- 12 hours ago
Reborn To Watch Him Fall
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00When I woke up in that alley with three rogue wolves holding me down,
00:03Gavin was standing at the entrance, watching and making sure no one interrupted me, or destroyed me.
00:07The first day of Royal Pack Academy entrance exams was over,
00:11and Gavin wouldn't shut up about how Roxy, that rogue girl he'd met at some club,
00:15was planned to celebrate his coming of age.
00:17He was actually going to accept it.
00:19The guy who'd spent three years obsessing over his trial scores,
00:22was about to throw it all away for a quick fuck.
00:24Earlier this morning, I'd been drinking coffee at the pack diner
00:27when I overheard Roxy and her friends at the next booth.
00:30Tonight, I'm going to wreck that virgin boy scout so bad,
00:33he won't be able to stand tomorrow.
00:35Forget the trials, he'll be lucky if he can crawl to the arena.
00:39In my last life, I desperately tried to stop Gavin from going.
00:43Selena, this is Roxy's gift to me.
00:45Just because you're too much of a prude to have fun,
00:47doesn't mean you get to cockblock my happiness.
00:50I'd been so worried about his future that I'd told his parents everything.
00:53They locked him in his room,
00:56dragged him to the trials the next day.
00:58Like a prisoner, he passed, got into the Royal Pack Academy,
01:01but Roxy's plan fell apart.
01:02She got wasted, and some assholes jumped her in the alley behind the club.
01:06They found her body.
01:07Two days later, Gavin lost his mind.
01:09He blamed me for everything, said I'd ruined his life,
01:11taken away his soulmate.
01:13A month before Academy started, he invited me over to talk things out.
01:16I thought maybe we could fix things.
01:18We'd been friends since we were kids, after all.
01:20Gavin drugged my drink.
01:21Gavin joined me, and my parents couldn't handle the shame.
01:25In whispers, they took Wolfsbane together one night, holding hands.
01:28That bastard filmed it.
01:29Stood outside our house with his phone out,
01:31recording my parents' final moments like it was entertainment.
01:34He brought the video to the hospital where I was recovering.
01:37Made me watch every second.
01:38Your parents are paying for what you did to Roxy,
01:41and you're next.
01:43The last thing I saw was Gavin's smile.
01:45I jumped from the hospital to meet that night.
01:48Yo, Selena, you having a stroke or something?
01:53Yo, Selena, you having a stroke or something?
01:56Gavin's voice snapped me back to the present.
01:58He was glaring at me.
01:59Can you stop being so weird every time I mention another girl?
02:03It's pathetic.
02:04I looked down at my unmarked skin,
02:06my legs that actually worked,
02:07exactly as they'd been before everything went to hell.
02:10I was alive and breathing.
02:11I was back at the beginning.
02:13The day before everything went to hell,
02:14Gavin's friend Travis jumped in,
02:16trying to smooth things over.
02:18Cut her some slack, man.
02:19Selena's scared to have fun.
02:20She's probably just jealous that Rocky's got you
02:22wrapped around her finger.
02:23Gavin's face flushed.
02:24He couldn't help himself, had to brag.
02:26Roxy said she's got a surprise for me tonight.
02:28Getting to celebrate my 18th birthday
02:29with a smoking hot girl like Roxy?
02:31Tomorrow I'm gonna perform even better than usual.
02:33I almost laughed.
02:34This morning, I heard exactly what Roxy's surprise entailed.
02:37Tonight, I'm gonna take care of that virgin boy scout real good.
02:40None of you bestered interrupt.
02:42But he's got the trials tomorrow.
02:44The trials?
02:46Why would my little plaything need to worry about that?
02:49Once he gets into some royal academy,
02:51you think he'll even remember me?
02:52It wasn't a celebration at all.
02:54She was planning to destroy Gavin's entire future.
02:56In my last life, I'd nearly killed myself
02:58trying to stop this from happening.
03:00And all it got me was my family's destruction.
03:02So this life looking at how excited Gavin was,
03:04I slowly raised my head.
03:05A cold smile spread across my face.
03:07You should go, Gavin.
03:09With a beauty like Roxy to celebrate with,
03:11I'm sure you'll perform exceptionally well tomorrow.
03:12Gavin froze, blinked at me like I'd just spoken in tongues.
