In the dead of night, a red Ferrari roared along the winding mountain road.
Sasha Willow's hands, adorned with perfectly polished nails, clutched the steering wheel so tightly that her fingertips turned pale from the strain. Her heart felt heavy, and silent tears ran down her delicately made-up face. She never imagined that betrayal would come from the one she had loved for over a decade.
From seventeen to twenty-nine, she had devoted her best years to him, and now the bitter truth echoed in her mind: "My youth fed the dogs." The memory of the betrayal was like stepping into an ice cave; her pain was so intense it turned numb, leaving only a hollow, endless sorrow.
The project she had worked on had gone exceptionally well, allowing her to return from France ahead of schedule. She had intended to avoid disturbing her lover's sleep, so she asked the assistant to pick her up and then drove home alone.
She had imagined this year would be busy but organized, with plans to prepare for a child before turning thirty. But opening the front door, she was met with chaos: clothes strewn across the floor, lace bras and panties tossed everywhere.
The sounds from the bedroom hit her like thunder.
And then she saw him. The man who had vowed to love only her, now holding another woman in his arms. Her heart shattered, and each pulse felt like a knife slicing through her chest. Old vows, once sacred, seemed laughably hollow. Her anger was tempered with disgust, and nausea curled in her stomach.
Though trembling with rage, Sasha's mind forced her to act rationally. She pulled out her phone and snapped pictures of the couple. Evidence. They would be the witnesses for her revenge.
"Click, click, click," went the shutter. The man noticed immediately, his face turning pale. The other woman looked embarrassed and guilty, realizing the shamelessness of claiming she would explain herself. What could she even explain? A fleeting fancy, perhaps? Cheating was cheating.
Sasha forced a mocking smile, turned, and rushed for the door. Every second longer spent there threatened to ignite her wrath into something uncontrollable. Tears blurred her vision, but her mind raced with strategies to ruin their reputations. She was not so easily provoked.
The cold wind from the car window whipped her as she gripped the wheel, eyes fixed through the haze, driving recklessly. For a fleeting moment, the speed dulled the anger and pain pounding in her chest.
The red Ferrari cut through the night like a streak of fire.
The road became sharper, twists more frequent. Suddenly, two trucks barreled side by side into her path. Her heart skipped a beat. She slammed on the brakes, but the car's momentum was unstoppable.
Seeing no escape, she turned the wheel sharply. The Ferrari veered off the road, broke through the guardrail, and tumbled down the mountainside.
Hopelessness filled her thoughts. She knew she would die. As consciousness faded, she couldn't resist a curse: "You dare overtake on a curve, I'll fuck you."
...
Warm sunlight bathed the unconscious woman lying by the lake, gilding her in golden light and giving her an almost sacred air.
Her black hair, slightly curled at the ends, spilled across her chest. Her fair, delicate face was framed by long, thick lashes over straight, delicate features. Lips soft and red, her beauty was undeniable.
She wore a perfectly fitted black dress that accentuated her curves, elegant even in repose.
"Oh," Nolan swallowed, entranced. Such beauty seemed impossible. He stared, afraid to blink, terrified she might vanish if he looked away.
After watching her for a long moment without movement, Nolan reached out like a thief, gently touching Sasha's cheek with the tip of his nose. The smooth skin and faint fragrance made his pulse race.
Confusion struck him. How could such a precious female be left unprotected, wandering alone? He, an orc, had never sought a mate, only strength. And yet, encountering this unknown female stirred something in him. Once she healed from her injuries, he resolved that she would be his. Orcs were loyal; a female was for life, only one partner ever.
Sasha coughed weakly, expelling lake water from her lungs. She patted her chest, frowned, and opened her eyes.
In front of her, Nolan's enlarged, pale green eyes reflected her own image.
"What?" she screamed.
Nolan jumped back in alarm, ears pricked. Why was she so frightening? He had never seen anyone react like this. Seeing her panic filled him with a strange mix of shock and concern.
Sasha blinked, heart racing, and realized the source of her fear: a black cat. Her relief turned to cautious amusement. The cat was larger than normal, with sleek black fur and unusually long ear tufts, unfamiliar to her eyes.
A memory tugged at her heart. She reached out, gently poking Nolan's furry head with a soft finger.
For Nolan, unused to female touch, the blush beneath his fur was invisible but undeniable. He averted his gaze, shy and embarrassed.
Sasha, unaware, finished her small gesture and began taking in her surroundings.
The forest was vast, trees towering and thick, impossible to embrace ten at once. Bushes and flowers bloomed taller than anything she had seen, exuding fragrance that made her chest swell with a sense of peace.
The air was rich, clean, almost intoxicating. Could this be a virgin forest?