3

A Week Later

I walk down a quiet residential street lined with tall, fully grown oak and maple trees, their broad branches casting patches of shade over the sidewalks. Very modest houses and small apartment buildings sit behind neat lawns, some with peeling paint or old cars parked in the driveways, while a few pack members go about their day under the bright afternoon sun. It’s not the fanciest neighborhood, but it’s clean, lived-in, and comfortable in its own way. Nothing like the life of luxury I’m used to.

“No!”

SLAM!

Soren slams his front door in my face.

“Huh?” I stand there stunned in my carefully put together disguise, an expensive scarf to cover my head, one of those large classes to cover my face and a luxury joggers set. I was going for something casual. “But I haven’t even said anything!”

“I don’t care. Get out! I’m not doing business with the Llothairs.” He yells from inside his house.

No no no! It can’t end like this. I need him! “I’m not here as a Llothair. I’m here as Carrie, forget my background for a second, will you?”

“Buzz off, Carrie!” He punctuates my name with so much spite.

“I’m not leaving!” I put my foot down, sitting on the porch steps. “I’ll sit here all day if I have to!”

Evening Rolls By.

“This man really let me stay out here.” I sigh. “I’ll see you tomorrow Soren.” I knock on his front door. “I’m really not here for the reason you think.”

And so another week goes with the same thing repeating itself. I go to his house. He ignores me. I sit outside and I leave. On day three, I started packing lunch.

Today is day seven. I’m not taking this anymore. I stomp to the front door and almost bang on it when I stop myself. What the heck am I doing? I’m the one who needs his help here. I can’t afford to be entitled about this. This particular behavior of his is exactly why I chose him, if it’s going to work against me then it was never meant to be.

“I’ll be going now. I’m sorry for inconveniencing you.” I turn around to leave when I hear the door click open but it’s not Soren there. It’s a man around my age wearing cute round glasses. His eyes are orange and his chocolate colored hair is in a low ponytail.

“Please don’t come back tomorrow.” He says. “It’s hard to get any work done when you’re here.”

“Like I said, I’m sorry.” I step closer. “I won’t come back.”

“Good.” Before he can close the door I ask for him name. “It’s Emerson. Emerson Hayes.”

“Nice to meet you, Emerson.” I offer a small smile. “Can you at least tell me why he is like this? I know he doesn’t like people but he seems to have something against my family in particular.”

“That’s to be expected, isn’t it? Considering what your mother did to him.”

I’m immediately taken aback. “My mother?”

“Of course the doll daughter of the Llothairs wouldn’t know.” He laughs at me. Not in a mocking way, it’s more like he finds my situation amusing.

The doll daughter of the Llothair family. I’ve heard that before. I only do as I am told, no questions asked. Curiosity was a luxury I was denied.

“Your place at the Edwin Academy. Go find out how you got it.” Emerson finishes.

I frown, anger already spilling through me. “I can guess what happened. Mother did something, didn’t she?” I think my anger takes him by surprise because he doesn’t answer, he only watches my expression. “For whatever harm my mother brought his way, please extend my deepest apologies.” I try to sound as genuine as I can but it probably doesn’t mean anything to them so I take out the contract I drew up, it states what I want from him and what I am able to offer him. Which, at this point, is only the money I will win from the lottery if I do not want to use my family’s influence.

“What’s this?”

“It’s for his eyes only. My phone number is there, if he thinks he can do it, I’ll wait on his call for three days before moving on with another plan.”

“I see.” He takes the envelope from my hand.

“I’m open to a negotiation as long as it’s within my ability.” I take a step back. I will hold on to hope for three days. “Thank you.”

Emerson nods, closing the door behind him.

-

“My goodness, to what do I owe the pleasure, Carrie Llothair. My favorite pupil.” Professor Edgar remarks immediately I step into his flower shop. The older gentleman steps out from behind the counter heading to me with open arms, I swiftly go in for a hug, relishing in how warm it feels.

“It’s good to see you, Alpha Edgar.” When we pull away, I say, “I was in the area and I brought you this.” I gave him a gift basket of fruits and chocolates. His favorite kinds.

“And that is why you will always be my favorite.” He laughs, leading me to a steel baby blue bench next to a massive glass window in view of Abbeyton park. “Come sit. Do you want anything? Water? Pineapple Juice?”

“Pineapple juice pleeaasseee.” He chuckles.

For over an hour we spend time catching up on old times, new times and so much more. There is so much I tell him that I didn’t even realize I’ve been holding back and he just listens. He has always been like that. A helpful friend in desperate times. Finally, I tell him about how I want to reject my mate because the life ahead is not something I want for myself.

I wasn’t planning on telling him that… it just… slipped out.

“Hmm… A rejection is a big deal. There is no going back once you’re sure of it.” He glances at me to make sure I’m listening.

“I’m sure of this.” I tell him, my stare doesn’t waver and neither does my will.

“This is the first time I’m seeing you so determined about something. You always seemed to be living life on someone else’s orders.” I chuckle softly. “If you’re sure about it, go for it! If no one is on your side, I’ll be cheering for you alone.”

“Thank you.” I say genuinely. “I actually wanted to ask you something. Remember when I got into the academy… was there someone else who dropped out for unknown reasons?”

He thinks for a moment. “No, not that I’m aware of.”

Then what did Emerson mean?

“However, there was someone else whose spot your mother bought for a hefty price. He was an outstanding mind, brilliant in mechanics but he was only given a half scholarship. Your mother was convinced his family wouldn’t be able to get the rest of the money so she pushed them aside and placed you in that spot. It was memorable because you didn’t need it. She just wanted your name on the achievement rewards we give in the Annual Werewolf Strength Contests.”

“I see.” So that was it. “Do you know what happened to him?”

“No. Although a few years later I did hear he lost a parent. Apparently, he wanted the scholarship because of the medical benefits we offer to students' families.”

My heart immediately stops. “He did?”

“Yes. Poor child. They couldn’t afford the treatment. It’s funny how we werewolves are advanced enough to heal broken bones but there are still diseases that elude us.”

On my drive back home that evening, I scoff at my presumptuousness. I wouldn’t help me if I lost someone that way.

I’ll scrap out the Soren plan and focus on rejecting our bond. I’ll do it even if all hell breaks loose. Getting pictures of him cheating would be easy but for anyone with power like the Jacksons, it’s just a drop in an ocean of concealable scandals.

If I have to drag my name through the mud, I’ll do it. I won’t die this time around!