03:16Then Travis broke the silence with a nervous laugh.
03:18Uh, did Selena just give you permission to hook up with someone else?
03:20Bro, I think she's finally over you.
03:22Gavin's face twisted, but before he could respond,
03:24I grabbed my bag and stood up.
03:26Wait.
03:28His hand shot out, slamming down on my trial pass.
03:31Where are you going?
03:32I stared at his hand.
03:34Home.
03:34To rest for tomorrow.
03:36Yeah.
03:37Gavin snatched the permit off the desk,
03:38holding it above his head.
03:39You're not going anywhere.
03:40Not until I'm sure you're not going to run
03:42crying to my parents like last time.
03:44My jaw tightened.
03:45Gavin, give it back.
03:47Or what?
03:48I forced down my anger,
03:49trying to sound helpless and reasonable.
03:51Gavin, you know what the trials mean to me.
03:53I promise I won't tell your parents anything.
03:56Just please don't mess with my future.
03:58But even as I said it, I knew the truth.
04:00Gavin probably wouldn't even make it to the arena tomorrow.
04:02There was no way I could let him keep my permit.
04:04Thinking about how he destroyed my life in my previous timeline,
04:07I suddenly lunged forward at Gavin.
04:08My fingers had just touched the permit
04:10when he caught my wrist in a crushing grip.
04:13Gavin, give it back.
04:15Ooh, look at that.
04:17The perfect student's getting mad.
04:19See, man?
04:20I told you.
04:21She's totally going to run and snitch to your parents.
04:23Don't give it back to her.
04:24Gavin's grip had started to loosen,
04:26but hearing his friends egg him on,
04:27he jerked the permit up higher,
04:29keeping it out of reach.
04:30I tried to grab the permit back,
04:31but Gavin was taller and stronger,
04:34an alpha in his prime.
04:35My beta wolf snarled in frustration,
04:37but it couldn't match his physical advantage.
04:39He pressed down hard on my hands,
04:41trying to force me to let go.
04:42His friends kept shouting from the sidelines.
04:45Come on, Gavin.
04:46Tonight's your big night.
04:47Don't let Selina ruin it.
04:49Something vicious flashed in Gavin's eyes.
04:51He yanked backward with all his strength.
04:52The friends who'd been laughing and shouting,
04:54just seconds ago,
04:56suddenly went dead silent.
04:57My trial pass was torn in half in Gavin's hands,
05:00just like my shattered life from the previous timeline.
05:03The sound of my tears hitting the floor was painfully clear.
05:05A wave of despair and helplessness crashed over me.
05:08I'd been given a second chance at life,
05:10and he'd destroyed my future all over again.
05:12You brought this on yourself!
05:14That's what you get for trying to stop me from seeing Roxy!
05:17He shoved the pieces into my hands
05:19and dragged his friends out the door.
05:21Their mocking laughter echoed down the hallway.
05:23Ripped up her permit,
05:24and she didn't even dare say anything.
05:27She can't compare to Roxy at all.
05:29Every single word felt like a knife cutting into my heart.
05:32I bent down slowly,
05:34picked up the torn pieces of my entry permit from the floor,
05:36and walked straight to the trash can at the front of the classroom.
05:39I threw them in without hesitation,
05:40didn't even look back.
05:41Then I turned around and walked down the hallway to Mr. Carr's office.
05:45I knocked twice on his door.
05:46Come in.
05:48Mr. Carr,
05:49I'm accepting the Royal Pack Academy offer.
05:51Every single word felt like a knife cutting into my heart.
05:55Ten years of being packmates.
05:56Ten years of training together,
05:58studying together,
05:59growing up side by side to him.
06:01It had all just been pathetic clinginess.
06:03Gavin and I had grown up together in the same pack.
06:06We'd been training partners since we were seven years old,
06:08since the day after our first shifts.
06:10We drilled combat moves until our muscles screamed,
06:13and our wolves whimpered with exhaustion.
06:15I remember those freezing winter dawns
06:17when we'd shift into our wolf forms and race through the forest,
06:20our paws leaving tracks in the fresh snow
06:21as we built our endurance and speed,
06:23those scorching summer afternoons
06:25when we'd collapse under the old oak tree
06:26at the edge of pack territory after hours of sparring,
06:29passing a water bottle back and forth
06:31while we quizzed each other on pack law, strategy, and history.
