Chapter 4

This past year had been the poorest, the hardest year of my life.

I worked any job I could find. For money, I lowered myself to working as a hostess, drinking with whoever bought a table.

I needed to save enough to buy moonlight grass at the next auction.

There would be more. There had to be.

I went back to the basement bar. I drank the cheap liquor. I held on to that hope.

Until Lillian found me.

She came with a circle of friends. All of them dressed like the daughters of rich men.

They looked around the bar, clucking their tongues, marveling that a place this filthy could exist.

One of them pointed at me.

"You're Emma? The Alpha's first love?"

I bit the inside of my cheek and smiled and asked if they wanted to order drinks.

The girl heard the price and laughed unpleasantly.

"What kind of drinks cost that much? And what are you wearing? You think you're at the beach?"

Another said, "I bet she throws in some special services. Like —"

She dropped her voice and whispered into the others' ears. They burst out shrieking with laughter.

I straightened up. My face went cold. "If you're not buying, get out. You're costing me money."

The first girl raised her eyebrows. Her eyes were full of contempt.

She pulled two thick stacks of bills out of her purse and dropped them on the table.

"Want money? Fine. Let's make it fun."

She filled a full pitcher with liquor. Then she took out a small vial and dropped something into it.

"Don't be scared. It's wolfsbane, diluted a hundred times. Won't kill you." She pushed the glass toward me. Her smile turned cruel. "Your wolf'll have a rough night. That's all. Drink it, and I'll give you twenty thousand."

The wolfsbane stink crawled up my nose. My stomach turned.

Lillian came forward and patted the girl's hand, gentle, reproachful.

"How can you joke about wolfsbane? We came here to support Emma."

"I know Theodore hates her and told me to stay away. But that doesn't mean we should torment her."

I looked at her porcelain face and gave a cold laugh.

Why come to my doorstep to mark your territory?

I had no intention of ever seeing Theodore again.

I turned to her friend. "Twenty thousand isn't enough. Make it ten times that. I'll drink it."

The girl froze, then nodded eagerly. "Now we're talking. Drink it, you get two hundred thousand."

The second the words were out of her mouth, I picked up the pitcher and started chugging.

The whole table went still. They hadn't thought I'd actually do it. They hadn't thought I'd really risk my life for money.

Just before I finished, Lillian's hand shot out and knocked the pitcher away. The liquor splattered across the floor.

Her face went white. Tears welled up. Her voice shook.

"Emma, how can you do this to yourself for two hundred thousand?"

"Is this how you live? You'll do anything for money? You have no shame."

"If Theodore finds out, he'll hate you even more..."

I cut her off, my teeth on edge. "Whether Theodore hates me or not is none of my business. Two hundred thousand. Hand it over."

She took a delicate step back and looked at her friends.

The first girl caught her cue and stepped forward. "You spilled it. Didn't finish it. Why should we pay?"

She glanced at the puddle on the floor, smiling poisonously. "Tell you what. Get on your knees and lick it up. We'll count that as finished."

I laughed along with her. Then I picked up the pitcher and smashed it.

Glass flew. A shard sliced Lillian's arm, opening a thin red line.

I grinned through clenched teeth. "Nobody walks out of here without paying."

The room went dead silent. Only Lillian's small sobs.

The next second, the door slammed open.

Theodore stood at the door, fierce malice swirling in his eyes.

I froze. I turned away on instinct. I couldn't bear to meet his eyes.

I'd let the whole world step on me. But not him. With him I'd always wanted to keep some dignity.

But there I was, half-dressed, pouring drinks for strangers. And he was seeing it.

Somewhere deep in me, I heard my wolf cry out.

Tears blurred everything. I couldn't see.

I made myself look up. I made myself look as though I didn't care.

Theodore had Lillian in his arms. He was tenderly wiping her tears. Through the blur, it looked like a nightmare I couldn't wake from.

He whipped his head around. His eyes wanted to split me in two. The words came through his teeth:

"You want money? Easy. Ten million. Drink the rest of the bottle of wolfsbane."

At his nod, the girl pressed the whole bottle of wolfsbane into my hand.

I knew what he was doing. He wanted to humiliate me to make Lillian feel better.

Fine. If it earned me money, I'd do anything.

I gave a small smile. I unscrewed the cap. I tipped it toward my mouth.

Then Alpha command slammed into me. Held me where I stood.

Theodore was in front of me before I could blink. He knocked the bottle out of my hand. He stared at me.

His eyes were going red, as if a bloody memory was leaking back into them.

"Emma, you've actually lost your mind." His voice cracked, just slightly. "That bottle would kill you."

I straightened my back. I made myself smile.

"You don't know me anymore? You forgot I'll take money over my own life?"

"I don't need your pity. Get out. Take your woman and get out."