My Mate’s Killer is My Second Chance Mate

Chapter 3 - Fake Papers

Raven

"You're insane, you know that right!." Finn paced the entire length of our narrow living room. The floor groaning as he walks. "Like, clinically insane."

"Probably." I sat cross-legged on the couch, sorting through the small pile of clothes. Most of it were ripped jeans and worn tees, definitely not Academy material. "But I'm going anyway."

"Rae." He stopped pacing, his eyes fixed on me. "You're talking about walking into enemy territory. Surrounded by thousands of pack wolves who hate rogues. And you want to spy on the Alpha heir—the guy who might've murdered your mate. Do you hear how crazy that sounds?"

"Loud and clear." I held up a faded green hoodie with multiple holes. "Think they'll let me wear this?"

"I'm being serious here!"

"So am I." I dropped the hoodie, and meet his eyes. "Finn, I really have to do this. He killed Rowan. And nobody—not the Academy, not the cops, not even Rowan's parents—gives a sht about it. So I'll find the proof myself."

"And get yourself killed in the process." He almost yelled, then softened, his voice cracking a little. "You're all I've got, Rea. You... my parents... If something .....anything happens to you—"

"Nothing's gonna happen." I cut him off, I standing and grabbing his trembling hands. "Hey. Look at me. Did you forget I survived deadly rogues alone for three years before you found me. I can handle some pretty pack wolves."

"That's different. Those rogues were dumb and brutal. Pack wolves are organized. Trained. Dangerous in a completely different way."

"Good thing, cuz I'm smarter than all of them combined." I squeezed his hand giving him the best confident smile– the one I always used when I was truely terrified tried and trying to hide it.

He stared at me for a long moment, then sighed, his whole body deflating. "You're gonna do this no matter what I say, aren't you?"

"Yup."

"Goddess help me." He pulled away and ran his hands through his hair, making it messier. "Fine. But if you're gonna be stupid, at least be smart about it. You'll need papers. Good ones. The Academy checks backgrounds like crazy."

"Already thought of that." I grinned happy to have him finally on board. "And that's where you come in. I'm gonna need your help with something."

"Why do I feel like I'm signing my death warrant?"

It took more than a week of searching and failed attempts before we realized we needed more than just forged ID and papers.

"We need a top‐tier hacker," Finn said over breakfast. His mom's pancakes sat lump in stomach because I'm too nervous, but it would offend Darla so I kept pushing it down. "A legend. Someone who can forge academy documents without triggering ever alarm they own."

"You found someone like that?" I poked a piece of pancake around my plate.

"Maybe." He pulled out his phone "There's this guy goes by Vix. Works out of the Black Market district in the rogue pack about fifty miles from here. He's... intense. But I heard he's the best rogue tech alive."

"Black Market district?" Nova perked up. She'd been quiet since the warehouse incident, but the mention of danger got her attention. "Sounds fun."

"Sounds dangerous," I corrected.

"Same thing," she purred.

Darla peeked through the kitchen doorway, wiping her hands with a towel. Though she's barely five feet tall, she possess an aura that made everyone listen. "You're going to see Vix?"

Finn looked up, guilty. "You know him?"

"Everyone knows Vix." She sat down at the table. "He helped me and Cole forge our citizenship papers years ago. The man's a genius, but he doesn't come cheap. Plus the Black Market wolves don't like strangers— they'll literally eat you alive."

"We'll manage," I said, trying my best to sound confident.

Darla studied me. Her brown eyes which look so much like Finn's, saw right through my bullshit. "You set on this? Go to that Academy?"

"I have to."

She nodded slowly. "Then you'll need money. For Vix and for school supplies. Cole and I have been saving." She stood and walked into the bedroom before I could refuse.

"Your mom's the best," I nudged Finn.

"I know." He smiled a little. "She likes you better than me anyway."

Darla came back with an envelope. "It's not much. But it should cover Vix's fees and get you started."

I opened it and my jaw dropped. "This is like two thousand dollars."

"Consider it our help." She squeezed my shoulder. "Come back safe. And if that Academy tries anything, you run. You understand me?"

"Yes ma'am."

The Black Market district looked exactly like it sounded—shady as hell. We left the next day with Finn.

We parked Finn's beat-up truck at the entrance and walked in.

It smelled of cigarette, alcohol and blood. Buildings were covered in street art and rust. Wolves watched us from doorways and alleys, their face were not friendly.

"Stay close," Finn muttered pulling me close. "And absolutely no eye contact."

"Little late for that," I whispered back. Three wolves were already following us, keeping pace about twenty feet behind.

"Just keep moving."

We went deeper following Darla's directions, and it gotten worse. Vendors sold everything from stolen phones to illegal weapons. A group of wolves passed us carrying boxes that smelled like blood. Fresh blood. I avoided peeking inside.

