CHAPTER 8

Laiza woke up groggily, confused to find herself in the middle of the city mall. She glanced around, her heart racing as she searched for the stranger she had been with. Amid the chaos of her thoughts, a piercing voice called out.

"LAIZA!" her mother yelled, her tone sharp and high-pitched.

Laiza turned to face her mother, who was storming toward her. But instead of listening to her mother's frantic yelling, Laiza continued scanning the area. She hoped, for some inexplicable reason, to catch sight of the stranger once more. Each glance brought her a prayer to see him, but reality struck painfully when no one familiar appeared. Her mother, now beside her, began scolding her absent-minded daughter, accusing her of being unfilial and reckless running off from the house only to sleep in the mall like some untrained rogue.

Laiza ignored her mother's complaints, her thoughts fixated on the stranger. Where did he go? she wondered. But unbeknownst to her, a shadowed silhouette lingered behind one of the shops. The figure, standing a daunting 6'5" with a finely sculpted build and an evil smirk, watched her briefly before melting into the bustling crowd of the mall.

As Laiza and her mother walked toward the parking lot, they noticed a commotion near a nearby alley. A crowd had gathered, murmuring in hushed tones, while the police tried to disperse the onlookers. Intrigued, Laiza's curiosity got the better of her. Ignoring her mother's ongoing rant, she slipped away to get a closer look.

The sight that met her eyes froze her in horror.

In the alley lay the remains of six men. Their bodies were grotesquely mutilated, their heads decapitated and mounted on metal spikes, with the spikes driven into their torsos. Limbs were torn apart as though someone, or something had done this purely for sport. Their entrails were scattered across the alley, painting a macabre scene. But the most chilling detail was their eyes: each pair was filled with tears, as if the victims had died in unimaginable agony.

Laiza's breath hitched as recognition set in. These were the very men who had chased her and the stranger in the park. Her mind raced with questions. Who could have done this? The brutality seemed impossible to comprehend.

Before she could process further, her mother found her, grabbing her arm and dragging her away from the grisly scene. Despite being pulled away, Laiza kept glancing back, her stomach churning with fear and confusion.

The ride home was a cacophony of Camilla's hysteria as she recounted the gruesome sight. Once they arrived at the mansion, she rushed into Daniel's arms, recounting the ordeal with frantic energy. Daniel, ever the devoted husband, calmed her, leading her inside.

Laiza, however, felt nothing but disgust watching them. She muttered under her breath, "Doesn't he have a job to keep him from being here every day?" Ignoring them, she made her way to the kitchen. Pouring herself a glass of water, she mulled over the horrific events.

The spiked heads, the torn limbs, the tears in their eyes—none of it made sense. Could the stranger have done this? she wondered. It seemed impossible. He was injured, barely able to stand when they escaped. Yet the scene in the alley suggested a predator far more terrifying than any human. Then another detail struck her: the victims' hearts were missing.

Laiza's blood ran cold. Why would someone take their hearts? The thought made her head spin. Frustrated, she shook her head and forced herself to let it go. The authorities will deal with it. It has nothing to do with me.

She gulped down her water and trudged upstairs to her room, exhaustion finally catching up with her.

Meanwhile, the stranger staggered through the dimly lit streets, his body battered, and his steps unsteady. A black van screeched to a halt in front of him, and several men emerged. One of them, a burly figure with an irritated scowl, marched toward him.

"You crazy son of a bitch! What the hell is wrong with you?" the man growled; his voice heavy with frustration.

Darwin smirked weakly. "Nice to see you too," he retorted with sarcasm, despite his obvious exhaustion.

The man huffed angrily as he helped Darwin into the van. "Why the hell are you so bent on driving us all insane? One moment, you're fulfilling your duties like a proper king. The next, you're running off like some captive animal. And this time, you tangled yourself with a damn gang!"

Darwin leaned back; his breath laboured.

The man's tone softened, his frustration giving way to worry. "In case you've forgotten, you're the King of Wolves. A kingdom with a broken king is an open invitation to hyenas. Your siblings won't stay neutral forever. They'll eliminate you and claim the throne themselves if you keep this up."

Darwin closed his eyes, his exhaustion overtaking him. Sighing in exasperation, the man instructed the driver to head back to the castle. As the van sped through the quiet streets, Darwin's mind wandered to the fiery girl he had encountered. A faint smile tugged at his lips before he drifted into a deep slumber.

That night, Laiza sat by her bedroom window, staring at the star-strewn sky. The events of the day refused to leave her mind. Her laptop chimed, breaking her thoughts. She walked over and opened it.

It was a message from Crestwood Academy. She had passed her exams and gained admission. Not only that, but her scores were so exceptional that she had been awarded honorary elite status, advancing two grades.

Ordinarily, such news would have thrilled her. But today, she barely registered it. Her mind was still haunted by the images of the alley.

The following day, the Denford's attended the registration ceremony at Valore Ridge Academy, where Stella was hailed as the family's prodigious star. Students and teachers alike fawned over her, praising her achievements and promising her a smooth academic journey. Meanwhile, Laiza wandered the campus with Aiden, trying to ease his nerves.

"Don't tell me the fearless Aiden is actually scared?" she teased.

Blushing, he replied, "I'm not scared… just nervous. I'm the butler's son in a school full of nobles. I don't belong here."

Laiza placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then make a place for yourself. Don't try to fit in. Stand out. And if anyone messes with you, put them in their place. If it gets too much, call me. I'll handle it."

Aiden's admiration for her grew as he nodded.

At the ceremony, chaos erupted when Laiza claimed the seat reserved for the "honoured student." Stella's friends protested vehemently, but Laiza held her ground. When the Vice-Chancellor arrived, the truth was revealed: Laiza was the top scorer, not Stella.

In a shocking twist, Laiza forfeited the scholarship, giving it to Aiden. Stella, humiliated, erupted in anger, but Laiza coolly dismissed her tantrum, ensuring Aiden would succeed without being held back by her sister's incompetence.

That evening, Laiza packed her belongings and left the Denford mansion, finally breaking free of its oppressive chains. As the plane ascended, she gazed at the horizon, a smirk on her lips. This is just the beginning, she thought. They'll watch as I rise—and fall on their knees when I'm done.