Rebirth vs. Rebirth Tragedy to Triumph (by Violeta and Zelena) [[Chapters 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30]]

Chapter 21

Tired?

Heaven knows how hard Violeta had to work in her previous life to secure minor roles that did not even get to be listed in the credits.

Initially, she had a decent chance, being a graduate from a reputable university. However, after several years in the entertainment industry, she was suppressed by Zelena’s malicious actions.

It was so bad that Violeta could not land a script for half a year. What came her way were only peripheral roles or physically demanding action films.

Not many young actors are willing to do action films. Just think about it who would choose a less lucrative and more demanding action film over an easygoing romantic comedy where one could rely on good looks alone?

Unfortunately. Violeta had no choice. She needed work to gain exposure, which would allow her to land. better roles. Therefore, Violeta desperately accepted roles in action films and worked hard to learn various combat skills.

She started as an extra before eventually landing a few supporting roles. Unfortunately, just as her career was taking off, Zelena discovered her.

Suddenly, Violeta could not secure any roles, no matter how minor. She could not even find work as a cashier.

She had only one option left, and it was to work as a stunt double. Being a stunt double was dangerous. After all, a stunt double had to carry out any stunts the lead actors did not dare to attempt.

Violeta was only in her twenties but had to endure such strenuous work for three years. Before she even reached thirty, her body had deteriorated to that of a sixty–year–old. She had numerous injuries and suffered varying degrees of harm all over her body.

There were times when she had to grit her teeth and continue working even though she had a fracture.

She was stuck in such high–pressure work, unable to see a way out. All she could do was keep moving forward. She had enough of living such a life.

Now that she could start over, why would she find her present training difficult? How could it compare to what she had suffered in her past life? These people did not know what real suffering was!

Violeta didn’t answer the person’s questions but quickened her pace and continued moving forward.

Her present body had yet to attain the strength of her previous one. Thus, she would strive to catch up. She was determined to progress faster by utilizing what she experienced in her past life.

Violeta had endured a lot of hardship but was not afraid of it. Instead, what she feared was to bear all the suffering and never receive the corresponding rewards.

It was lunch break. Zelena flaunted the mosquito repellent she stole from Violeta to a group of girls. She deliberately mentioned that Nolan had given it to her, eliciting their envy.

“Zelena, you’re amazing! You’re such good friends with the student council president.”

“That’s right. Did you see Nolan earlier? He’s so handsome!”

“Indeed, Nolan is handsome. Zelena, do you think he gave you this because he likes you?”

Zelena’s heart fluttered. She covered her face shyly, saying, “Oh my, what are you saying? No way! He’s probably concerned for me because we are schoolmates! Besides, he’s friendly to everyone! Please don’t spread rumors. It would be embarrassing!”

“Hahaha, everyone, look, Zelena is embarrassed!”

Violeta sat nearby, drinking water, and heard their laughter from afar. Seeing them laughing so happily, how could she resist exposing some juicy information?

She promptly posted an anonymous exposé on the university forum. ‘Breaking News! Zelena Blake Mysteriously Exempted from Military Training, Receiving Special Treatment above Her Classmates!”

The post immediately garnered a lot of attention.

Toland University was famous for its strict military training and paid close attention to the training of new students every year. However, Zelena had the ‘privilege‘ of obtaining exemption from military training. It was a privilege unavailable to the majority of the new students. Therefore, most people would be furious when they see this news.

People criticized heavily against Zelena on the forum. It only took an afternoon for the post to become one of the top five trending posts.

After posting, Violeta continued with training as usual.

The situation only comes to a head in the evening.

After everyone finished washing up and returned to their tents to rest, someone took out their phone to browse the forum.

“Oh my! Look at this! Zelena has been exposed on the forum!”

“What? Really?”

“Yes, everyone, look at this. No wonder Zelena always looks so glamorous. Turns out she’s receiving special treatment!

“That’s too much. We’re tired and achy all the time. Why does she get special treatment?”

“It’s probably because of her influential parents! She must have used their connections to secure an exemption!”

The camp was filled with the buzzing of indignant voices.

The following day, Zelena greeted everyone on the team, but most girls were unwilling to acknowledge her.

Still, it did not bother her. After all, her goal was to gain attention among the guys. However, she did not expect many guys to be willing to interact with her…

What’s going on?

Zelena approached Kaylee, who was close to her before, to find out what had happened.

Kaylee said sarcastically, “Why would we dare to get close to you? You get special treatment!”

“What? What do you mean?” Zelena was stunned.

Kaylee covered the rashes on her face with a thick layer of foundation while saying. “Go check the forum! Someone has exposed you. You’ve incurred the displeasure of our entire class, being the only one receiving special treatment!“.

“Also, is something wrong with the sunscreen you gave me previously? Why do I develop allergic reactions after using it?”

Zelena’s eyes flickered with surprise. She nearly burst out laughing when she saw the severe rashes on Kaylee’s face, which even makeup failed to hide.

“How is that possible? I also used the sunscreen I gave you and had no allergic reactions. Maybe you are allergic to something else you used. I’m leaving now. You should check your things.”

After leaving Kaylee, Zelena immediately took out her phone to check the forum. Her face twisted with anger when she saw the trending post.

No wonder people are unwilling to talk to me today. Someone must be scheming behind my back! But who could it be?

It must be Violeta! That bitch! No one else would dare to go against me!

Many students were unhappy with the intense military training. Thus, knowing that Zelena received special treatment provoked their anger.

Zelena never expected to be exposed on the forum. Since it had happened, she had to do something to restore her reputation and win back the support of her classmates.

After staying away for a day, Zelena joined the military training lineup the following day, looking ghostly pale and on the verge of collapsing. She had used makeup to make herself appear ill and worn.

As expected, the instructor noticed Zelena and called her out before the morning exercise began. “Zelena, why are you here? Step out of the team.”

Tears immediately welled up in Zelena’s eyes. She replied stubbornly, “Sir, I want to train with everyone.” She started coughing profusely. “Please don’t mind me.”

Violeta calmly observed Zelena’s dramatic display from the back row. She had anticipated this and had no intention of letting Zelena off so easily this time.

The instructor continued, “Zelena, you should leave the training if you’re unwell. Didn’t you submit a medical leave report beforehand?”

“Medical leave report? Someone in the formation whispered in confusion.