06:34The promise we'd made to both get into the Royal Pack Academy together.
06:37It used to be our unspoken faith.
06:38The shared future we'd sworn on our wolves to achieve together.
06:41But everything had changed after Gavin met Roxy
06:43at that rogue club on the outskirts of pack territory.
06:46The Gavin standing here today,
06:48the one who'd just ripped up my permit
06:49and walked away laughing,
06:51clearly didn't want any kind of shared future with me anymore.
06:54His eyes lit up with relief and warmth.
06:59Finally, I told you that was the right choice for you.
07:01Your gift with herbs and healing.
07:03The Academy's been waiting for you.
07:05You're going to be an exceptional healer.
07:10When I got home and told my parents
07:12I wasn't taking the combat trials,
07:14they relaxed.
07:15Thank the goddess.
07:17Hugging me tight.
07:18We've been so worried
07:19since you turned down the healing track
07:21to chase after Gavin.
07:23Dad squeezed my shoulder.
07:24The Academy is lucky to have you, sweetheart.
07:26We'd just finished dinner
07:27when someone started pounding on the door.
07:29Dad opened it.
07:30Gavin's parents stood there.
07:31Mrs. Steele's face was white,
07:33her hand shaking around her phone.
07:35Selina, has Gavin contacted you?
07:37He said he was going out
07:38and now his phone's off.
07:39The second round is tomorrow.
07:40Where is he?
07:43Selina, you and Gavin are always together.
07:45Mom looked at me.
07:47I don't know, Mrs. Steele.
07:48I kept my voice calm.
07:50Mr. Steele's forehead was sweating.
07:51Do you know where he might be?
07:53I shook my head.
07:54I really don't know. I'm sorry.
07:56They left looking devastated
07:57after they were gone.
07:58Dad frowned at me.
08:00Did you two fight?
08:01You really don't know where he is?
08:03I smiled and went to my room.
08:05Of course I knew where Gavin was.
08:06Right now he was with Roxy,
08:08probably thinking he was the luckiest alpha alive.
08:11Thinking about how my parents died in my last life.
08:13I clenched my blanket hard.
08:15Let him enjoy his night.
08:17Tomorrow would be a different story.
08:18The next morning,
08:20Dad had to be at the arena early.
08:21He was the head pack healer
08:23and trial days always meant injuries.
08:25Mom and I went with him to help.
08:27We arrived before dawn.
08:28Even from a distance,
08:29I could see Gavin's parents pacing near the entrance gates.
08:32The second Mrs. Steele spotted me,
08:34she rushed over.
08:35Selena!
08:35Gavin never came home.
08:37You were with him yesterday at school.
08:38Did he say where he was going?
08:39Mr. Carr jogged over,
08:41looking stressed.
08:42Selena,
08:42you know how important these trials are for Gavin.
08:44The second round starts in an hour
08:46and he's still missing.
08:46Please!
08:47Where could he be?
08:48I looked at their desperate faces.
08:50In my mind,
08:51I saw my parents again.
08:52Saw them choking on Wolfsbane.
08:54Saw the pack throwing rocks at our house.
08:56I dug my nails into my palms.
08:58I really don't know.
08:59Mr. Carr sighed and patted Mrs. Steele's shoulder.
09:02Selena's a good kid.
09:03If she says she doesn't know,
09:04she doesn't know.
09:05Let's keep looking.
09:07But I knew it was too late.
09:08Roxy had planned this specifically
09:10to keep Gavin from competing right now.
09:11He was probably passed out somewhere,
09:13sleeping off whatever she'd given him.
09:15The starting bell rang.
09:16Gavin still hadn't shown up.
09:18Gavin's parents weren't wealthy.
09:19His dad worked three jobs,
09:21barely sleeping.
09:22His mom had quit working years ago
09:23to take care of Gavin full time,
09:25making sure he could focus on training.
09:26They'd sacrificed everything
09:28for 15 years to get him here.
09:29When the arena gates closed,
09:31Mrs. Steele collapsed.
09:32She fell to her knees, screaming.
09:34Finally, with 15 minutes left
09:35in the morning session,
09:36Gavin stumbled into view.
