Chapter 1: The Price of Survival

Lucy's POV

The beeping machines were the only thing keeping me sane at this point.

I stood there by my brother’s bedside, watching him lie still, his entire body immobilized. Two years! Two years after this, he was barely even alive.

Many days, I'd wake up wishing this was all just some nightmare.

I reached out to his face and brushed a strand of hair from his forehead. “You promised you'd wake up for my birthday,” I whispered. “It's in 10 days, Eli. Please wake up.”

I turned to see the hospital door open. Standing with a tray in hand was Nurse Kara, Eli's attendant and my personal friend. She's been helping us ever since the accident.

“Lucy,” Nurse Kara’s soft voice carried the weight of something heavy. We need to talk.”

I followed her outside into the hallway, the white lights reflecting on the mirror walls.

She hesitated for a bit before speaking out. “Lucy… the hospital bills have piled up,” she sighed, removing her glasses. "You’re four months overdue, and if payment isn't made by the weekend... I'm afraid we’ll have to take Eli off life support.”

It felt like someone had poured me hot boiling water.

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Kara, the hospital can’t do that, “I thought his condition was becoming stable. Please, he needs a little more time.”

“Time costs money, Lucy. We’ve given Eli more than most families ever get.”

“Please, just a little longer. I’ll figure something out.”

Kara hesitated. Her eyes scanned the hallway before leaning in closer.

“Well, there... is one option,” she said quietly. “The hospital has recently partnered with The Syndicate for a reproductive program. They’re looking for female carriers, in other words, women who'd agree to be injected with a... donor’s sperm.”

"So the way it works is you carry the child for nine months, and once the baby is born, it goes to its biological owner in quote.”

My mouth went dry. “Wait a minute, you mean... like surrogacy?”

“Well, it’s a little more complicated than that. These aren’t normal donors, Lucy. They’re generically mutated.” Her voice dropped lower than a whisper... “Werewolves.”

My heart nearly pounded out of my chest. “You want me to carry a werewolf’s child?”

Never! I want nothing to do with those good-for-nothing ruthless creatures.

It was them who caused the accident…

“But you’d be compensated, though. More than enough to cover Eli’s treatments for a full year.”

“No,” I said, stepping back. “Absolutely not! I’m not selling my body off to grow some monster in me.”

Kara’s face turned serious. “Then I'm afraid you'll have to start saying goodbye."

“What?”

“You have until the weekend,” she said, entering back into Eli's room and shutting the door behind her.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

My watch beeps aloud. I was already running late to work, so I dashed out of the hospital and took a cab.

*******

I worked at Club Kill, a strip club in the city. Only the most powerful Alphas and Mafia bosses come here.

My head spun from the noise, my heels clicking as I pushed through the side entrance.

“Lucy!” Kent, the club owner, called from behind the bar. His shirt was unbuttoned, and he smelled like old cigars. “Tonight’s not packed, Lucy. If you want to get paid, you must take personal orders.”

I swallowed hard. “C’mon Kent, you know I hate those.”

He shrugged. “I'm sorry for your personal taste, but I have a business to run.”

As much as I hated personal orders, I couldn't deny that I made money from them.

“Fine, I'll do it,” I finally gave in.

“That's the spirit; now you better undress; your regular’s already here—Room 39.”

“Shit,” I cursed beneath my breath.

Vick.

The cold-hearted Alpha who thought money could buy everything. He was the lowest of the low, always watching me like I was fresh meat, barely escaping his hands each time.

Even after swearing that I'd never return to the club again, I couldn't stay away; my brother's life depended on it.

******

Room 39.

I paused before the door, hesitating but adjusting my bra strap before knocking.

“Come in,”I heard his voice say, shivers going down my spine.

I took a deep breath before entering.

Inside, Vick sat on a velvet couch, three half-naked girls wrapped around him like snakes to a kill. His eyes lit up when he saw me.

“There she is,” he purred, his voice laced with venom. “My favorite.”

I looked away, and my gaze fell on the man beside him.

He was peculiar; he didn’t touch any of the girls or even look at them. He sat still, legs crossed, a glass of untouched wine in his right hand.

He was calm, yet something about him made my body tense at the sight.

“Dance,” Vick ordered, throwing a wad of cash at my feet. My eyes widened.

Now, that's a lot of money; with that, I could pay Eli's medical bills.

I took a deep breath and stepped onto the small platform before them. The music played, and my hips moved instinctively.

I danced, trying to block out the thoughts of the pain and the humiliation I felt.

It was clear I had nothing else to lose.

Vick’s eyes followed my steps. As I moved closer, I felt his stare intensify.

Suddenly, he lunged at me, grabbing my waist and pulling me down onto him.

“Let go of me!” I struggled.

He tried to unhook my bra, grinning. “Don’t be shy, baby. You know you want me.”

I reached for the wine bottle on the table and smashed it across his head, giving it all I got.

The glass shattered, blood dripping from the side of his head.

He roared, shoving me off as he extended his claws. “You bitch!”

Before he could strike, a hand caught his wrist, pushing him back.

It was the man who sat beside him.

“Don’t,” he commanded.

Vick growled but obeyed, telling the girls behind him to pick him up his money.

The man looked at me, “Are you alright?”

I yanked my arm away from him. “I didn’t ask for your help.”

I turned and stormed out of the room.

I just lost my pay!

I found a dark corner near the club's back exit and collapsed against the wall.

My life was a mess.

My sick brother, bills upon bills, a job as a stripper, and I'm sure after tonight, I'll be dead because of the stunt I pulled in there.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

“If you're not here in 5 minutes, I’m tossing your stuff. You're being evicted.”

I stared at my screen, it was a text from my landlord.

It was a ten-minute drive from the club to my house. There was no way I would make it in time, but I had to try.

I grabbed a hoodie and put it on, then made a run for it.

Just then, the rain started falling. I was soaking wet, and water was dripping all over, but that didn't stop me.

I decided to take a shortcut around the old abandoned warehouse.

It was a bad idea.

Two men stepped out of the shadows as if waiting for me.

“Vick sends his regards,” one of them sneered.

I was screwed.

I tried to run, but the other blocked my exit.

One of them tugged on my hoodie, the other holding me in place, they ripped open my clothes, my breasts hanging out.

Next thing I knew, I was against a wall, my bra unclipped, “Me first." The first one smiled.

“Please…” I pleaded, tears running down my cheeks, the heavy rain masking my screams.

It was no use; they pulled down my panties.

Killing me would have been better.