Brielle's POV
"You had your chance."
Alpha Cassian's voice echoed coldly in the chamber as he paced slowly in front of me. His words sliced deep into my bones. "You knew what you were. A descendant of the Evil Moon Goddess. I gave you a chance to redeem yourself—and now, you'll be executed when the Lycan Alpha arrives."
My chest tightened. I stepped forward, panic swelling like a storm. "No! I wasn't defying your orders—please, I wasn't. I don't want to die," I cried, voice shaking as hot tears streamed freely down my cheeks. "But… but there's no way I could kill him! I would if I could! I swear I would! But I—there's just no way—"
My pleas were cut short when Alpha Cassian suddenly closed the distance between us. My heart froze in my throat as he gripped my chin, raising it with cruel fingers until I had no choice but to look into his venomous eyes.
"And who said there's no way?" he asked darkly, a smirk twisting on his lips.
My lips trembled. "H-how?" I whispered. "Tell me… please, if there's a way, tell me."
He stepped back, arms crossed smugly. "I won't waste my breath telling you unless you agree to do it."
I hesitated. "Why wouldn't you do it then?" I asked shakily. "Why trust me to kill him?"
"Because you are the only one suitable. If I could do it myself, I would've by now."
I didn't believe him—not fully. Something about this still didn't make sense. Why now? Why me? Why Draven?
But I didn't dare voice any of it. I could barely keep myself from shaking.
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to nod. "Fine. I agree. So… what's the plan?"
He scoffed. "You think I have time to waste on you?" He waved toward the door. "Daniel will brief you."
My stomach twisted violently.
Daniel?
I hated him. No—hated was too easy. Too light. I didn't want to see that asshole, much less speak to him. Not because of the rage I felt—but because I didn't know how I'd face him. Because, somewhere in the wreckage of my shattered heart, a part of me still remembered how much I once loved him.
The door creaked open, and in he came.
Daniel.
His eyes landed on me like a weight. And I couldn't breathe.
"Tell her everything," Cassian instructed.
Daniel nodded wordlessly. Alpha Cassian gave me one last glance before disappearing, leaving me alone in the room with him.
The silence burned.
Daniel stared, his gaze unreadable, and I looked anywhere but his face. The air between us was suffocating.
Finally, he cleared his throat. "Let's go somewhere else. We're not allowed to stay in the Alpha's chamber."
I only nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My legs moved on their own as I followed him out of the house. We walked through the side yard toward a quiet space near his car, away from the others. The place was secluded enough. Still too close for comfort.
We sat on the stone bench, the silence thick between us.
"I have work to do," I said stiffly. "Just tell me the plan."
"A lot of work?" he asked, turning slightly toward me. His voice dropped. "So much that you can't even spare time to finally be with me?"
I froze.
He reached out, brushing my arm, then my waist. His touch made bile rise in my throat.
I slapped his hand away. "You still have the audacity to touch me?" My voice cracked, tears gathering again. "After everything you did to me?"
"I didn't want Lyra," he said quickly, his eyes pleading. "She seduced me. I was forced—"
"You weren't forced!" I snapped. "You had a choice. You chose her. You rejected me. Publicly humiliated me. You let her frame me!"
He groaned, reaching for me again. "I loved you, Brielle! I had a plan! After everything… we can still be together."
"You're insane," I whispered.
He leaned in suddenly and pressed his lips on mine, harsh and unwelcome.
I shoved him away, tears flooding again. "This isn't you—this can't be you!"
"Why?" he growled, grabbing my arm. "Because I wanted you? Because I begged to have you and you always denied me? If you'd just let me f*ck you—"
I slapped him, hard.
"Let me go!" I screamed.
But he didn't. He lunged again, trying to grab me, forcing another kiss. I struggled, clawing at his arms, breath hitching with panic.
"I'll have you, Brielle!" he snarled. "Whether you like it or not!"
I twisted free and bolted.
My heart thundered in my chest as I ran blindly, pushing through the cold wind, the tears, the fear.
I could hear him behind me.
"Brielle! You can't run from me!"
I didn't look back. I couldn't. I just ran. Off the side yard. Past the garage. Through the trees. The edge of the woods.
And then—
I crashed into something.
No—someone.
Hard.
Unmovable.
Warm.
I stumbled back, stunned.
And just as I looked up, trembling, breathless, confused—
My eyes locked on a face.
A face that made the whole world stop.