BEASTLY INFERNO:6

The throbbing pain in my head was what pulled me out of unconsciousness. I groaned softly, my hand instinctively reaching up to touch the tender spot. A small lump had formed on my scalp, and the moment my fingers brushed against it, a sharp sting followed. I winced. The door creaked open, and I glanced up to see Tristan standing there, carrying a tray. His imposing figure, framed by the dim light from the hallway, sent a shiver through me.

Without a word, he approached and placed the tray on my lap. On it sat a bowl of cereal and a glass of water. A small part of me was surprised—touched, even—by the gesture.

"Eat up so I can give you medicine to reduce the pain. You've been asleep for hours," he said, his tone flat, betraying no emotion.

As I reached for the spoon, the events of last night came rushing back to me: the tails, the unbearable heat in that room, the monstrous glow in his eyes. I gasped, my hand faltering for a moment. My gaze darted toward him and then behind him, where the tails had once been.

"It's gone," I whispered, barely audible.

He turned his sharp eyes toward me, catching my gaze. "What are you?" I blurted before I could stop myself.

He scoffed bitterly, his jaw tightening. "I don't know," he muttered, turning away abruptly. He walked over to a drawer, rifling through its contents.

I stared down at the cereal, noticing it had gone soggy, but hunger pushed me to eat anyway. Bite after bite, I forced myself to focus on the meal, trying to suppress the memories haunting me. Once I finished, he shoved two tablets into my hand, his expression unreadable.

"Thank you," I whispered, swallowing the pills with a sip of water.

Tristan took the empty tray and headed toward the back exit without looking at me. He paused for a moment, his voice quieter but still firm. "I don't know what I am, and frankly, I've accepted it. I don't care anymore."

With that, he walked out, leaving me alone.

The painkillers soon dulled the throbbing in my head, and I managed to get out of bed. After completing my morning routine, I chose a pair of knee-length trousers and a simple black top. When I stepped into the living room, I found Tristan lacing up his shoes near the door.

"I have a meeting with the Alpha. I'll be back soon," he announced brusquely before disappearing out the door, leaving me stunned by his abrupt departure.

I sighed and decided to explore the house. Room by room, I wandered, trying to piece together the mystery of Tristan and his strange life. Eventually, I stopped in front of the locked door. Something about it unsettled me, and despite my curiosity, I moved on. The walls were beginning to feel like they were closing in on me, so I ventured outside, breathing in the fresh, earthy air.

The forest was dense, the ground muddy from recent rain, but a faint pathway with tire tracks caught my attention. Against my better judgment, I decided to follow it. After walking for a few minutes, the path opened up to a clearing where several houses stood. Relief filled me for a moment until I noticed the large crowd gathered ahead.

Curiosity drew me closer, maneuvering through the sea of people until I reached the front. My breath hitched at the horrific sight before me.

Tristan and another man—whom I assumed was Dimitri—stood at the center of a circle. Five men knelt before them, bloodied and bruised. Their faces were battered, and their eyes pleaded for mercy.

Dimitri addressed the crowd, his voice carrying authority and menace. "As you all know, our pack is the strongest in the world because of our secret weapon. But strength always attracts enemies." He paused, scanning the crowd before continuing. "These men are rogues who dared to target our Luna—my wife, my world. They will serve as an example of what happens when you cross this pack!"

A shiver ran down my spine as Dimitri nodded toward Tristan. The look on Tristan's face shifted into something sinister, something monstrous.

He approached the first man, grabbing him by the arm and yanking him to his feet. The man whimpered, shaking with fear, as Tristan unbound his hands. When the man tried to back away, Tristan's movements were quicker than the eye could follow.

What happened next was worse than any nightmare.

Tristan held the man's mouth open and tore his jaw apart with brutal, unrelenting force. Blood spattered everywhere, and the man collapsed in a lifeless heap. My body froze in horror as I watched.

The remaining men screamed, their pleas for mercy echoing through the clearing, but Tristan showed no remorse. He moved to the next man, his hands coated in blood. This time, he ripped out the man's heart, holding the still-beating organ in his hand before crushing it with ease.

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision. I glanced around at the crowd, but their faces were expressionless, as if this gruesome display was nothing out of the ordinary.

The third man fell to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably. "Please," he begged. "Please don't kill me. I'll do anything."

Tristan crouched in front of him, his cold gaze boring into the man's soul. "You wanted to sexually assault the Luna," he said, his voice laced with venom. "You'll be dessert."

Ignoring the third man for now, Tristan turned his attention to the last two. His lips curled into a wicked smile. "Ah, humans," he said mockingly. "I'll enjoy this."

He shoved them to the ground, pulling a knife from his pocket. My stomach churned, and I took a step back, unable to bear any more.

But before I could escape, his voice rang out. "Don't you dare move, Neroli."

I froze, my heart pounding. Slowly, I turned to face him. His eyes locked onto mine, his expression dark and unreadable.

"You think I didn't know you were there?" he sneered. "Tell me, how did you like the show? Satisfying, wasn't it?"

My mouth opened, but no words came out.

He approached me, his bloody hand grabbing mine. The warmth of his touch made my stomach twist in revulsion.

"Come," he said, dragging me forward. "I'll show you how to butcher a body. Consider it a lesson in human anatomy."

I shook my head, trembling, but he ignored my silent protests. He forced me to watch as he stabbed one of the men repeatedly, cutting open his chest and pulling out his organs one by one.

"This is the heart," he said, holding it up for me to see. "These are the kidneys. And this..."

I stopped hearing his words. My mind buzzed, my vision fading in and out. My legs felt like jelly, and I stumbled, struggling to stay upright.

When he finally finished, Tristan stood, dusting off his jeans as though he hadn't just committed unspeakable atrocities.

He turned to the third man, a sadistic grin spreading across his face. "Now, it's your turn. Oh, how I've been waiting for this."