The Love of a Lycan

Just because I am strong enough to handle the pain doesn't mean I deserve it.

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Serefina smirked as she tilted her head. "Did you know that the guardian angels were extinct not because they were too weak for war, but because they really must die in order to defeat the devils? Cruel, isn't it?"

"They have to die?" Raine frowned. "What do you mean they have to die?"

"That's exactly what I meant." Serefina gulped down the remaining liquid in her wine glass and stared at Raine. "Your death is needed to defeat those devils and something more evil that follows your resurrection. To say it bluntly, that is your true purpose."

Raine felt her throat became dry. "No. You lie to me." She shook her head and clutched the side of her dress.

"I am cruel, but I am not a liar." Serefina said in matter-of-fact tone. "I always tell you the truth. Search your memories and you will see I have never told you lies."

It's true. Though Serefina was harsh with her words and method, she had never told her lies. Yet the truth from her lips was painful to hear.

Raine was dumbstruck by Serefina's harsh information. She didn't know what to say.

"If…" Raine stuttered when she tried to talk. "If I try my best to become stronger… will I… will I survive?" She could feel her eyes brimming with tears.

Why was reality so cruel? When Raine was just about to lead a happy life after what she had to endure for more than eight years, why does she have to face something as brutal as this?

"You don't understand." Serefina clicked her tongue, annoyed at Raine's slow understanding. "It doesn't matter how strong you become. Your death is required to win the war between the devil and Lycanthropes…" The witch then emphasized. "… again."

Raine could feel chills run down her spine. Her body was trembling. She didn't know if having knowledge of her own death would be so horrible.

Raine had been through a lot but even in the lowest point of her life, she had never thoughtof dying. She knew she had barely survived her predicament, but knowing she would die in the end wastotally a different thing.

Yet deep in her heart, she knew Serefina wouldn't lie about something like this. Eventually everything made sense, about why Torak wouldn't tell her the truth and why he kept saying he will keep her safe no matter what will happen in the future.

Would the image that she had seen the moment she touched the stone inside the library when she visited Rieka Country come true?

"Then…" Raine bit her lips as she glanced at Torak who was talking with the other guest and Belphegor. "Then… what is the point for me to become stronger if in the end I have to die?" Her voice was barely a whisper that easily flew with the wind, yet Serefina heard that perfectly.

On the other side, Torak frowned when he caught Raine staring at him with a scared expression. His purposefor leaving Raine and Serefina alone wasn't only to keep Belphegor away from his mate, but also for Raine to be more comfortable in asking everything that she wanted to know from Serefina.

He knew Raine was still holding back a lot of questions that Torak couldn't answer. And the stone that tells everything wasn't of much help.

"The chance for the Lycanthropes to win the war will be bigger if you are stronger than if you are weak and only a burden." Serefina's words flew like a dagger that stabbed right at Raine's heart.

Weak…

Burden…

Was that how people see her? A weak person and only a burden?

Without waiting for Raine to recover from the blow, Serefina continued. "Whether Lycanthropes or the devil wins the war, you will die." Serefinasquinted her eyes as tears streamed down Raine's cheeks. She hated it when someone showed her their weak side. "The choice is if you will die for the sake of Lycanthropes or if you will let the devil slaughter those wolves right before your eyes before they kill you." Serefina shrugged her shoulder. "The choice is yours."

Serefina's words were so cruel yet her tone bland, as if she was talking about the ambience of the party, as if she didn't care whether Raine lived or died… oh, wait… she indeed didn't care about that. What did Raine expect from this witch?

"So your true purpose for coming is to help the Lycanthropes win? That's why you are helping me?" Raine wiped her tears harshly, ruining her simple make up.

"No." Serefina turned around and looked at the sky, averting her face from Raine. "I have to hold the end of my deal with someone." She said with a sad expression that Raine couldn't see. "A disgusting deal because it requires me to watch over you."

"Is there no other way for me to stay alive?" I just started to feel alive with Torak by my side… Raine kept the last words toherself. There was no point for Serefina to know that.

"Tell me if you know the way." Serefina said nonchalantly.

"What if I don't want to be involved?" Raine tried to reason with her. She didn't want to die. Why does she always have to endure something like this? Wouldn't Torak always protect her? He promised her.

"You don't want to be involved?" Serefina turned around and faced Raine once again, her expression showed how ridiculous Raine's suggestion sounded. "Why do you think Torak is very adamant atprotecting you? Because those devils…" Serefina glanced at Belphegor who winked at her flirtatiously. "… will always try to kill you no matter where Torak will hide you. There is no way out unless they die, and it needs you to die too." She said with finality.

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