09:37His clothes were wrinkled.
09:39He could barely walk straight.
09:40Mrs. Steele shot up and ran to him.
09:42She slapped him so hard the sound echoed.
09:44Dad!
09:46Where the hell have you been?
09:48I was near the medical tent with my parents
09:50when I heard Gavin shout my name.
09:52Mom, it was Selina.
09:54She confessed to me yesterday
09:55and I rejected her.
09:56She drugged me and locked me in a hotel.
09:58I just woke up.
09:59Selina destroyed my life.
10:01I froze before I could react.
10:03Mrs. Steele was charging at me.
10:05Gavin clearly hadn't expected me to be here.
10:07When our eyes met, he looked away fast,
10:08but I caught the panic in his expression.
10:11I saw my parents' deaths flash through my mind.
10:13I moved on instinct,
10:14stepping in front of Mom and Dad
10:15with my arms spread wide.
10:17Mrs. Steele's hand cracked across my face.
10:19You shameless bitch!
10:21My family went without everything for 15 years
10:24so Gavin could have this chance!
10:26And because he rejected you,
10:27you destroyed him!
10:28The force sent me stumbling back into the wall.
10:30Dad rushed forward,
10:32but Mr. Steele grabbed him by the throat.
10:34This mild-mannered man
10:35suddenly looked like a monster.
10:37His arms, thick from years of manual labor,
10:39bulged as he punched Dad to the ground.
10:41You're all bastards!
10:43You destroyed my son!
10:45None of you are walking away from this!
10:48A crowd formed.
10:49More and more people pushed in
10:50when they heard the story
10:51Jealous Girl Drugs Alpha Before Trials.
10:54Their eyes filled with rage.
10:55They swarmed us.
10:56Fists and feet came from everywhere.
10:58They hit me and Dad over and over.
10:59Mom was screaming,
11:01trying to get through,
11:01but people blocked her.
11:03Blood ran into my eyes.
11:04I could still hear them shouting,
11:05She deserves this.
11:07This little bitch is gonna ruin more lives!
11:10Teach her a lesson!
11:12Film this!
11:12Through blurred vision,
11:14I saw Gavin at the back of the crowd.
11:15His head was down,
11:16pretending to look worried.
11:17But I saw that smile,
11:19that poisonous smile pulling at his mouth.
11:20The same smile from when he watched me jump.
11:22I heard Dad's bone crack.
11:24He groaned,
11:25that sound cut through everything,
11:26it killed the last piece of me
11:27that had cared about Gavin.
11:28The boy who used to bring me breakfast was dead.
11:31The boy who promised we'll see each other
11:32at the academy died the day he met Roxy.
11:34Fine, I didn't need to protect him anymore.
11:37I forced myself to move,
11:39pulled my phone from my bag with shaking hands.
11:41Blood and tears made it hard to see,
11:43but I found the video Roxy had sent me last night.
11:46I turned the volume all the way up and hit play.
11:48Immediately, obscene sounds filled the air.
11:51Everyone knew exactly what those sounds meant.
11:54Gavin, you act so innocent,
11:57but you're such a freak.
12:00Slower, you're hurting me.
12:02The crowd went silent.
12:04The fists stopped.
12:05The audio kept playing.
12:07This time, it was clearly Gavin.
12:08Roxy, I love the birthday gift you gave me.
12:13I hit pause.
12:14I pushed myself up using the wall for support,
12:16wiped blood off my mouth,
12:18and turned my phone toward Gavin's parents.
12:20See that?
12:21The person Gavin was with last night was Roxy,
12:23not me.
12:24See that?
12:25That's your good son you're defending.
12:26I pulled up my home security footage.
12:28From 8 p.m. until 6 this morning,
12:30our cameras recorded everything.
12:31I was home the entire time.
12:33Gavin's face went white.
12:35His lips trembled.
12:36What have you done?
12:38Your father broke his leg
12:40and kept working to pay for your training.
12:42Our whole family's hopes were on you.
12:45And you did this the night before your trial.
12:48The same people who'd been beating me now
12:50looked ashamed.
12:51They turned their anger on Gavin.
12:52How could he do that?
12:54His mom told me his dad broke his leg at work,
12:56but kept going.
12:57Look at his mother.
12:59Her hair's gone white.