Seizing the opportunity, Zeloha added urgently, ‘Sir, I did submit a medical leave report, but it’s okay. My epilepsy isn’t severe, and I can endure it. My classmates are already unhappy with me, and I can’t afford to slack off further. Please allow me to continue with the training! I can’t avoid training just because I’m worried that intense training might trigger my epilepsy.”

Chapter 22

It was incredible how Zelena twisted the truth in her favor. She pretended to reveal her epilepsy accidentally and that intense training would trigger seizures.

The entire class immediately understood why she did not join military training. They began to sympathize with her, thinking she was exempted due to her illness.

Having successfully cleared her name, Zelena stopped insisting on joining the training and left with a sad expression. She deliberately glanced at Violeta triumphantly as she left.

Bitch! Do you think you can win against me with those lousy tricks? Haha!

Unexpectedly, Violeta smirked back at her, prompting Zelena to feel a chill run down her spine. She sensed something ominous but still did not believe Violeta could bring her down.

At noon. Zelena wept before everyone once again. She even brought many delicious treats to share with everyone. Moreover, she claimed that someone was plotting against her and spreading false accusations on the forum.

Then, she deliberately implied that Violeta was behind it. She hinted that only Violeta, the malicious sister, would do such things behind her back.

Her ploy was surprisingly effective. Everyone soon guessed what Zelena meant and began to blame Violeta

“Yes, it must be Violeta Zelena, she must be jealous of your status as the true heiress. That’s why she wants to tarnish your reputation! People like her are disgusting!”

Come to think of it, it’s true. We have only known you for a short time. Who would go to the forum to expose you? It must be someone familiar with you who can’t stand to see you succeed. So, it has to be her!”

“Considering everything, Violeta is the only one who fits this suspicion. It must be her!”

“Tsk, tsk, looks like we have to be cautious in interacting with her in the future.”

Hearing them, Zelena was delighted.

These idiots are easy to win over with a few words and sweet treats.

Zelena once again enjoyed everyone’s compliments and admiration. She even posted her medical leave report on the forum to clarify matters.

However, she did not expect the forum to reveal even more damning evidence..

A post revealed Zelena’s comprehensive medical examination report issued by Arlowand Hospital a few months ago. It indicated that Zelena was healthy.

There’s only a month between the two medical reports. Why are the results so different?‘

‘Is it possible that Zelena, who’s originally healthy, suddenly developed epilepsy within a month? This is unbelievable. It’s an excuse Zelene fabricated to avoid the intense military training!

The forum erupted into an uproar again. Some believed Zelena genuinely had epilepsy, but most were healthy.

Zelena’s reputation took another hit. She angrily approached Violeta and asked, “You posted my medical examination report on the forum, right?”

Violeta leaned casually against a tree, not bothering to look at her. “Done pretending?”

Zelena narrowed her eyes. Anger surged from her. “Violeta, why do you always have to oppose me?”

Violeta replied, “Oppose you? It’s you who won’t leave me alone.”

Zelena glared at Violeta’s face, wishing she could scratch it. How dare she?

However, at that moment, she caught sight of a small group of people approaching from the side.

Zelena immediately switched back to acting mode, putting on a pitiful demeanor as she said, “Sis, I’ve said that I don’t mind you taking away eighteen years of my life. I never held it against you. But why do you keep resorting to these petty actions behind my back to hurt me? Our parents raised you for eighteen years. Can’t you show some restraint for their sake?”

The onlookers halted, ready to enjoy the show.

Zelena reached for Violeta’s arm as Violeta stood up from under the tree. Then, she immediately fell as if Violeta had pushed her. “Ah! Sis, why did you push me?”

Violeta looked at her coldly,

The onlookers rushed over and sided with Zelena. “Violeta, you’ve gone too far! Don’t you know spreading rumors on the forum is illegal?”

Violeta glanced at them with disdain as if she was looking at fools. She might have been anxious to explain and clear her name in her previous life. But this time, she had no time for such nonsense.

Their lunch break was short, and she needed to rest well to maintain her energy for training in the afternoon. Thus, she would not waste time chatting with them but leave immediately.

Her attitude further infuriated them.

“Who does she think she is? Unbelievable! Her character is just speechless.”

“Zelena, are you okay? Don’t worry. We believe in you! Violeta must have made those shameless on forums!”

“She must be jealous that you are the real heiress and resentful that you took away her luxurious life when you returned. That’s why she keeps targeting you. She’s disgusting!”

After leaving those people, Violeta planned to rest in her tent.

However, she heard someone crying when she entered the tent and left to find who it was. Following the sound, she found Kaylee.

Kaylee’s face was covered in rashes that no thick foundation could conceal. Sweating made her appearance even more horrifying, and she was currently hiding in bed, sobbing.

Kaylee’s face was the same as Violeta’s in her previous life; both were allergic to Zelena’s sunscreen. However, Kaylee’s condition seemed even more severe than hers,

After experiencing an allergic reaction, Violeta did not dare to wear makeup, so her condition was much better.

On the other hand, Kaylee had been experimenting recklessly to cover up the rashes. If she continued like this, she might end up with scars and disfigurement,

As a woman, Violeta knew how important one’s face was. She, too, had felt hopeless in her previous life.

After contemplating. Violeta approached Kaylee, advising gently, “Kaylee, you must stop wearing makeup. There’s a way to cure this. You should get some ointment and apply it on the rashes.”

Kaylee covered her face with her hands and looked at Violeta with teary eyes.

“What do you suggest?”

Violeta took out the sunscreen Kaylee’s makeup bag beside her bed and stated firmly, “You should stop using this.

Surprised. Kaylee sat up on the bed. “What do you mean?”

Violeta responded, “If you trust me, stop using it and get an ointment for your rashes. But if you don’t, you can forget about it.”

Kaylee vaguely suspected her face might be allergic to Zelena’s sunscreen, but she was unsure.

After hearing Violeta’s words, she sat in a daze before suddenly realizing something. She exclaimed, “Violeta, I now understand you weren’t looking down on me earlier. You were warning me against using

Zelena’s sunscreen, right?”

Violeta remained silent and searched her phone for a picture of the ointment.

“This is the ointment you should use. Just apply this and avoid spicy food. Your condition should improve within six months maximum.”

After Kaylee’s face was ruined, everyone mocked her, forcing her to use a thick foundation daily, which only worsened her condition. She never expected Violeta to help her. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes, and she could not stop them from flowing freely. “Thank you… Thank you so much…..”

Chapter 23

Kaylee’s crying gave Violeta an instant headache. She swiveled back to her bunk, announcing. “I need rest now. If you’re planning to cry, go do it outside.”

