Chapter 5: The Offer

The weight of Dante's revelation still clung to Lila like a second skin. Werewolves. The Mafia. A world she had never imagined now loomed over her, pulling her deeper into its depths with every passing moment. She had spent the night tossing and turning, every possibility running through her mind like a fever dream. Could she believe him? And more importantly, could she trust him?

By the time morning arrived, exhaustion settled deep in her bones, but she forced herself up. The scent of stale whiskey and regret clung to the walls of their tiny home, her father passed out in his usual spot on the couch. She had spent years cleaning up his messes, but this was beyond anything she had ever dealt with before.

And then, as if summoned by her thoughts, there was a knock at the door.

Lila hesitated before opening it, already knowing who she would find. Dante stood there, his presence a dark contrast against the morning light. There was something about him something steady, unshakable that both terrified and intrigued her.

"May I come in?" His voice was low and smooth, a blade wrapped in velvet.

She stepped aside, allowing him in, shutting the door softly behind him. Her father didn't stir.

Dante's sharp gaze flickered over her father's unconscious form, but he didn't comment. Instead, he turned his attention to Lila, his expression unreadable.

"I have an offer for you," he said finally.

Lila stiffened. "What kind of offer?"

"The kind that changes your life."

A Dangerous Proposal

Lila folded her arms, trying to appear unaffected, though her pulse thundered. "If this is about my father's debt, I already told you I have nothing to give."

Dante's lips curled in something that wasn't quite a smile. "I'm not here for your father." He took a step closer, his presence suffocating yet strangely compelling. "I'm here for you."

Her breath hitched. "Me?"

"I can offer you protection. A way out of this life." His voice was calm, yet it carried the weight of something heavier, something unspoken. "But I need something in return."

She narrowed her eyes. "And what exactly do you want from me?"

Dante held her gaze, and for a moment, the air between them crackled with something electric. Then, in a voice that sent shivers down her spine, he said, "Your cooperation."

Lila swallowed. "Cooperation with what?"

"My world," he said simply. "The mafia. My pack. You'll be under my protection, but you'll also be expected to follow my rules."

She shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "You think I want to be involved in that? I don't even understand any of it!"

Dante didn't flinch. "You will."

The Weighing of Choices

Lila paced the small space of her living room, her mind a whirlwind of doubt and desperation. "So let me get this straight. You're offering to take me out of this hellhole, but only if I agree to be part of whatever world you come from? And if I say no?"

Dante's jaw tightened. "Then you stay here. And when my enemies come looking, when your father's debts finally catch up to you, I won't be able to stop them."

It was a harsh truth, and she hated that he was right. The men who had come to their house the night before weren't finished with them. They would be back, and next time, Dante might not be there to send them away.

Still, it wasn't an easy decision. "Why me?" she whispered. "You barely know me."

Dante studied her, his dark eyes searching. "Because I see something in you, Lila."

She scoffed. "Yeah? And what's that?"

"Strength."

The word stunned her into silence. No one had ever called her strong before. She had spent her life being overlooked, dismissed, and treated as nothing more than a burden. And now here he was—this powerful, dangerous man telling her she had something worth noticing.

She exhaled slowly. "And if I agree? What happens next?"

Dante's lips twitched, just the faintest hint of approval. "Then you start a new life. A better one. With me."

Lila hesitated, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. It wasn't just a choice between staying or leaving it was a choice between the life she had always known and the unknown future that awaited her.

Finally, she took a breath and met his gaze head-on. "Okay," she said, her voice steady. "I'll do it."

Dante's expression remained unreadable, but she swore she saw something flicker in his eyes. Satisfaction? Relief? She couldn't tell.

All she knew was that her world was about to change forever.