12:59Mrs. Steele's slap had drawn blood from Gavin's mouth.
13:02He just stood there.
13:03Merkar sighed and steadied Mrs. Steele.
13:05Mrs. Steele,
13:08Gavin still has two more days of trials.
13:10Let him-
13:11I helped Dad toward the ambulance.
13:12As we passed Gavin,
13:13he suddenly grabbed my wrist.
13:14His eyes were bloodshot.
13:15Selene,
13:17this isn't over.
13:18I'm not done with you.
13:20I looked at him for two seconds.
13:22Then,
13:22I calmly pried his fingers off.
13:24One by one,
13:25didn't say a word,
13:25just turned and helped Dad into the ambulance.
13:28Rastlife life,
13:29all my warnings got me was my family's destruction.
13:31This time I'd learned,
13:32keeping my parents safe was all that mattered.
13:34As for Gavin,
13:35I was done.
13:36If he wanted war,
13:37fine.
13:37I was ready.
13:38Gavin barely made it through the last rounds.
13:40His parents watched him the entire time graduation came.
13:43The campus filled with celebration.
13:45Everyone taking photos,
13:46planning futures,
13:47on the surface.
13:48Everything seemed normal,
13:49but whenever I was alone,
13:50Gavin's threat echoed in my head.
13:52The day results posted,
13:53I was organizing files for Mr. Carr.
13:55When my phone buzzed,
13:56a message from Gavin appeared.
14:01I stared at the message,
14:02thumb running along my phone's edge.
14:04Outside,
14:05cicadas screamed.
14:06Sunlight filtered through leaves.
14:08My last life flooded back.
14:09That dark room,
14:10Gavin's twisted face.
14:12The pain,
14:12my phone buzzed again.
14:14The old cabin.
14:17My hand clenched around the phone.
14:19The cabin on the outskirts,
14:21how could I forget?
14:22Last life,
14:22that's where he dragged me to hell,
14:24and now he'd chosen the same place.
14:26I smiled slowly and typed,
14:28okay,
14:28this time,
14:29the person going to hell would be him.
14:31I slowly put down my phone,
14:32fingers sliding across the screen.
14:35Before heading out,
14:36I texted mom at the hospital
14:37where she was watching over dad.
14:39Mom,
14:39Gavin is leaving the pack.
14:41I'm going to say goodbye.
14:42After getting her reply,
14:43I opened Gavin's message again.
14:45Don't forget Selly.
14:46The nickname that used to make my heart skip now
14:48just made my stomach turn.
14:50Rack's life,
14:51I'd walked into his trap like an idiot,
14:53but not this time.
14:54Everything would be different.
14:55I followed the address to the old cabin
14:57on the edge of pack territory.
14:59Gavin was leaning against the doorframe,
15:00playing with two bottles of beer.
15:02He rushed forward and grabbed my bag,
15:04fingers white from gripping too hard.
15:06Leave it outside.
15:07His voice was hoarse.
15:08On trial day,
15:09you pulled your phone from this bag
15:11and destroyed my entire life.
15:12I just want to say goodbye properly.
15:14Can you leave it by the door?
15:16I looked at his trembling hands.
15:17A cold smile tugged at my lips.
15:19Fine.
15:20Whatever you want.
15:21Something flashed in Gavin's eyes.
15:23Surprise,
15:23then triumph.
15:24He practically dragged me inside,
15:26shoving an ice-cold beer into my hands.
15:28His voice was sickeningly sweet.
15:30Selena,
15:31we're both adults now.
15:32Drink this with me.
15:33Let's put the past behind us.
15:35The cold bottle sweated in my hand.
15:37I stared at the amber liquid
15:38and suddenly understood exactly
15:39how I'd ended up unconscious last time.
15:42The truth had always been in this bottle.
15:43I pretended to hesitate,
15:44then took a small sip.
15:46Let that familiar burning sensation
15:47spread through my stomach.
15:48My fingers started going numb.
15:50Vision blurred.
15:51I swayed on purpose.
15:53I feel dizzy.
15:54I grabbed his sleeve weakly,
15:55feeling his breathing quicken with excitement.
15:57This time,
15:57the hunter and prey had switched places.
15:59Gavin half dragged me upstairs.
16:01Fake concern in his voice.
