All Chapters of The Second Chance I Didn't Give: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

Vera waved a stack of forms in the air, tapping the edge against a tree trunk. "These are opt-out forms. Sign them, and you don't have to show up to the Council's prep training camp. Just come straight for the Trials when it's time."Silas Morris was the first to rush up and snatch one, signing without a second thought. "Whatever Vera says goes. Anyone who doesn't sign is an idiot."Rowan White hesitated for two seconds, then signed too. With someone taking the lead, everyone else crowded in, scrambling for the forms."Sign it fast. Let's go home and hunt. See you in the new pack!"Only one form was left. Vera turned to look at me, still standing there, and held it out. "Seraphina, aren't you signing?"I stared back at her, expressionless. Didn't reach for it.Vera's smile flickered for a split second, a flush creeping up her face. "Don't tell me you're scared? Everyone else signed. What's there to be afraid of?"Silas chimed in from the side, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "She's alw

I looked away and started picking up the scattered supplements from the ground. After that day, I went back to the training ground during the day to do my physical drills, slept at night, and took enhancement supplements to push myself further.The Council's training program that Ms. Ober brought was solid. I ran through every exercise over and over during the day, and at night, lying in my bunk, I closed my eyes and replayed every single detail of the official Trials in my head. I could feel my body getting stronger by the day.During breaks, I scrolled through my phone. Social feeds were full of celebration.Vera posted a set of photos—her leaning against Jasper, smiling all coy and sweet. Caption: [No training, and even the air tastes sweet. Some wolves are still eating dirt at the training ground, while we're already living the good life in our new pack.]Jasper posted a selfie too, that lazy, cocky smirk on his face. [Just cruising. We're all getting the same results anyway—who ca

Things didn't end just because I walked away.The next day, I turned on the TV. Wolf News was broadcasting live. The rooftop of the Council Hall was packed with wolves.The camera zoomed in. I recognized every single face. Thirty-eight of them. Not one missing. All my old packmates.They stood at the edge of the rooftop, each holding up a cardboard sign. In bright red letters: "No retest—we jump!"The reporter held up her mic, speaking at a rapid clip."Viewers, I'm standing in front of the Council Hall. About an hour ago, thirty-eight wolves whose Trial scores were voided climbed onto the rooftop, demanding that the Council give them a chance to retake the Trials."A middle-aged wolf in glasses stepped onto the rooftop, his tone gentle. "Come down first. Whatever your demands are, we can sit down and talk."Vera lifted her tear-streaked face, voice hoarse. "We took the Trials fair and square—how is that cheating?"Jasper's face was flushed red, his voice raspy as he argued back. "We d

The hallway was packed with neighbors, all pointing and whispering. "That's brutal. Breaking into someone's place with gasoline—almost killed her."They shoved Jasper into the transport vehicle. He looked back at me, pure hatred in his eyes.Vera was shaking so hard she could barely stand, crying, repeating the same words over and over. "It wasn't me... I didn't do anything..."Same old trick, same old life—she'd tried to burn me alive again. Good thing I was ready this time. Whatever happened to them now, they'd brought it on themselves.In the interrogation room, Jasper started off tough, insisting he was just trying to scare me, never actually planned to set the fire. But the footage said otherwise—no amount of tough talk could talk his way out of that.In the next room, Vera cried for a full hour, swearing up and down she was innocent. But every excuse crumbled against the evidence.At the Wolf Court, the judge went through the evidence piece by piece. Vera stood at the defendant's