers she didn’t have.

“Is it worth it?” The voice inside her head echoed. “The potion, the risk—was it all worth this torment?”

The pain was overwhelming, as if her insides were being twisted and torn apart. Every breath she took felt like a battle, every heartbeat a cruel reminder of her suffering. Her stomach churned violently, and she pressed her hands against it, trying to ease the agony, but it was futile. Her thoughts were clouded by the intense discomfort, and she could hardly think straight.

What if she died? The question haunted her, refusing to leave her mind. The potion had been an untested experiment, a gamble with her life. She hadn’t really known what to expect, only that she needed to change her scent, to smell like them, to escape her pitiful existence before. And now, she was paying the price. Her mind replayed every decision she had made, every moment leading up to this. Had she been reckless? Should she have stopped when she had the chance? The idea of death seemed almost preferable to this torturous limbo.

But then, a darker thought emerged. The faces of her abusers flashed before her eyes—Angelo, her devil of a husband, and his family, who had turned her life into a living nightmare. They had taken everything from her: her dignity, her happiness, her freedom. Their cruelty had driven her to this desperate act, this chance at revenge. Her body was failing her, but her mind was clear enough to remember their faces, their smirks, their cold indifference to her suffering.

It was their fault she was here, on the floor, writhing in pain. They had stripped away her identity and her self-worth, and now she was fighting back with whatever means she could muster. The image of Angelo’s cruel face, his sneering smile as he dismissed her pleas, fueled her determination. She had to keep going. She had to endure this pain, no matter how intense, because it was for a greater purpose!

Her subconscious mind shifted focus. She saw herself standing tall, her revenge fulfilled, her enemies vanquished. The vision gave her strength, a sliver of hope in the darkness. The pain was a small price to pay for the justice she sought. The anger and determination burned bright, cutting through the haze of her suffering.

Javier and Nick, hovering nearby, looked on with concern etched deeply on their faces. Their voices were distant, almost muffled by the roar of pain in Veronica’s ears. They were asking her questions, their worry palpable, but all she could manage were incoherent moans and grunts. She wanted to reassure them, to tell them she was okay, but the agony was too consuming.

The one thing that kept her going was the image of her enemies, the promise of retribution. The thought that this suffering would eventually lead to their downfall gave her the strength to endure. The agony was real, but so was her resolve. She had to see this through, no matter what. The memory of her ruined life, the cruel faces of those who had wronged her—these were the driving forces that made her believe that this pain, this struggle, was not in vain.

Javier’s eyes darted between Veronica, who was lying helplessly on the floor, and Eldara, whose expression was a mix of concern and frustration. The potion had seemed like their only chance, but now it was clear that Veronica was in agony. His heart pounded in his chest, and for the first time since they began their plan, his focus shifted entirely from their revenge to Veronica’s wellbeing.

“Is this supposed to happen?” Javier’s voice was tight with worry, his eyes locked onto Eldara. “What have you done? Did you even think about how this might affect her?”

Eldara’s face fell, her earlier confidence replaced by a troubled frown. “I–I didn’t anticipate this level of pain. The potion was meant to removed her scent, but I didn’t expect such a strong reaction.”

Javier’s anger flared, but it was mingled with an overwhelming sense of dread. “You didn’t expect this? How can you be sure it’s not dangerous? Is this because she’s human and not a wolf? Did you miscalculate something?”

Eldara opened her mouth to respond, but Nick intervened them. “This isn’t the time for explanations or excuses! We need to get her help. Let’s think about Veronica first/ I’ll get the car ready,” he said, his voice steady despite the urgency of the situation.

Javier turned back to Veronica, who was moaning softly on the floor. Her face was pale, and sweat beaded on her forehead. Her body seemed to writhe with pain, and she was clutching her stomach as if trying to hold in the agony.

“Hang in there, Veronica,” He murmured, kneeling beside her. His hands were trembling as he gently touched her shoulder, trying to offer some form of comfort. “We’re getting you to the hospital. You’ll be okay.”

