"I Will Do Anything to Keep You Alive"
"I will do anything possible to keep you alive... because you are special."
— Haven.
---
"Oh goodness!" Eva gasped, eyes wide with horror. "I thought they were gone forever."
Alicia chuckled darkly.
"Is that what your naïve little brain tells you?" she scoffed.
Horace, seated at the long mahogany table, didn't even bother looking up from his plate. His voice came out deep and composed, like the calm before a storm.
"So where is this so-called goddess?"
"No one knows," Alicia replied, pacing with her arms folded. "She might not even know who she is yet — perhaps still an infant, or a lost wanderer trying to find her destiny. But wherever she is, we must find her first before our enemies do. Word spreads fast, and every creature out there has probably heard the prophecy by now. If she falls into the wrong hands, we're finished. She's not just powerful — she's divine. Her blood heals, purifies, and destroys. She can wipe out the devils themselves."
Horace leaned back, eyes cold and unreadable.
"I don't care if she's real or not. Peace will remain in Country R as long as I breathe. As for the devils—" he smirked, a dangerous glint in his eyes, "—I'll be waiting when Villanueva returns. And I'll destroy him myself."
Eva swallowed hard, her heart pounding. Who is this goddess? she wondered.
---
Ariel stumbled down the hill, her frail body tumbling over sharp rocks before crashing hard onto the earth.
"Ahh…" she groaned, pain tearing through every inch of her. Blood trickled down her face, dust mixing with the crimson trails. Her trembling lips quivered as she tried to breathe, staring blankly at the sky while the scorching sun seared her skin.
"Stop the horse!" Haven's shout sliced through the air. "She's too weak to continue!"
He leaped down and rushed to her side, gathering her trembling body into his arms.
"Hey," he whispered urgently, brushing strands of hair from her face.
She whimpered softly, her eyelids fluttering open. "Haven…?"
"Yes," he answered quickly, his tone both gentle and desperate.
"I…" she swallowed hard, pain seeping through her words. "I think… I'll be joining my mother soon."
His eyes widened. "That's never going to happen. I swear it. Nothing will happen to you — please, don't say that."
Her breathing grew shallower. "I can't… I can't go on like this. It's too much…"
"Stop it," he said firmly, his voice breaking. "I won't let anything happen to you. Because…" He hesitated, staring into her fading eyes. "Because I can't afford to lose you."
Before she could respond, Joe's harsh voice broke the moment.
"What are you two doing down there, you blindfolded lovebirds? Get up and move!"
"Please, sir," Haven pleaded, still holding Ariel. "She's too weak to continue. Give us some time — unless you want her dead."
Joe chuckled cruelly. "If she dies, I lose money. I'll send her somewhere she can suffer first. Twenty minutes. That's all."
The other slaves collapsed nearby to rest. Haven helped Ariel sit beneath a tree, her body trembling with exhaustion. He handed her a bottle of water.
"Here, drink this."
She took a small sip, sighing weakly. "Thank you, Haven."
"Don't thank me," he murmured, his eyes soft with concern. "Are you feeling better now?"
"Hmm," she hummed faintly.
"So…" he hesitated, smiling gently, "are you finally going to tell me your name?"
"Ariel," she whispered.
"Ariel," he repeated, savoring it. "Beautiful name."
She forced a faint smile. "How long before we reach Demise?"
"About two hours."
Her expression fell. "So we still have to run for two more hours?"
"I'm afraid so," he said quietly. "Are you scared?"
"No… just tired. I don't think my body can take any more."
He reached out, brushing a thumb against her cheek. "Don't worry. You'll be fine."
"Why are you so sure?" she asked suddenly.
He met her eyes, his tone firm and filled with emotion.
"Because I believe you're special."
Ariel chuckled weakly. "Special, huh? You really are strange, Haven."
---
Meanwhile, inside his grand study, Alpha Horace sat behind his desk, eyes fixed on the glowing monitor. Only his closest allies knew the password to that room — yet the door opened with a soft click.
His brows furrowed. How did she know the code?
And then, she appeared — Aracely, moving with feline grace, her crimson gown clinging to every seductive curve. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back, a few strands teasing her flawless face. The click of her heels echoed through the room as she sauntered toward him, green eyes burning with mischief.
Horace pretended to stay focused on his work — until she climbed onto his desk, perching elegantly, the scent of jasmine and danger filling the room.
"It's a pity you didn't notice me," she purred.
He finally looked up, smirking.
"Oh, I noticed. Hard not to, when you walked in here looking like sin itself."
He closed his laptop, stood up, and in one swift motion, turned her to face him. His hand tilted her chin upward, his breath warm against her ear.
"You're damn hot, Aracely."
She smiled sweetly, placing a hand on his chest.
"I'm all yours, Horace. And soon, I'll be your Luna. Then I'll belong to you forever."
He chuckled darkly, leaning in until his lips brushed her ear.
"You want to be my Luna?" he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "Careful what you wish for… Luna or not, I always claim what's mine."