My mouth went ajar at the sight of the familiar woman standing by the door of the tiny shack. Indeed, it was my stepmother.


    If I did not grow up knowing this woman, I may not be able to recognized her. It was surprising to see the woman wearing such an unmourous set of clothing.


    I am used to seeing L in trendy clothes with at least a pair of gold earrings, if not the whole set as if attending a very important meeting although she was just in the house the whole day. Her demeanor back in the nco Estate always appeared like she will be tending to possible guests.


    What made this woman convert into such underrated choice? I knew that the dark witch has a hand in this situation, from the attack down to my abduction. However, what did the witch offered L for her to follow hermand? "Hello, darling. Fancy seeing you here." My stepmother greeted.


    The older woman was already in front of me. I was in deep thoughts that I did not notice her walking towards me.


    I did not bother to respond. The woman was marveling on her achievement of having me here. I can see it on the smug expression on her face.


    "I thought Victor is a mighty alpha. How could he not notice that his so-called mate is gone?"


    Undoubtedly, the attack was a distraction for everyone. The rogues will create chaos in order to capture me.


    The sarcasm on L''s voice was pretty obvious. It was also evident that she wanted to rub on me the sess of her n.


    "What do you want from me?"


    "Boys, bring her inside the cottage."


    A frown marred my face when my question was not answer. I thought L wanted to boast her aplishment tonight.


    A pushed made me walked ahead. I was guided in the direction of the lone cabin.


    There was nothing much inside the hut. It was noticeably opposite to the things that L was used to.


    There was a wood stove on one side. A pot was on it. The smell of the slow cook meat wasing from there.


    An overhead kerosenemp was ced atop the two-chaired dining table. It was the only illumination inside aside from the fire in the stove. There was a curtain that reached the floor. It must a door to the only room in the cottage. It was dim inside but warm.


    "Leave us."


    My attention went back to L when I heard hermanded the two rogues that came with us.


    "Can we at least eat?"


    "Get the broth. Eat outside."


    The men did not protest. They grabbed the utensils and the pan from the stove.


    Silence surrounded us. The muted conversation from the rogue men outside was the only sound that can be heard between us. It saddened me that they appeared to enjoy what they did in Sabado Tribe. They reveled in the chaos that they left behind. "Why are you here, L?" I started.


    "I sense concern, dear."


    "You left my father? For this?"


    Animosity showed on the older woman''s face. I must have tapped a sensitive matter.


    "Do not mention that ungrateful man ever again!"


    I was taken aback at the angering from her. It was quite surprising to know that this woman resented my father. She doted on Manuel and the feeling was mutual. My father gave them nothing but affection and leverage that he forgotten that he has another daughter that wanted the same thing.


    "Manuel cared about no one but himself. When everything gets tough, he set me and my daughter aside. How could he? Janice is his daughter. The only thing that was important to him was himself and the tribe! He cannot even make me an official Luna." I viewed L.


    Everything is all about them after all.


    I had to stop the smile from showing on my face. Fate has a way of paying back. I did nothing but allow the karma to take its course.


    And it did.


    "How could Manuel do this to me and my beautiful daughter? His wife is gone. You left the nco Estate and yet, he cannot name my daughter as the sole heir of the nco Group. He has you banished in the tribe."


    I rolled my eyes at the woman''s drama. I hopped backwards since my feet were tied. I made myselffortable on the nearest chair. It was the best view to see L in her most dramatic appearance.


    "He was not even worried when Janice did note home. I knew that something happened to her. My kind daughter will not allow me to be worried sick."


    My back straightened when tears fell on L''s face.


    "Wow!" Be and I said together in my head.


    "You!"


    My head fell back a little when my stepmother''s attention went back to me. Her self-pity was done too early.


    "Where is Janice? Where did you hide my daughter? What did you do to her? My daughter only wanted to be epted by you and the Full Moon Tribe."


    I was startled. Not only because her voice was a little too loud for my liking but because of the usation underlying her statement.


    "I knew that something happened to my daughter. She will contact me if she could. She knew that I will be worried sick of her. Oh, Janice. My poor baby."


    Is this really happening? I asked myself as I stared at the devastation on L''s face. Did she really not know what happened to her daughter? Is she really not aware of her daughter''s activities as ofte?


    "Tell me! Where is my daughter, Lauren? Thest time I saw her, she told me that she will be having a meeting with you."


    My hand fisted when the other woman stepped closer to me. Her eyes were sharp and full of fury.


    So, L knew that Janice will be meeting me in that ce where Jason Andrews was waiting for me? Does she also know that her daughter sold me to that sleazy guy?


    Her hand went to my neck. Her hold tightened but not hard enough to prevent air to enter.


    "What did you do to my Janice, Lauren? She is your sister!"


    I stared into her eyes. I see nothing but a mother''s fear for her daughter aside from the fury she has for me. A resentment that I cannot understand. That I did not deserve.


    Thest time Janice and I crossed paths, it was not good. Although there was nothing good that came between us whenever our paths collided.


    The woman was not herself. She was ming me of the bad things that happened to her. She was using me of stealing me from her when in fact, it was her who has been iming all the things that was meant for me. My family, my wealth, my marriage.


    With that in mind, I wondered if L has been telling the truth. Is she not aware of what happened to her daughter? I thought they were scheming together. They have been two peas in a pod when ites to tormenting me all these years.


    Has Janice been on her own thest time I saw her? She was conniving with Jason Andrews that night. She also witnessed that Victor''s men came to my rescue that she wanted to finish the job that Jason failed to do. She deliberately mmed into my car caused me to crashed into a tree.


    Janice and I wrestled that night but I left her alive. I chose to be with Victor than dirty my hands with her blood. Yet, I remember Janice telling me that if she fails she will be feed to the wolves...


    I groaned when the hand that was on my neck tightened.


    "Where is my daughter?"


    I tried to pulled the hand that was on my neck. I had to cough in order to breathed some air.


    Either L became stronger or it was proven to move harder when a person''s hands were tied.


    "S-shouldn''t you know where she is, L-l?" I said with difficulty. "A-after all, you and Janice has been p-nning my demise for a long t-time."


    It was getting harder to breath every time I speak with L''s hand tightening on my neck.


    "You will not be here if I knew where she is, b*tch! You and Janice fought that night. Where did you send my daughter?!"


    L''s eyes were no longer normal. They were glowing in fury. A misdirected fury.


    With all my might, together with my feet, I pushed the older woman away from me.


    I gasped for air. I was breathing heavily but my eyes remained on L who straightened immediately.


    "Perhaps this will make you talk."


    A gasped exited my mouth when I saw a vial in her hand.


    Knowing that she has been siding with the dark witch, the dark liquid in that vial will be up to no good.