16:03How are you drunk already?
16:04The door slammed shut.
16:05The fake gentleness on his face
16:06crumbled instantly.
16:08Selina,
16:09I finally got you.
16:11His hand around my throat was shaking,
16:13excitement or rage.
16:14Remember what I said?
16:15He leaned close,
16:16breath reeking of beer.
16:17You're going to pay.
16:19Just as my vision started going black,
16:20he snapped his fingers.
16:22Three rogue wolves swaggered in,
16:24cigarettes dangling from their mouths.
16:25Their eyes crawled over me like snakes.
16:27Gavin threw a stack of cash at the leader.
16:29Stick to the plan.
16:31Film everything clearly.
16:32Don't worry.
16:33We'll make sure this little she-wolf
16:34has the time of her life.
16:36Gavin looked at me one last time.
16:37The sound of the door locking echoed in the silence.
16:40I listened to his footsteps fade away,
16:42then slowly opened my eyes.
16:43I'd taken the antidote beforehand,
16:45but the heat coursing through my body
16:46still made my fingers tremble slightly.
16:48Still,
16:49compared to the agony of my last life,
16:51this was nothing.
16:51I used the motion of curling up
16:53to quickly clip the tiny camera
16:54into a carved gap in the headboard.
16:56The three shirtless rogues circled closer.
16:58The stench of cheap tobacco made me want to gag.
17:01The leader rubbed his hands together,
17:02moving in with a disgusting leer.
17:04Don't be scared, little girl.
17:05We know how to treat a she-wolf right.
17:08Please, let me go.
17:10Ha!
17:10Scream all you want.
17:11Scream louder.
17:12We like it better that way.
17:13This place is in the middle of nowhere.
17:15Nobody's coming to save you.
17:16Gavin's scream erupted from downstairs.
17:18What the police? This is private property.
17:19Don't move!
17:19Fingers steadily adjusting the camera angle.
17:21Just as they lunged,
17:23the three rogues froze like scalded cats.
17:26The door burst open violently.
17:28I quickly uploaded the final video clip to my phone.
17:30A female police helped me up
17:32while two male polices pinned Gavin to the floor.
17:34His handsome face was twisted with rage.
17:37Impossible!
17:37You drank it all!
17:39I leaned weakly against the female police's shoulder,
17:41but the corner of my mouth curved into a barely visible smile.
17:44He had no idea I'd reported him before even coming here.
17:47Told the polices I suspected illegal wolfsbane trafficking.
17:50That drink he'd been so proud of.
17:51I'd only let it touch my tongue
17:52before spitting it into my sleeve.
17:54At the police station,
17:56You said Gavin drugged you.
17:57Do you have proof?
17:58I lifted my sleeve, still damp with beer.
18:00She signaled a colleague to collect samples,
18:02then continued.
18:03The three rogues say Gavin hired them.
18:05Anything to add?
18:06Gavin brought them.
18:08He said he wanted to film it.
18:11The perfectly timed break made the police's pen pause.
18:14The test results came back.
18:15The police's expression turned serious.
18:17There's definitely wolf bean mixture in the alcohol,
18:20but we need more evidence.
18:21I pulled out the phone I'd hidden.
18:24Officer, there's a recording.
18:25I think it proves Gavin tried to hurt me.
18:27Gavin's cold voice filled the interrogation room.
18:29Film it clearly.
18:30I want her to never be able to show her face again.
18:32The police listened, then sighed quietly.
18:35Selena, you're smart,
18:36but audio alone isn't enough for a conviction.
18:39I met her eyes.
18:40That's why I had backup.
18:41I opened my phone gallery
18:42and pulled up the footage from the hidden camera.
18:44Gavin stuffing cash into the rogue's hand.
18:46Every word of his vicious plan laid bare.
18:48Every detail was crystal clear.
18:49Even the serial numbers on the bills were visible.
18:51The police watched in silence.
18:53Finally, she closed the file with a heavy thud.
18:55We'll prosecute to the fullest extent.
18:58You should go home and rest.
19:00Walking out of the station,
19:01the summer night breeze touched my face.
19:03I looked up at the stars
19:04and tightened my grip on the evidence.
19:05This was just the beginning.
19:06Gavin, last life,
19:07you made me suffer everything.