Veronica’s eyes were barely open, and her breaths came in ragged gasps. Her mind was a whirl of confusion and pain. “Is this worth it?” her subconscious seemed to scream at her. “Was it worth risking everything just for this?”

The pain seemed to claw at her insides, her thoughts swirling in a fog of desperation and doubt. “What if I die here?” Her inner voice was filled with fear and regret. “Why did I ever think this could work? Maybe this was a mistake.”

Her subconscious mind screamed at her again, this time with a stronger resolve. “No! This is not just about the potion. It’s about justice. It’s about making them pay for what they’ve done to me. I can’t give up now.”

Javier’s face was set with determination. “Nick, hurry!” he shouted, his voice cracking with urgency. “We’re going to rush her to the hospital. I don’t care about the revenge plan anymore. Her life is more important.”

Nick returned with the car keys, his face serious. Javier carefully lifted Veronica, cradling her in his arms with gentle care despite his racing heart. He looked down at her, his expression a mix of anguish and resolve. “We’re going to get through this, Veronica,” he whispered. “Hold on.”

As they moved quickly towards the car, Javier’s focus was entirely on Veronica, her safety now his sole concern. The revenge plan that had driven them for so long seemed distant and insignificant compared to the urgency of saving her life.

Veronica's body trembled with pain, but she gritted her teeth, trying to push away the hands that were gently but firmly guiding her toward the car. “No, Javier!” she gasped, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I can endure this. I don't need to go to the hospital. Just let me stay here. The potion might still work!”

His eyes were wide with concern, his face a mask of fear and frustration. “Are you out of your mind?” he snapped, his voice tinged with desperation. “What’s the point of revenge if you’re dead? If we lose you now, everything we’ve worked for will be meaningless. We need to get you help, now!”

Despite the agonizing pain, she fought against him, trying to free herself from his grasp. Her face was pale, and sweat dripped down her forehead, but her resolve was unshaken. “No! I have to stay. This could be just a side effect. If I give up now, it means all of this was for nothing.”

Javier’s frustration boiled over. “You’re not giving up. We’re getting you to the hospital, and that’s final. You need to focus on getting better, not on this damned revenge!”

But she wasn’t listening. She pushed against his chest, struggling to stand on her own feet. Her legs wobbled, but she managed to stay upright, her eyes blazing with determination. “I won’t let this pain stop me. The potion might still work. I need to believe that it will.”

Javier’s grip tightened around her shoulders, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and helplessness. “Look at yourself, Veronica. You’re in no condition to decide what’s best. Please, just let us help you.”

Eldara, standing a few feet away, watched the scene unfold with a mixture of shock and guilt. Her eyes were wide, and tears began to pool at the corners. The sight of Veronica, a human enduring such excruciating pain, was more than she had anticipated. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I’m so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I thought I could help, but maybe I’m just not good enough. Maybe I’ve failed.”

The pain etched on Veronica’s face and the determination in her eyes were almost too much for Eldara to bear. The tears streamed down her face uncontrollably as she watched Veronica continue to fight through the agony. “I’m useless,” Eldara sobbed. “I can’t even make a potion that doesn’t hurt.”

Javier, glancing back at Eldara, saw the anguish in her expression and felt a pang of sympathy. But his focus was still on Veronica. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “Nick, we need to go. Now!”

But just as Nick was about to open the car door, Eldara’s eyes widened in shock. She took a deep breath, her heightened senses picking up on something she hadn’t noticed before. Her gaze locked onto Veronica, and she sniffed the air, her heart pounding in her chest.

“What…?” Eldara’s voice faltered. She stepped closer, her eyes scanning Veronica’s body with an intensity fueled by both fear and hope. “No… it can’t be…”

Javier looked at Eldara, confusion written all over his face. “What’s wrong? What are you talking about?”

Eldara’s hands shook as she continued to sniff the air, her face growing paler with every breath. “I can’t smell her human scent anymore. It’s… it’s gone.”

The realization hit like a thunderclap. Did the potion really work? Was this the transformation they had been hoping for?