Zelena became the talk of the freshmen after the incident. Cleverly, to repa delivery of ten whole roasted lambs, winning back some favor in her image, the organization.

Zelena obtained a forged sick leave report that hinted at her connections with the school higher-ups. The instructor looked the other way; the aroma of roasted lamb was just too tempting!

Later that night, everyone gathered for a feast of roasted lamb, excluding Kaylee and Violeta.

Despite the tempting aroma, Kaylee heeded Violeta’s advice and opted for diligent ointment application and a break from spicy food.

Violeta was a bit of an oddball. She sat aside, nibbling on her snacks.

Kaylee approached Violeta, murmuring, “Is she intentionally trying to mess with me or what? With my face under stress and looking so damn sensitive and ugly, she’s got the nerve to indulge in roasted lamb!”

“Hey, I got my hands on this ointment through someone. I used it for two days, and my face genuinely improved. It’s like magic and super affordable. How did you find out about it, by the way?”

“Oh. I’ve got some jello here. Want some?”

The ever–talkative Kaylee positioned herself next to Violeta, keeping the conversation alive without a break. Violeta hardly acknowledged her presence, and Kaylee happily continued her one-woman show.

Initially, Kaylee thought Violeta was just acting distant. However, after spending more time together. Kaylee realized that Violeta didn’t enjoy talking but had a genuinely good heart.

Since the entire class, except Violeta and Kaylee, skipped Zelena’s roasted lamb treat, they became the talk of the town the next day.

“Oh my gosh! I nearly had a heart attack looking at her terrifying face!”

“Yeah, it could be some contagious disease. I’m steering clear, anyway.”

“Well, birds of a feather, right?! Now she’s stuck hanging out with Violeta, the other weirdo in the class! Judging by her sorry state, I bet Kaylee’s face is probably in ruins!”

Zelena intensely disliked Kaylee, but her primary aim was to ensure Violeta had neither friends nor backups.

To sabotage their friendship. After a couple of days, Zelena brought a set of high–end skincare products to give Kaylee, hoping to win her.

“Hi, Kaylee, give these skincare products a shot. They work wonders for your face, especially with those rashes. It should help!”

While Kaylee was applying the ointment recommended by Violeta to her face, she caught on to Zelena’s intentions and became visibly annoyed.

If you don’t want it, toss it away yourself. Do I look like your maid? What a joke!”

Taken aback by Kaylee’s insult, Zelena suppressed her anger, mindful of the onlookers in the tent.

“You’ve got it wrong, my dear. I haven’t used these myself. Look at what you’re using: it’s too cheap. I’ve got you a high–end skincare product; this should cost over twenty thousand!”

Zelena deliberately mentioned the price to underscore her generosity, drawing the attention of those around them.

Kaylee used to have a different idea about Violeta because of a lack of understanding. Zelena intentionally misled her into thinking Violeta was a malicious and fake rich girl.

However, after spending this past week with Violeta, Kaylee realized Violeta was genuinely a good person. much better than the fake and malicious Zelena by a long shot!

Just then, Violeta walked over, holding a hat.

Seeing her, Kaylee quickly jogged over with a cute fangirl expression.

“Hey, wait for me, Violeta! Let’s head to the assembly together!”

Judging by Kaylee’s demeanor, it was evident she had fallen entirely under Violeta’s charm.

On the other side, Zelena, clutching her skincare products, stood there with a gloomy expression.

Trash attracts trash; classic!” Zelena mused. ‘Looks like I can finally stop wasting my valuable time on this small–minded girl. I doubt Kaylee will achieve much; I bet she’ll end up as a performance class teacher at T University!

Zelena strategically built connections with those on the path to significant achievements, fully aware of the importance of networking in her career, especially at this juncture!

Kaylee and Violeta exited the tent together.

On the way, Kaylee resumed her constant chatter, “Who does Zelena think she is? She must have hidden motives. Now that my face has finally cleared up, and if I go back to using her skincare products, it’s likely to worsen again!”

Violeta glanced at her face, “Your skin has improved significantly.”

Kaylee was pleased with the praise. Her eyes lit up, “Right? Do you also think my face has gotten much better? I thought it was just me overthinking. Hey, Violeta, I appreciate your affirmation!”

Before long, they arrived at the assembly point together, and the entire team was there waiting.

The chief instructor announced that the military training was nearing its end. Today, they would form teams and undergo a night exercise carrying weights over the mountains. The first ten teams to reach the destination would receive a special honor from the school.

Hearing this, everyone sighed.

The instructor coldly scanned the crowd, and everyone fell silent.

Initially, they had the liberty to assemble their teams, with the instructor assigning the remaining participants.

The top ten teams in the mountain exercise stood to gain a school reward worth fifty thousand and a solo dormitory. This proposition proved tempting for everyone.

Not everyone could readily pull out fifty thousand among the several thousand freshmen present, not to mention the added allure of a single–person dormitory!

At T University, students living in the building with solo dorms were automatically assumed to be wealthy and privileged. Once settled in, knowing a few people guaranteed a significant leap in social circles!

As teams formed, all eyes turned to Violeta, who was acknowledged as having the strongest overall strength in the class.

However, since everyone had previously isolated her, actively inviting her to join a team now would be too awkward.

Kaylee approached Violeta and proposed, “Violeta, let’s team up!”

Violeta didn’t say no.

Yet, with two already on the team, there were still two vacant spots. The rest of the girls went quiet for a moment, then hastily extended invitations to Violeta to join their teams.

Observing from a distance, Zelena saw them clustering around Violeta like a swarm of bees drawn to a flower.

She couldn’t help but disdainfully roll her eyes and thought. Only fifty thousand made them act like this? Haven’t they seen money before?

As for the solo dormitory, Zelena had already secured one through connections, even though she wouldn’t be living there.

However, for expanding her social network, it was still valuable.

She didn’t need to rely on getting into the top ten for these rewards, Therefore, she needed to attach more importance to it. But for Violeta, after leaving the Blake family, she must need this fifty thousand!

Chapter 24

Violeta didn’t really need anyone or teams to ace the mission. Although Kaylee tagged along, her acquiescence didn’t extend to embracing others.

Confronted with their invitations, Violeta remained indifferent. Soon, everyone slapped the label on her again–The Malicious Sibling: Impoverished and Arrogant, Scornful of Others.