"This place creeps the hell outta me," Nova whimpered.

"Same," I thought back.

Finally, we stopped in front of a building that looked strangely modern and sightly less scary. It has a neon sign with "VIX - TECH SOLUTIONS."

"Tech solutions?" I raised a brow. "That's what he calls it?"

"He's got a sense of humor." Finn knocked on the metal door. Using Darla's code. Three times, pause, two times, pause, once.

A kid slightly older than sixteen opened the door. "Password?"

"Darla sent us," Finn said.

The kid's eyes nearly bulged out. "Sht, for real?" He stepped aside to let us in. "Come in, come in. Vix'll want to see you."

Inside was nothing like outside. The place looked like a hell of hacking community —computers and monitors everywhere, cables snaking across the floor, the smell of coffee and energy drinks filled the air.

We stopped in front of a seated before six different screens showing code I couldn't understand.

"Vix?" Finn called out.

A man in his late twenties turned around he had black hair and wore glasses that kept sliding down his nose. "Well, well. Visitors. And you used Darla's name, so you're either legit or about to die. Which is it?"

Legit." Finn handed him the folded paper Darla had given us. Vix scanned it then stared at Finn.

"You got her eyes. You must be the son."

Finn nodded nudging me forward. "This is Raven. She needs papers. Academy papers."

Vix's eyebrows shot up. "Blood Moon Academy?"

"The one and only."

He whistled low. "Ballsy. What's the story?"

I stepped forward. "I need to get in. Whatever it takes."

"Whatever it takes is expensive, sweetheart."

"I've got money." And don't call me sweetheart." I said flatly.

Vix grinned. "I like her. Okay. Here's the angle. I'll easily forge your acceptance letter. But you'll need a bulletproof backstory. Blood Moon Academy has a rehabilitation program for rogues called the Rogue Scholarship. Very exclusive. Very rare. If I can get my hands on a recommendation letter from one of their professors and steal an Alpha seal from a registered rogue pack, I can make you look legit."

"How long?"

"Week. Maybe less if I skip sleep." He spun back to his computers. "But it'll cost you fifteen hundred."

I pulled out Darla's envelope and counted out the bills. "Here's two thousand. The extra five hundred is for speed."

Vix turned around, his grin wider. "I really like her. Okay, give me your info. Name, age, wolf bloodline if you know it—"

I spent the next two hours answering questions of whatever he need while Vix typed faster than anyone I'd ever seen.

He pulled up databases I never know, hacked into systems. And over the next few days he somehow made the impossible, possible.

"There." He hit a final key with a victory smile. "Raven Vale, age eighteen, rogue transfer under the Rogue Scholarship program. Recommendation from the late Professor Harkins—may he rest in peace—and sealed by Alpha Marcus of the Silverwood Rogue Pack."

"There's no Silverwood Rogue Pack," I said.

"There is now." He winked. "I created it this morning. Complete with registration papers and tax documents. You're welcome."

"You're scary good at this."

"I know." He beamed and handing me a thick stack of printed papers. "Acceptance letter, transcripts, medical records, the whole package. Memorize your cover— You're from a small rogue pack up north, orphaned at twelve, survived on your own until Alpha Marcus took you in. You're quiet, grateful, and focused on academics. Got it?"

"Got it."

"Good." His expression turned serious. "One more thing. Be careful in there. Blood Moon Academy isn't what it seems. Students disappear. Accidents happen. And the wolves there especially the Alpha families, don't like rogues no matter what their scholarship says."

"I'll be fine."

"Famous last words." He handed me a burner phone. "My number's in there. If s**t hits the fan, call me. I'll do what I can."

***

The Academy send my official acceptance letter exactly one week later.

I stared at it for exactly ten minutes, my hands shaking. Official letterhead. Dean's signature. Welcome to Blood Moon Academy, Miss Vale.

"Holy sh*t," I breathed. "It worked."

Finn looked over my shoulder. "I can't believe it actually worked."

"We're about to send my baby girl into hell," Darla mumbled from the doorway. Her eyes were red. "And I'm supposed to smile and wave?"

"Mom—" Finn started.

"I know, I know." She raised her in defence. "I know it's what Rae wants but still..." She walked over and pulled me in a bear hug. "But if anything happens, I'm burning the Academy to the ground. You hear me?"

"Loud and clear." I hugged her back tight.

Cole appeared next, gruff as always. "You've got your knife?"

"Yes."

"Phone?"

"Yes."

"Brain?"

"Sometimes."

He almost smiled. "Good enough. Come back safe, kid."

I nodded, it was exactly one month after Rowan's death and I was going to prove he was murdered.