Chapter 3 BE MY MISTRESS

CLAIRE'S POV:

I hurried to the emergency ward after Theo’s driver dropped me off at the hospital gate. My Mom stood up and came to hug me, tears streaming down her face.

“Don't cry, Mom. Dad will be okay,” I consoled her.

The doctor was in the room, checking my Dad's pulse. He turned to me when he was done. "Your father's condition is very serious.. It's Eclipse Syndrome.”

He sounded so nonchalant, as if he were delivering the weather report.

"Eclipse what?" I hadn't even heard that word before. "That sounds like something from a sci-fi novel."

The doctor sighed. "It's rare. Very rare. His body is functioning, but neurologically... he's unresponsive. Essentially, he's in a vegetative state."

My heart dropped to my stomach. I leaned on a chair, as my brain whirled. "There has to be a treatment."

He shook his head slowly. "There's no cure. We can keep him stable, but the cost is quite high…"

"I'll pay for it." I suddenly uttered without knowing how I would get the money. "Whatever it takes. Just don’t give up on him."

The doctor looked at me with pity. That was the worst part—the pity.

When he left, I stared at the pale figure on the hospital bed. My father. My protector. Now helpless.

"We’ll find a way," I whispered, mostly to myself. "I won’t let you go like this."

"Sweetheart," my mother murmured, placing a trembling hand on my arm. Her eyes were red-rimmed. "We don’t have that kind of money."

"I’ll figure it out. I promise. Just hang in there, okay?" I hugged her tightly, but inside, I was trembling.

Minutes later, I went outside and sat in a corner, trying to clear my head.

My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the screen.

It was Adrian.

I scoffed. Seriously?

I ignored it. Then it buzzed again. And again.

Finally, I picked up. "What do you want?"

"To help," he said smoothly. "I heard about your father. I can take care of everything."

I froze. "You? Why would you help me?"

"Let’s meet," he replied. "I’ll explain."

I wanted to fling the phone away, but I considered the cost of getting a new one and took control of my impulse.

"Fine," I hissed through gritted teeth.

The following morning found us at an isolated café on the outskirts of town, the kind with thick curtains and soundproof walls. Adrian sat waiting, looking every inch the perfect Alpha heir - crisp navy suit, artfully tousled hair, that infuriatingly confident smile. Just the sight of him made my wolf snarl.

"You look exhausted," he murmured, gesturing to the plush chair across from him. As if we were still lovers sharing morning coffee rather than... whatever this was.

I remained standing, "Cut the crap, Adrian. What’s the catch?"

His smile didn't waver as he leaned forward, folding his hands on the table. "I'll cover all your father's medical expenses. No limits, no questions asked."

A cold dread slithered down my spine. "Why would you do that?"

His eyes darkened, that familiar heat flashing in their depths. "Because I still want you, Claire. Because no matter who wears my ring..." His voice dropped to a growl. "You'll always be mine."

The air left my lungs in a rush. "You can't be serious."

"Deadly." He reached across the table, his fingers brushing my wrist where our couple tattoo used to be. "Be my shadow mate. Let me take care of you."

My stomach churned even as my traitorous body remembered his touch. "You're asking me to be your whore."

"I'm offering you protection. Power." His thumb traced circles on my pulse point. "A place by my side, even if it's not in the light."

My palm cracked across his face, echoing through the private café.

"You miserable, cowardly bastard," I snarled, fury making my voice tremble. "Did you really think I'd debase myself for your scraps?"

Adrian slowly turned back, his golden eyes flashing Alpha-red. "Careful, little Omega," he growled, his scent turning acrid with warning. "You need this. Your father needs this."

Every hair on my body stood on end. "I'd rather starve in the gutter than take a single copper penny from your tainted hands!"

His laugh was cold, calculated. "Your pride won't feed your family, Claire."

"No," I spat, backing toward the exit. "But my self-respect will let me sleep at night."

I turned on my heel before he could see the tears burning my eyes, before the mating bond he'd shattered could make me weak again.

The next few weeks became a blur of humiliating desperation. I haunted the employment agencies at dawn, my portfolio clutched to my chest like armor. My resume was impeccable - top of my class at Luna University, fluent in three languages, glowing recommendations from every professor. I aced every test, charmed every interviewer.

But what did I get in return? Rejection after rejection...

"I’m sorry, Miss White, but we don't need someone your age..."

"Your resume is impressive, but we’re not hiring anymore."

The final blow came from the temp agency. "No one will take you," the beta woman admitted quietly, pushing my paperwork back across the desk.

"Not when the Crescent Moon Alpha heir has blacklisted you."

I'd severely underestimated the Crescent Moon Pack's reach in this city. Their influence slithered through every corporate office, every business, like invisible tendrils of control.

I sat in a cramped subway car, lost in thought.

When I finally reached home, I collapsed onto the couch. Eve hadn't surfaced a lot like before since the rejection - it was like living with half my soul missing.

Jennifer came out of the kitchen. "You look like hell."

"I feel like it."

She walked over and handed me a glass of water. "Any luck?"

I shook my head. "Adrian's made sure no one in this city will hire me." My voice cracked. "He's turned the entire pack network against me."

Jennifer sat beside me, thoughtful. "You’re sure?"

I barked a humorless laugh. "He offered to pay for Dad's treatments. In exchange for becoming his... his...mistress."

Her eyes widened. "What?! That slimeball."

"Exactly." I curled into myself, the mating bond's absence like an open wound. "No job. No wolf. No mate. And a father who needs treatment we can't afford."

The silence stretched between us, thick with unsaid fears. Then Jennifer stilled, her nostrils flaring as an idea struck.

"There's The Howling Moon - that shifter bar downtown. My cousin runs security. They need someone for the VIP section." She hesitated. "Cash payments. No paperwork."

I lifted my head. "A bartending job?"

"Waitressing. High-end clientele." Her gaze turned sharp. "No touching allowed - silver-lined collars for the staff. You'd be safe."

The unspoken meaning hung between us - safe from Alphas, safe from Adrian's reach in a place that operated outside pack laws.

"Do I actually have a choice?" My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears.

Jennifer's smile was all pointed teeth. "Only if you want to crawl back to that backstabbing bastard."

I stared at my reflection in the water glass - the dark circles under my eyes, the fading couple tattoo on my wrist. I had no time to wait. I had nothing to lose.

"When do I start?"

"Tonight." She was already pulling out her phone. "I'll have Marco meet us there at nine. Just... maybe shower first? You smell like subway and despair."