My back and right foot are on fire.
My head is throbbing, and I can't breathe properly.
Even opening my eyes is a real hassle... and yet, I cannot stop the fluttering of my heart upon being greeted by the starry sky.
What happened?
Have I been reincarnated again?
No...
I can't see myself, but I can feel my body.
A grown body.
Didn't Kyle kill me?
No, that couldn't be... I remember vividly the pain that shook my body and the feeling of a cold blade as it pierced my back and went right through my heart.
But I don't remember being engulfed in darkness...
Did I survive? Is that even possible? Did someone save me?
Is that why I am in the woods? Did someone drag me here?
Water... I need water.
What luck it is to be near a lake. I know I shouldn't drink water from a lake... but my throat is on fire. I can't even make out the sound my raspy voice is trying to make. I am so thirsty.
How long have I been out?
Everything hurts. I can't even try to walk.
I have no choice but to crawl.
Despite the strong waves, I can still see a vague reflection.
My once-white hair was now black as the night, and the previously scary blood-red demon eyes were now shining like sapphires.
This- this isn't me.
This isn't my body.
I wasn't reincarnated, nor did I survive.
Is this... possession? Have I possessed someone?
She seems to be in her early twenties...
A bruised eye, a split lip, several cuts and scars all over, and prominent black marks on the neck.
This woman was abused and strangled to death.
"I am telling you, she's around here! I don't remember exactly... just follow her scent, goddammit!" a man shouts in the distance, causing my body to tense up.
My hands began trembling, and I unconsciously bit my lip while closing my eyes.
Like I was waiting for something... as if I knew something terrible would follow.
I don't know what happened, but one thing is clear.
Based on the strong, instinctive response this body had upon hearing that man's voice... this girl was terrified of him.
Is it him?
Is that man the one who did this to the owner of this body?
I can't let him find me.
I know I wasn't born in this body, and while I feel bad for the girl, she is already dead. This is my body now. I don't want to go back to that godforsaken darkness. I know I will return there one day, but that day is not today.
The voices are getting closer.
How many people are there?
I don't know how strong they are, but I know how weak this body is. I am too wounded to fight back.
My only option is to hope the currents are strong enough to carry my body far away.
I didn't even hesitate to throw myself into the river despite the high possibility of drowning. Still, at least it gave me a chance to survive.
Or that's what I had thought... before nearing a waterfall.
I think I used up all my luck by escaping the darkness that follows after death...
My bones got crushed.
I fell, not in water, but on rocks.
The lake wasn't deep, but the currents were too strong. I couldn't get up. All I could do was to desperately search for something to hold, but in the end, there was nothing but sand.
I couldn't stop my falling... but I was able to keep myself somewhat centered, which allowed me to fall on the same level as the water instead of letting the currents throw me off.
I got caught in some vines, but they couldn't bear my weight, and when they broke, I was thrown at the entrance of a cave.
There was only enough strength left in me to crawl a bit deeper into the cave, just enough so I would no longer be hit by the falling water.
Maybe I still have some luck left after all...
I was told that water can be harder than stones if you fall from a high altitude.
If I had clearly heard and felt every bone in my body break, I would've definitely died had I been thrown to the bottom of the waterfall.
I suppose that just shows how strong my will to survive is. I dread the darkness that awaits me if I fail...
I won't be found here.
I am overwhelmed by a sense of stability and security, and the strength completely leaves my body.
I need to think. I know nothing about what's happening right now.
Am I even in the same world? Or have I gone back to my first world?
I wonder... could I?
I close my eyes and concentrate.
Slowly starting to inhale through the nose, gently exhaling through the mouth. Continuous inhalations and exhalations that, in the end, became a splendid circle.
During this process, my eyes suddenly opened wide. A faint trace of purple aura flashed in the light of the growing bright pink dawn seen through the turbulent falling water.
I stared firmly in concentration at the flickering purple light. It didn't last long. By the time the sun rose to become daylight, the purple aura had completely vanished already.
I see... this is a different world.
Although I can still detect and use the aura, its usage is highly limited, most likely due to this world's restrictions.
Still, this is better than nothing.
Since the girl's brain is still intact, even though her soul is gone, I can still access her recent memories thanks to my powers.
This will have to suffice for now.
I need to know more about this world if I am to live in it.
*******
"Seraphina! Get out here immediately!" my cousin's shouting freezes my body completely.
My whole life has been... nothing.
My only purpose is to cook and clean for a family that finds pleasure in hitting and humiliating me.
I don't know my parents. I've never met them.
But my aunt never fails to remind me how unwanted I was to be abandoned right after my birth... just as my uncle never fails to tell me how much of a burden I am to the family.
I don't know what I did to deserve such a cruel fate... but everyone here hates me.
From the moment I was able to walk and think for myself, I was abused with words and treated like a maid. Things became even worse after growing up. Now, besides the insults, there's also the constant beatings.
My aunt has two sons.
The younger one, Michael, is usually a calm person. He would always ignore my existence unless he needed something. But when someone made him angry... I was the one to ease his rage. He would beat and belittle me until his fury would subside, then resume to ignore my existence. At the very least... he wasn't easily angered.