Standing alongside Violeta, Kaylee whispered, “Do you think we can snag a good ranking? Hey, but don’t worry, I’ve been training hard. I won’t hold you back, I promise!”

Despite her previous tendency to slack off during training, a week of mingling with Violeta had transformed Kaylee into a dedicated hard worker, and her physical fitness was now quite good.

Violeta replied casually. “Just do your best.”

She didn’t lack fifty thousand and certainly not a spot in a single–person dormitory.

Violeta could’ve easily opted out of military training, but she didn’t want to be the odd one out; she aimed to stroll down the path she had missed in her past life, savoring experiences she had overlooked.

Zelena casually spilled the beans about securing a single–person dorm, causing a stir among the others. “Wow, Lena, you’ve already snagged a single–person dorm? That’s awesome! I’m so jealous!”

Blushing, Zelena said. “Oh, it’s no big deal. My parents were concerned about my living conditions and got me a solo dorm. Though I’ve actually been looking forward to being roommates with everyone!”

Hearing her words, everyone felt a twinge of envy, eager to shower Zelena with praise for her perks.

Zelena reveled in the compliments, feeling pleased with herself. As the free team formation time concluded, everyone lined up once again.

The chief instructor announced, “We’ve got a little surprise for tonight’s training. We’ve invited four members from the team that set the record in the last weightlifting mountain exercise to cheer you on. Let’s give them a warm welcome!”

Four guys in regular clothes stepped onto the stage, with the one in a black casual jacket standing out under the spotlight.

The crowd erupted into applause at the sight of them.

Clap, clap, clap, clap-

“They’re all so good–looking! How crazy is that!”

“It’s our school senior, Hayden!”

“Look, it’s Hayden!”

“Damn, it’s Hayden, Liam, Zoren, and Jasper from the Computer Science Department! They are the ultimate record holders!”

Suddenly, their names burst into the air, echoing lolly among the crowd beneath the stage!

Most freshmen were already familiar with them. And in this gathering of freshmen navigating military training, it wasn’t only the Performing Arts Department; students from different departments were also present.

Their reputation was too prominent to overlook, especially the leader Hayden, hailed as the campus heartthrob, standing shoulder to shoulder with Nolan.

Violeta silently watched Hayden on the stage in the formation below the stage.

Despite the distance, the gaze of the two collided in the air. Violeta’s pupils contracted for a moment, and she felt a momentary trance in her heart.

Yet, in the next blink of an eye, when she focused again, Hayden had already withdrawn his gaze, holding the microphone on stage, recounting his previous experiences.

His voice was delightful, a twenty–year–old with a clear, naturally captivating tone–smooth and refreshing, akin to a breeze on a hot summer afternoon!

As the microphone passed, Violeta directed her attention again to her eccentric cousin’s brother, Hayden.

Zoren, Jasper, and Liam each had impressive backgrounds. Individually, they were absolute standouts. Yet, their auras were subtly overshadowed when standing next to Hayden.

The realization dawned on Violeta that ‘some people are born to shine!

As a few words echoed, thunderous applause erupted again from the audience, and Violeta eagerly joined.

The instructor commenced assigning the remaining students, bringing two unfamiliar girls into Violeta’s group.

The two girls concealed their surprise during the grouping but wore indifferent expressions.

“Ugh! I don’t want to be in her group! Can you reassign me to another group, Sir?”

The instructor replied sternly, “If you want to join another group, talk to the chief instructor yourself!”

Kaylee rolled her eyes. “You’re being so extra, seriously. Go cause trouble somewhere else, would you?!”

“Hey, what did you just say?! Are you trying to pick a fight?”

Turning to them, Kaylee quipped, “Did I even mention you? If you’re feeling guilty, that’s on you.”

Violeta paid them no mind, stepping aside to pack her backpack.

As she crouched on the ground, organizing her bag, a pair of casually luxurious leisure shoes suddenly appeared in her lowered line of sight. Violeta was slightly stunned, lifting her head to meet a pair of calm, charming eyes smiling at her.

It was Hayden.

Violeta asked, “How did you end up here?”

Hayden strolled in with three more guys. “Hey, we’re here too, Violeta. Remember we said we’d drop by?”

The group confidently approached Violeta, indifferent to the onlookers.

She sighed, “Isn’t this a bit too showy?”

Zoren raised his fist in support, “You got this, Violeta!”

Violeta smiled, fist–bumping him, “Alright, I’ll do my best.”

Liam and Jasper also came over fist,–bumping Violeta and cheering her on.

Finally, it was Hayden’s turn. He picked up Violeta’s fallen hat, placing it back on her head while pressing down the brim.

In his deep voice, he said, “This might be a bit exhausting, but we’ll be waiting for you at the finish line.”

The eyes under the brim slowly lifted, meeting Hayden’s gaze in that fleeting moment.

Violeta’s eyelashes trembled slightly, her heart momentarily in disarray.

“Yeah, I understand.”

After Hayden and the others left, the crowd erupted in gossip.

Kaylee rushed over and whispered, “Violeta, I didn’t know you were buddies with them.”

Violeta replied, “Not really.”

Satisfied with the response, Kaylee didn’t probe further.

It seemed their suspicions were confirmed among the onlookers, and someone intentionally remarked loudly, “Looks like she wasn’t as tight with them as I thought. Lena is the real deal. Nolan, the former student union president, even gave her mosquito repellent once!”

Kaylee fired back, “Hey, you! Stop sticking your nose in other people’s business!”

Following a regular training session, the official test of carrying weights and climbing the mountain kicked off at nine in the evening.

Before long, the darkness swallowed everyone as they ventured into the mountains.

The back mountain sprawled expansively, and those unfamiliar with the terrain risked getting lost easily.

Luckily, the path was mapped out, and any team not reaching the destination by daybreak would be deemed a failure. Equipped with GPS tracking chips, there was no need to fret about getting lost in the mountains.

Once within the mountain, Violeta maneuvered the path effortlessly, appearing acquainted with it.

Kaylee trailed closely, not daring to slack off even a bit.

Not long into the walk, the other two girls began sighing and complaining.

Chapter 25

“Ugh, I need a break. I can’t go on anymore!”

Totally. Training all day is killing me. I don’t care about prize money or a dorm. Let’s just quit

Overhearing, Kaylee snapped, “How can you be so selfish? We’re a team. Your lousy performance affects us all!

The two shrugged carelessly. Jezebel quipped, “Who cares? If we drag you down, tough luck!”

