Avenging Luna
Chapter 107: A loosing Battle

Chapter 107: A loosing Battle

Lily POV:

Watching her now, slumped and frail in that hospital bed, was more fulfilling than I’d even imagined. How the mighty have fallen, I mused, suppressing a smirk. Once strong, confident, always so sure of herself... but look at her now. She looked weak, helpless, her skin pale and her eyes dimmed with exhaustion. All those who had adored her, who’d whispered her name with reverence, were now seeing her for what she really was—fragile, breakable, nothing more than a shadow of her former self.

I let my gaze linger on her, savoring each sign of her weakness, each mark of suffering etched into her face. The bouquet of flowers felt heavy in my hands, and I barely concealed the satisfaction thrumming beneath my skin as I placed it on the bedside table with a deliberately gentle touch.

"Leila," I said softly, keeping my voice laced with honey, "I just had to come see you. I know things have been... so difficult." My words oozed with sympathy, but inside I was relishing every moment. She’s helpless, I thought, my heart pounding with glee. I’m watching her unravel, piece by piece.

She murmured her thanks, and her voice sounded small, diminished—a mere whisper of what it had once been. I leaned in, just close enough to watch the flicker of emotion in her eyes, drinking in her suffering like a fine wine. This was my victory, every inch of it, and I would savor every moment.

I leaned forward, letting a practiced look of gentle sympathy settle on my face, my voice dripping with faux concern. "Leila," I began softly, as if struggling with the words. "I’ve been thinking... well, with everything that’s going on... what I mean is, you don’t have to worry. I’ll be here to take care of your little Ash, treat him like my own." I smiled sweetly, masking my delight at the way her eyes narrowed, the spark of anger flickering behind her weary expression. "I missed so many moments with Mike when I was away, but with Ash, I’ll make sure he has everything he needs, so you can rest easy." I softened my tone even further, in case she was recording. Nothing in my words could be twisted against me.

But I knew, oh, I knew this would trigger her. And true to form, I saw the flash of emotion in her eyes. Good. There she is.

I ignored the tension from our last encounter, brushing it aside like it had never happened, just so I could savor this moment. I knew she was painfully aware that I’d poisoned her with wolfsbane, then framed her for attempting to harm her own child. The best part? She had no proof, no real way to incriminate me. Her word against mine, and everyone knew who would be believed.

To top it off, Drake had supposedly even caught her "in the act," drinking from the tiny bottle I’d so easily planted in her drawer. How deliciously perfect. She’d fallen right into my trap, like the fool she was. Her misfortune, Stupidity, her blind trust in those around her, was my gain, and watching her unravel bit by bit felt better than I’d imagined.

I leaned back, satisfied with the seeds I’d planted, my eyes tracing the frustration she was so clearly trying to mask.

I saw the rage flaring in her eyes, a fierce, smoldering fire she couldn’t quite hide. The anger radiated off her like heat, rolling in waves I could practically feel from where I stood. Oh, the sweet scent of victory, I thought, relishing the subtle quiver in her jaw as she tried to hold herself back.

It was intoxicating, seeing her struggle to keep control, knowing that I had complete power over her emotions in this moment. Watching her unravel, feeling her fury intensify with each word I spoke—this was exactly what I’d wanted. I’ve already won, I thought, and I couldn’t resist the small, satisfied smile that tugged at the corners of my mouth.

I’d come here to gloat, yes—but I wasn’t a fool. Once beaten, twice shy. I’d learned my lesson well enough, and this time, I’d make sure that nothing I said would come back to haunt me. If she was trying to record me, she’d get nothing but sweetness, every word carefully crafted, every hint of satisfaction buried beneath layers of feigned concern.

After all the meticulous work, all the years of patience, I wasn’t about to ruin it by slipping up now. No, this gloating would be subtle, laced with just enough care and kindness that no one could accuse me of a thing. I’d say all the right words, make her feel the weight of my sympathy until it became unbearable. The beauty of it was that everyone would think I was here as a concerned friend. But Leila would know—she’d feel the truth of every word, even if no one else could hear it.

So I smiled, leaning closer, my voice tender and laced with unassuming warmth. I could see the frustration simmering just beneath her surface, her helplessness growing with each saccharine word I spoke. And with every passing moment, I savored my victory more.

"Oh, and poor Drake..." I sighed softly, letting a trace of melancholy seep into my voice. "How he’ll miss you, Leila. How everyone will miss you. But don’t you worry," I added sweetly, letting my gaze drift to her, savoring the flicker of emotion she couldn’t quite hide. "We’ll be there to support him and little Ash. I’ll make sure they have everything they need, that I can promise you—if you’d like."

I saw the flash of anger deepen in her eyes, the restrained fury tightening her jaw, and it sent a thrill through me. I kept my voice soft, almost tender, each word laced with saccharine sweetness designed to taunt her, every promise a gentle reminder of the life she’d leave behind.

"Oh, Leila, don’t be too hard on yourself about this illness," I continued, my voice soft and sympathetic. "It’s not your fault. Anyone could have caught it."

Just then, the door opened, and there stood Drake, surprise flickering across his face. Clearly, he hadn’t expected me here, but what a perfect opportunity to show him how forgiving I could be—what a *good* person I was, setting aside any past misunderstandings to support her.

"Lily," he said, sounding a bit caught off guard. "I wasn’t expecting you."

"Oh, I just thought I’d drop by to check on Leila," I replied, turning to him with a gentle smile. "Nelly asked me to look in on her since she’s so busy helping you with pack affairs. Everyone’s feeling the weight of her illness," I added with a touch of concern, glancing at Leila. "The whole pack is restless, worried about their Luna."

I held his gaze, giving a small nod, every word chosen to show just how deeply I cared—even if I was the only one or maybe and Leila also who knew the truth beneath it all.

Leila POV:

I was a raging mess inside, my emotions spiraling as I tried to maintain my composure. Every word from Lily’s mouth was a carefully calculated barb, dripping with that saccharine, fake concern. Her tone was sweet enough to fool anyone listening in, but I knew better. I could see right through her. She wasn’t here to comfort me; she was here to torment me, to remind me of her twisted plans for my family.

The way she spoke of caring for my little Ash, as if I wouldn’t be around, was a knife to my heart. She knew exactly what she was doing, planting those seeds of doubt and fear in my mind, taunting me with her promises to be there for Drake and Ash. Only she and I knew the true meaning behind her words, the real threat veiled beneath her kindness. She was taking pleasure in my helplessness, knowing I couldn’t reveal her for what she was without concrete proof.

And here I was, unable to capture her confession, not even sure if she’d intended to confess anything at all. It felt as though she was daring me to act, daring me to react in a way that would paint me as unstable or paranoid in front of anyone who might hear us. She was so calm, so careful, and I was left grasping at straws, clinging to my patience with a growing sense of dread.

Her words taunted me, each one like a dagger twisting deeper. Every fake promise, every insincere expression of concern—it all made me want to tear through the thin veil of composure I was holding onto. I wanted nothing more than to shift, to let the fury burning inside me take over and claw the smug

Just as I felt the fury reach its breaking point, ready to leap across the room and tear into her, weak as I was, the door opened—and there was Drake. The sight of him was like a cold shock, pulling me back from the edge, his presence forcing my rage into a tight, barely-contained coil.

Lily’s face shifted instantly, her expression turning sweet and sympathetic as she turned to him, as if she hadn’t been taunting me just moments before. I clenched my fists, the urge to rip her mask away almost suffocating, but with Drake here, I couldn’t give in. I couldn’t let her win by painting me as the one who’d lost control.