Chapter 13 *

Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Taking the Wheel
Angelina's POV

"What's up? Something wrong?" Mia looked at me, then at Logan.

"Yo, you guys wanna hit up In-N-Out after school? My treat. You down?" Logan asked.

I propped my chin on my hand, blinked, and said nothing.

Mia hesitated, biting her lip. "I wish I could, but my parents are super strict about me coming straight home after school. You guys should go though!"

I knew Mia's situation all too well. Her parents were the Alpha and Luna of Canyon Pack, and they ran her life like a military operation. Everything she did was calculated to mold her into the perfect future Alpha—every class, every activity, every friendship had to serve that purpose. Even hanging out at In-N-Out needed their approval.

"Alright then..." Logan could only scratch his head and give up.

Then he looked at me: "Guess it's just the two of us. You still wanna go?"

That In-N-Out was located right near the school. The moment class let out, students would swarm the place to grab food.

I knew why Logan was asking like this—he was worried that if Mia didn't go and it was just the two of us, if other students saw us, rumors would spread that "they're dating." With the original owner's personality, she definitely would have refused.

But I blinked and answered him directly: "You're paying, why wouldn't I go?"

Not taking free stuff wasn't my style.

Logan was instantly stunned.

---

I received a phone call from my second brother Leo.

But when I answered, the person speaking wasn't Leo. It was Leo's friend, and from his tone, he seemed extremely anxious:

"Hello? Is this Leo's sister? Your brother's in trouble! We're at the Pack hospital right now. Your brother flipped his car while racing—he's covered in blood and was rushed to the hospital. Please come here quickly..."

From the original owner's memories, I knew Leo was preparing for the Wildpath Championship, an annual racing tournament held between North American werewolf Packs. There were 6 races throughout the year, with each Pack sending racing teams to compete. Points accumulated based on performance at each race, and at season's end, the Pack with the highest points won the overall championship. Leo was racing for Meadow Pack. But because it was too dangerous, he'd kept it secret from the family. Only the original owner knew—not even eldest brother Ethan knew, let alone Grace and Nathan.

I also knew that tonight was the Badlands Circuit, held at Redstone Pack. This track ran along cliff edges and dried riverbeds, alternating between sandy stretches and hard-packed dirt—extremely dangerous. Just yesterday, Leo had been bragging to the original owner about it, saying if he won the championship and got the prize money... maybe it could help improve the family's situation.

And now I was getting a call that Leo had crashed.

"I understand."

Even receiving news that my brother was hurt, I remained calm as I said this, my expression unchanged. Then I hung up directly.

I'd had the call on speaker, so Logan had heard everything.

"Holy shit, what happened to your brother? Is it serious? I'll drive you there right now..."

Logan was scared enough to spring into action immediately.

As he spoke, he led me to a Porsche 911 sports car parked not far away.

Don't let Logan's carefree demeanor fool you—he was actually a typical rich kid.

Logan unlocked the car and said to me:

"Get in the passenger seat quick, I'll take you to the hospital."

He was about to climb into the driver's seat.

I reached out and grabbed the back of his collar, easily pulling Logan out of the car.

Let him drive? Too slow.

"You take the passenger seat. I'm driving."

As I spoke, I flashed into the driver's seat in an instant.

"What? You? You're driving? Can you even—"

Logan was dumbfounded, but before he could finish, I cut him off:

"Shut up and get in!"

A simple, brutal command.

Logan was scared enough to scramble into the passenger seat.

But he still didn't believe I could drive. After all, having sat next to the original owner for so long, he should know what she was like.

"Aria, I know you're worried right now, but this isn't the way. You should really get out and let me—" Logan's words weren't finished.

I'd already released the handbrake, started the engine, and floored the gas pedal. My movements were skilled and practiced.

Then, amid Logan's terrified roar, the Porsche 911 shot forward like an arrow released from its bow!

The car weaved nimbly through the relatively light traffic.

I noticed Logan's hair whipping wildly in the wind.

I pressed the gas pedal, turned the steering wheel, my movements agile and effortless. Not a trace of panic.

This kind of operation was just basic skills for me.

Logan was absolutely panicked.

By the time he recovered from his shock, we'd already arrived at the hospital's main entrance.

---

I bolted through the automatic doors and headed straight for the ER check-in desk.

