THE MATING

I felt a hot sting as I opened my eyes. Panic crept in as I realized I wasn’t at home. I quickly sat up as I surveyed my surroundings. The memories of last night came flooding back as I turned to look at the stranger beside me. I blushed with embarrassment as I remembered what had happened. My hands flew to my lips as I thought of the kiss. Realizing myself, I slowly got up and grabbed my things, running out of the suite. I couldn’t believe what had happened. I took out my phone and saw that my former classmates had posted the video humiliating me on the group. I couldn’t even say anything. They were all either extremely rich or extremely famous. No one had cared about me. They just kept on mocking me on the group. I put my phone in my pocket as I hailed a cab. Back at home I stared at the eviction notice on my table. It was due in three weeks and I still hadn’t gotten the money. I sighed as I threw myself on the bed. My phone began to ring and I picked it up. It was my boss.

“Selena, where are you?”

I checked my time, I was late again. “I’m sorry, I was feeling sick but I’m on my way now “

“This is the third time this week. This is coming out of your paycheck and if you don’t get here in the next ten minutes, you’re fired”

I fell silent. If I kept this up I was definitely going to end up homeless.

“Oh and Selena?”

“Yes?”

“This is going to be your last warning”

I rushed into the office and went to my table. There were files piled up on it with notes ordering me to sort it out. I sighed. This has been going on for years. The seniors would always hand me their work and take credit for the works I did. I couldn’t argue or protest because I would just end up getting fired. I started working on one of the files when one of my seniors walked towards me with more files in her hands.

“Here, do these first. Then get coffee for me”

“But I have to be done with all these” I said pleading 

“What does that have to do with me? Finish this by the end of the day. Oh and don’t forget to get me my coffee”

I got up about to leave when Mr. Lewis’s secretary walked towards me

“Selena. Mr. Lewis would like to see you in his office”

Panic took over me as I walked towards his office. I knocked on his door and a silent ‘come in’ came from through it. I walked into the office, my mind racing. His head was still buried in his laptop. He didn’t acknowledge my presence. It was like he didn’t know I was in here.

“Mr. Lewis. You wanted to see me”

He finally looked up at me. Pushing his glasses from his nose he leaned back.

“I have to fire you “he said silently. I could feel the blood drain from my body, I had expected this. But not now, I needed this job.

“Sir, I’m really sorry about coming late to work. It wouldn’t happen again “

“No, it’s not that” he said as he handed me the phone.

There was the video taken by my college classmates and some pictures taken from my time in the suite. My face turned pale as I looked up at me.

“They’re threatening the company’s reputation with this. The only thing they want I for me to fire you”

“Me? Why me?”

“Look, I don’t know the people you’ve offended, but they’re pretty serious this was sent to their companies, none would hire you” he said sympathetically.

I didn’t understand why they kept targeting me. My mind went between Jeremy and Sarah, trying to guess which of them could have done this. Why did they need to mess with my life? 

“Please Mr. Lewis, I need this job “

“The only thing I can do for you is to give you your full paycheck. But for the job? You’re fired”

I walked out of his office like a corpse. I felt as if someone had stepped on me many time. I packed my thing ignoring the questions and the stares. I felt the hot tears pour as I told at the entrance of the office. This was it. I was going to be homeless. I cried as I thought of everything I had endured over the years at the office. Now it was going to be all for nothing. I took a deep breath trying to hold back the tears but then fresh hot ones escaped from my eyelids. I tried to shut them out as I closed my eyes but it just made things worse. I got into a cab and headed home.

Eric got up from the bed and noticed that the woman from last night had left. He remembered the events of the night but her face was nothing but a blur. He wanted to find her, there was something about her that stirred something in him. He had remembered what he felt that night and how strongly he felt it when she walked into the room. He remembered how she was obviously drugged and they had needed each other at that moment. He didn’t have to take responsibility for her at least. He had thing to deal with. He was about to drop it when he remembered. He had marked her. 

“Eric?” Jaden called pulling him from his thoughts.

Jaden stared at him as he walked into the bedroom. He could smell it.

“I know what you’re going to say, don’t worry about it “he waved his hand dismissively 

“You don’t want me to sort it out?” Jared asked as he arched his brow

“No need”

“Good, because we have bigger problems”

“What? The elders again? Or Kyle?” Eric asked, bored.

