Lana's POV
My eyes snapped open, and I looked around, only to find myself in an unfamiliar place. Pain radiated through my body. When I looked down, I realized I was tied to a chair. A surge of fear rushed through my veins.
"Somebody help…" I muttered, my voice barely a whisper. I was too weak to shout.
What have I done to deserve this?
Why am I the only one going through hell?
Who the hell put me here?
Questions swirled in my mind, but there were no answers.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching. My heart skipped a beat, thudding loudly in my chest as panic surged through me. A moment later, an unfamiliar voice echoed from just beyond the door.
"Hi, boss. We have the werewolves with us. Once the experiment is complete, we'll take them to the lab immediately," the man said coolly.
That's when it hit me they're werewolf hunters. Humans obsessed with tracking down and exploiting our kind. A cold chill ran down my spine.
They couldn't possibly know what I am... what I'm truly capable of… right?
Desperately, I tried to shift into my werewolf form, summoning the power from deep within me but nothing happened. My body remained still, human, weak.
Then came the laughter dark and mocking.
The door creaked open and the man who'd been on the call stepped inside. His eyes gleamed with cruel amusement.
"You think you can escape?" he sneered. "That's not possible. We're not stupid enough to make it easy for you."
"Who are you?" I asked, feigning ignorance, though deep down, I already knew the answer.
He chuckled, clearly amused by my question. "Are you a fool?" he snapped, then pointed at the chains wrapped tightly around me. "Didn't you see what we used to tie you up with?"
I followed his gesture and looked down more closely. My breath caught in my throat. Silver. The chain glinted under the dim light cold, unforgiving, and lethal to my kind. No wonder I couldn't transform. No wonder I felt so weak.
"That chain," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance, "is your kind's weakness. Even the most powerful werewolf wouldn't dare try to break it."
He smirked, clearly enjoying my helplessness.
I clenched my jaw, fury bubbling beneath my skin. I wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug grin off his face, to tear him apart limb by limb. But I couldn't move. I was trapped. Powerless. All I could do… was wish.
"What do you want from me? Why did you bring me here?" I demanded, my voice hoarse but steady.
He let out a loud, mocking laugh that echoed through the dimly lit room.
"You're stunning beautiful, really," he said, circling me slowly like a predator savoring the moment. "I didn't expect someone so pretty to be so dumb. You seriously don't know why you're here?"
He paused in front of me, his gaze cold and calculating.
"I'm human. You think I'd fall in love with a creature like you?" He sneered, leaning in closer. "But to be fair, if you weren't a wild animal, I might've kept you all to myself."
Disgust twisted in my gut, but I kept my glare steady. "Do you have a death wish?" I growled. "If you still value your life, let me go. Do it now, and I won't hurt you. I'll even forgive you."
He burst into laughter again, the sound sharp and cruel.
"You're hilarious," he said, wiping a fake tear from the corner of his eye. "Do you really think you're in a position to talk about forgiving me?"
He leaned down, his face inches from mine, his smile dripping with menace.
"I'm the boss here. And with that silver chain wrapped around you, you're nothing. Powerless."
He straightened, his tone turning colder.
"You better get used to it. You're not a person to us. You're not special. You're just… an experiment. And once the lab is ready, that's where you'll stay. That's all you're good for."
Seeing that intimidation wasn't going to work, I forced myself to stay calm. Think, Lana. Think. The Moon Goddess didn't give me a second chance just to let a human end me like this. I refused to die in chains.
I cleared my throat, forcing down the bitterness rising in it, and painted a sweet, innocent smile on my face. The kind that made prey feel safe before the kill.
"I was just joking with you," I said lightly, tilting my head with false warmth. "There's no way I could hurt you. I mean, look at me powerless, exactly like you said."
His expression faltered, just for a heartbeat.
"But… I have a deal for you," I added, letting a hint of mystery drip into my voice. "You want more werewolves, don't you? Or are you content with just one?"
That caught his attention. His gaze sharpened. I could practically see the gears turning behind his eyes.
"What are you driving at?" he asked coldly, suspicious but intrigued.
I leaned forward slightly, just enough to show eagerness without desperation. "I'm a rogue. I travel, I know where others hide. I can help you catch more of my kind, if you release me. I'll even serve you, obey your orders. It's a win-win… for both of us."
He stared at me, silent, weighing every word like a predator sensing a trap. For a moment, I thought it might be working.
Then he stepped closer.
Too close.
His lips curled into a slow, wicked smile. "You really think I'm that easy to fool?"
Before I could answer, he reached into his coat pocket.
And pulled something out.
My breath caught.
It wasn't a weapon.
It was far worse.