Chapter 3 Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Theodota

20th, February, 2018.

“Theo, are you okay?” A voice called out, and with a frown, I slowly opened my eyes. My head felt groggy, and the strain on my back confirmed that I’d been sleeping for a while.

Sleeping.

With a jerk, I sat up and looked around warily. A wide-eyed Eleni was looking at me, hand raised to tap my shoulder once more. “Are you okay?” She mouthed.

I nodded my head. I was in a familiar classroom, and Eleni looked younger. Everything felt odd, but I knew better than to say anything.

“You were sleeping all through Mr Jackson’s class.” She said.

“I was tired. Any assignments?” I asked, trying to sound normal, even though I was confused as hell. I should be dead. Dead and burnt through and through. And the perpetrator was none other than the girl whose hair was held up in a cute ponytail, seated beside me. Eleni Petros. I wondered how I’d never seen it before, but her smile now seemed sickening. I’d been around a lotus flower for years without realizing it.

She shook her head. “None at all. Classes end soon.” She smiled again.

I scoffed inwardly. There were in fact three assignments that’d been given on that very day. And due to her misleading information, I’d gone home, missed the important arrival of supervisors from the Education Ministry. That’d made me repeat the session in my previous life. To be doubly sure that I wasn’t hallucinating, I pulled out my portable calendar, and glanced at the date.

20th, February, 2018.

Six years ago. I was nineteen. I got to my feet. “Um, I think I’ll get going.”

“Oh? Won’t you stay for tutorials?” She asked with a bright smile. Bitch.

I shook my head, pretending not to see her slip in a little jewelry box into my bag. I knew what’d happen in ten minutes. The jewelry box in fact belonged to the most popular girl in school; Sophia. Six years ago, the box had been found in my bag, and I’d been almost expelled, but for the intervention of a good samaritan. I didn’t know who it was. My supposed friend had cried with me, saying someone was trying to taint my reputation. I wondered how the hell I’d missed it. The constant pills that she fed me—that were definitely the cause of my constant naps during classes—and her overkindly attitude.

“I’ll be in the cafeteria. I need to grab something before leaving. Are you coming?” I asked her with a bright smile, even though I was inwardly boiling so hard that it made it hard to breathe normally. Where had I gone wrong? What mistake had I committed that had warranted me being murdered in cold blood. By my own friend and my supposed mate.

I headed to the cafeteria, brushing on my arms. It was a chilly afternoon, and the cloudy sky wasn’t promising a bit of sunshine. The cafeteria was a bit crowded when I got there. I got my order and headed to a quiet corner. I wasn’t really hungry. I mean, who’d be after going through a hair-raising experience a few moments ago, and traveling a bit back in time?

“Mind if I join you?” An unfamiliar face asked, taking his place across from me with a little smile. I was about to refuse, but decided against it. The same thing had happened in the past.

“Theodota,” I offered in order to break the awkward silence.

“A humble guy.” He grinned.

I chuckled. “You don’t look like one.” He was an eye candy. And…

I did a double take at him. I wasn’t imagining things, but I was quite certain he looked like a younger version of Alpha Andreas. But that couldn’t be. There was no record of him attending the same academy as I did. Plus, he had dark hair. The future Alpha Andreas was blue-haired.

“Tell me your name.” I insisted.

A strange smile crossed his face. “I’ll tell you in due time, Princess. We are meant to be after all.” He said confidently.

I’d have laughed, but there was something about his words. Something that I couldn’t place. I was about to ask for an explanation, when a line of four girls approached our table, menacing sneers on their faces. Eleni brought up the rear. She was slightly shaking.

“Theo, did you do it?” She whispered, her voice shaking.

“Do what?” I frowned.

“Take Sophia’s jewelry box?” She asked, looking sad.

I shook my head. “Why’d I do such a thing?”

“Take a look at me, bitch. I know you did it. There’s no point trying to deny it?” Sophia—the leader of the girls, and the most popular girl in the academy—said. Her hair was held up in a high ponytail, and she had a lower lip piercing.

From the corner of my eye, I caught the black-haired eye candy watching with great interest.

“You know I did it? Who’s your source?” I asked calmly.

Eleni panicked and drew closer to me. “Theo, they were very angry when they stormed into class after you left. I had no choice but to claim you did it. You know how bitchy Sophia can be, and she’s also the principal’s daughter. I’m sorry.” She begged.

“I don’t care. Tell me, Sophia, who’s your source?” I asked again.

Sophia was taken aback, and went into fully-angry mode. I didn’t falter. “You have some guts don’t you? Should I tell you what’d happen to you if the jewelry box was found in your bag?” She asked.

I shrugged. “Should I be concerned?”

She glared at me. One of her minions spoke up this time. “How dare you speak to Sophia in that manner?”

