CHAPTER 43: ERADICATES THE EXISTENCE

"Whatever!" Leia snapped, quickly pulling herself together. "Go tell your pack I’m not their Luna. I never agreed to be your mate."

Lucien’s lips curled into a faint smile, clearly amused by her resistance.

"I’m serious, Lucien," Leia said firmly, her eyes narrowing.

He stepped forward, closing the distance between them in a few strides until their faces were just inches apart. His intense gaze locked onto hers.

"I don’t spread lies, Leia," he whispered. "My pack knows I brought a woman into my home, a woman who just happens to be the infamous she-wolf. They chose to call you Luna on their own. And everything you did today... that’s exactly what a Luna does for her Alpha."

As he spoke, he reached up, gently tracing her jawline with his fingers, letting his touch linger beneath her chin.

Leia swallowed hard, refusing to let her composure slip. "What if you find your true mate?" she asked.

"I’ll reject her," Lucien replied without hesitation.

Leia recoiled as if a bucket full of cold water was thrown at her. "How heartless of you!" she exclaimed, pushing him away and stepping back. "Mates are meant to be together. You should accept her with your heart, not throw her aside!"

But deep down, all Leia wanted was for Lucien to find his mate, and for that mate to not be her.

Lucien’s eyes darkened. "And what if you are my mate, Leia?" His voice dropped, dangerously soft. "The day I catch your scent, be ready... because I will mark you."

It wasn’t a confession. It was a warning.

Leia’s breath hitched, but she didn’t let him see the panic rising in her chest. "Try claiming me against my will," she muttered, "and you’ll see just how wrong you are."

With that, she turned and strode out of the living room. Reaching the kitchen, she filled the water jar while trying to steady her hands.

"He thinks I’m easy to take?" she whispered to herself with a scoff. "I’m Leia Solayne. No man sways my heart... not even you, Lucien."

Snapping the lid back on the jar, she turned on her heel and climbed the stairs to her room, determined to put as much distance between herself and Lucien as she could.

~~~~

Delia hovered her hand over the small crystal ball. But as her concentration slipped for just a second, her fingertips brushed it too forcefully.

The delicate orb slipped from its stand and hit the floor, shattering into glimmering shards.

"No!" Delia gasped, dropping to her knees. Her hands frantically reached for the broken pieces, but a sharp sting made her flinch.

"Ahh!" she cried out as a broken piece of glass nicked her finger. Blood welled up from the cut, and she quickly pressed her thumb over it to stop the bleeding.

Her eyes welled with panic as she stared at the fragments.

"That was my grandmother’s..." she whispered, voice trembling. "What am I supposed to do now? I can’t see anything happening at Lucien’s mansion..."

Once the bleeding stopped, Delia didn’t waste a moment. She rushed to grab her phone, her hands still trembling slightly. She scrolled through her contacts, hoping one name would answer, Sabrina, a senior witch with deep knowledge of the craft.

Despite the late hour, Delia pressed the call button, silently pleading for it not to go to voicemail.

After a few rings, a familiar voice came through. "Hello?"

"It’s me, Delia!" she said quickly. "Thank the stars you’re awake."

"What’s wrong? Why are you calling so late?" Sabrina’s tone was calm but laced with concern.

Delia took a shaky breath. "My grandmother’s crystal ball broke. I was wondering if I could get another."

There was a pause. Then Sabrina spoke with gentle gravity, "Delia... you know the truth. Crystal balls that run through bloodlines can’t be replicated."

Delia’s heart sank. "There has to be a way," she insisted, desperation creeping into her voice. "I need one. Is there truly no way to replace it?"

"Not an exact replacement," Sabrina said firmly. "But there are alternatives. They come with consequences."

"I’m willing to take that risk," Delia replied without hesitation. "Tell me."

"Not so fast," Sabrina countered. "First, I need to know what are you truly up to, Delia?"

Delia hesitated for a moment, then confessed, "I’m after the last she-wolf."

"What?" Sabrina’s voice sharpened. "So it wasn’t just rumors and folklore? How did you even find out about her?"

"It’s a long story," Delia said. "But it was someone close to me. My childhood friend, Leia Solayne. She’s the one."

Sabrina fell silent for a second, processing the name. "And where is she now?"

"She’s been taken," Delia said. "Somehow, an Alpha found her. She’s being kept in his territory."

"Who?" Sabrina asked, almost dreading the answer.

"Lucien Calandrino," Delia revealed.

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end. "Lucien Calandrino? The bloodthirsty Alpha?"

Delia smirked with a mix of pride and defiance. "Don’t worry. I’ve faced him already. He nearly caught me, but I escaped."

"Are you serious, Delia? You should run while you still can!" Sabrina warned.

Delia scoffed. "Why would I run now, when I’ve come this far? I’m closer than ever to executing my plan. I’ve already secured the support of another pack to take Lucien down."

"You don’t understand what you’re dealing with," Sabrina said. "Lucien isn’t just another Alpha. He’s infamous among witches for a reason. Years ago, one of our own, Witch Zenovia, kidnapped him. She tried to use him in some dark ritual."

Delia’s expression hardened. "And?"

"He escaped," Sabrina said. "But not before his parents were murdered. In revenge, he wiped out Zenovia’s entire bloodline. Her whole coven was annihilated that night. No one could survive."

Delia’s eyes narrowed, but she remained silent.

"Since that day," Sabrina continued, "most witches have kept their distance, from him and from the wolves. He doesn’t just kill. He eradicates the very existence."

"Thank you for sharing this with me," Delia said.

"So, you’re not backing down!" Sabrina waited for her answer.

"No," Delia replied. "I would like you to give me the address of the place from where I can get a crystal ball."