TONIGHT

Nara's POV

"You are all set, my Lady." She took a quick glance at her hair one more time, while I stood behind her, waiting for a 'leave' from her, but she delayed. I could tell from the way she looked at me that she had a whole lot to ask me. I didn't really get why she was always after me. If there is anyone who should be hating on another, it should be me because her husband used me, fucked me the way he likes, and forced me to do things I never wanted to do — all under her watch.

"Have my husband fucked you since the last full moon?" she asked, looking at me with scorn.

"Just once!" I said, and she landed a hard slap on my cheek.

"How dare you! Just? Like he was supposed to fuck you more than just once?" she asked, with pure hate and disgust for me.

"Forgive me, my Lady! I did not mean to speak like a child," I apologized.

"Indeed, you speak like a child, but you are not a child. Tell me, Nara, the daughter of a miserable witch! Do you plan to snatch my husband away from me or become a second mate? So that you can compete with me and enjoy what I also enjoy? Or better still take my territory away from me?" she stood up and stared into my eyes as she bashed me with words.

"My Lady, please! I have never for once thought about all these. And I will never! I remain a loyal servant to you and my master," I said, still with a bowed head.

"Know one thing — if you mess up, I will dig out your intestines and feed them to the hungry birds. Do not try to outsmart me!" she warned and ordered me to leave.

I went to my master, Guyong. I saw him ordering two guards to tear through the stomach of a disloyal servant. He disobeyed our Lady last night when she asked him to slit the throat of his son because he had failed to report someone coming out of her husband's secret room. He claimed not to recognize the wolf who committed such a deadly offense. His body was lying flat — lifeless, his stomach opened as his intestines lay on the ground. The bloody stench that oozed from his chamber was unbearable — enough to churn one's stomach. It smelled of dried blood and decaying flesh.

"If you do not take your time, I will drink your blood in the next full moon that is happening tomorrow," he said to me, wiping off the little stains of blood on his hands with a piece of rag.

"Master, I am loyal. I have been carrying out the assignment you gave to me."

"Then why did you fail and have me appeal to the chameleon witch to help me get back the diamond stone? I have exercised too much patience for those rats because of you," he said, chuckling softly — something ran through his mind.

"I accept to give you a chance because of your loyalty to me and your so-called mate, Sungmin. A mate whom you can't have. A mate you watch another woman possess. A mate who doesn't love you!" he said as I fumed. My breath became audible; I was about to explode.

"What! You want to show me your superpowers?" Guyong asked, snatching my throat in his arms. Lifting me with one hand, my feet were above the ground. I struggled to catch my breath!

"Or do you want to have your ass torn apart?" he asked, licking his lips. I nodded in disapproval.

"No! Pleasss…" I struggled to speak. He threw me against the ground, blood dripping from my mouth. I couldn't get a hold of myself for a while.

"Lock her up in my chamber — no food! No water! Until I remember her again!"

"Please, master, you can't do this to me!" I yelled over my shoulders as they dragged me against the coarse ground, my flesh tearing against the ground. I was chained like someone who committed a huge crime. I looked at my life again; it wasn't pleasing.

"Guyong's locked me up in his chamber!" I mind-linked Beta Jiwon.

"That bastard!" he said. "Don't worry, Luyank will get the keys from the guards and let you out when the operation is set to be carried out."

"Are you sure this would work?"

"Have I ever plotted a thing that doesn't work out?" Jiwon replied confidently.

Jiah's POV

At Kangdae's house, I knocked gently on the door. One aged woman answered.

"Who are you?" she asked politely.

"I am Kangdae's business partner. May I come in?" I asked with a careful tone.

"Yes, please. Give me a minute, I will be right back," she said and went into the room that was a few steps away from me. I heard murmuring voices. Kangdae never jokes with business; he soon jumped out to see a familiar face. I am sure he must be saying in his mind that, this is no business associate!

"Hello!" he called as he walked closer to me. I lifted my head and faced him confidently.

"Daughter of Donghan!" he gasped. He recognized me after so many years — wow! He's got a good memory.

"I am glad you remember me. Pick up your phone and call Nara!" I ordered. His hands were shaking.

"I am sure Guyong must have told you a lot about me — that I was a murderer, a heartless wolf, and that I cannot be a mate to your son. Isn't it?" I watched him dial her number, but it didn't go through.

"Make sure you call her tomorrow. Let her bring a wolf from Guyong's pack for us, and Sungmin will accept to be her man till death. She must bring the wolf before noon tomorrow. If not, you would be lying as dead meat. So, it's up to you. Anyhow you think you can make this happen, do it!" I said and forced a smile when I noticed one of his housekeepers passing by. We shook hands as I left.

I returned to my clan members.

"I saw fear all over Kangdae. He feared to die," I said with loud laughter.

"Did you see the lady I was talking about?" Sungmin asked, arching his brow.

"No, I didn't," I replied.

"I pray that old man doesn't fail!" Sungmin muttered.

"This is where I am concerned. What if he fails? We should have a plan B," Yula said as she ran her eyes across our faces.

"Yeah, you are right!" I said. "The ritual appease our guiding star must happen tomorrow. The full moon is tomorrow night, and yet we do not have the sacrificial wolf waiting to be slaughtered!" I said.

Yula curled a small smile just behind her lip, about to explode into something bigger.

"What's so funny, Yula?" I asked.

"A sacrificial wolf waiting to be slaughtered!" she echoed, laughing aloud.

"I saw that too!" Sungmin added with a charming smile. He was indeed handsome!

"Okay guys, what about we raid Wooyung's pack?" Yula said as she noticed the look on our faces. "It's not what you all think," she said, trying to have us buy into her idea. "We can just set out tonight to closely monitor the weakest wolf in their pack, capture him, and bring him here for the sacrifice." Yula's plans always fit well, but most times, they are a big risk.

"I think that sounds interesting. Instead of sitting here and laughing over nothing, I think we should go hunting right away, guys!" Sungmin said in the bid to brighten the mood.

"Yeah!" Yula said, jolting out of the couch.

We had not gone too far when the foreboding silence was shattered by a sound from the bush, making us halt abruptly.

"What could that be?" Yula whispered.