Sonya chimed in, “Exactly. You chose to be in our group. The instructor put us together, not our call.”

In reality, the pair planned to sabotage Violeta deliberately.

Before the assessment, Zelena approached, pretending to be concerned for Violeta, saying, “My family wants my sister back. Do your best to ruin Violeta’s chances. Only then will she be willing to leave and return to the Blake family.”

Jezebel and Sonya fell for Zelena’s manipulation.

Of course, Zelena promised them a handsome incentive.

Zelena had dangled fifty thousand in front of Jezebel and Sonya to ensure their cooperation in sabotaging Violeta.

Why would they refuse to get fifty thousand without the struggle of earning a high ranking and currying favor with Zelena?

Jezebel and Sonya eagerly agreed. So, as the group entered the mountains, they began intentionally slacking off, slowing down the team.

Violeta knew the mountain route well. Securing a top–five position was possible without slackers— maybe not a guaranteed first, but certainly respectable.

However, with Jezebel and Sonya in their current state, ending up in the bottom ten seemed inevitable.

Violeta suspected Zelena had poisoned their minds behind her back.

Kaylee asked them, “What more do you want to start moving again? Isn’t the fifty thousand prize tempting enough?”

Certainly not! Why go through the hard work for the money when they could slack off and still receive the same amount?

Jezebel and Sonya just rolled their eyes at Kaylee, not bothering to respond. Persuasion didn’t work for them.

Silent but determined. Violeta moved forward, ripping the badges from Jezebel and Sonya’s shoulders.

Jezebel and Sonya sprang to their feet, glaring at Violeta, demanding. “Hey! What’s your problem?”

Violeta clutched their badges, her tone sharp. These badges are tagged with GPS. If we ever get lost, the instructors can zero in on us. Without GPS, in the vastness of Mount Wilson, you might as well be ghosts.

The back mountains might be clear of wild beasts, but who’s to say they won’t return, catching a scent of you and chasing you down? Sir tight and prepare for the worst if you’re hanging around.”

“Kaylee, let’s get moving Violeta pinched their badges and turned on her heel, and Kaylee followed suit.

Jezebel and Sonya stood paralyzed, surrounded by darkness. After Violeta’s ominous words, sinister thoughts crept in, sending shivers down their spines.

Who would dare stick around?

Jezebel and Sonya hustled to catch up.

“Hold on! Wait for us!” The two who claimed exhaustion were now moving briskly.

Kaylee grinned and said to Violeta, “Your method works! But how did you know the GPS was in the badges?”

Just a hunch.”

After the past assessment, the instructors collected the badges one by one. Violeta guessed the GPS must be in them.

Jezebel and Sonya, unwilling to gamble with their lives, obediently followed to climb the mountain.

To save energy, Violeta rarely spoke along the way.

Meanwhile, Jezebel and Sonya attempted to stall their progress, but Violeta had control of the badges.

As long as Violeta walked, they had to follow.

The dense woods in the deep mountains shrouded everything in impenetrable darkness. Falling behind meant they’d vanish into the blackness

Violeta wasn’t about to wait around for them. So, the four trudged on without a break for an hour.

Jezebel and Sonya were gasping for air, their calves trembling. “Are you sure about this direction? It feels like we’ve been walking forever, and nothing’s changed around us! You’re not leading us in circles, right?”

Kaylee, drained but steadfast, remained by Violeta’s side. “If you’re done, feel free to stop. Violeta isn’t making you stick around.”

Jezebel retorted, “Look! She’s got our shoulder badges hostage. We wouldn’t be here if we had a choice!”

Sonya nodded vigorously, shouting. “Yeah! Do you think we wanted to follow her? She might not even know where she’s going, leading us on some wild path! We could be going in the wrong direction!”

Violeta finished her water, stowed the bottle, and flung their shoulder badges at them.

“Here are your badges. You’re free now.”

ezebel and Sonya grabbed their badges, feeling a wave of relief.

But even before they could bask in relief. Violeta unleashed a bombshell of truth. “But don’t blame me later. We’re off the original trail. If you’re keen on not getting lost, turn back or sit tight until the instructors come with the light. Or I’ve heard there might be wild wolves lurking around.

Sonya exclaimed, “What!? We’ve deviated from the path already!? Can we even find our way back? Seriously? I can’t recall the way we camel”

Jezebel shouted, “Damn it! I knew you were leading us astray! Look at this mess now! Violeta, you’re a disaster! You don’t know where you’re going, and you’ll lead us into trouble!”

Violeta researched to secure a good ranking in the previous life’s mountain climbing assessment. She knew the closest trail.

However, her team ignored her advice, so she didn’t press the matter. They abandoned the shortcut, choosing to climb the mountain with the team. Consequently, they walked for three hours without reaching the finish line. The team leader even led them astray, only being found by the instructor when daylight broke.

As a result, she missed out on the prize and the opportunity for a single–person dormitory.

In this life. Violeta wasn’t willing to let go of the chance to take the shortcut. It wasn’t about the prize money at a single–person dormitory.

She was dead set on breaking the record, outdoing Hayden and his crew. That’s why she needed to venture into this uncharted shortcut.

Sonya and Jezebel looked a bit spooked. “Goodness gracious! You had no clue about the way! You’re going to get us all killed!”

Violeta shot them indifferently, slung on her backpack, and geared up to move forward.

“Well, I’ve handed back your shoulder badges. Whether you want to tag along or not, it’s your call.”

Without a backward glance, Violeta kept striding ahead. Kaylee swiftly threw on her backpack and stuck close by.

Jezebel and Sonya reluctantly shouldered their backpacks and followed behind. This time, they didn’t dare kick up any fuss.

The dread of being left behind overshadowed concerns about their deal with Zelena. In the face of potential run-ins with wild wolves or worse, their previous agreements faded into insignificance.

Chapter 26

After another forty minutes, Violeta paused on a small hill, gazing into the distance where a red flag marked the finish line.

“See that? The finishing line is just over there. A mere two minutes, and we’ll make it.”

“That’s a relief!” Kaylee plopped down on the ground, massaging her tired legs.

Meanwhile, Jezebel, seated nearby, heard a soft whimper. Turning, she spotted a furry little pup in the grass.

“Look! A puppy!” Little did she know she mistook the wolf cub for a domestic pup.

Eagerly, she lured the cub with her food and water, cradling it in her arms.

The cub’s whimpers caught Violeta’s attention. “What’s that sound? Did you guys hear it?”

