2

Ember’s POV

I arrived home to find everywhere quiet, and that was so unusual. All through my stay in the cab I had boarded, my heart thumped nervously. I just wanted to reach home so I could sit my mother down and bombard her with lots of questions.

Who was my father to the Silverhide pack? If he was truly a warrior there in the past, wasn't he supposed to be a hero?

How did we become an outcast that nothing about us was recorded in the pack? Why did we live in this remote town?

Uston had every right as someone of high prestige to turn me down. We weren't mates either, but we wished to be mates in the future.

He was twenty-five, and I was twenty-two.

On my eighteenth birthday, I transformed for the first time but never met my mate. On my twenty-one birthday, I didn't have him as my mate. Then did he promise to make me his chosen mate if we still can't be a fated mate.

Regardless of my rank, he loved and cherished me. He never talked down on me and was always there to protect me.

Until today, he dumped me for another woman. Although he had a genuine reason for doing it, I still thought he would have given me a chance to sort things out.

I entered the sitting room and found it empty. My mother was a seamstress, and the house was always noisy from his sewing machine each day. Seeing how quiet everywhere was and the fact the house was unlocked freaked me out.

“Mum!” I screamed, dropping my bag and twitching into the living room. “Where the hell is she when the house is unlocked? What if we were stolen from?" I yelled, gesturing, my eyes still darting around the corner. “Mum, where are you?”

I headed out of the living room, hoping to check if she was in the kitchen. But as soon as I stepped outside, I met Hannah, my childhood friend, panting while staring at me.

She looked like she had run a marathon. Her chest rose and fell rapidly.

“Are you okay? Did anything happen?” I came closer to her, my hand rested on her shoulder. “Did you see my mother?”

She nodded as I asked, pointing towards the south.

“She collapsed and was taken to the clinic, so I came to call you.”

A heavy headache slammed me at the back of my head. I winced, staring at Hannah. “My mother collapsed? When? How?”

I was already on my heels, and then I recalled I hadn't locked the door, either.

As I turned, Hannah held me back. “I'll lock the door. You have to go now.”

I nodded, hot air leaving through my lips.

She pushed me forward, and I continued running. There was just one clinic in this town, so I didn't need a direction.

I ran as fast as my wolf strength could carry me. She whimpered at me, wailing while I agitated, taking us to the clinic.

As soon as I rushed into the building, a nurse grabbed my hand like they were waiting for me.

My mum was well known in the town because of her skill and so was I as I would deliver the clothes she always sewed.

“Your mother doesn't have enough blood to sustain her. We need blood—enough one.” The nurse shrieked at my face.

My lips dropped wide. I didn't know where exactly to start.

“If you can purchase, then that would be good, because…

“You can transfer from me first so it would hold her before I run around to get money for more.” I cut the nurse shut, and she sighed as if she didn't want to hear that from me. “Nurse, please. Take from me first. I will also beg Hannah to help out for now.”

She shook her head, “Hannah’s blood didn't match.”

I creased my brows.

“We can check yours, but keep in mind that it won't do.” She grabbed my hands, and we moved forward, but along the way, she halted and turned to me, shaking her head persistently. “I feel guilty wanting to do this. If you donate blood to her, no one will run around to get the money ready.”

I scratched my head. How can I come home to this? My mother was so strong before I left, so what was wrong with her just now?

One thing that would never want to happen is losing her. Not when she's the only family that I have and still has lots of questions to answer for me.

“What do you say? I owed her so I could use the money to get a pile that would be used for now while you ran around to get more money.”

As she said that, relief washed through me.

I gasped in, nodded, squeezing her palm. “Thank you, but I need to see her at least.”

She agreed and took me to the ward where my mother was laid. She was asleep, so I didn't need to wake her up, but I was glad that she was still breathing, although it wasn't sound.

I turned to the nurse, “Could you start the transfusion now?”

“Of course!” she patted my shoulders and left the ward.

