Luna's Payback: Claiming My Fate!

36:

Veronica had a deep and restful sleep that day. Her entire body and muscles relaxed completely. So it wasn’t surprising that she woke up early, feeling light and refreshed, as if all her worries had disappeared. That’s the effect her first massage experience had on her.

They ate breakfast in silence, and she took a bath afterward. It turned out to be a good idea to leave early since they had quite a long journey ahead. She decided to wear something comfortable—cotton long sleeve shirt, pants, and hiking shoes. She tied her hair into a ponytail to keep it out of her way.

Javier left the villa under Jordan’s care, along with the housemaids. Nick was their driver for the day. Once they were in the car, Javier noticed that her shoulder bag was a bit large.

“I brought water. I thought we might be traveling far, and I might get tired. So I packed some water, a small towel, and a few snacks,” she answered shyly.

Javier seemed amused by her response. “We are indeed going somewhere quite far, and the place is remote. It’s good that you wore something comfortable. It’s still a long drive, so you can take a nap.”

And that’s exactly what she did. She fell asleep quickly, likely still exhausted from the intense training.

She didn’t know how long she had been asleep, but she suddenly felt Javier gently tapping her shoulder. “Veronica… wake up, we’re here,” he whispered softly.

She opened her eyes and was greeted by his handsome face. Wow, is this really what Beatrice Romanov sees every morning? A handsome husband? Beatrice is incredibly lucky!

She glanced around. They were in an unfamiliar place, and there were no other houses or people in sight—just deep woods. Tall trees, various kinds of plants, and wild grasses surrounded them. The area was eerily quiet.

This place could easily be the setting for a suspense movie. "Wow, does someone actually live here? That Eldara is really weird to choose to live in a place like this," she commented.

“Eldara’s potions are highly skilled and powerful, but they’re considered illegal in the pack because they can be used for evil. That’s why Eldara was exiled from the pack and now lives alone, away from everyone,” he informed her.

“If that’s the case, how sure are you that this Eldara will actually help us? I’m sure she harbors resentment towards everyone. If she’s living alone now, do you really think she’ll help us, especially me, a pure-blooded human?” She was still skeptical.

The man’s face grew serious. “You have a point; she probably wouldn’t help if someone else made the request. However, I’m sure Eldara will grant my request. She has no choice but to help me.”

She furrowed her brows. “What do you mean? Of course, she has a choice. She could refuse to help us, especially since we’ve come all the way here. We’ve invaded her privacy.”

“Do you want to continue with the revenge or not?” he challenged her.

She swallowed and averted her gaze. "What kind of question is that? Of course, I want it. I'm not backing out," she said firmly.

“Then trust me, Eldara will agree. I’m confident she will because she owes my family a huge debt, I mean, not money.” he replied.

She was surprised. “What do you mean?”

“It’s a long story, but she has always been an outcast. She was constantly bullied for her appearance and the things she did. One day, everyone planned to burn Eldra alive in her house, along with all her creations. But my parents helped her out. They saved her and her creations from the fire, which is why she survived with her potions intact. For someone like Eldra, her creations mean more to her than her life. That’s why I know she’ll help us, even if we’re invading her privacy,” he explained at length.

She understood. Maybe Javier really was confident that Eldara would help them. Nick followed them, but Javier turned to him. “Nick, you stay here. Just wait for us. We probably won’t take too long. Besides, there’s no one to watch over the car, and someone might try to trap us here. It would be a disaster if we lost the car. Plus, you’re getting older, and we still have quite a distance to walk through the woods. You might just get tired. In case of an emergency, just call me right away.”

“Are you sure, Javier? Can the two of you handle going to her alone?” Nick asked.

Javier nodded, so they started walking into the dense woods. “It’s a good decision we came here in the morning. It’s still bright out, and not scary,” he said reassuringly.

She agreed with what he said. "Even in the morning, these woods are already scary. How much more if it were night? Eldara is something else to have managed to live in a place like this. But what if she gets hungry? Where does she go grocery shopping? This place is so far from the city," she asked, curious.

"I don’t know either. But I think she isn’t like us who stock up on food and go grocery shopping. She has her own world, and she can survive alone. Eldara looks so strange that anyone who sees her would probably be scared. She doesn’t go to the city to buy what she needs," he replied as they walked.

"Huh? That sounds impossible. How does she eat then?"

He shrugged. "I have no idea. But I think she just eats wild animals or fish. She has hunting skills anyway. She’s not like us who are used to socializing with others."

Wow. So there really are people like that. She didn’t think she could handle that if it were her. She’d probably faint from fear, being alone in such a scary place. And without any food stocks? She definitely couldn’t do it. She’d probably give up after just two days.

This Eldara was really something else. No one spoke between them after that, and she didn’t notice the minutes passing. She felt like these woods were endless, and she couldn’t even see any light. She was sweating and out of breath.

So she took the water bottle from her bag. She never imagined she’d come to a situation like this—sacrificing for the sake of revenge. But her resolve was firm. No matter what happens, she’ll get the justice she deserves.

"Javier, when will this walk finally end?" she asked, exhausted.

"Hold on, Veron. Just a little more. I believe we’re almost there."

Her knees were weakening, but she found hope when she saw a light in the distance—a large, bright light.

"I can see it. We’re close," Javier murmured.

She felt a surge of energy and stretched her limbs. Just a little more. Just a little more!

