Chapter 2

There was a time when I had struggled to open a bottle cap and turned to Damon for help. I had expected a simple, playful moment between a couple. Instead, his response had been curt and cutting: "Kate, I don't like your spoiled princess behavior. Learn to manage things on your own."

It baffled me—what I thought was an innocent gesture had been twisted into an accusation of entitlement.

Now, standing here, the memory stirred no emotion within me, only a detached realization of how ironic it was that he would soon pay for his actions.

At that moment, Bonnie was elegantly nibbling on a biscuit, pausing to sip water delicately. She then pulled out a makeup bag and began retouching her makeup with slow, deliberate movements.

I couldn't fathom why someone would bother with makeup deep in the mountains.

She looked up with a smug smile. "Kate, I've always preferred living with a touch of refinement. Not like you—so plain. I hope you don't mind."

The saccharine tone was cloying. Her words dripped with thinly veiled arrogance. I responded with a polite smile, choosing to ignore her.

Damon, however, seemed utterly captivated. His eyes sparkled with admiration as he turned to me and said, "Kate, you should take a page from Bonnie's book. Women are meant to love beauty."

A hollow laugh echoed in my mind. People are often fixated on what they lack. Unlike Bonnie, I didn't need cosmetics to prove anything. My natural beauty overshadowed hers effortlessly.

Finally, she deigned to hoist her bag and continue up the trail. I quickened my pace, suppressing a smirk. The sooner I led them to their demise, the better.

We followed the path that I remembered vividly, the one that had led to the grizzly bear's territory in my previous life. It was only 500 meters ahead, where the bear would be nursing her cubs.

I raised my binoculars, confirming the scene was exactly as before. The bear, enormous and protective, was bent over her young. I smiled slightly in satisfaction.

Feigning concern, I stopped abruptly and warned, "We can't go any further. The bear is nursing her cubs up ahead. If we intrude, it'll see us as a threat and attack."

Bonnie looked unconcerned, even excited. It was clear she lacked even basic wilderness knowledge. She scoffed. "Kate, you're too timid. What's there to be afraid of? This is a rare sight. Of course, we have to capture it on camera. Right, Damon?"

Damon gave her a doting smile. "This is why we came, after all. We can't miss it."

I forced myself to explain calmly, "Nursing animals are highly territorial. If provoked, they won't hesitate to attack. The consequences could be deadly."

But I knew they wouldn't listen. In fact, the more I tried to dissuade them, the more determined Bonnie would be to do the opposite. Perfect.

She smirked and replied dismissively, "You exaggerate too much, Kate. If everyone were as scared as you, how would anyone capture good photos?" Damon nodded in agreement, his eyes full of admiration for her daring.

I had fulfilled my duty to warn them. If they insisted on courting death, it was no longer my concern. Staying close behind them, I scouted for a safe hiding spot.

As they moved closer to the bear, memories of my previous life surfaced. The searing pain of teeth tearing into flesh, the helplessness of being left to die—my heart raced, but I forced myself to focus.

Once they were in position, I imitated Bonnie's voice from deep in my abdomen and let out a loud shout, ensuring it would grab the bear's attention. Then I swiftly retreated behind a large tree.

The bear flinched, its body stiffening as its head jerked toward the sound. With a powerful leap, it charged.

Damon turned, looking for me, but I was nowhere in sight. I imagined his frustration—he had likely intended to shove me forward as a distraction, just as he had in our past life.

Not this time.

The bear slammed into him, knocking him to the ground. Its massive jaws opened wide over his arm and it began biting down ferociously.

Damon's scream was guttural, raw with pain and terror. "Ah! Help! Kate, save me!"

I pressed my hand over my mouth, steadying my breathing to avoid detection.

Bonnie's high-pitched shrieks filled the air as she turned to flee. Her screams, however, only caught the bear's attention. It pivoted, bounding after her.

In moments, she was on the ground, her leg in the bear's jaws. It tore through fabric and flesh, ripping away a chunk of meat.