Chapter 4 C4

The night pressed in thick around the car, silence shattered only by the distant wail of sirens and the faint thrum of the idling engine.

Lilith stepped inside, her presence filling the space like poison gas. Her once-perfect hair clung to her damp face, her lips twisted into a sneer despite the pain that lingered in her posture from the stairwell fall. Her eyes glittered, sharp and cruel.

"Well, well," she purred, voice dripping with venom. "Isn't this interesting? My dear stepsister, sitting here so cozy with the Lycan Prince himself."

Her gaze flicked to Damian, and I caught the faint flash of recognition in her eyes. She knew who he was. Worse, she knew what he was worth.

Damian's storm-gray eyes narrowed, his voice low, calm, dangerous. "You shouldn't be here."

Lilith smirked. "Neither should you. But then again, accidents happen, don't they?"

My stomach turned. I had seen this scene before, though not in the exact same form. In my last life, Lilith had perfected the art of twisting everything, using poison, lies, manipulation, always from the shadows. This was different. She was bold now, reckless, a predator cornered yet still baring her fangs.

My wolf stirred faintly inside me, pressing against the seals like claws scraping at a cage. Let me out, she whispered. Let me tear her apart.

Not yet. I couldn't risk it. My wolf's full power remained dormant, tangled in Lilith's past witchcraft. But even sealed, I could outmaneuver her.

"You shouldn't push yourself so soon after a fall," I said sweetly, tilting my head. "Your spine might not forgive you."

Her eyes snapped to mine, fury flashing. "That was your doing!" she hissed.

"Was it?" I smiled coldly. "Funny. I seem to recall you were the one arranging accidents tonight."

For a heartbeat, the car was a pressure cooker. Damian's gaze flicked between us, silent but calculating. His hand rested casually on his thigh, but I knew that if Lilith so much as twitched wrong, he'd move faster than lightning.

Lilith's lips curled. "You think you're clever. But I've already started the game, Selene. Every move you make, I've accounted for. You won't win, trust me."

I leaned forward, eyes locking on hers. "Then why do you look so afraid?"

Her composure cracked, just for an instant. Her pupils dilated, her hand clenched into a fist. And in that sliver of hesitation, the car shuddered violently.

Gunfire erupted outside. Bullets pinged against the armored glass, the screech of tires tearing the air.

Damian cursed under his breath, his expression darkening. "They've found us."

Before I could react, the driver's window exploded, shards scattering across the seats. A masked man lunged, gun raised.

Everything blurred. Damian moved, faster than my eyes could follow. His hand shot out, wrenching the weapon away, crushing it in his grip like cheap plastic. With a single blow, he sent the attacker sprawling into the street.

I gaped, my heart slamming. Even poisoned, weakened... he's this strong?

Lilith hissed, pressing herself against the door, calculating whether to run or cling to survival.

Damian's eyes locked with mine, sharp, commanding. "Stay behind me."

For once, I didn't argue.

The doors were yanked open. Three more figures poured in, blades flashing under the streetlights. Their movements were fast, coordinated, professional assassins.

Damian met them head-on, his fists a blur of motion, each strike precise, lethal. Bones cracked. Men crumpled.

And yet, even as he fought, his power faltered. I saw the flicker, the wolfsbane still eating at him from within, dulling the edge of his strength. He staggered, just once, barely noticeable. But I caught it.

Lilith caught it too. Her lips curved into a triumphant smirk.

"Still poisoned, aren't you, Your Highness?" she whispered.

Rage spiked in my veins. Before I could think, I grabbed the fallen blade at my feet, its hilt slick with blood. My grip was clumsy. I wasn't a trained assassin, not yet, but my intent was sharp as steel.

When one of the masked men lunged for Damian's blind spot, I moved.

Steel met flesh. The man howled, collapsing at my feet. My hands trembled, but I held firm.

Damian's head snapped toward me, shock flashing in his stormy eyes. For a second, the chaos slowed, and his gaze softened. Something unspoken passed between us, surprise, recognition, maybe even respect.

But there was no time for more.

Lilith shrieked, slamming the door open, trying to flee into the night.

My wolf snarled inside me, her voice clear as thunder. Don't let her go.

"Damian!" I shouted, pointing after her.

He didn't hesitate. With a final, brutal strike, he dropped the last assassin and surged after Lilith, his storm-gray eyes blazing.

I stumbled to the door, chest heaving, the taste of iron sharp on my tongue. For a heartbeat, I stood frozen, torn between fear and exhilaration.

This was only the beginning.

And this time, I wouldn't die screaming.

This time, I would fight.