Jean's POV...
I scrambled out of the bed and went to the door, opening it immediately.
My mom stood there, outside my room door, with a towel in her hand.
Before I could say anything, I felt cold liquid pour on my body. I looked up and saw Stacey, my cousin, sitting on my wooden shoe rack, with a bucket in her hand and a wide smile playing across her face.
"Stacey?" I called, surprised.
"Happy birthday!" They all shouted at the same time.
I was too surprised to say anything. Stacey was supposed to be married. She got married a year ago, when her mate found her during a pack hunt.
"Happy birthday sweetheart," my mom said, embracing me.
"You don't look too excited," Stacey pointed out, as she jumped down from the rack.
"What is going on?" I asked.
As a matter of fact, I didn't understand anything happening. About 10 minutes ago, my mate plunged a silver dagger into my heart. And then, I somehow found myself in our old house, and mom and Stacey magically appeared out of nowhere. Stacey was supposed to be married and my mom... I stared at her... she died of cancer about two years ago.
"Wait..." I looked at Stacey, then her belly. "Why aren't you pregnant anymore? Where's your baby?" I asked.
"What baby?" She furrowed her brows.
"You told me some months back that you were expecting a pup with Gary" I said.
She looked at me like I had grown two heads. "Who's Gary and what pup?"
I didn't answer that. I looked at her questioningly.
"Oh. I know," she snapped her fingers like she suddenly remembered something. "Maybe you were too jittered by the effect of the splash that you got some memory loss," she said and started laughing.
"Leave all that talk," she said, dragging me along. "Come cut your cake,"
I stood In front of the cake and read the design on it.
"Happy 18th birthday?" I read out loud. I looked at them. "I'm eighteen?"
"Well, yes you are and guess what, since you're officially eighteen, you'll be going to the mating program," my mom said.
I nodded slowly and moved to a corner, while my mom and Stacey were bantering over which program I should join.
It seemed to be making sense now.
I was executed on my birthday, my 21st birthday, but strange enough... I didn't remember it was my birthday.
But somehow... I don't know how, I went back three years in time. Exactly that same day.
The date on the calendar flashed in my mind.
01/06/2027
The exact date, exact time, exactly three years earlier.
I was given a second chance. A second chance to fix everything that went wrong right from the root. To know why everything changed the way it did.
It all made sense now.
"I just remembered something very important. How could I have forgotten?" Stacey said, smacking her head several times.
"Winston asked to meet you at 7pm by the Wolfe Mansion,"
"Winston?" I asked, frowning.
"Yeah. Your crush,"
It then clicked. I had a crush on Winston throughout my teenage years. Wow, everything was perfectly aligning and repeating itself.
But I wouldn't be swayed by emotions or love or crush. I had one mission.
I'd avert every possible chance of getting executed on my 21st birthday, and that's only possible if I avoid ever meeting Kael and definitely not... falling in love with him.
"That's good," I just nodded, playing along.
"Uncle Greg will be here any minute to take us for the mating program, so we better eat this cake up and get ready before then"
"Dad's here?" I asked, wide eyed.
I hadn't seen him since... three years. He was killed by Rogues on the night of...
My eyes widened.
Dad was killed this night, three years ago. We were ambushed on our way back and he had to stall himself so we could escape.
"I don't think Dad should go with us," I objected immediately.
"Why not?" Mom asked. "You know he's always prayed for this day to come, when you finally find your mate,"
I froze. That was true. I met Kael for the first time during the mating program, meaning... we'll meet each other tonight.
