The Last Gift

I pressed my hand to my mouth, trying not to cry out loud, and quietly stepped out of the hospital room.

I didn't know where to go.

I had one day left to live.

I thought about going for a walk by the beach, but it was so far away, and I didn't have the strength.

Was I dying already? But it wasn't time yet.

What should I do?

In a daze, I dialed a number.

The next thing I knew, I woke up to the sound of a familiar voice—Selena Hunt, my best friend. She had rushed all the way from Horizon Pack's territory to see me.

We met in college. Back then, she never liked Leo. She always thought he wasn't good enough for me, and that he didn't deserve my love. We fought about it back then, and I didn't listen to her.

She didn't come to my Marking Ceremony.

I knew I shouldn't have called her. But she was the only one I could trust now.

"What have you done to yourself? You're almost dead! Where is your mate?! You always told me how happy your family was. But now look at you!"

Selena cried as she spoke, her voice full of frustration.

I had an oxygen mask on my face, and I smiled weakly at her. She was still the same—quick-tempered, loud, and caring. Those who didn't know us would think we were arguing.

"How did you get poisoned by Silverthorn Wolfsbane? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" She cried, tears streaming down her face.

I wanted to speak, but my lips wouldn't move. I was at the end, and I couldn't control my body anymore.

I motioned for her to look at my bag.

She pulled out the contract, and she broke down again after reading it.

"Viola, you can't die! I won't allow it! You can't die!"

She collapsed next to me, sobbing uncontrollably.

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

Only two hours left before I would leave this world.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. Selena picked it up and showed me the screen.

[Viola, after all these years of fighting with me, you finally lost! Your parents, your mate, and your son—they're all mine now! You've finally faced the truth, haven't you? In your parents' eyes, you'll never be better than me!]

Selena shouted angrily. "I've never seen anyone so shameless!"

In the past, I would have argued back. But now, I only felt regret.

I regretted letting my parents adopt Jane, the girl who was abandoned at the orphanage. She was only three back then. Other kids would bully her, and she couldn't eat. She had to sit in the corner and go hungry.

She was so pitiful.

That was why I asked my dad to adopt her.

We slept in the same bed, ate together, and went to school together. We were closer than real sisters. She was good at her studies, and everyone loved her. Everyone praised her, and I felt proud to have such an outstanding sister.

But over time, I started noticing strange things. My friends stopped hanging out with me, and the boys I practiced hunting with no longer wanted to team up.

Instead, they all started hanging around Jane.

Even my parents started saying I wasn't as thoughtful as Jane, that I wasn't as sensible as she was. They gave Jane the master bedroom in the new house, while I was left with the smaller room.

But I didn't see anything wrong with it.

By the time I realized Jane was behind all of it, she had already taken so much from me.

My parents' love.

My master bedroom.

Even my friends at school.

I asked her why she did it, and she said, "Viola, don't think I'll thank you just because you asked your dad to adopt me! Why do you get to have loving parents and a grand home, while I'm just some abandoned orphan? I'm going to take from you—everything!

"You'll lose to me—I'm sure of it!"

So, I tried to drive her away.

But I overestimated myself. I couldn't make my family see how fake she was. My parents loved her even more, and my son and Leo trusted her even more.

In the end, I did lose. I lost everything.

I could feel my soul slipping away from my body. There were only five minutes left.

"Viola, don't die, please! Look, your mom just sent you a message! She must have sensed that you're in danger!"

Selena held up the phone to my face, trying to keep me from giving up.