The Lycan King. Killian Rudwick, finally departed for his kingdom. I stood among the others to see him off, maintaining a stole expression even as my mind betrayed me. My mind drifted to the events ofst night, reying every word, every touch. It wasn''t a rtionship in the fullest sense. but that man knew how to make mepletely overwhelmed. The memories made my cheeks heat up, but I forced myself to stay calm.


    And that man''sst words made my head spin even more


    111 pick you up every night if your partner leaves you with an empty bed''


    No wonder the king was surrounded by many women when he was able to seduce them so easily. I shook my head. They had their own portion of the deal and I didn''t need to care about his


    I don''t have time to waste on daydreaming right now. With Killian gone, it was


    time to start my revenge.


    One by one, they would fall.


    The ck market was sucked away in the shadows of a forgotten alley, its existence marked only by a faded signboard and the faint smell of something sharp in the air. I slipped inside the shop, a dimly lit room filled with rows of vials and jars, eachbeled with a promise of pain, death, or torture. The shopkeeper, a thin man with sunken eyes and a crooked smile, greeted me with a slight bow.


    "Wee, my prettydy."


    The greeting was not meant with the warmth of a friendly tea invitation but rather death.


    "You''vee to the right ce for... solutions. What do you need?" he asked in a husky voice.


    I kept my one, hoping not to tremble. "I n


    "I need poison."


    My eyes could hardly take my eyes off the rows of colorful vials. They were beautiful but deadly. Then, I turned to the shopkeeper. "Something that causes pain. Enough to torture the victim but not kill them outright."


    The shopkeeper''s grin widened, revealing his yellowed teeth.


    Ah, a connoisseur of suffering. Very well."


    He moved to a cab, opening it with the key hanging from his neck. "I have many options for such a request. This, for example...


    My eyes narrowed. The shopkeeper held up a small bottle filled with a pale green liquid. "This one causes a burning sensation in the throat and somach. Very effective for a slow, agonizing demise.


    1 shook my head. "Too obvious. I need something more subtle"


    The shopkeeper nodded thoughtfully, setting the bottle aside. He rummaged around again before pulling out another one.


    "This is a poison that is extracted from the bloodthorn flower. It causes unbearable cramps and nausea but leaves no trace on the body. Perfect for someone who wants you to... punish, without telling anyone else. Or should I say just a little secret between us, prettydy."


    I considered it for a moment. "Does itst?"


    She chuckled. "Oh, yes. Hours of torment before it subsides. A good choice for someone you really hate."


    "In other words, I can use it multiple times?" I asked in confirmation


    The man blinked for a moment before hisughter boomed throughout the shop.


    "Oh, you like a little torment h? Of course,dy! It''s very effective," he replied enthusiastically.


    I moved ufortably. I never thought in my life I would take someone''s life but those so-called family, those criminals had driven me to evil and this was all I could do to avenge all the pain of my loved ones.


    I''m being honest, it doesn''t feel that bad,


    The shopkeeper leaned over the counter and 1 gasped,


    "Tell me. Who has betrayed you that you, the Benevolent Luna, most famous in


    the packs of this continent would embrace evil?" she stated sarcastically.


    í jaded stammering. "I how do you know?t


    The shopkeeper held up four fingers with a wicked grin,


    s, then tappert his forefinger on his temple


    "If you don''t understand, it''s meant to be the inner eye. Your magie will not work


    on me,


    My Junds gripped the sides of my clothes, afraid of what might happen.


    "I don''t care. My purpose in building this shop is not for kindnes


    But thest


    I blinked, surprised to hear that deration. I thought he was going to threaten


    and ckmail me. But


    frys had a chance


    "Don''t think badly of me. I have no interest in ckmailing you. Just take my advice" He showed his teeth sharply "Never hesitate with what you dioose. When you do, you will be ruined"


    Lunderstand, I replied weakly.


    "Really, I didn''t predict that you of all people woulde here. But I can


    understand. A taste or revenge is always deliciou."


    (Those words left more speechless. That meant it wasn''t just me who hade here for revenge


    “11) take it," I said without hesitation, cing the bag of coins on the table.


    The shopkeeper wrapped the bottle carefully, handing it to me with a bow." It''s a pleasure doing business with you, mydy. May your revenge be as satisfying as you hope"


    Returning to the pack was easy. I slipped through the gate unnoticed, my face carefully forming the mask of normalcy I had perfected. No one was suspicious as I moved through the hallways and into the kitchen. The mails were busy with dinner preparations, too busy to notice that I took a bottle from my porket.


    I unscrewed the cap and carefully counted three drops into a bowl of soup set aside for my fake father''s beloved wife. It was her favorite meal, recipe that the rest of the family didn''t seem to enjoy. The thought made me smile faintly as I resealed the bottle and slipped away.


    The dinner went smoothly at first. I ate quietly, ignoring the chatter around me. As always Carni was the star of the show. I tuned it all out my focus in our person: my fake mom.


    She lifted the spoon to her lips, blowing gently before taking a sip. I watched her closely, my heart pounding with anticipation. He ate another spoonful, and it didn''t take long


    Her hand headed for her throat, her expression turning confused. She coughed, then gagged, her spoon ttering on the table.


    "What... what is this?TM


    Panic erupted around the table. Cami screamed, rushing to her side as her mother rolled over, clutching her stomach. The old woman''s face. turned a sickly slude of green, brads of sweat breaking out on her forehead.


    "Mom Cami screamed, her hands shaking as she tried to calm her down. "What''s going on!!"


    My take father immediately went to see his lovely wife. The maids scrambled to get water, towels, anything to help her, but there was nothing they could da. The poison had taken over him.


    1 jumped in and yed the role of the ughter who was sad and frightened of her mother''s fate. Inwardly, I reveled in the chaos. The screams, the pans, the sight of her writing in pain; it was all I could have hoped for.


    The fake mother''s cries filled the room, her agony obvious to all. She seemed between life and death, Cami sobbed uncontrobly, pleading for help that never came. And 1... I savored every second of it.


    "Let me call for a braler," I suggested.


    Guni immediately nodded obediently T-thank you, sister. Please, hurry up!"


    On the way away from the dining room, I smiled. Well, I admit that revenge and evil are sweet