Rejecting the Pack's Hero

On payday evening, the moment David stepped into the house, he updated his status on the pack's social page.

"I donated fifteen thousand dollars to the wolf orphanage this month, including my year-end bonus. May the Moon Goddess bless every homeless soul."

The post included a screenshot of his bank transfer and a digital certificate of honor from the shelter.

As soon as the post went live, endless praise from other pack members flooded the comments.

"David is an absolute legend. He donated his base salary and his massive year-end bonus!"

"Giving everything he has to save our kind shows true heart. I admire him so much."

"The Moon Goddess will forever bless your kind heart."

His parents were quick to claim the top comments. "That's our good son. We'll always be proud of you!"

I rubbed my aching calves in the hospital locker room. I sighed, closed the social app, and opened our family bills.

There was Leo's tuition for the rest of the year, my in-laws' imported herbs to suppress their wolfsbane toxicity, the mortgage for our house, and the massive credit card debt I racked up last month just to keep us afloat.

Everything added up to fourteen thousand dollars.

My emergency room salary was only eight thousand dollars, even after working multiple night shifts. We were exactly six thousand dollars short.

The familiar sense of despair washed over me again. Every time this happened, the bills felt like a claw gripping my throat.

I took a deep breath, dragged my exhausted body home, and looked at David. He was laughing at his phone on the couch.

After much hesitation, I spoke up. "David, we need to talk."

He didn't even look up. His eyes were still glued to the screen. "Speak."

I bit my lip, trying my best to soften my tone.

"We're six thousand dollars short this month. Could you please keep a little money for us from now on?"

David's finger stopped scrolling.

He looked up and glared at me like I was a monster. His voice dripped with impatience.

"I worked hard for my money. I'll donate it if I want to. Why are you telling me what to do?"

I pushed past my exhaustion and explained. "I'm not trying to stop your charity work. I'm just asking you to share the financial burden."

"Your dad's wolfsbane complications require imported medicine. Your mom's physical therapy is very expensive. Leo's advanced classes need to be paid, plus the mortgage. The expenses are too much. I can't handle it alone anymore."

David sneered. He looked completely self-righteous. "If you can't handle it, why don't you just take on a few more night shifts?"

"The whole pack respects me as a hero. Why are you holding me back just because you're lazy?"

I stared at him in disbelief. My entire body turned cold. I never imagined such words could come out of my mate's mouth.

For the sake of this family, and to earn a pitiful amount of overtime pay, I worked myself to the bone in the emergency room.

Over the years, I never bought myself a nice dress. I never slept through a single peaceful night. Even when I was so tired that my inner wolf was fading, I never dared to ask for a day off.

And now, in his eyes, I was just making excuses to be lazy.