Chapter 9

Soren's POV

...Is that true?

Celia did not take an extra cent from me?

Not even a couple loose dollars here and there that I would not have even noticed to begin with?

When I first saw Celia in the Red Light District, I knew that she wasn’t like other she-wolf — No ordinary woman would voluntarily enter the Red Light District of their own volition; it’s why I offered her the deal of a lifetime to be my lover.

I sit up in my desk chair, eyes fixated on my Beta’s shadow in the office. I swipe my tongue over my teeth and contemplate my choices.

I can dismiss this whole situation and find a solution elsewhere for my headaches or I can figure out the enigma that is Celia and her motivations. And I can figure out why my headaches subside when she is around.

I sigh and wave my hand at the Beta.

“Tell me more about her…anything and everything that you can remember,” I command.

The Beta shifts in his spot, scratching the back of his neck. After a few seconds of huffing and puffing, the Beta finally responds to me.

“Celia has always been very nice and cordial with your staff. When she originally signed the contract, she was very adamant that your payment only be for her student and medical loans,” the Beta informs me. I nod along with his words, honing in on the last sentence.

“...Her grandmother is very ill and is in the hospital and she is the only one who is here to take care of her. Her mother was a doctor, too, so that also has some influence as to why she joined the medical field.” Beta says.

Vaguely, I recall—back when Celia and I were still lovers.

At night, she would sweetly wrap her arms around me, whispering little things about herself.

She must have told me this before.

But in the past, I never cared enough to remember much about her.

"…I see." I say.

So that is why Celia was so desperate for money.

She has been burdened by her grandmother’s medial bills the entire time.

When Celia decided to go and study medicine, a career path typically reserved for noble families, I had thought was out of vanity, a way to make a lot of money.

I have been a fool and have made the mistake of overlooking Celia.

How can I take her seriously, though, since she has refused any extra money that has come her way? If she were so desperate for money as she claims to be, then why decline the extra help that has been thrown her way?

“Bring Celia to me,” I push from my chair and stand up, eyes training on my Beta.

“I’ll pay for her to return. I must see her.”

“Sir…” the Beta holds up a finger, causing me to stop and stare at him.

“She might not agree to this. I can’t force her to come.”

I scoff at his words and cross my arms over my chest.

“Besides, your time and effort has been catered towards Lady Bianca ever since her arrival! You promised to help her gain Healer Anderson’s favor so she may become his apprentice—!”Beta says.

“Please,” I rest my hands down on the wooden desk before me, narrowing my aching eyes at the Beta, “I insist that you go and collect Celia for me.”

My posture straightens. I fix my clothes and look down at the Beta. “— Celia is a part of my pack! She has to obey my order whether she likes it or not. ”

“Bianca can wait, too.”I say.

“I must handle the Celia situation first.”

Celia's POV

I need to earn money. I need it now and I need it fast, preferably in large amounts. I cannot go another day feeling like the world is about to slip out from under me. No longer will I stand nights of going to sleep on an empty stomach nor will I allow my grandmother to suffer while I pick apart the couch cushions for extra change.

I will never sell my body or my dignity ever again, either.

In this world, though, it’s hard to do. Since I am of such a low class compared to others, the only thing that will be of interest to people is my body. They’ll want to know how much they can pay for me. I refuse to go through that again.

The hospital halls are a little more barren than usual.

Night has settled overhead and people have either gone home or stayed behind for late shifts or research.

I stayed back for research purposes, hoping to find a diamond in the rough for a job opportunity or a breakthrough in research.

“...Did you hear about Bianca? She shifted during her last lecture! She shifted into a white wolf!” A voice from a research lab carries out into the hallway where I stand.

I peer inside and watch as two of the older Healers gossip with each other.

It is said that Lycans shift into a white wolf form whereas werewolves shift into shades of black fur.

Could that mean that I’m a Lycan? In my dreams, all I have ever been was a white wolf. I have never been in the body of a black wolf’s body.

No…I could never be a Lycan. That would mean that my parents were anything but ordinary commoners since Lycans and Werewolves have had almost no contact in the past.

There is no way that they are a part of the Lycan lineage.

My feet carry me down the hallway. I scan the bulletin boards for job postings. A poster sticks out to me. I step close to the board and read the printed words on the white piece of paper.

It’s a long-term mission that the hospital is hosting. The job will require extensive travel as well as arduous tasks. It’s sure to be a long journey, one that will only have lows with very little highs. I can see why the nobles avoided it.

They are used to cushy lives where everything is handed to them simply because they demanded it. The pay listed on the flier, though, catches my attention. The money will be well worth it in the long run if I apply.

My grandmother is undergoing another treatment soon and the bill is expected to be high as always.

Healer Anderson informed me today that her illness is exceptionally rare. Our pack currently lacked the proper medication and supplies to aid her and that the only way to help aid her is through expensive treatments.

A full recovery will require an ungodly amount of money, money that I do not currently have, and will require the purchasing of expensive drugs.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh. Will the job be worth it? The money the hospital’s job offers will be enough for Grandma’s treatment and medication…is it worth it if the job is a hellhole?

I gnaw at the inside of my cheek and stare at the dollar amount on the flier. It’s life changing money…I can save my Grandma and myself.

I rip the flier off the bulletin board and call the number. My phone is pressed against my ear as I listen to the dial tone.

My anxiety heightens but immediately leaves my body when a voice answers with a soft “Hello?”

“Yes! Hi! My name is Celia. I’m calling about the job posting in the hospital? Is it still available? I would love to do it!”

There reply.“Yes! It is! The job will require you to leave the pack pretty soon...It means you almost will leave werewolf pack 20 years. Is that okay with you?”

I take a deep breathe.

“...Yes, that’s fine! Thank you so much!” I hang up the phone and take a slow, deep breath.

I’ve done it, Grandma. I’m going to save us.

— Even though I will leave the pack. Never seeing Soren again.

I will do this.