If they wanted to be the perfect victims, Adela would show the alphas that she was doing better without them.
Even though it was uncomfortable at first because it was completely foreign to her, demon maids came to her room.
That day, they would be getting her into a dress and helping her with hair and makeup so that there wasn’t a single flaw to be seen.
Her skin was dewy, and her naturally wavy hair had been oiled and sprayed so that it perfectly lay around her shoulders.
The dress she wore was black and flowy with a straight-across neckline that accentuated her natural curves.
It had loose sleeves that were translucent.
With a few moments alone before she would go to the gallery where she would film her response, she stared at herself in the mirror.
It was unfamiliar to look this good, in her opinion.
Honestly, she hoped that it was a thorn in the alphas’ sides that they couldn’t touch her while she looked this good.
That caused a small smile to pull at her lips.
Only Lucifer was within her grasp… But he wouldn’t touch her.
She sighed at the thought.
For once, she wanted someone in return, but they were set on going slow while she figured out her mess.
She fanned her face with her hand.
There was no need to get heated up about that now.
She needed a clear mind to explain herself.
A short time later, she was escorted down to the gallery with one of the maids.
Lucifer was already down there, overseeing everything as it was prepared.
When she set foot in the room, she was shocked to see studio lights and a camera already set up.
A chair was in the center of the room with the painting of wounded Lucifer with a spear in his chest as the backdrop.
The silent message it sent made her feel confident.
Lucifer was behind her.
He had gone through so much that he could help her get through this as well.
Adela felt someone looking at her, and she turned her head to see Lucifer offering a secretive sort of smile.
“You are unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” he complimented her as he walked past.
She was left with a thudding heart, while he took up his spot on the other side of the camera with the person who would be editing and sending the video to the human broadcasting network.
“Are you ready, Miss Rivers?” the director asked.
“Do you need anything in preparation?” Adela took her seat and tried to adjust her posture so that she seemed comfortable but strong.
“I think I can recite what I need to say from the heart,” she admitted.
“Perfect,” the director responded.
“Just make sure to act as natural as you can.
We can edit pauses down pretty flawlessly, but I’ll make sure not to touch the words.
There’s water there and tissues if you need them.” “Thank you.” “We will begin recording in 5, 4, 3, 2…” He mouthed one and spun his finger in the air to say that the camera was rolling.
Adela lightly cleared her throat before her gaze went to the camera.
“Hi, my name is Adela Rivers,” she began, hoping she was more eloquent than she felt.
“You might have heard my name before, and I wanted to come here today to explain my side of the story before there can be any misunderstandings.” She let out a light sigh.
“As you see me now, I am better than I have been in years,” she explained.
“To stay with the Werewolf Clan is at the sacrifice of my mental and physical health, and I’m unwilling to do that any longer.
While I respect the various groups who follow the path of fated bonds, I was raised among humans and prefer their way of life.” She paused as she debated how to continue.
When her gaze returned to the camera, her eyes were a bit glossy.
“Imagine not being able to choose the one you love,” she continued.
“Imagine people having access to your body under the guise of a bond when the human half of you is screaming to escape.
Because of pheromones, my body wants something that my heart and mind reject.
Each time I leave the haze of a heat that was forced onto me by pheromones, I feel disgusted with myself.” Her eyes left the camera again as her eyebrows lowered.
It was difficult being so disgusted with herself.
She swallowed hard as she got the next part out and gazed at the camera again.
“In Hell, the burn of a bond I didn’t consent to hurts a bit less,” she admitted.
“I am thinking more clearly than I have in a long time.
I have not signed any contracts with demons, and I’m not being controlled by anyone.
Me being here is completely my choice.” She reached for a paper that she had brought with her.
“This is my identity as a refugee in Hell,” she explained.
“I’m here for protection because if I leave, I can’t imagine what will happen to me with the justification of bonds, pheromones, and heats.
I’m someone who is afraid for my life at all times.” She couldn’t help glancing at Lucifer, who had been quietly standing in the back as he observed her speech.
It was hard to look at him the entire time because she knew her composure would be broken.
A sad smile appeared on her face.
It was one that spoke of the hope she had for herself.
Lucifer returned the expression with a nod of encouragement.
It pushed her to continue the final bit of her speech.
Not without a small jab at Lucifer, of course.
“His Majesty Lucifer’s only hand in this situation was teaching me that I deserve the right to choose and offering me protection against anyone who is trying to stand in the way of that,” she concluded.
“Even if you are a bonded individual, I want you to know that it doesn’t have to be the conclusion to your entire life if you doubt it in any way.
You deserve the right to choose, too.” Adela’s shoulders slouched slightly, and she reached for the glass of water on the side table.
She had been feeling a little bit hot under the lights.
It felt good to drink something icy.
“Is that everything?” the director asked.
“I believe so,” Adela responded.
“What do you think, Lucifer?” His dark eyebrows rose as he approached her.
“Do you think the title was necessary?” he asked.
A proud smile pulled at Adela’s lips as she looked up at him.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” she joked.
It was Lucifer’s turn to sigh, but he couldn’t bring himself to be upset with her after she poured her heart out on camera.