"I'm looking for Leo Sterling—he was brought in after a racing accident?"

The nurse glanced at her computer. "Room 3, down the hall on your right. He's been treated and stabilized."

I found Leo slumped in a plastic chair in the hallway outside the examination room, waiting to be discharged. His shirt was torn and stained with dried blood, fresh gauze wrapped around his head, and his left arm was in a sling. He looked like hell, but he was conscious and breathing on his own.

The fact that he was out here and not behind the doors of a trauma bay was a good sign—his injuries weren't life-threatening.

Seeing Leo was okay, my heart relaxed slightly.

Seeming to hear the commotion, Leo weakly opened his eyes and saw me.

He said softly: "You got here so fast, sis?"

"Yeah." I responded.

My attention shifted to the guy standing next to Leo—the only other person in the hallway.

He looked about seventeen or eighteen, with sun-bleached dirty blond hair that stuck out from under a backwards baseball cap. His hands were stained with motor oil, and he wore a faded racing team hoodie with sponsor logos peeling off the front. The kind of kid who spent more time in garages than classrooms.

Catching my glance, he seemed to realize something and immediately spoke:

"Oh, hi, you must be Leo's sister, right? I'm Zion. I'm the one who called you."

After speaking, Zion added:

"The doctor just checked him over. None of your brother's bones are broken—says his injuries aren't as serious as they look. Don't worry."

At this point, Zion paused, then said: "It's just... he can't race tonight."

When he said this, there was a hint of regret in Zion's tone.

"No, I'm going!" At that moment, Leo clutched his wound and suddenly spoke up.

My usually carefree second brother now had an unusually serious expression.

I raised my eyes slightly but said nothing.

"You can't go, your injuries..." Zion looked at Leo with concern.

But Leo interrupted: "I'll be fine after resting a bit. Didn't the doctor say it's just minor injuries? It's nothing serious."

I still said nothing.

Logan, who'd come with me, spoke up instead: "Can't you find someone to race in your place? Would that work?"

Usually pretty useless, but at critical moments Logan could actually give decent suggestions. He looked at me with a bit of smugness.

I still didn't speak.

But Zion shook his head: "We can't find anyone."

"Then there's no way..." Logan could only sigh after hearing this.

Just as several people were at an impasse, no one speaking, no one with a solution—

I finally looked up and spoke:

"I'll go."

Two words. Decisive, crisp, clear and simple.

Since Leo was injured and couldn't go, and they couldn't find a replacement, then I'd have to do it myself. Racing? For me, this was a piece of cake.

They all looked at me in unison, their expressions changing dramatically.

Zion was scared enough to cry out: "Leo's sister, that's racing! Not toy cars! Are you... sure you're not joking?"

I could understand his reaction. After all, in their eyes, the original "Aria" was timid and weak, incompetent and powerless. For such a timid girl to now suggest replacing Leo in a race was indeed hard to believe.

"Leo's sister, I know you're worried about your brother, but racing isn't something you can just substitute into." Zion patiently lectured me. "Maybe reconsider?"

He even glanced at Leo. "Hey, say something! You can't really let your sister race for you, right? Sure, lots of young people race, but your sister..."

I didn't want to hear him continue. In my previous life, racing had been my greatest hobby. Those so-called champions I'd left in the dust on international racing circuits would probably laugh themselves sick if they heard someone questioning my racing skills.

I cut him off directly: "I'm not asking for your opinions. Just informing you."

I was just notifying them that I'd be replacing Leo in tonight's race, not asking for their opinions.

The three of them froze again upon hearing this.

Especially Zion—he opened his mouth, but ultimately found himself speechless.

But Leo and Logan's reactions weren't as intense as Zion's. Perhaps because they'd already experienced my capabilities.

"Let her go." After a moment of silence, Leo suddenly spoke. "Let my sister replace me in tonight's race."

He raised his head and looked at me. The usually playful him rarely spoke in such a serious tone: "But, sis, I won't allow anything to happen to you. You must protect yourself. Even if you come in last place, it's no big deal. Got it?"

Hearing my brother's words, warmth filled my chest. He truly cared about me, viewing my safety as more important than anything else.

I immediately nodded: "I will."

Of course I wouldn't have any accidents. Not only would I be fine, I'd win the championship for Leo!

Zion had wanted to say more, but in the end said nothing, just shrugged helplessly at Leo.