19:09This life,
19:09I'm making you pay it back a hundred times over.
19:11The moment I stepped out of the police station,
19:14blinding camera flashes hit me,
19:16reporters,
19:16and onlookers had already blocked
19:18the entrance completely.
19:20The second they saw me,
19:21their expressions turned sharp.
19:23Angry whispers rose like a tide.
19:26That's her, right?
19:27Shameless slut at such a young age.
19:29I heard she couldn't seduce one alpha,
19:31so she tried to hook up with four at once.
19:33Had to call the polices.
19:34Disgusting.
19:35If I were her,
19:36I'd just kill myself.
19:38Whore like that should just die.
19:40I gripped my clothes tightly,
19:41nails digging into my palms.
19:43Couldn't even feel the pain.
19:45It's not safe out there right now.
19:46Wait until later when the crowd's gone.
19:48I'll drive you home myself.
19:49I knew she was right.
19:51This was the safest option.
19:52But my mind flashed to my last life.
19:54My parents surrounded by reporters.
19:56Strangers cursing them.
19:57People throwing rocks through our windows.
19:59The more I thought about it,
20:00the more anxious I got.
20:02No, I need to go home.
20:03With this many people here,
20:04my parents are probably dealing with worse.
20:06The police understood.
20:08Take her home.
20:09Make sure she gets there safely.
20:10She turned back to me.
20:11Don't worry.
20:12We'll clear this up fast
20:13and give you justice.
20:14The siren cut through the night,
20:16leaving the shouting and insults behind.
20:18I finally took a breath.
20:20My hands were shaking as I pulled out my phone.
20:22I tried calling my parents over and over,
20:24but neither of them picked up.
20:25I checked my phone.
20:26The trending topics about me had exploded.
20:29Celine's sex party.
20:30Girl caught with multiple men.
20:32Every headline had that bright red,
20:33explosive tag next to it.
20:35The comments were drowning in rage.
20:37I knew this was Gavin's doing.
20:38The female police had seen that mob outside.
20:40She knew the truth too.
20:42She promised justice.
20:43But right now,
20:44the fact that my parents weren't answering
20:45made my heart feel like it was being stabbed.
20:47The officer driving glanced at me
20:49in the rearview mirror.
20:50Didn't say anything.
20:51Just stepped harder on the gas.
20:52When we turned into my neighborhood,
20:54the scene ahead made my blood run cold.
20:56Just like I'd feared,
20:57our quiet little house was surrounded
20:58by a dark mass of people.
21:00Rotten vegetables and stinking eggs
21:01kept flying at the already broken windows.
21:03I gripped my phone.
21:04My parents' numbers still went straight to voicemail.
21:07I couldn't take it anymore.
21:08The officer grabbed my arm.
21:09The more panicked you are,
21:10the worse it'll get.
21:11Check the back entrance.
21:11Go in that way.
21:12Make sure your parents are safe first.
21:14I'll handle the front.
21:15Everyone calm down.
21:17I understand your feelings,
21:18but this is illegal.
21:19The police will get to the bottom of this
21:20and give everyone answers.
21:22The back entrance was clear.
21:23I climbed over the fence.
21:24Broken glass from the kitchen window
21:25cut my hand.
21:26Didn't even feel it.
21:27The house was trashed,
21:28but thank the goddess,
21:29no smell of wolfsbane.
21:31Selena, is that you?
21:33Dad's hoarse voice came from the basement.
21:35I stumbled down the stairs
21:37and threw myself into their arms.
21:38Only then did I start crying.
21:40Dad smiled weakly,
21:41holding Mom close.
21:42Why didn't you answer your phones?
21:45Your mother dropped hers on the stairs
21:46when we ran down here.
21:47All the windows are broken.
21:49We didn't dare to go back up to get it.
21:50I laughed through my tears.
21:52They were okay.
21:52They still believed me,
21:53but this wasn't over yet.
21:55I ran to my room,
21:56opened my laptop,
21:57and sent out everything I'd prepared.
21:58Gavin's recordings,
22:00the bank transfer records,
22:01the motel surveillance footage,
22:03every piece of truth posted publicly.
22:04I went back to my parents
22:05and grabbed their hands tightly.
22:07Don't be scared.
22:08The real show is about to start.