Her eyes grew heavier as they approached the light. And just as they got close to it, she lost consciousness and collapsed onto the grass.

Javier could only smile as he watched Veronica. "You did a great job, Veron. You can keep up with me now."

He lifted her unconscious body and carried her into Eldara's small and creepy house. They had arrived at Eldertide Bastion. There wasn’t a single sound from any person or anyone like him.

All he could hear was the rustling of plants and leaves, the chirping of birds, and the flow of water from a small stream nearby. It seemed Eldara had found peace in this place. It was refreshing to the mind, but on the other hand, it was also sad because Eldara was alone here.

The middle-aged woman's house was perched high in a tree, entirely made of wood. He quickly climbed up, but before he could knock on the door, he already heard her familiar voice.

"And what are you doing here, Alpha Javier Romanov, and why do you have a weak human with you?" the old woman asked strictly, blocking his chest with her cane.

Eldara's physical appearance hadn't changed. He smiled at her. "Good day, Eldara. And you're right, she is a pure-blooded human."

She briefly stared at the woman he was carrying. Her eyes widened when she realized it was Beatrice Romanov. "She's using your Luna's face... yet her blood is pure human. Don't tell me she's Luna Beatrice's identical twin?"

He motioned toward the house. "Let me in first, and I'll explain everything to you. She's heavy, you know."

The woman rolled her eyes and made sure no one was following them before opening the door wide.

"Thank you," he said cheerfully and laid Veronica down on the floor.

"What do you need from me, Alpha Javier? You wouldn't come here without a deep reason, especially with a human accompanying you."

He didn't waste any time and got straight to the point. "I don't know if you're aware, but my Luna is gone," he began.

Eldara turned her back on him and walked toward her small kitchen, though he could hardly call it a kitchen, given the strange assortment of items hanging from the ceiling.

"I don't know, but it's not surprising. You're carrying a human who looks exactly like your Luna. And everyone knows how skilled you are as a cosmetic surgeon. I assume you're the one who altered that woman's face. So, what do you need from me, Alpha Javier?"

Eldara was smart; she quickly pieced the situation together. "You're right about that. Beatrice is gone. It's a long story, but Veronica and I share the same enemy," he said, glancing at the woman sleeping soundly on the floor.

"And what does that have to do with me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

He raised both hands as if to show he meant no harm. "Hey, don't be so harsh on me. I wouldn't disturb you if this weren't important. I badly need help, and I know you're the only one who can assist me."

"Hah. And the pack? Do they think the same way about me? They make fun of me because of my fascination with creating extraordinary things," she said with a hint of bitterness.

"Not everyone can understand what you do with your life. What's important is that you're happy and not causing harm to others. I've told you many times that you're welcome to come to Black Moon Pack. But you're the one who refuses," he replied.

She nodded and handed him a drink. "That's all I can offer you. I don't have any food stocked here. If you're hungry, or your companion is, I'll go outside to hunt."

He grimaced. He hadn't grown up like her, accustomed to eating raw or poorly cooked meat. He was raised in a normal household, just like humans. "Ah... well... Veronica and I aren't hungry. Thanks for the drink."

"What can I do to help you, Alpha Javier?"

He finished the water she offered before looking at her. "I need your special potion to remove Veronica's human scent. She needs to smell like one of us. No one can know that Veronica is a pure-blooded human," he requested directly.

Eldara was visibly shocked by his request. She didn't expect such an unusual demand from the Alpha. "B-But why? Don't tell me you're going to make that human pretend to be Luna Beatrice?"

He nodded, having no intention of hiding any secrets from Eldara, believing it would be better to tell her the truth. "That's exactly what I'm planning."

"But surely everyone knows that Luna Beatrice is dead!"

"Well, that's what everyone probably thinks. I never denied it, but I also never confirmed it to anyone. So, if one day they see their Luna Beatrice and she smells like one of us, no one will doubt it. We need to execute this plan smoothly. Our enemy is cunning, and we need a detailed and well-crafted plan. I hope you can help us," he pleaded.

Eldara sighed deeply. "I'll be honest with you, Alpha Javier. I've made countless potions, but I've never created one that can remove a human's scent. I don't even know if it's possible. Even if I agree to your request, there's no guarantee that I can do it successfully."

But Javier wasn't about to give up. They hadn't waited an entire year for nothing. He wasn't going to let their efforts go to waste. He needed to find a way.

He moved closer to Eldara, looking deeply into her eyes. "But I know your abilities. You're unique. You're a gifted child. You have an inborn talent, and I believe there's a reason we met. You want everyone to recognize your creations, you want to be acknowledged. You seek fulfillment. You find joy in doing these things. This is your passion. And every passion has a purpose. Wouldn't you be happy to see that your creation helped and saved many lives? I know you can do this, Eldara. I trust you," he said passionately to the old woman.

Eldara paused, touched by what Alpha Javier had said. It was true that she made potions, but for what? For whom? No one had ever appreciated her work. Now, she had a chance to help, to show just how skilled she was.

She felt a renewed sense of motivation and excitement. She never thought that a mere human could bring back these emotions in her.

She took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright, I’ll make the potion for her. But I can't promise that the results will be successful. Still, I’ll do my best," she assured him.

Javier's eyes sparkled with joy. He could feel that they were slowly inching closer to the beginning of success!