11— Rewind

My body feels so heavy, like an elephant just sat on my chest. Not just that, but it's as if I've just awoken from a long nightmare... a very realistic nightmare.

I couldn't even sleep a wink since arriving here. I wiped the sweat from my brow and reached for the water on my bedside table before delving at my hands, which are unharmed and had no scars.

The pain I felt is still so vivid and fresh in my mind that every time I touched my hands—no, my entire body that had been rained down on by bullets just yesterday—I felt like blood come out gushing. This is the same room I was staying in ten years ago. I walked toward my study table and checked the calendar, there was a huge circle on today's date.

Wait, it's my eleventh birthday?

Dread loom over my head at the realization, today’s the day I lost my mother and when my life completely went upsidedown. I tightly clenched my fist and threw punches to my chest, it felt like a sharp needles was mercilessly pinned on my chest. The memories of Boris torturing me nonstop flashed inside my mind.

My chest tightened with fear, gasping for air, I embraced myself feeling myself tremble. On my birthday, our ill-fated destiny would cross and ruin my whole life, including Mom's.

I'm not going to just sit around knowing what's bound to happen. I have no idea how I came back to the past but somehow, I'll find a way to survive and save Mom and that mortal. I don't know the impact of the changes I'm planning to do in the future but I promise this time, I'll make you all pay and unravel the truth.

A knock on the door brought me back to reality. "Rere, it's breakfast time! Let's eeaat! You'll certainly need food and energy for your first celebration with us. Happy birth—"

I saw the twelve-year-old Serena peeking by the door, I could only stare at her, unable to process my thoughts. My feelings of hostility toward her are as fresh as the morning, if I could, I would kill her here and now. All I could remember was her betrayal. When we were this young, I was really close to Serena until my life took a turn for the worse.

"Are you feeling okay? Why do you look so pale? Did you have a nightmare?" her voice was soft and worried. "What happened?"

She sat beside my bed and cupped my face as I stared at her. Her platinum silver-blonde wavy hair was still dripping wet. The feeling of bitterness and anger started to build up as I gaze upon her face.

Just because she doesn't remember and it hasn't happened yet in this timeline, her sins to me are going to be erased. Your betrayal to me, Serena, was just yesterday. I don’t know how I came back here but I don't just forgive and forget.

Did you conspire with an undercover hybrid organization to steal my Alpha from me?

I knew that Serena was Alpas' mate, we knew from the start but it was her who said she wants my happiness and she doesn't care about Alpas— mate or not. And it was Alpas who chose me.

So, why did you order them to kill me, Serena? How much of the worries in your soft eyes are the truth and the lies? I'm not the foolish girl who knows nothing of the world. I won't be fooled a second time around.

I could feel my blood boil remembering what she turned my life into. It’s too late for me to start anew, this time, making you miserable in this timeline is my life goal, I will break you and Alpas... just like how you broke me, no, more than you ever broke me.

"I'm okay," I simply answered.

I let out a deep breath, calm down Renee. You don't have to be so eager to kill that traitor. The plan is simple, just like how Serena used me before, I will use her to my advantage now, along with the knowledge I have of the future. A slow grand death befits a schemer like Serena. I will never forget what you made me feel.

The incident which changed my life is coming closer. The fear is still fresh and vivid, and remembering this memory tightens my chest but I need to find out who they are and when Serena started planning everything. Her death isn't enough for all the suffering I went through, killing her now would be a mercy. I stared at Serena before giving her a smile.

A grandiose revenge scheme. One that surpasses the great schemers, that sounds fun.

"Let's go." I pulled her out of my room.

We bumped into Chief who was running down the stairs while his hair was a total mess. When we reached the dining table, Chief hastily took his hot choco without a second thought which made him whimper in pain. He stuck out his tongue while fanning it with his hand.

I can feel my eyes water as I stared at Mom who was widely smiling at us while preparing our food. For ten long years, she was trapped in that cell and was mercilessly judged by people who didn't know the real story. I missed you so much, Mom.

Mom, you were the only one who believed and cared for me. I'm going to save you this time.

"Why are you standing just there? Come now to the table and eat with your siblings, Renee?"

Her thick chocolate-brown brows furrowed as she looked at me in confusion. I abruptly run towards Mom and tightly hugged her. Oh, how I've missed her so much.

"I love you, my baby." She kissed my head and motioned me to the dining table.

If I could only tell her everything without looking like a complete lunatic, I will tell her everything and save her from this cruel family but it's not yet the right time. I sat beside her when I felt Dad inserting his dirty socks in my pocket.

Oh, his old same trick in trying to be funny and getting close to me. This is indeed the same replica of what happened in my past and this is when I got closer to Dad... who ended up turning his back on me for his daughter even when he said I am also her daughter. I mentally slapped myself and went along with his goofiness. This is not the time to be melodramatic and go on your memory train, Renee.

"Ew! What was that for?!" I shouted while throwing his dirty socks somewhere. "That's so disgusting Dad!"

Serena giggled while watching us bicker. Mom served us an egg and a slice of bacon. I will play along with your petty act, for now, Serena. I will reveal your true colors bit by bit.

"Hey! That's mine!" I cried while reaching for my bacon.

Chief— Serena's twin brother and next in line Alpha of the Silver Night pack— my partner in crime, would sneakily snatch my bacon and eat it himself. I expected to be hated by Dad's biological children for even having a share in the SN group that would be given to Serena. I thought their dark brown almond-shaped eyes say otherwise, the twins almost considered me as their sister and Mom would always scold us three when we get in trouble.

In reality, I was just imagining it all, they actually saw me as a threat to their pack and assets. So, they make use of my naivety. To hell with that, maybe Serena sees me as a threat that's why she hired those hybrids to bring my head to her. Those angelic face is worse than the devils.

"Come on Chief, you're too old for this childish argument. It's just bacon," my mom reasoned out. "Now, stop stealing your sister's bacon."

"It's not just bacon Mom," we protested in unison.

Mom just rolled her eyes and continued serving our food. My eyes caught a glimpse of a frightening familiar tattoo on Chief's wrist which made me stop on my track and abruptly reached for his wrist. My hands trembled as I stared at his tattoo as a memory enveloped my mind.

"I'll give you mine, Rere." Serena stuffed some of her bacon into my plate.

"Renee, what's wrong?"

I looked at Chief horrified, I had never seen this before, wait. Did I truly never see this? I shook my head with my realization, it was not that.

I just never realized it because I blindly trusted him— Chief has the same tattoo on his wrist as the people who were chasing me. A crescent moon-shaped with three scratches on the middle tattoo.