I sat beside my mother, staring at her face. “Mum, you must wake up. Are you hearing me? I can't stay in this world alone.” I muttered and wiped the sweat on her forehead.

In minutes, the nurse returned with a doctor, and they began the transfusion. By then, Hannah was already with me.

After they were done and left, I said to Hannah, “Please stay with her so I can get back home and check if we still have enough money to purchase the blood.”

She agreed and handed the key to me, so I left.

I didn't believe it, but we didn't have a dime at home except the ones I've been saving for years. Mom was good at taking things, especially foodstuffs on credit, and no matter how much I told her, I didn't like it, she insisted.

I was sure she had cleared the debts with the money she raised from her sewing. Now we were left with nothing.

Without wasting much time, I headed back to the hospital and met with the nurse. There was no one I knew that I could take a loan from, so I was so frustrated at that point.

As I showed her the only money I got, Hannah promised to make it up for another pile of blood.

I was messy. I lost my senses.

Another pile of blood was transfused and I stayed awake all night with Hannah looking after her, and in the morning, when I thought I would hear that there was at least an improvement, I was told that she needed oxygen.

“What the hell do you mean by oxygen? I don't have a penny here with me.” I screeched at the doctor, dragging his coat. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks. “You have to save my mother. Even if it means that I'll serve you until I complete the debt.”

The noise drew the attention of other staff, and they dragged me away from the doctor, leaving me to slump to the floor.

“Why? Mum, why are you doing this to me? You needed blood. Now it's oxygen?” My body was covered in sweat.

Hannah rushed to me, holding the cell phone Uston had gotten for me. “Look, you were told to come for an interview.”

I quickly wiped my cheek and snatched the cell phone from her. “Oh goddess! If I get the job, I can now take a loan and pay it through my salary." I muttered, wiping my face. “But, I don't have any money for oxygen now.”

Hannah patted my shoulder, “Don't worry. I got to get some loan from my boyfriend. Later you can pay up.”

I got to my knees and hugged her so tightly. She has been there for me since day one and hasn't left my side. “Thank you so much, Hannah.”

“You have to go back home, get dressed, and leave quickly for the interview.” As she said that, she opened the cover of her cell phone and brought out a token. “Take it for your transport.”

I hugged her again and again, sobbing on her shoulder.

She quaked me away and forced me to leave.

I glanced at my mother the last time before I exited the clinic back home. I didn't waste time getting dressed, boarding a cab, and heading to the pack. I gave the driver the address of the company and he drove me just to the gate

“Miss, this is the company you told me about.” The driver turned off his car engine.

I paid him and alighted from the car, then strode into the compound. It was so enormous, decorated, about five floors if I wasn't mistaken.

It was the last place that I dropped my application yesterday.

As I entered, a lady approached me. “Miss, what are you here for?”

I sighed deeply and answered, “I'm here for an interview.”

“Okay, you're the one our CEO wants to interview himself. Follow me.” Another feminine voice ahead drew my attention, and like she said, I followed her.

We entered an elevator, which took us to the last floor like I guessed when she pressed the button, and then we stepped out. We reached a certain door and she rang the doorbell. “The applicant is here.” she announced and opened the door.

I looked at her, and she signaled me to move in, which I did instantly, and she shut the door.

My heart began palpitating. It was my first time coming for an interview, and since it was a designer company, I applied as a seamstress, which I learned from my mother. Whereas, in the other companies, I didn't have a specific role I applied for.

The man sitting before me was backing me, busy lightening and turning off a lighter.

“Sir, my name is Ember Cyril. I am the one who applied for the position of seamstress or any other available role.” I ended the silence that almost stretched anxiety into me.

Hearing my voice, he twirled the chair around to face me. “Have a seat….”

My handbag slipped to the floor. My lips quivered as I stared back at him.

“We met again,” a sinister smile formed at the side of his lips.

I wasn't mistaken. It was him—the man I slapped yesterday.

Shaking my head, I grabbed my bag from the floor and turned to leave, but his words froze me at that spot.

“I locked the door. You can't leave until I order so.”