Kaylee swiveled around and spotted Jezebel trying to stash the wolf cub in her bag.

“Hey, Jezebel! What on earth are you doing?”

Jezebel hesitated. “I don’t know who left this little guy here. I felt sorry for it, so I considered taking it back with me.”

Upon hearing Jezebel’s harebrained idea, Violeta was on the brink of unleashing a torrent of curses.

“Are you out of your mind? That’s not a puppy! It’s a wolf cub! Didn’t I warn you? There are wild wolves in the mountains!”

During the hike, Violeta was on this wild wolf hunt, carefully looking for any traces of those creatures in the area.

You’d see wild wolves in Mount Wilson from time to time, but not often. People would hike up the mountain regularly to scare them off, so the chances of bumping into them were pretty low for regular folks.

But guess what? In Violeta’s dream team, Jezebel turned out to be a bit of a scatterbrain. She mistook a wolf cub for a fluffy little puppy! Seriously?

Ordinary dogs, guided by their instincts, would steer clear of wolf territory upon catching a whiff of their distinctive scent. The fact that Jezebel failed to discern the difference is a perplexing twist in this wild tale!

“Dogs wouldn’t dare sniff around where wolves have left their scent!”

“What!?” Jezel

Jezebel’s hand did a shaky dance, causing the wolf cub to hit the ground with a sad little whimper.

Exasperated, Violeta grabbed her bag with one hand and said, “Hurry up! We must pick up the pace now!”

Knowing that Mama Wolf might show up following the scent trail later, the girls didn’t dare to dawdle. hastily trailing behind Violeta

The little wolf cub took up the rear, giving out a few whimpers before scampering along on its tiny legs.

Violeta’s face scrunched up, and just then, a distant howl from Mama Wolf sent shivers down the other three girls‘ spines, making them pick up the pace.

Sonya pointed fingers at Jezebel, “What the heck were you doing back there? Hugging the wolf cub? Now, we’re all gonna end up wolf chow!”

Jezebel scowled. “I thought it was a dog… Why blame me? Violeta’s the one who dragged us down this path. It’s on her! We wouldn’t deal with wolves if we took a different route!”

Kaylee glared fiercely at Jezebel, turning her head, ‘Are your eyes just for show? You can’t even tell a wolf from a dog, and yet you’re blaming Violeta? She already warned us about the wild wolves nearby!”

Violeta cut off their bickering. “Enough! Let’s keep moving! We’re almost there, and then we’ll be safe!”

Getting surrounded by a wolf pack wasn’t a joke.

I…

Violeta might know how to run herself to safety, but she couldn’t guarantee the safety of these three liabilities.

The trio shut their mouths and followed Violeta, hustling to distance themselves from the wolves.

What would normally take twenty minutes in a rush took them only ten, fueled by adrenaline.

They hit the finish line, collapsing onto chairs, letting the tension seep away.

The instructors, waiting at the finish line, saw the four emerge from the bushes like their lives depended on it and hit the stopwatch, “Wow! Two hours and seventeen minutes, we’ve got a new record! But why’d you guys come from that way? Everything cool? Come on, grab some water first!”

Jezebel and Sonya were going to complain to the instructor about Violeta. Still, before they could say anything, the head instructor spoke up, and their eyes widened, “What! We’re in first place!?”

The instructor confirmed, “Yep, not only are you leading, but you also smashed the old record!”

“We broke the record!?” Jezebel and Sonya exclaimed together, their excitement making them jump up and down.

“No way! Breaking the record means extra rewards, right? An extra ten grand on top of the original prize money!”

The instructor nodded, “Exactly. So, you’re looking at sixty grand and a single–person dorm spot.”

“Oh my god!!!!” Kaylee was pumped, too, but she wasn’t as over–the–top as Jezebel and Sonya.

Instead, she glanced at Violeta beside her and said, “Kudos to Violeta! We’d probably still be stuck in the mountains without her leading the way.”

Violeta stayed quiet and took a seat to chill.

Things got hairy back there. If the wolf pack had caught them, rewards would be the least of their concerns. Making it back alive would be the real worry.

Just as Violeta started to unwind, she felt a weird sensation in her feet and looked down.

She was surprised because the little wolf cub tagging along had actually caught up!

Violeta thought she had left the cub behind, but this little critter was determined! It was using its stubby legs and sniffing their scent to keep up!

It was no good.

‘Awuu!‘

“What’s that noise?” The instructor caught wind of the wolf howls and turned to look.

Kaylee glanced over and quickly covered, “Sir, it’s just my phone’s ringtone.”

The instructor said, “Oh, I thought I heard a wolf howl. All the wild wolves in this mountain range have been kicked out, so there shouldn’t be any roaming around. Wolves are pretty clever creatures. If they catch a whiff of human scent, they won’t easily come after us unless they’re desperate for food. Otherwise, they won’t risk messing with humans.”

Unless there were folks like Jezebel, lacking some common sense, actively taunting the wolves, these animals would be even less likely to mess with them with such a big group trekking through the mountains tonight.

Jezebel and Sonya were clueless about the whole situation. They were too caught up in their victory high, forgetting about what happened earlier.

Violeta firmly grabbed the back of the cub’s neck and covered its mouth, ensuring it stayed silent.

In a low, serious tone, she warned, “Keep quiet! If you make a peep, I’ll shut you up.”

The cub cowered, tucking its tail between its legs, giving Violeta a pleading look with those big, watery eyes.

Not knowing if it was lost or ditched, Violeta couldn’t risk the instructor finding out.

Silently, she sidestepped and sneakily tossed the cub into the bushes. “Go on. Move it!”

The cub tumbled in the foliage before bouncing back to Violeta, playfully nibbling at her shoe,

Right then, the instructor sensed something off and strolled over to Violeta.

“Hey, Violeta, what’s going on?”

Violeta swiftly scooped up the cub, hid it behind her, and coolly replied, “Nothing, just taking a stroll and enjoying the fresh air.”

Kaylee joined them and asked, “By the way, Sir, how much time has passed? Can I check the stopwatch?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

Kaylee diverted the instructor’s/attention, and she and Violeta shared a knowing look like they were on the same page.

Violeta tried ditching the cub a couple more times, but this little thing stuck to her like glue. It followed her around like a faithful pup, sniffing her scent and tailing her.

Chapter 27

The rest of the top nine teams rolled in.

Violeta’s crew rightfully snagged first place, and by the time the sun peeked over, all the teams gathered.

