CHAPTER 2 - To Die Tomorrow

LISA'S POV

I'm going to die tomorrow.

There was no doubt about that. It was clear as the sky on a bright summer afternoon.

Tomorrow is the day I clock twenty-one. The day I become an expired werewolf who had failed to find a mate.

I know most people cry the day they are born but I was different. I was an odd child right from birth. I refused to cry initially till my bottom was spanked repeatedly, my tears brought delight to everyone around except me. I was as if I had a premonition that I was already doomed and here I was nearly two decades later about to prove my younger self-right.

I received a letter from Elena I had lost count of how many she had sent. It was as if she knew I tore them at sight but here I was back in my apartment after reading the contents of her last letter. She profusely apologized for her selfish actions and begged for forgiveness. Nevertheless, it was her next paragraph that shook me to my bones. Her wolf had mated with Jake's three months ago and despite their reluctance to accept the truth, nature had eventually prevailed. Jake had marked her. They had decided to move south and start a family.

I stood in the apartment hallway, with its green walls and fading paint was empty as it usually was. Many tenants had left for fear of waking up underneath a pile of rubble while they slept, the building was in a decapitated state but it was dirt cheap and it was the best I could afford. I fumble repeatedly with my keys as I tried to insert them into the lock, my thoughts were constantly messing me up, I was finding it hard to complete even the simplest of tasks. I eventually manage to open the door and I shut the door behind me. The silence echoing with no one around to hear. I was alone. Alone on the eve of the last day of my life.

I grimace at the place I called home where I had lived with my best friend for the past three years ever since the untimely death of our parents during an ambush on our wolf pack, an attack that left me as the sole survivor of the Lycan pack. The windows were missing large chunks of glass, the landlord, Matt, had promised to fix it but he never did. I dropped my bag on the coffee-stained rug and plummeted onto the sofa, closing my eyes and shutting it all out. This is how I'm going to die? How over a century of my existence would be erased? Alone and heartbroken. In this place which I had come to love? I tried to hold back the tears but my errors proved futile, I furiously wiped at my cheeks. I didn't want to waste any more time crying, I had done enough this past month. I didn't want to waste my last hours crying. I had a lot of things I could do rather than crying and waiting for my executioners to arrive. I tied my hair in a ponytail as I took a deep breath.

No one escapes their destiny. My parents met theirs while trying to protect their homes and preserve the lives of their children. My sister met hers with the love of my life. How ironic.

The council with the prime alpha at the helm of the affairs were the ones who were in charge of ruining my life. I was willing to gamble my remaining hours on the satisfaction I was sure they took knowing that they would soon end a rogue werewolf, to help them maintain the peace and order they craved for.

I wouldn't give up so easily.

Fuck them all.

I pull myself up to my feet and grabbed my backpack. I was glad to see that my body was in accordance with my mind, if the council says I'm going to die tomorrow, I would definitely go out with a loud bang. I was going to make my last day memorable, and I plan on removing every obstacle on my way without any hesitation. I was a lousy fighter but I had heart and that would serve my objective.

I opened my door and strode out with purpose. I couldn't look back now, I had crossed the threshold and I could only move ahead. After all, what was the point of coming back to this shit hole? It was time I took the bull by the horns. I had no idea what would happen next, but I was ready and set for the race. My time was ticking and my decision had been made. Holding my head high, I stepped out of the building where I lived and a sense of freedom washed over me, it was as if I could feel invincible chains fall at my feet. I could feel my wolf eager for the adventure that lay ahead. Death might be chasing after me, but I, Lisa Kane would give him a run for his money.

I rubbed my hands trying to get some warmth into them. A man glanced my way as I stood in front of the building. I could notice pity in his eyes and it made me feel irritated. I hated being looked at like I couldn't take care of myself. I watched as his retreated figure slowly got swallowed by the darkness. I envied his gray hair and old face, there was something I would certainly not have. I wondered what he would have said if I had told him I was going to die tomorrow. Sorry? I had heard it for over twenty-one years and I was sick of it.

I watched as my only friend in this world walked towards me, lifting a large chunk of rock. I wondered what trick he had up his sleeve now. Abraham had always been a weird fellow and it was one of the reasons I loved him. I could easily figure out that he was just trying to be a showoff, as usual, he was one of the strongest in his pack and he had already been touted as the next alpha when the time came.

The ground shook as he dropped the rock onto the floor. I wanted to imagine he would miss me when I was gone, I really didn't think anyone would put up with him for as long as I did.

Abraham gives me a grim smile. "Lisa."

I muster a smile back. There, I did it. I smiled. I think Abraham was a little surprised at how big my smile was and his brilliant blue eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out what I was up to. I couldn't hang around any longer, I was running out of time.

"Bye, Abraham, please have a nice life and kick ass," I say as I tried to walk past him.

Abraham pulled me to his large chest and enveloped me in a bone-crushing hug. We stay like that for a long time, each of us relishing the moments we spent together in silence. I didn't know how long pass before he released me, his eyes bloodshot.

"I'll miss you, Lisa. I know you've got something up your sleeve and you won't let me in on it. But, do me one favor, will you?"

I smiled. "I'd do anything for you, Abs. You know that already."

"Make sure you go out with a loud bang. Something similar to the fourth of July if I may add," Abraham grinned.

"You know I will. I wouldn't go out any other way."

I felt the prickling sensation of the rain against my body.

Don't think this would stop me, I said out loud to the universe. I still have a lot of unfinished business.

The sky rumbled and I knew I had to find a means of transportation, I squinted my eyes towards the parking lot where my Landlord's Toyota Corolla was packed and an idea struck in my head. I was finally going to put my street skills to use. Here I was, a few hours away from clocking nineteen years and the comfort of death about to commit my first crime. I could feel my eyes glow, my human and wolf were in unison.

A real genuine laugh escapes from me. Never in a million years did I believe this would happen

 A month ago, I was certain that Jake would claim me as his mate and save me from untimely death but here I was finally willing and eager to accomplish what I was trained to do for so many years by my father. I was the firstborn child of the deceased warrior chief and alpha, Rick Kane of the Lycan pack. I was a survivor and I intended to scale through this hurdle. I don't know how to, but I knew I would be damned if I don't make it worthwhile.

I picked the lock of the car and slid in, Abraham had secretly taught me how to drive every day after high school for three months, and I drove like a professional now.

I once considered undergoing training to be a professional race car driver but it was all in the past now. I had a new goal and I was setting plans in motion to execute them even at the cost of my life.

I was going to make the council pay for trying to ruin my life.