Fern's Perspective
The air was suffocatingly hot, as if the whole world were on fire. I stood in the gloomy basement, sweat dripping down my forehead and mixing with the humid air around me. Omega's status was already low in the world of werewolves, and now that I was forced to this point, I realized what hell on earth was.
It felt as if there was no light of hope, only heavy work and endless humiliation.
I could barely recognize myself. I had once been full of longing for the future and enthusiasm for life. Now, however, each day was filled with menial tasks for the pack, and I had completely lost my former self.
"Perhaps we should consider Oliver's suggestion," my wolf said.
"What?" The heavy labor left me little time to think.
"I'm saying we should get out of here," my wolf reminded me of what Oliver had suggested earlier.
"Damn, you're not still thinking about that asshole, are you?" my wolf said disgruntledly, noticing my silence.
"Of course not. It's just that you mustn't forget I swore an oath not to leave him. Until Oliver and my parents find a way to break the oath, I have to stay here." My wolf grunted in displeasure at my reply.
Today's task was extraordinarily heavy; I had to clean the corroded cages and smooth out the wolf-bitten wood. Every movement made me feel exhausted, as if every inch of my body were protesting.
Despite this, I did not give up. I knew this kind of work was all I could do right now, and only through constant effort could I earn a brief moment of peace.
But soon, even that brief peace was broken.
The door to the room was pushed open, and that figure walked in. Although the dim light made his face slightly blurred, I could still recognize him—my "brother," once my lover, now my enemy. Giovanni's gaze was as cold as the north wind, filled with undisguised indifference and anger.
Giovanni didn't say anything at first, just looked at me coldly. His deep eyes held unnamable emotions. That gaze made me feel fearful, as if I were being judged, my crimes thoroughly exposed by a pair of merciless eyes.
Finally, he spoke, his voice cold and authoritative, "Do you understand your current situation?"
I tried to stand up straight so I could look directly at him without revealing my weakness. Instead of sympathy, his gaze held a deep vengeance.
"You were reduced to Omega again to punish you," Giovanni continued, each word like a cold, sharp blade cutting through my heart. "And this is just the beginning."
I knew his words were not empty. My situation had drastically changed, from being the Luna of a respected pack that he had once pampered, to this bottom-of-the-barrel role. Giovanni's punishment was more than just personal torture; it was soul-destroying.
"I know you're probably in pain, but I don't care." The indifference in his gaze made me feel a deep sense of despair. "Your lies to me have made what you are suffering now well-deserved."
Every word he spoke was like a sharp arrow piercing my heart, leaving me unable to breathe. I desperately wanted to find the courage I once had, but at this moment, it had vanished without a trace. I wanted to fight back, to escape this endless darkness, but I knew such an escape was almost impossible.
Giovanni's gaze lingered on me for a moment, then he turned and left the room, leaving me alone to struggle in this lonely shadow. Even after he left, I still felt an invisible pressure, as if the whole world was imposing heavy shackles on me.
I slowly returned to my work, feeling the weakness in my body and the frustration in my heart. As I was working hard, suddenly the scene in front of me began to blur.
My body seemed to lose balance, my legs weakened, and the world before me gradually sank into darkness.
It wasn't long before I felt myself fall backward, the sounds around me becoming distant. I tried to struggle, but it was as if my strength had been drained away, and I couldn't move no matter what.
In this misty darkness, I heard a faint voice. Yes, it seemed that someone was calling my name, anxiety and worry evident in their tone.
The voice was not clear, but I could feel the tension and concern in it. Just as I tried to respond, the darkness swallowed me completely, and my consciousness faded.
A slow, steady beeping filled my ears, but the throbbing in my head threatened to dull all my senses.
I slowly opened my eyes and surveyed my surroundings. I was in a hospital, and that was the last place I wanted to be.
The beeping came from a machine connected to an IV drip in my arm—not exactly a comforting sight. I despised being bedridden, feeling so helpless and unable to care for myself.
"She's resting now, but she's fine—"
The nurse's voice drew my attention to the partially open door. I wasn't sure who she was speaking to.
"I'm awake," I called out.
In moments, the door swung open, and the nurse's face appeared. To my surprise, she was followed by someone I hadn't expected.