The chief instructor stood tall on the platform, announcing Violeta’s squad as the champs. Not just that, they broke Hayden’s team record from three years back, now owning the crown for T Military Training.

The four lined up all military-like on the platform, soaking in the cheers.

Violeta kept a poker face while Jezebel and Sonya were all smiles, completely shrugging off their not–so–so–so–stellar start.

Soon, the teams split up.

Everyone returned to the tents for a night’s shut-eye, and they’d be off the hook after an afternoon meet-up.

While packing up, someone accidentally bumped into Violeta’s backpack. She scowled, nudged the person away, and then sauntered off with her bag.

The person grumbled, “Gosh. What’s your problem…”

Violeta shot a glare, and the person wisely shut up.

Kaylee caught up with the grumbler and fired back, “Hey, you! You’re the one with problems. Your whole family’s a mess!”

Then, she hollered at Violeta, “Hey, Violeta, wait up!”

In the tent, Violeta unzipped her backpack and found the little wolf cub all cozied inside, already knocked out.

It had polished off all the canned tuna she had tossed in earlier.

“Oh wow, Violeta, you brought it back?!”

Violeta replied, “Tried to shoo it away, but it’s like Velcro. Had no choice but to bring it along.”

Kaylee tossed in her thoughts, “Maybe its mom bailed on it? That’s why it’s sticking to you, thinking you’re its owner. By tagging along with you, you won’t have to worry about finding food and water. It might’ve starved out there in the wild.”

“Are you thinking about keeping it? It’s a wild wolf, still a pup, but who knows if it’ll keep its wild side as it grows up.

Violeta kept silent momentarily, then said, “Nah, I’ll set it free in the wild when we return.”

After that, Violeta zipped up her backpack, flopped onto the bed, closed her eyes, and passed out.

When Zelena found out that Jezebel and Sonya didn’t hold Violeta back, their team even snatched first place in the training!

Can you slow down Violeta? How come your team still bagged first place?”

Jezebel and Sonya put on innocent faces. “Come on, Lena, even though we promised to help you, there were unexpected hitches along the way! How were we supposed to know if Violeta found some shortcut? She grabbed our shoulder badges and threatened to leave us in the mountains if we lagged!”

Zelena narrowed her eyes, a bit of fierceness showing. To her, those were just excuses.

“Why’d you obey her? If you guys made an effort to fall behind, she sure wouldn’t make it!”

Zelena’s words sent shivers down Jezebel and Sonya’s spines,

Jezebel stood up, eyes wide, “What’s wrong with you? Did you honestly want us risking our lives just for you? Zelena, you tossed us a tiny bone; not worth risking our lives for that pea-sized reward, okay!”

Sonya chimed in. “Seriously, you’re going too far. Didn’t expect you to be this unreasonable and nasty!”

At that moment, Zelena realized she had let her anger get the best of her and forgot to put on a front.

That’s not what I meant…

Tsk, let’s bounce.” Jezebel and Sonya brushed off Zelena and turned to leave.

Now that military training was a wrap, they all scored big by snagging first place. Who’d bother pleasing Zelena?

‘Violeta’s team took the crown and smashed the record set by Hayden’s crew.

The news and announcements had made their way through the academy!

The following day, Hayden and his squad caught wind of it.

The group chat was buzzing with excitement-

Jasper: Yo! Vio shattered our old record! Unreal!

Liam: We were kinda worried you’d buckle, but Vio, you’ve got some serious talent, man!

Zoren: Vio, you’re a legend! Dinner’s on you when you get back!

Jasper: But, you know, if Zero wasn’t slowing us down back then, our record could’ve been at least twenty minutes faster.

Zoren: What do you mean? Are you blaming me? Wanna fight, huh now?

Liam: Yeah, remember who almost peed his pants because of a wild wolf! Hahaha.

Zoren: Damn you guys! I’m so done with you all; I’m out!

Seeing their banter in the group/chat, Violeta started a group voice call in the car on their way back to Toland University…

The phone rang, and all four of them answered within a second. Surprisingly, Hayden, who hadn’t talked in the group chat, picked up first.

Violeta said, “Did you also run into a wild wolf in the mountains?”

Hayden: “Yeah. You too?”

Zoren: “Hey, Vio, you good? Are you injured?”

Jasper: “Just hearing her voice, I know she’s fine. If something happened, we’d have gotten a heads–up.”

Liam: “The wild wolves in the mountains should’ve been taken care of before the assessment. The chances of running into them are pretty low. So, was it good luck or bad luck that you ran into one?”

Violeta stayed quiet, but there was movement in the bag on her lap. A pair of shiny black eyes could be seen through the gap in the zipper.

Three seconds later, she spoke. “Let’s discuss it when I get to school.”

All four of them sensed that something wasn’t quite right.

After the bus pulled up at Toland University, Jezebel and Sonya hustled to claim their rewards.

Violeta asked Kaylee to tag along with the girls for the reward pickup. At the same time, she headed in a different direction with her bag slung over her shoulder.

When she reached the shaded path, Hayden and the other three were already waiting for Violeta in the pavilion.

Spotting Violeta approaching, Zoren dashed over, “Vio, let me check if you’re injured,”

I’m fine. Let me show you something first. She dropped the backpack on the ground and unzipped it. The four of them leaned in for a peek.

The next moment-

“Oh my god!”

“How did you manage to bring back a little wolf cub?”

“So cool!”

Violeta sighed, I didn’t bring it back; it followed me. I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Hayden reached out and picked up the wolf cub, which squirmed and howled aggressively, even attempting to nip at Hayden.

Hayden firmly held its mouth shut, and the wolf cub couldn’t resist. It looked at Violeta with a pitiful expression, tail between its legs.

Liam inquired, “Does it think Vio is its mother?”

Violeta was left speechless.

Zoren stroked his chin and suggested, “Maybe the wild wolf that scared the life out of me in the mountains a few years ago was its father.”

Violeta put two and two together, realizing Hayden and the team had also taken a shortcut in the back of the mountain during their military training a few years back.

However, luck was less generous to them than to Violeta. They stumbled upon a pack of wolves, setting them back by twenty minutes.

The goddess of luck, however, spared Violeta from the wolf pack ordeal.

Hayden handed the wolf cub to Violeta, and she cradled it delicately.

“What’s your plan for this little furball?”

Violeta shrugged. I’ve tried to ditch it, but it’s not taking the hint. Maybe we should release it into the wild?”

Jasper shook her head. “But isn’t it too young to fend for itself?”