“And who’s Sophia to accuse me of what I’m innocent of?” I retorted. Audible gasps filled the now quiet cafeteria. It was the kind of power Sophia commanded. And of course, no one would skip the opportunity to witness the public humiliation of an unimportant werewolf.

An angry-looking Sophia slammed her hand on the table. “Bitch!” She cussed. “Girls, search her bag,” she commanded her minions. And to me, “Goddess help you if the jewelry box is found in your bag. It was a gift from my dad. I’ll have you expelled.” She threatened.

I wasn’t moved. I let them do as they pleased, choosing instead of take a sip of my drink.

“What? Do I look repulsing?” I teased the eye-candy. He chuckled.

“You don’t look bothered.” He pointed out.

“There’s no reason to be.” I assured.

Just then a jolting spark coursed through me. ‘Mate.’ It whispered in my mind. My eyes widened as I regarded eye-candy once more. Impossible. Im-fucking-possible.

“It’s not here,” one of the girls said, drawing my attention from the mind-blowing realization that I had an inner wolf. And most shockingly, this eye-candy could be my fated mate.

“Of course, it won’t be. I told y’all that I didn’t take it.” I shrugged again.

“W-what is happening?” Eleni came forward, and searched my bag once more, her fingers trembling. She searched once. Twice. Three times. Each time, her face grew paler.

“What’s wrong, darling Eleni?” I asked with an innocent frown. “Could it be that you actually saw the jewelry box in my bag beforehand?” I pressed on. She dropped the bag on the table, moving away from it like it was a piece of scalding potato.

“N-no, no that’s not it.” She stuttered.

“What’s going on here, Eleni? You told us that she took it.” Sophia asked with a dark face.

I gasped. “Eleni. Why’d you do such a thing?”

Eleni turned white as the snow in a snow desert after a very cold morning. Her lips twitched, her hands trembling slightly. I enjoyed her suffering, before shaking my head calmly.

“You must’ve misunderstood her intentions, Sophia. Eleni is my close friend. Probably, she saw someone trying to frame me, and came to report to you. Right, Eleni?” I turned back to her.

“Y-yes. That’s right, Sophia.” She nodded hurriedly.

“See, Sophia?” I chuckled.

“Then who took my jewelry box?” Sophia burst out angrily.

“Calm down, Sophia. There’s someone’s bag you haven’t searched yet.” I volunteered. The latter frowned.

“Whose?”

“Eleni darling, would you kindly place your bag on the table?”

“What are you talking about, Theo? Surely, you don’t suspect that I did it, do you?” She was turning hysterical at that moment.

“I didn’t say you did. But since my bag has been searched, it’s only fair that yours is too.” I smiled, grabbing the bag from her hand, and spilling its contents on the table. The jewelry box fell down, accompanied by loud gasps from the onlookers.

“Pardon me, Sophia. Is this yours?” I grinned. Elena was as pale as white sheets. She trembled, her fingers shaking.

“H-h-how did…” Her words trailed off, as she met my gaze.

“Eleni, why’d you do it?” I asked her, feigning sadness.

“I didn’t do it! I’m being framed.” She burst out.

“Framed? Who’d want to frame you?” I shook my head.

“You did it, bitch!” Sophia yelled, grabbing Eleni and dragging her out of the cafeteria. I didn’t bother trailing them. I had better use, to do with my time. Eye-candy was watching me when I turned back.

“Interesting.” He muttered.

“What is?” I frowned. I looked at him closely. My wolf was getting impatient, and was trying to struggle out. Wait.

Wolf.

As in, inner wolf.

My eyes widened. I had no inner wolf in my past life. The itch around my body got intense. I fell to the ground, my body getting cold like it had been plunged into ice. My hands were held down by whatever force. I struggled to scream, let out any sound, but none was forthcoming. I remained in the same position, awaiting my second death.

A slight breeze washed over me, and every voice got vague. I could hear the faint yells of Eye-candy. And someone else’s.

I forced my eyes open and my gaze fell on a hooded female figure who was holding a large book in hand. Her lip was moving, but no word was coming out. My body jolted once. Then twice.

She spoke again. “Hello, Theodota.” Her voice sounded right in my mind. Close to my ears. Everywhere.

“Who are you?” I struggled to ask.

“I am the Timekeeper.” She replied.

“The Timekeeper?” I repeated.

“You’ve gone back in time, child. It has messed up the wheels of fate. Nothing will be the same anymore. Be careful.” She whispered. Her figure began withering away.

“Wait! Who was the one who died with me in my past life?” I called out. I could still remember how someone had burst into that burning room, and held onto me until my last breath. There’s no way that person had survived. Just that, who was it?

No one was close to me in my Pack. Close enough to want to die with me.

She raised her head, her black eyes meeting mine. “I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you.”

Then, she vanished.

When I came to once more, soft lips were on mine. “Theo… Please, come back.” They said.

My eyes widened.

“Who are you?”

“Theodota,” his warm voice floated to my ears. “You don’t remember me, do you?”