My Mate Is Now the Hired Help

Layla's POV

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, Simon Fenwick turned around and looked at me in shock.

"Layla? You used to be really bothered about Cynthia and me being together… Why…"

Meanwhile, my pup, Noah Fenwick, ran into my arms and looked at me with reddened eyes, exclaiming, "No! Daddy belongs to Mommy and me! He can't go and work as a guard for the bad old she-wolf!"

I looked at Simon and Noah. My heart was aching.

Cynthia Whitefang was Simon's so-called puphood friend, and they'd grown up together since they were little pups. They also often used it as the perfect shield and excuse to keep their relationship like that.

It wasn't until Simon lost his identity as the Alpha of the pack that he finally severed ties with her.

So, both he and Noah would refer to Cynthia like a monster whenever I was around. However, they would continue seeing her again and again behind my back without ever actually severing ties, and I'd only just found out about it now.

That was when I realized that Simon had never truly broken down.

He just needed me to believe that he had lost everything. That way, I would willingly be the breadwinner of this household, support the family, and not question him about his nighttime activities anymore.

He had caged me in place, trapping me there with my own guilt, and I'd thought that it was love the whole time.

I stuffed the wad of cash into my pocket and pulled Noah from my arms.

"I was still short of some funds for your treatment, Noah, and the debt is already due."

I then ushered him toward Simon and said, "Take him with you if it's convenient for you. I still have ten hours of patrol duty today."

Simon stared at my gaunt, exhausted face with a complex expression on his face. His eyes were filled with cheap pity for me.

After staying silent for a while, he took another wad of cash from Cynthia and stuffed it into my pocket.

"Take this as well, Layla. I don't mind being a bodyguard for a she-wolf I don't even like, if that means I can help you ease your burdens a little."

He was the one who was eager to go on a secret rendezvous with Cynthia, and yet, he still made a show of it as though he was very reluctant to go.

I ignored his horrible acting and retrieved the cash from my pocket before counting it out.

There was a total of 100,000 dollars. I could repay all of my debts with this cash without caring about Noah or Simon anymore.

When Cynthia saw me like that, she naturally leaned toward Simon as if to assert her ownership over him.

"See, Layla? I told you before that you're unable to stop him no matter what," she gloated in my face. "So what if he's your mate? I can still get him as easily as ever."

Simon played along and pretended to be very angry with her. Even Noah glared at her with a resentful expression.

A numbness spread through my heart as I watched the three of them leave together. I couldn't feel any emotions at that point anymore.

After forcing myself to complete the ten hours of patrol duty, I was thoroughly exhausted as it was already very late.

The streets in the pack territory were bustling with activity since it was the Hunting Festival, and the square was also lined with colorful flags and banners made of animal teeth. The air was filled with the inviting aroma of roast meat and pine resin.

Werewolves everywhere sauntered along in their finest attire. Some draped the pelts of their day's hunt over their shoulders, others compared the quality of their hunting knives at stalls, and some little pups weaved through the crowd with claw marks painted on their faces.

I stood amongst the crowd for a while before turning and walking into a festival costume shop.

Of course, I longed to celebrate with the rest of the pack. However, I'd barely even taken care of myself these past years because of Simon and Noah.

The outfit I was now wearing had been a gift from Simon. I'd worn it for four whole years, and the collar and cuffs were already worn out.

I'd always been reluctant to replace my garments. However, now that I thought of it, I didn't know why I'd been so reluctant after all.

The costume shop had all sorts of hunting festival attire on display, such as capes cut from whole silver fox pelts, dark, long dresses embroidered with crescent moon hunting patterns, and more.

I picked out a simple yet sturdy-looking garment. It felt solid and seemed suitable enough for carrying out long missions.

As I was about to check the price on the tag, I suddenly heard Cynthia's voice from behind me.

"Which one do you like, Layla? I'll pay for it for you."

I looked up and saw Simon. He was dressed in a tailor-made black suit, looking tall and imposing. However, he was the picture of composure. Meanwhile, Noah was also impeccably dressed. He stood next to him, and his eyes were sparkling.

They stood next to Cynthia like they were a perfect family of three that was brought together by the Moon Goddess herself.

Simon was only his true Alpha self whenever he was next to Cynthia.

I put the garment back on the rack and shook my head politely at her.

"Thank you, but there's no need for that."

I then turned and left the shop.

Just then, there was a loud hullabaloo coming from the center of the square.

The True Love Altar at the Hunting Festival was surrounded by werewolves as numerous couples went onstage to witness their love for each other. If they pressed their foreheads together, a light of their vow would immediately appear between them, and it would be visible to everyone.

This was a special event at the Hunting Festival. The more sincere the werewolves' love was for each other, the brighter the True Love Alter would shine.

Cynthia then tugged Simon onto the stage after glancing at me for a brief moment.

"Let's go up, Simon."

Simon could feel my eyes on him, and he hesitated for just a moment. However, he still eventually allowed her to drag him onto the stage.