The cubs' giggles snapped her out of her thoughts. Elena stared at the little cubs for a moment, her lips slowly curling into a soft smile. They were just too cute… the more she looked at them, with their tiny ears, fluffy tails, little paws that didn't even know where to step properly… how can something so small be running around like they owned the world?
Without thinking, she lifted her hand and gave them a small wave. "Hi there," she said softly, grinning so she wouldn't scare them.
The reaction was unexpected… and the cubs froze. Their eyes widened as they exchanged glances.
"Run!!" one of them yelled.
They scattered in different directions like their lives depended on it, their tiny legs moving faster than she thought was even possible. One even tripped in panic before quickly getting up and continuing the escape.
Elena stood there, her hand still hanging awkwardly in the air. "Wow."
Her smile slowly faded. "So I'm that scary?" She let her hand drop and sighed, the earlier warmth in her chest fading into something a little heavier.
'Even kids are scared of you, Cece!' She almost forgot how ugly Cece's face was… that alone was enough to scare the shit out of them.
She shook her head lightly and turned away, walking further until she reached a clear lake not too far from the forest path. The water was so calm, almost too perfect, reflecting everything like a mirror… like a drawing.
She stepped closer and looked down. Her reflection stared back at her. "Weird…" she mumbled.
That same face was exactly like hers… if not for the layer of dirt on it.
Elena frowned. "So this is really me now." The playful mood from earlier was gone. She didn't have any choice but to accept herself as Cece… "Elena the hero is dead and no more… now Cece the villain…" she scoffed. She wouldn't continue Cece's reputation!
Her eyes softened just a little, but there was a quiet frustration sitting underneath it.
She didn't belong here… or in that body, not in that world.
And yet…
She didn't have a choice but to accept her fate and play along. Her fingers clenched tightly. "I have to do it…" she murmured helplessly.
Mate with the Alpha and get whatever the system was hiding. Find out the truth. Even if she hated it… the fact that she had to mate with someone she used to view as a brother. Even if he no longer knew her and hated her. Even if everything about it felt wrong.
She exhaled slowly, as if trying to push down the weight in her chest, and turned to leave. She had just taken a step when something caught her eye.
A faint glimmer beneath the water. She paused. "What's that?" she whispered.
"Curious…" she murmured and leaned closer, squinting slightly as the sunlight reflected off the surface, making it harder to see clearly.
"Don't tell me…" she gasped, looking around quickly before reaching into the water and pulling it out.
The moment it touched her palm, her eyes widened. "Oh wow!!! a diamond?"
Not just any diamond… a palm-sized one, so clear and shining perfectly under the sun! In fact, she could see the water through it… and the surroundings!
She held her breath as she observed it well. "This is real…" she whispered, turning it gently as light bounced off its surface beautifully.
For a moment, she forgot everything again and her mind went straight back to her past life. A life where something like this was untouchable and unreachable… hard to find… some would even lose their lives searching for it. and now it was just… sitting in her hand.
"Ahhhahh…I'm rich." She blinked, staring at it like it might disappear if she looked away. "How can I get to Elon Musk?" she murmured. "At least he should notice me because I'm about to be his biggest client."
"Look, the demon saw a transparent stone, you better run, what if she throws it at you again?" a childish voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
Elena paused, wondering if it was her the cub was referring to or not. Then she slowly turned her head toward them. "Me?" she even pointed at herself to be sure.
A lion cub stood not too far away, whispering loudly to the others like he wasn't trying to be heard. Elena rolled her eyes immediately.
"A demon?"
She lifted the diamond up. "Why would I throw this?" she muttered. "Do I look like I hate money?"
The cubs didn't look convinced. If anything, they backed away a little more.
Elena sighed. "Unbelievable… and annoying."
She shook her head and turned back to the diamond, still admiring it when she heard another voice.
"If I were you…" The voice came from behind her, "I wouldn't take that so casually."
Elena froze at the seductive deep voice. The voice wasn't childish, and the person wasn't afraid; rather, he was calm and confident as he approached. The most confusing thing about it was that it also carried something else… something she couldn't explain.
Curiously, she turned around and for a moment… she forgot how to breathe.
'WHAT THE HECK!!?' she yelled in her mind, startling the system.
[looks like the host was surrounded by old men in her past life!!]
Elena ignored it and looked at the tall figure standing in front of her in awe… his figure was so composed, unlike the beast men she had been seeing. This man had short hair… how?
His smirk made him dangerously good-looking in a way that didn't even make sense. even his short hair framed his face perfectly… but it was his eyes that caught her attention the most!
Red…
Ahhh, why was it red!!!
'Hey system! You don't tell me there will be lots of temptation waiting for me!!'
Elena noticed his sharp long canines and sighed. "Vampire?" she asked herself in disbelief, and the man gave a smile that looked like it held secrets… or danger… or both.
He looked at her like he already knew her. like he had been watching her for a while, waiting for the right time to approach.
Then he smirked. "Hello… Lady Cece."
Elena blinked several times before she processed what he said. Her grip tightened around the diamond. "And you are?"
But deep inside, she already knew this man was suspicious… and the air around him was very suffocating.