But the eldest son, Mathew, is a real nightmare.
He would come to my room, yell, and slap me hard enough to knock me to the ground just out of boredom. He's never satisfied until he sees blood, and my cries only serve to fuel his excitement.
I am no different from a slave, and this house is like a cage.
The only times I get to escape it are when I go grocery shopping or when I am needed to help with the chores at the pack house.
Whenever the pack is holding an event or has visitors, people from the pack will gather to help. We were getting paid for it, but of course, I never saw a penny. I was forced to work, but Alec would get all the money.
It was unfair, but I wasn't given a choice.
After all, the pack isn't all that good to me either.
Since the people I am supposed to call family never cared about me, the pack members followed their example and made an outcast out of me. An unwanted presence... but that still didn't stop them from wishing to exploit my culinary talent.
They didn't abuse me physically like my cousins, but they would always sneer and insult me.
My life was a living hell.
If it weren't for that event... I would've killed myself long ago.
"Seraphina! How dare you ignore my calls!"
Mathew barges into the room, and I immediately step back as he rapidly approaches, bracing myself in anticipation. I feel the burn on my cheek and do my best not to cry as he continues to slap me.
"How dare you make us wait! We are late because of you!"
Because of me? He is the one who had me go around the house, looking for a tie he didn't even wear and taking away the time I had to prepare. This is his fault, not mine... but of course, it didn't matter.
"Hurry the fuck up, you useless bitch!"
He finally stops hitting me and leaves the room. I get up and try to ignore the pain. I need to get dressed quickly, but everything hurts so badly.
New bruises add over old ones, and my body is constantly in pain. You would think I have gotten used to it... that I had developed a tolerance to the beatings. But I didn't... it always hurts so much. Perhaps it is because he never holds back? He is a full werewolf, whereas I failed to shift and barely even felt the presence of my wolf.
I am still stronger than humans but have nowhere near a werewolf's power.
I get out as fast as I can, only to be slapped by my angry aunt.
"What took you so long! If we weren't already so late, I would've taught you a lesson. But don't think you can get away. You will receive your punishment when we return home!"
"Yes, aunt."
We got in the car and went to the Alpha's house.
Today is the first day of this year's Mating Event. Only the Goddess knows how long I have waited for this.
The mating event is perhaps the most important affair a pack holds every year.
Starting in mid-July, the unmated males begin visiting the packs in search of their mate.
And finding your mate is the most important thing in a werewolf's life.
Our wolves crave the presence of their soulmates. They need their counterparts close to them. If one fails to find their mate, they would slowly succumb to madness. And if one's mate dies, the pain is so great that most werewolves follow their mates in death. Few can survive the pain of losing their mate.
Despite coming of age, due to some circumstances, I couldn't attend any of the mating events last year. Those circumstances are mostly related to Mathew, but this year will be different. I will do everything I can to steer clear of Mathew during those events. I have to participate. I have to find my mate. I need to get out of here.
This is my last hope. This is what kept me alive for so long. My silent scream to fate. My last struggle to live.
Once I find my mate, I can finally escape this hell.
I ran inside the house as soon as we arrived and started arranging the dishes. Of course, I have to work today as well. I can't go against their word yet. I don't know if I will find my mate tonight or if I have to wait a bit longer.
Given Mathew's picky eating preferences, as a means to avoid beatings, I had no choice but to learn cooking recipes from all around the world, trying my best to find his favorites so that I could keep him satisfied.
I became a master chef baker.
Because of that, the Alpha was adamant about having me make desserts for all the events.
Ultimately, this was more than just finding mates... to the Alphas, this was an opportunity to make connections all over the world. To expand their influence and seek business opportunities.
But the event's importance goes beyond just connections.
Even between rival countries... even among war territories... whenever the event begins, it always calls for a peace agreement, even if it is just temporary.
After all, finding one's mate is most important.
I know it sounds like an easy way to get rid of your enemies, but it is not.
No one has ever taken advantage of this event to stab others in the back.
After all, even if you found your mate, you don't know whether your son or grandson will have to go through the mating event eventually.
If you double-cross a pack during the event, then who is to say the same won't happen to your descendants?
There can be no foul play. Whenever the event starts, a peace treaty is evoked. This is akin to a sacred event to werewolves.
But for our pack, today is a particularly significant day.
We were informed that the Crimson pack will attend today's mating event.
Our pack is located on the outskirts of Stormlight City. In the unfortunate event that a war might arise, our pack is the first line of defense.
Although most of the pack members are descendants of warriors, having lived in peace for so long, the current pack is considerably weaker than most others.
Crimson Pack is one of the wealthiest and strongest in this area, and their Alpha, Alexander Devlin, is akin to a King in the Stormlight City,
Their attendance makes today all the more important, and our Alpha wouldn't stop nagging about how perfect this event must be.
After all, this will be the best chance to leave a good impression on the Alpha King, and I know everyone in the pack hopes for a partnership.
Every business bearing the Devlin name is bound to be a great success.
Who wouldn't want the backing of the most powerful werewolf in the city whose name is enough to instill fear and demand respect even from the enemies?
Alexander Devlin, the Alpha of the Crimson pack...
I wonder what he's like.