Chapter 5 5. The Deal

I returned to Elijah's mansion, greeted by the silent stares of lifeless objects that only added to the place's suffocating loneliness. Elijah gestured for me to follow him to his study, and with a heavy heart, I followed.

Returning to the mansion, I held back the sadness that was welling in my chest. I didn't dare cry before him, but the tears finally spilled over when we were alone.

"Stop crying!" Elijah ordered sharply.

I began to shake as his intimidating presence filled the room. He walked over to the window and exhaled deeply.

"Were you intending to sacrifice me?" I asked, gathering my courage.

"Listen, I told you to be quiet and do as I say. Remember, you are nothing but my slave!"

"What kind of king are you to make me your Luna, condemned to the same fate as the last one? You're a tyrant!" I shouted.

I didn't care if he tore me apart in his rage. A quicker death might be better than being haunted by a curse.

"I won't be your next victim!"

Even as an Omega, I still wanted my life to have value-not to be Elijah's test subject, only to meet the same end as the previous Luna because of his curse.

My body collapsed to the floor, feeling weak. Elijah radiated an aura of anger and sadness that made breathing hard.

Suddenly, the door to the study opened, and I faintly saw Vincent rush over to me.

"Please, my king," Vincent begged. "You're hurting her."

"Take her out," Elijah ordered.

It was difficult to stand on my own, and I had to put my arm over Vincent's shoulder as he supported me through the endless, empty corridors. He helped me back to my room and lowered me gently onto the bed.

"Don't provoke King Elijah," Vincent advised me.

"He will use me as a sacrifice. Just because I'm an Omega, does that mean my life doesn't matter to him?"

"It's not like that, Delilah."

"Then what is it? Can you tell me about this curse on his Luna?"

Vincent sighed, his eyes softening. "The curse is just a rumor."

I was stunned by Vincent's words, which offered no honest answer, only a vague reassurance that left me unable to ask him for the truth.

"Now, rest. When things cool down, I hope you'll show King Elijah more respect," Vincent added before leaving and locking the door from the outside.

Paranoia set in when I realized he'd locked me in. Was I a prisoner now?

What should I do, trapped here as Elijah's slave? Just accept my fate?

I got up from the bed, ran to the door, and tried to open it. Locked, of course.

"What is Elijah going to do with me?" I panicked.

A crazy idea hit me: I had to escape!

*

I stood at the window and looked down. After hours of thinking about my escape, I'd only wasted time. Now, it was nightfall, probably close to dinner.

Frankly, I was terrified of jumping from the mansion's second floor. The memory of falling off a cliff made my heart race with fear.

"You can do it, Deli," I whispered, trying to pluck up courage.

I cautiously stepped out onto the windowsill, shaking. It was pretty close, and if I landed right, I'd be fine.

The sound of a key turning in the lock made me hesitate.

"What are you doing?" Elijah's voice thundered from behind me.

I jumped, but before I could make it out, his arm caught me around the waist and pulled me back until I landed on the floor. His face was inches from mine, his heavy breathing warm on my face.

"Are you planning to escape?" he asked.

"I don't want to die because of your curse."

"No matter where you go, I will hunt you down, Delilah."

"No..."

Tears streamed down my face as despair took over. I was trapped here, destined to surrender to this reality. But my survival instinct still screamed at me to run, no matter how hopeless it seemed.

Elijah pulled me to my feet, wrapping his arm around my waist as we stood. He sighed, then half-led, half-pulled me to sit on the daybed while he stood with his arms crossed.

"Have you thought about that? If you leave here, your pack could come after you or any other pack that recognizes you," Elijah said. "You told me that your family wanted to kill you."

"I..."

"Becoming my slave, your life will be safe-as long as you obey my commands."

Safe? I wasn't sure about that.

"I never planned to make you my Luna," he said.

"Then why did you say otherwise in front of your family?" I looked at Elijah. "And that kiss?"

"Why? Has Jeremy never kissed you before? Or did you think that was a real kiss?"

I felt a surge of anger at his blunt words. How rude! I might just be a weak, useless figure in his eyes, but did he really have to look down on me like that?

I lowered my head, feeling hopeless for a moment. "Why me?"

"Because I need someone to act as a temporary Luna."

A temporary Luna? Was that even a thing? Was Elijah out of his mind?

"What if I refuse?" I asked.

"You have no choice."

"What if I expose your plan?"

"Then you'll die."

"So I really have no option, do I?"

He shook his head; his answer was clear.

Why does fate treat me like this? If I had any say in it, I would have preferred to stay a lost wolf, far away from any pack.

But his words haunted me. What if Tracy, Benson, and Jeremy wanted to come after me and finish the job? Becoming Elijah's slave was the only protection I had.

"What do I have to do?" I asked carefully.

"You will pretend to be my Luna at the next meeting. Just until I find my true Luna."

"Why do you need a Luna? You'll be fine without one. You're the king."

Elijah's expression softened, but he remained silent, holding my gaze. "Things aren't always that easy, Delilah."

I could only sigh in agreement and nod reluctantly.

"When the day comes and my true Luna appears, I'll let you go and grant you one request," Elijah promised.

"Anything?"

"As long as it doesn't affect my position as king."

As if I was going to ask him to resign, I'd be gone before anyone would let that happen. No, there was something much more important.

"So, Delilah, do we have a deal?" he asked.

The thought of Tracy, Benson, and Jeremy came rushing back to me and clarified me. They betrayed me, and I'm sure my mother would be treated horribly if Tracy became Luna. And I won't let that happen.

With Elijah's help, I can get my revenge. It's a win-win situation.

I knew exactly what I was going to ask him.

I nodded. "I want my stepsiblings and Jeremy to face justice for what they did to me. I want my name cleared in the pack," I said firmly.

Elijah grinned and held out his hand. "Deal."