Zoren chimed in, “Yeah, probably not weaned yet, huh?”

Violeta pondered. “Should we return it to its mother?”

Hayden clarified. “It’s already caught the scent of humans so–that the wolf pack won’t take it back.”

Liam smiled, “Since it’s latched onto you and you brought it back, why not keep it? There’s a connection between you two, right?”

Violeta exclaimed, “What? You want me to raise it?”

Chapter 28

Hayden smirked, “Who else if not you?“,

The wolf cub played the angel only when it was around Violeta. Even though it lacked any attack prowess, it fiercely resisted anyone else trying to handle it.

It let out a pitiful howl as if someone was out to get it.

Clearly, it had already picked Violeta as its mom.

Violeta shook her head, “No way. I wouldn’t know how to do that.”

Hayden chuckled, “Anyone can raise a dog, but you raise a wolf? Now, that’s something!”

Zoren suggested, “Once it grows a bit and if it starts showing any wild instincts, we can set it free into the wild. If that doesn’t work, there’s always the zoo

What?! Raising a wolf like a dog? It sounded insane, but with the Blake family’s wealth, it was plausible.

After pondering it, Violeta thought it might be the only viable option for now.

Slipping the wolf cub back into the bag, she said, “Whatever works for now. Hey, I’m off. Need to go collect my prize.

“Oh right! Can’t forget we have Toland University’s new military training record holder right here! Dinner’s on you next time!” Hayden teased.

Violeta waved, “Sure, we’ll figure it out later.”

When the six hundred grand prize money rolled in, Violeta couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions tugging at her heart.

Money wasn’t something Violeta had to stress about in this lifetime.

In her previous life, when Violeta kicked off her school days, Zelena played dirty. She got their parents to freeze Violeta’s bank card, tossing around accusations of bullying. Freezing her credit card was their way of dishing out some punishment.

No matter how much Violeta explained, they turned a deaf ear and stuck to their guns.

Violeta thought there was a misunderstanding with Zelena, so she tried to patch things up multiple times, but it was all in vain.

In her past life, preparing for the mountain assessment during military training was Violeta’s way of securing prize money to cover her living expenses.

Little did she anticipate missing out on the prize and with a tarnished reputation, you can imagine how tough it was for Violeta in her previous life.

Returning to the Blake family with the little wolf cub, Irene, and Anton were utterly shocked when they laid eyes on her new pet. Who would’ve thought their daughter would go to military training and come back with a wolf cub?

Irene asked, “Vio, are you sure about keeping it as a pet?”

Violeta propped her chin on her hand, suggesting, “Let’s give it a shot. They say you can raise a wolf like a dog. Both are from the Canidae family, so they should be kind of similar, right?”

Anton, fascinated by the little wolf cub, asked, “What breed do you think it is?”

I’ve no idea, Dad,” Violeta was equally clueless.

Anton proposed, “Well since Vio is committed to keeping it, let’s take good care of it. But first, let’s take it to the vet, make sure it’s healthy, and figure out its breed.”

Irene chimed in kindly, “And since it’s part of the family now, it needs a name. Vio, you pick.”

Violeta thought for a moment, grabbed some food, and placed it in front of the wolf cub.

“Whatever it goes for first will be its name.”

The little wolf, catching the scent of Tuna from lunch, promptly sat down and howled at Violeta

“Looks like it’s Tuna, then.”

Anton and Irene exchanged glances, finding the name a bit spontaneous, but they respected Violeta’s choice.

Irene handed Violeta a gift box, smiling, “So, we heard that you aced the military training assessment and broke a record. This is a gift from me and Dad.”

Violeta was surprised, “Oh, but Mom and Dad, the school already rewarded me with cash. You guys are too much!”

Anton reassured her. “Just open it and see if you like it.”

Inside secondary cards and a transfer agreement for a ski resort.

“A ski resort transfer? Seriously?”

Anton grinned, casually throwing in, “Well, we’ve just handed you the keys to your very own private ski retreat. Now you can throw the ultimate snow bash with your friends.”

Honestly, Violeta would’ve been thrilled with any gift. But the fact that it turned out to be this lavish and grand? Completely unexpected!

Turns out, she lowkey loved skiing, even though she never spilled the beans. Her parents must’ve done some sleuthing to figure it out. Their thoughtful gift was a bullseye!

“Thanks a ton, Mom and Dad! This is beyond awesome!”

Touched, Violeta hugged Irene and Anton.

“All we want is a lifetime of love for our baby.” Irene meds in with a smile.

The next day, they took Tuna for testing.

During the process, it put up a wild resistance, howling up a storm and causing a real commotion. Loud enough to wake the dead!

Helplessly, Violeta had to tag along.

The test results came back, showing that, other than being a bit underweight, Tuna was A-okay.

After double–checking the breed, turned out it was a Kenai Peninsula wolf.

This wolf breed can grow up to two meters tall and weigh over two hundred pounds! A real giant!

Violeta looked at her new wolf pal, still a little thing, and got lost in thought. Could this tiny critter that cries when it can’t see me really balloon to over two hundred pounds? Well, for now, let’s just keep this wolf cub around.

Back home, after a feast, Tuna crashed on the carpet with its round belly.

Violeta sat on the bed, fired up the computer, and logged into the dark web to check things out.

The deadline for her challenge had come and gone, and none of the hackers who signed up managed to crack her firewall.

Their attempts not only ended in failure but also left discernible traces on her computer.

Violeta diligently followed the trail and unearthed the IP address of Red Riding Hood. The revelation left her astonished!

Initially, Violeta had assumed Red Riding Hood hailed from somewhere other than Quinton. To her surprise, the IP address didn’t just belong to Quinton but also to Toland University!

With some deft keyboard maneuvers, Violeta hacked into Red Riding Hood’s computer and left a casual message, “Hey there.”

After covering her tracks, she planned to check back in a few days.

Having promised to treat Hayden and his friends to a meal, Violeta went to meet them.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Hayden and his three friends had already placed their orders and were eagerly awaiting her.

“Hey, what took you so long? I’m starving,” Zoren complained as soon as Violeta sat down.

“Don’t even start. It starts crying the moment I leave, so I had no choice but to bring it along.” Violeta explained.

From her bag, a little head popped up–Tuna!

Seeing it, Hayden went for a grab, but Tuna fiercely resisted with its paws.

“Is this little thing really a Kenai Peninsula wolf?” Hayden inquired.