22:10Outside,
22:10the crowd had been arguing with the officer.
22:12Suddenly,
22:13a sharp voice cut through.
22:14Everyone look!
22:15Someone just posted new evidence online!
22:18Everyone went quiet.
22:19Phones lit up everywhere,
22:21lighting up one face after another.
22:22Wait,
22:23isn't this that Gavin?
22:25The video shows him
22:26ripping up some girl's permit.
22:27Oh my goddess.
22:29And this one!
22:30He's the one who invited her to his place,
22:32but now he's saying she seduced him?
22:33Voices rose again,
22:34but this time with confusion,
22:36instead of rage,
22:37an officer took someone's phone
22:38and raised the loudspeaker again.
22:40This is exactly why we need evidence
22:42before jumping to conclusions.
22:43In just one day,
22:44the story's completely reversed.
22:46What does that tell you?
22:47It means we can't just believe one side.
22:49I understand wanting justice,
22:50but let the professionals handle it.
22:52It's late.
22:53Everyone go home.
22:54I promise.
22:55When the investigation's done,
22:56we'll announce the results immediately.
22:58Murmurs spread through the crowd.
23:00I pressed against the window,
23:01watching the crowd slowly disperse
23:03like a retreating tide.
23:04When the last person disappeared
23:05around the corner,
23:06I finally let my shoulders drop.
23:08The officer's heavy footsteps approached.
23:10He pushed the door open.
23:11He looked around,
23:12making sure we were all safe.
23:14Didn't even take a drink of water
23:15before turning to leave.
23:16As he reached the door,
23:18he clapped me hard on the shoulder.
23:19Smart girl.
23:20Got guts and brains.
23:22Don't worry.
23:23The truth will come out soon.
23:25And it did.
23:26Gavin's clumsy scheme
23:28fell apart under professional investigation.
23:30This kind of case
23:31could have been handled quietly,
23:32but because Gavin had repeatedly
23:34used social media
23:35to manipulate public opinion
23:36and cause serious damage,
23:38the police has held a press conference.
23:40Made everything public,
23:41the surveillance clearly showed
23:43Gavin inviting me to his cabin.
23:44The lab tests confirmed
23:46he'd spiked the drink with Wolfsbane.
23:48They traced it back to Roxy.
23:49My phone,
23:50the one his parents had deliberately hidden,
23:52was recovered with their fingerprints
23:54all over it.
23:55On top of that,
23:56while the truth was still unclear,
23:57Gavin and his parents had posted
23:58lies all over the internet.
24:00The evidence was overwhelming.
24:01His parents were charged quickly.
24:03The court gave Gavin a chance,
24:05admit his mistakes publicly,
24:06and get a lighter sentence.
24:07But the stubborn idiot refused.
24:09Even with proof staring him in the face,
24:11he denied everything.
24:12Even accused the policies of framing him.
24:14Finally,
24:15the court sentenced him
24:16for multiple crimes,
24:17including slander and conspiracy.
24:19Prison time,
24:20the shul expelled him too.
24:21Gavin asked to see me.
24:22After thinking about it,
24:23I agreed.
24:24Visitation day came,
24:25I saw him in his prison uniform.
24:27Head shaved.
24:28The confident boy was gone.
24:29Now he just sat there behind the glass,
24:31eyes empty.
24:32When he saw me,
24:32tears suddenly poured down his face.
24:34Selena!
24:36You had so many chances to save me!
24:38Why didn't you?
24:40That day at the diner,
24:41you heard Roxy's plan!
24:42Why didn't you stop me?
24:44Trial night,
24:45you knew she took me to that motel!
24:47Why didn't you tell my parents?
24:48Gavin,
24:49everyone has to live with their choices.
24:51You said Roxy could give you a beautiful future.
24:53Well,
24:53this is the future you chose.
24:55Sunlight came through the high prison walls,
24:57drawing a bright line across the floor.
24:59I turned and walked away.
25:00Outside,
25:01the summer breeze carried the scent of freedom.
25:03I looked up.
25:04Cicadas screamed from the treetops.
25:05I took a deep breath,
25:06feeling truly relaxed for the first time since being reborn.
25:09All debts were settled.
25:10All regrets were fixed.
25:12This time,
25:12I could finally live for myself.
25:13for myself.
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