GigiGrey

CONTENT WARNING: CONTAINS SEVERAL DARK THEMES, LIKE DEATH & GORE. (Read with Caution.)
The female lead may or may not be cruel. (Roast her with caution)
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The art of revenge is often a slow burn - calculated, patient and emotionally restrained. But what happens when vengeance strikes instantly?

After being banished and dethroned as Luna by her pack Veronica Gordon is betrayed by her fiance' and is brutally murdered by him and his lover,her body shredded for organ trafficking on the eve of her wedding. Death should have been the end,but Veronica defies it, striking a deal for a second chance. Bound to the site of her demise and granted the powers for her revenge, she transforms the place into Delilah's Inn,an establishment named after the infamous biblical seductress. Her mission is clear: lure and destroy cheating men and their accomplices.

Centuries later, Delilah's Inn becomes a legend, immortalised in a mysterious novel with only 200 copies printed every five years. Adonis Callum, a 23 year old university student and devoted fan of the tale, devours every edition. But his obsession takes a grim turn when he meets the same fate as Veronica - betrayed and murdered by his lover.

Instead of passing on, Adonis is sent to the Inn by The Grim Reaper,who hopes to expedite his soul collection. Yet Adonis,with his innocence intact, proves immune to the Inn's seductive power. To escape and reclaim his life, he strikes an unlikely deal with the Grim Reaper: make Veronica fall in love with him - a woman whose heart has been dead for over a century cursed to feel nothing but cruelty.

As Adonis navigates the sinister politics,lies and anguish entangled within Delilah's Inn, he must decide if his freedom is worth breaking through Veronica's icy facade - or if her revenge will claim him too.
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TROPES:
•— Werewolf.
•—Dominant FL.
•—Isekai x Transmigration.
•—Dark Romance.
•—Betrayal x Revenge.
•—Slow Burn.
•—Horror?(I'll leave that you to decide)
•—Boss × Employee relationship.
•—Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine.
•— Possessive x obsessive.
•— Morally Grey FL.
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Recommended Reading Theme: Dark.
Recommended Reading Font: Lora, cardo Or Merriweather.
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EXCERPT:

I walked into the room, my chest still heaving as I stopped in front of her. She sat there, calm and unbothered, as though she hadn’t just spilled blood in the lobby like it was her second nature.

Her crimson-polished nails clicked rhythmically against the smooth table. Her gaze was fixed on the open book in front of her—a book she hadn’t turned a single page of all morning.

“I see you love standing, Adonis.” Her voice was calm, almost too calm. She didn’t bother looking up.

“It was just a hug, Veronica,” I said through gritted teeth. “You shouldn’t have done that. Maya has served you loyally for years—”

“Until she touched what is mine.” Her voice sliced through my words, sharp and absolute.

I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “What’s yours? What’s the point of being yours when you treat me like… like I’m nothing?”

The book slammed shut with a deafening clap. She rose to her feet in one fluid motion, every step toward me deliberate, predatory.

Her eyes met mine, cold and unrelenting. “No one touches you but me, Adonis. Good, bad, whatever label you want to slap on it—I don’t care.”

My breath caught in my throat, but I forced myself to hold my ground. “That’s not love, Veronica.”

She tilted her head, a cruel smile tugging at her lips. “Love?” She laughed, soft but sharp, the sound laced with mockery. “Don’t insult me.”

Delilah's Inn: Mated To The Cursed Luna.

"It's been a century. Make Veronica fall in love with you, and you'll get your life back." His words replayed in my head as I stifle a laugh.

"You have got to be kidding." I chuckled, but he wasn't laughing or smiling; his expression was one of indifference. "You're kidding, right?"

Zephyr rose and slipped his hands into his pockets. "That's the only deal I have to offer you, Adonis. I've watched Veronica go through this for a century—alone, consumed by gloom and pain. I want you to break her curse and set her free."

"You placed the curse on her. Can't you just… reverse it?"

"It doesn't work that way, Adonis. If you don't want this, I won't hesitate to send you to the afterlife tonight."

"That's easier said than done," I muttered.

"What's there to it? She's already smitten by you. She left you with a warning. Veronica isn't a fan of threats. She acts instinctively. That's a bonus, aside from your looks. I must say, you're quite the specimen."

"Veronica isn't smitten by me—she clearly hates me. Did you see the way she looked at me? I couldn't even get my own girlfriend to fall in love with me," I laughed bitterly at the irony.

"Well, that's something you'll have to figure out if you want another shot at life. You'll work as Veronica's assistant. I've already informed her about this, so you should figure out the rest."

"What if I don't fall in love with her? What happens afterward? What happens to the Inn?"

"You'll both be reborn. She won't have any memories of you or the Inn. If that's a good or bad thing, it's up to you to decide. Your business right now is to break that curse."

The job offer was appealing. I'd worked part-time as a hotel manager before. I knew everything about this place thanks to the books, but I didn't know much about Veronica—only her revenge and the curse that bound her.

I may not succeed in this mission I'd been given, but if there's one thing I've learned from her, it's to never give up on life easily. At least I could say I tried. And if she'd be reborn without any memories of me, well, then my job just got easier.

I bit my lower lip, deep in thought, as Zephyr stared at me, his hands still in his pockets. I never expected my life to be this messed up—or my death, either. My whole plan of being a self-published author was now on hold. My education, everything, while the culprits lived freely. I could receive love from anyone now, but I doubted I'd be the one giving it.

I stood up. "Fine, then. I accept your offer. How much time do I have?"

A smirk slowly spread across Zephyr's face as he answered, "Five months."

"Five months? To break a one-hundred-and-twenty-four-year-old curse?"

"You also have one day to have your existence wiped out without a trace." He jested. "No one would remember an orphaned boy trying to make a name for himself, who died at the hands of his lover. You've already accepted the deal, so I'll see you around."

Zephyr turned to leave as my fists slowly clenched.

He paused at the door, his hand on the knob. "Not a word about this to Veronica. Work smartly. Good luck." Then, he opened the door and left.

With a grunt, I kicked the closet door, releasing my frustration. I ran my hands through my hair and sat on the bed. I knew I had to do this. My family had passed away in a car accident when I was a toddler. I'd been told that, despite the intensity of the crash, I was found cradled in my mother's arms—unharmed. It had been a miracle to all, like Harry Potter—I was "the boy who lived."

Now, I'm the man who died at the hands of his lover. But I could change that. I could publish my manuscript and take the world by surprise. And even if it meant sacrificing five months to abject slavery, I would.

Sighing, I laid on the bed, my eyes fixed on the ceiling until they slowly shut. When I opened them again, a pair of brown eyes were locked onto mine.

CHAPTER THREE