14— Challenging Fate

Saving Mom is my first step in forging my own path to living happily in this lifetime. I am doomed to repeat history if I fail to save her this time, I am sure of it... I can feel it.

I scurry down through the alley and went straight left. I have to meet Mom before she meets that vampire and stupid mortals who set her up and fooled the nation, dubbing me as a villainess.

Covering my past mistakes starting from Mom will potentially help me achieve success in my revenge on all the people who ruined my life. Starting from Serena— my fake best friend, to Alpas, the man I only loved who betrayed me... his Luna. There's a reason that I still possess all memories from my past before my supposed death, I am sure that Mom is one of the reasons why I am back.

The mortal swiftly caught the fist of the strange hybrid who was about to punch me. Tsk, I glared at the group of hybrids who were supposed to be my ally considering we are all one rare race, but here they are determined to derail my plan of action. Their only role in this universe appears to be a nuisance in both my past and present lives.

The ray of the sun was scorching hot and my skin is getting red. Tsk, one of the disadvantage of having the blood of a vampire. The sun literally burns my skin! I evaded the claw of one of my pursuer and dashed forward.

I'm not sure why or how they ended up coming here. This wasn't supposed to happen, I've only known their existence when I was near death.

I sighed as they gathered around me once more. This is endless! The mortal dragged me behind him and attacked one of my pursuers. Noticing one of the hybrids carrying a concealed weapon, I grabbed the wood with my right hand and kicked the hybrid attempting to attack me on the left with my left foot, while pulling the bat from the other hybrid on my right and kicking them in the abdomen.

"Hey, mortal. You should probably—"

"Raven," he interrupted, his voice steady.

A subtle look of disapproval glimmers in his orbs.

"What?" I muttered, puzzled.

"My name is Raven, not mortal."

"Alright.” I took his hand. "Do me a favor, then. Help me look for my Mom and I will stop calling you mortal, Mortal."

His brow arched for a moment before he nodded his head. None of this has happened in the past and I am much more confused than ever. But, Raven, on the other hand, did what I asked, he covered my back and we dodged the criminal hybrids—well, that's what I had decided to call them, after all, they are attacking an eleven-year-old girl for no reason. We went ever faster and closer with my heart racing like crazy, I could almost feel like I am about to puke with my heartbeat exploding with fear and worries until we could make out a gathering of familiar figures.

"Mom!"

"It's dangerous!" Raven exclaimed as he pulled me behind a near building. "I won't allow you to get hurt again!"

Before I could even react or utter a word of disapproval to Rave, a god-awful monster with blood on his lips suddenly whacked Rave out. I immediately caught Raven's falling body while pulling out a silver dagger from his side pocket.

"Don't even think of hurting him or Mom!"

I scowled at the hideous beast as he licked the blood off his lower lip. I don't know why but there is a part of me that could never forgive this monster for hurting Mom... but how exactly did he hurt Mom? Why am I suddenly having these doubts after meeting him again?

"Renee, get away from him."

Immense rage devoured my spirit when my eyes laid on Mom who was covered with cuts and blood, still trying to protect that ungrateful wench despite her being half-conscious.

I instinctively blocked the unexpected strong sidekick of the beast who was the cause of my disastrous life that led to my miserable fate.

It was none other than my biological father, who never showed any consideration for Mom.

We tried to punch each other, and his annoyingly similar feature to mine was coated in gratification and thrill. We were disrupted by a loud gunshot, and when we turned to see what had caused the commotion, we saw Mom tremblingly holding a handgun while her eyes were tearful.

"I swear to the moon, I will not miss the next shot!l, Athan!" Mom threatened, her actions betraying her words.

Athan's face began almost to glow, if pale white can glow. His sinister grin sent cold shivers down my skin and unfamiliar flashes of memories came into my mind. What is this? Mom's words... it is similar but at the same not.

He laughed so hard, holding his stomach, and brushing off the small tears in the corner of his eyes. "You sure became funny after marrying the Alpha of the Silver Night Pack, Ashina. Do you think I fear—"

"I know you didn't love me as much as I loved you.” Tears began to fall in Mom’s eyes. It’s as if an invisible needles was being punched in my chest... I could see myself in Mom right now. “I was somewhat aware that you used me but I turned a blind eye to everything you have done."

"I didn't ask you to do that," he answered. His eyes bore no guilt or emotions. Seeing him act so nonchalant while Mom is hurting makes my blood boil. “You willingly did that for me."

"I know! I know that but don't hurt my daughter." Mom cried while hitting her chest.

"Don't hurt our daughter," I whispered to myself along with Mom's confession.

Athan remained frozen speechless for a while as he stared at me and then at Mom.

I remember it now... this conversation happened before. This conversation that revealed a lot about my life of lies almost sent me to oblivion. I chose to erase it from my memory because—

"You have proved once again that I am a child of the moon, Ashina."

Mom blinked. "W-what do you mean?"

Athan grimly snickered. "Thank you for giving me a worthy kill."

Mom collapsed to her feet in shock and horror. I couldn't blame her at all or hate her, I saw myself in Mom's shoes except that she loved the man who didn't love her and just manipulated her. My so-called father rushed to choke me to death just as I remembered when I swiftly evaded him and was about to kick him but fell to my knees.

My strength was dwindling and my vision was starting to become fuzzy. The realization of my current body's lack of muscle memories hindered my plan. As my body weakened steadily, it insulated my eventual demise.

There is no way in heaven I will give up on this! Despite how frail my body felt, I got up on my feet wobbling with all my strength, and hurried toward Mom. Grabbing the gun she dropped on the floor, I pulled the trigger and aimed at Athan.

"Renee, no!" Mom exclaimed.

No matter what fate brings me this time— I will certainly live a life that has surpassed the planned tragedy.