Seconds to Fate

“Grandmother, please,” I begged weakly as I sat down on the ground by my bed.

The sun poured in through the window, spreading across the floor and creeping up the wall.

Everything was going just as it has been in my past life.

In my past life, I had been locked up because money had been found in my room. The money belonged to the pack and my grandmother accused me of stealing even when I told her I did not do it.

In the end, Kendall had stolen the research report that I worked on for months and submitted it as her own. She became the most celebrated student among all the packs while I was known as a thief.

My jaw clenched as the memory hit me.

Not this time.

“Grandm—” I yelled as the door opened, expecting to see my grandmother but it was Kendall.

The door shut behind her with a quiet sound.

“Well… look at you,” she said, her voice soft, amused as she stared at me. “Crying on the floor again. Some things really never change, do they?”

“You're finally showing your true colours. Tired of finally pretending?”

Kendall let out a soft laugh, the sound low and mocking as she stepped further into the room.

“Oh, Mara,” she said, shaking her head slowly. “You say that like I was ever really hiding it.”

My hands clenched at my sides.

“You're going to regret this.” I warned.

Kendall chuckled again.

“You're going to miss the medical scholarship test, Mara. I think you're the one that going to regret it.” she said making a face before she turned to leave.

My chest tightened.

It was the exact same words she had told me before she went off to submit my research report.

This time, I had to stop her.

“Kendall… wait,” I called out, my voice breaking as I pushed myself up with shaky legs.

She paused at the door but didn’t turn around.

I took a few unsteady steps forward, then suddenly dropped to my knees right behind her.

“Please…” I whispered, grabbing the edge of her dress with both hands. “Don’t do this to me. I’ll do anything. I’ll apologize, I’ll stay out of your way, I swear… just don’t make me miss this test.”

Kendall slowly turned this time. Her eyes ran over me, from my messy hair to the tears on my face, down to where I was kneeling at her feet.

“Wow,” she said softly. “This is… pathetic. Even for you.”

Her words hit hard, but I didn’t react.

I lowered my head even more, tightening my grip on her dress as if I was desperate enough to cling to anything. Without her noticing, I reached out and grabbed her phone.

“Let me think….No! Stay here and reflect. Next time, you'll know your place cursed wolf.”

Kendall pushed me to the ground before walking away.

Once she was gone, I curled my fingers tighter around the phone, pressing it against my palm as I stayed down.

“Finally…”

I wiped my face quickly taking a deep breath as my fingers moved fast on Kendall's phone. Trying several passwords, I tried to unlock her phone but each one was wrong.

"Holy moon goddess, what's the password?" I asked, running my hand through my hair.

Suddenly, I tried Jace's birthday.

It unlocked.

Who could I call?

Anyone from our pack would ignore me or sell me out to my grandmother.

Friends? I didn't have any.

My eyes darted to my bed where Silas's card was.

Reaching for it, I quickly typed in the number and waited. My heart pounded as I held the phone tighter, my breath coming out uneven.

It rang.

Once. Twice.

The line finally connected.

“Who is this?” Silas's voice echoed on the other side.

“Hello Silas, this is me. It's Mara. I need your help.” I whispered, glancing back at the door.

Silence.

“Hello?” I asked. “Can you hear me? My grandmother and Kendall locked me up in my room. I have an important test. I need your help. This is important. Please.”

“I'll come if you agree to be my wife,” Silas said.

For a second, I thought I heard him wrong.

“What…?” I whispered, my voice barely there.

“I don’t repeat myself,” Silas said calmly. “Agree to be my wife, and I’ll come get you. Refuse… and handle your problem yourself.”

My grip tightened around the phone. Anger shot through me so fast it almost burned.

“Are you insane?” I snapped under my breath, careful not to raise my voice too loud. “I’m locked up right now and all you can think about is that?”

“I’m thinking clearly,” he replied. “You’re the one running out of time, Mara.”

My chest rose and fell quickly.

7:34.

Every second was slipping away.

“Are you seriously going to use this to force me? Really? ” I asked, my voice shaking despite my effort to stay steady.

“I’m offering you a solution,” he corrected. “One that benefits both of us.”

Benefits him.

That was all this was.

My jaw tightened.

“I hate you,” I muttered.

“I know,” he said without hesitation. “So?”

My fingers trembled slightly against the phone.

This was crazy.

Marry him?

The same man who ruined my childhood.

The same man who made my life unbearable.

My eyes flicked to the clock again.

7:40.

“…Fine,” I said, swallowing hard.“I agree.”

“Say it properly,” Silas said.

My teeth clenched.

“You’re unbearable,” I muttered.

“Say it,” he repeated, his tone firmer this time.

My nails dug into my palm.

“I, Mara…” I started slowly, each word heavy. “Agree to be your wife and mate.”

“Good.”

The line went dead.

I stared at the phone for a second, my heart still racing.

“Good?” I repeated under my breath, disbelief creeping in.

That was it?

No details? No plan?

Just… good?

A sudden noise outside made my head snap toward the door.

My heart jumped.

Was it Kendall?

Before I could think further, a loud crash echoed through the house as my door came crashing down to the ground.

Seeing Silas, I stared at him in shock.

Did he really just kick down my door?

"What are you waiting for? You're going to be late. Kendall already left." His hand closed around mine as he dragged me out of the room.

I almost tripped trying to keep up.

Outside, a black car was already parked, engine running. The driver rushed forward to open the door, but Silas didn’t even look at him. He pulled me along and shoved me into the backseat, getting in right after me.

“Drive to the medical scholarship test at Brighton Heights Center,” he said, his tone cold and direct.

“Yes, Alpha King.”

The drive started.

My heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

“What time is it?” I asked, my voice coming out tight.

The driver glanced at the dashboard.

“7:58"

My stomach dropped.

I reached for the door handle, my fingers shaking. “I’ll run. I can still make it.”

Silas grabbed my hand before I could open it.

“No,” he said, calm but firm. “We’re already here.”

I froze.

Slowly, I turned my head toward the window as the car pulled up in front of the test center. The car hadn't fully stopped before I opened the car door and rushed inside.

“Stop!” I yelled just as Kendall was about to be awarded.