Chapter 2

Serena stared. "What did you just say?"

"I'd like an advance on next month's salary. I'm completely broke."

Her face darkened instantly. "I knew it. You've been clinging to me this whole time for my money and my power."

She barked at the driver to stop the car. "A man like you — I'd never be interested. Not in this lifetime."

She slammed the door and stormed off.

The Moon Goddess screamed inside my head. "What are you doing?! That was the perfect chance — how could you just ask for money?!"

If she had a physical body, she'd be strangling me right now.

I glanced at the near-zero balance on my phone. "I can barely stay alive. What am I supposed to do — skip the money and starve?"

Now it was just me and Adrian in the car. The silence was glacial.

He was the one who finally broke it. "Where do you live? I'll take you home."

I hesitated. "Can you find me a cheap hotel? I'm broke. My landlady kicked me out. I'm basically homeless."

Adrian's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "Seriously? That bad? Serena didn't pay you?"

She really hadn't. For some reason, Serena just despised me. Every time I asked for my wages, she accused me of being after her money.

But I was only asking for what I'd earned.

Adrian's frown deepened. He seemed to be wrestling with something internally. "Come stay at my pack. You can live with me."

I blinked. Before I could even react, he rushed to explain. "Don't get the wrong idea. I want you where I can keep an eye on you — otherwise who knows what tricks you'll pull to steal Serena from me."

I was so moved I could've cried. I nodded frantically. "Thank you. You're so kind. I'll pay you rent as soon as I can."

Adrian smirked. "Forget it. Your pocket change doesn't interest me."

And just like that, things took a strange turn. I ended up at Adrian's pack, living in his house.

That night was the best sleep I'd had since arriving in this world.

The next morning, Adrian came out of the kitchen wearing an apron, his face full of irritation. "Do you have any idea what time it is? Even pigs don't sleep as much as you."

I hadn't thought much of it, but his comment actually made me a little embarrassed.

He set down a plate. "Go wash up and eat your breakfast."

I stared at the food, then looked up at him in disbelief. "You made this?"

"I was already cooking. Eat it or don't — but don't blame me when your stomach acts up."

"I'm eating, I'm eating! Thank you. You're really kind." I sat down at the table, grinning. Nobody had ever made me breakfast — not in my original world, and not here. This was a first.

The food was carefully prepared. It warmed me from the inside.

"By the way — how did you know I have stomach problems?" I asked.

"Yesterday, when you were unpacking. I saw the stomach medication in your bag."

I let out a bitter laugh.

I ate quietly while he studied a stack of documents. The moment I cleared my plate, he set the papers down.

That's when I noticed — it was my résumé. He looked at me, completely serious. "I've reviewed your résumé. I'm very impressed with your capabilities. My pack needs someone like you. Interested in working for me?"

I hesitated. Leaving Serena was obviously the smart move, but the mission was still hanging over me. Would it be okay to just walk away from her pack?

"I'll pay you double."

"When do I start?!"

Mission? Romance target? Money was everything!

And then, out of nowhere, I received a call from Serena herself — a first.

The second I answered, she was already screaming. "You've got some nerve! Quitting without notice during a work period — forget about this month's pay! Get back here right now, or I'll have you banished from the pack!"

I instinctively held the phone away from my ear. The Moon Goddess was still pushing. "See? Your hard-to-get strategy is working! Serena called you first — she's just being stubborn, but deep down she cares."

My life was finally looking up. No way I was going back to being a doormat.

"Actually, perfect timing. Here's my pack withdrawal application — just sign it."

Serena faltered. "What?"

"Banishing a member would only damage your reputation as Alpha. Better to let me leave voluntarily. Consider it a favor."

I could practically hear Serena crushing her phone on the other end. Through gritted teeth: "You think this little game of hard-to-get will make me go soft? Dream on. You want to leave? Fine — I'll grant your wish!"

The call ended. A notification popped up on my phone: "Pack withdrawal application approved."

I looked at the message and smiled.