Chapter 2:  Changing My Fate

Neriah POV

I’m back in my room at home. Back with my father and stepmother, though that isn’t saying much. They always favored Jemisha over me. I was just a fool who tried and failed to win their affection.

When my mother passed away, my father was quick to remarry. I was young, still a pup. After they got married, Jemisha was born. My father seemed to forget I existed after that. I was always given the second pick of everything, while Jemisha always got the best. My entire life, I always took a back seat to my half-sister.

This time, though, I’m going to change my fate. This time, I’m not going to beg for affection that none of them have for me. I’m getting out of here. I’m eighteen, and I am free to do what I want.

I don’t get an allowance from my father, as Jemisha does. Still, the money I did get, which was only fifty dollars a month, I split and saved. I used half for my necessities and the other half I saved, in hopes that one day, when I turned eighteen, I could have a nice dress for my birthday. That fell through, though. My parents didn’t even celebrate it with me. My first shift was in the woods alone. I never showed anyone my wolf.

My wolf is unique. She is navy blue, and her eyes are mercury-silver. She’s beautiful, and she likes me. She never liked Silas, but I couldn’t be bothered to listen to her. In my last life, that cost me dearly. I didn’t just lose my ability to have pups, but I also lost my wolf. In this life, I will do everything I can to keep my wolf and not let history repeat itself.

Previously, my wolf, Nila, said she was special, but couldn’t explain it to me until we found our mate. We never found our mate because I was too hung up on Silas. What a waste of time.

‘Wait for our mate. He will find us, Neri,’ Nila said.

‘I know. This time is going to be different.’

‘I see what happened in your past life. That pathetic asshole didn’t deserve you. That pack didn’t deserve you, Neri.’

‘Don’t worry, Nila. This time, we are doing things differently.’

‘You should withdraw from the competition. That way, we can leave and search for our mate.’

‘Agreed. Let’s start with changing how our family looks at us.’

I got up, got ready, went downstairs, and didn’t bother greeting anyone. I opened the fridge and pulled out the juice that Jemisha loves so much, but I never got to drink, even though I liked it too.

“What are you doing?” Regina, my stepmother, asked.

“Drinking juice.”

“That is for Jemisha. You can have water.”

I looked at my father and chuckled sarcastically. “Really? You forget my eighteenth birthday, I shift outside, in the woods, alone, no party, celebration, or even a gift, and now you begrudge me a glass of juice, because it belongs to your precious Jemisha?”

“How dare you talk back?!” Regina said loudly with fake outrage.

My father’s eyes flickered with guilt. I didn’t break eye contact with him. Then he looked at Regina.

“Let her have the juice. One glass isn’t going to kill Jemisha,” then he looked at me. “I’m sorry we forgot your birthday. I’m sorry you shifted on your own. You did get your wolf though?”

I scoffed. That’s it. “Yeah, but please, don’t act as if you care. Ever since you brought that woman here and spawned that brat you favor over me, I long since stopped believing or desiring anyone’s affection in this house. I’m leaving. I have things to do.”

I drank the juice in one sitting, put the glass in the sink, and walked out. Before I turned, I saw my father’s eyes. Shock and guilt crossed. Regina’s face was turning red with rage. I smiled to myself. In this life, I know how to handle these fools.

In this life, no one will be playing me for a fool this time. I already know what stunts they are going to pull, and I am not going to run around, waiting for them to see me. Sometimes the best thing a person can do for herself is make them feel her absence. For now, though, this is just me pissing off Regina.

I walked out of the house and walked to the bus line to the capital where the show is going to be filmed. I already know how to win this competition. I don’t need anyone to tell me what to do. I just want out.

When the bus finally arrives and I board, I see pack members looking at me with disgust. In my past life, I would cower away. Now, I couldn’t be bothered to pay them any mind. Though one woman kept staring at me hard with disgust.

Finally, I’d had enough. “Do you mind letting me have my face, lady? Staring that hard might make everyone here think you are sexually attracted to me,” I said loudly and without shame.

Her eyes bulged, and she turned away. “Some she-wolves don’t know how to be a lady.”

I laughed loudly. “And some old she-wolves don’t know how to mind their own damn business.”

‘Yes! This is who we need to be, Neri!’ Nila said in my mind.

‘No one gets to make us feel small again, Nila. No one.’