“No, this time it’s Carrie”

“What about her?” he was curious. She had drugged him and he wanted to know why

“She’s working with Kyle. Turns out the only reason she’s been trying to be your Luna is so Kyle can have control of you, through her”

Eric chuckled in disbelief. He walked over and poured himself a drink. He took a sip and looked at Jared.

“I underestimated Kyle”

“That’s what I’ve been saying. He has insiders everywhere and some of the elders are beginning to tilt towards him because of your failure to produce a Luna”

“That’s because I’m waiting on the moon goddess for my mate”

“The elders are tired of hearing that. They’ve given you a week to get a Luna and a month to produce an heir”

 Eric’s mind flew to. The woman from yesterday, she was the only person that stirred him and he had already marked her. He smiled as a plan formed.

“Get me information on the woman from yesterday”

“What?”

“You heard me, the elders want a Luna? They’re going to have a Luna”

“She’s a human”

“So what?”

“The elders would never accept this. The pack would rebel. This could ruin everything “

“The elders already dislike me”

“This will upset them more. The pack doesn’t need this”

“The pack is already rebelling. I have to remind them who is the alpha. They’re to follow my orders and my orders only”

“If you do this, you’d be promoting infighting”

“Not if I send a message first. Where’s Carrie?”

“She’s chained up in the place. Why?” he asked as he watched Eric curiously.

“She’s going to be our message”

I stared at my empty fridge and felt my stomach growl in protest. I hadn’t eaten a good meal and now I was unemployed. It was like life had it out on me. I stared at the evicted notice on the table and sighed. I had no way of paying the rent and would have to move in with my parents. They loved me and we’re glad to take me in, but that was just going to increase the burden on them. I let out a sigh again as I lay on the bed. 

“This day couldn’t get any worse”

A know on the door pulled me out of my thoughts and I went to open the door. Immediately I opened it, I wanted to shut it as quickly. Jeremy stood there giving me a knowing smile.

“So, you got fired?”

“That was you?”

He nodded casually, like he didn’t just ruin my life.

“You didn’t need that job anyway. How about you become my mistress? That offer still stands “

“You’re a scumbag Jeremy. You’re engaged to Sarah and here you are at my doorstep, drooling. What would she think?”

He frowned as if he didn’t expect my response. “I’m trying to help you Selena “

“Help me?” I laughed. “You got me fired from my job. For no reason”

“You humiliated me at the reunion” he said as he grabbed my hand

“Humiliated you? Where you the one held to the grown, being forced to drink and then drugged?”

His eyes widened, a hint of guilt playing in his expression. “That’s what I thought “

I pulled my arm away from him.

“Sorry about that” 

His apology threw me off guard. But it was too late. I had lost my job and my pride.

“It doesn’t matter anymore. I think it’s time you leave”

“Come on Selena, you’re bring too...”

I shut the door before he could complete whatever he wanted to say. I was upset and hearing him made it worse. I felt myself drop to the floor as fresh hot tears streamed down my face. Crying had become normal for me. I head his footsteps fade and began to get up. As I tried to stand I felt my balance shift. Something was wrong. I help the door for support trying to support myself as I felt dizzier. The room began to spin and before I could react I felt the lights in my head go off.

Eric stared at the unconscious Carrie. She was chained to the wall, her appearance now similar to that of a beggar. He smiled as one of his men slapped her, jolting her awake. 

“Good morning princess”

“E-Eric, I’m sorry. I just really love you. I didn’t mean that”

“Really?” he smiled as he steadied her gaze to lock with his. “So you’re not working with Kyle”

Her eyes widened with shock. He shot her a knowing look as he smiled.

“I’m going to hand it to you though. You almost had me fooled. You might have actually been my Luna”

“Eric, please”

He slapped her as he growled. “I am your alpha and you will address me as such”

“I’m sorry. Alpha”

“Now isn’t that better?” he gestured to one of his men to come closer to him. “Send the message”

Fear washed over Carrie as she understood. “P-please, I would do anything. Please “

She begged as they unchained her. Eric didn’t seen to hear her as he walked towards Jared. She pleased as she was dragged out. She kicked and screamed but Eric didn’t spare her a glance as he took the file from Jared.

“What did you find?”

“Not much. We couldn’t find where she lives but her name is Selena Webb. She came to the hotel yesterday for a class reunion and ended up in your bed. Here’s a video of her, we picked that up from the hotels camera”

Eric watched as her classmates, dragged her to the ground and forced her to drink. He smiled as he frowned as he saw her helpless state.

“Get me information on every single one of them in this video.” He ordered. “You didn’t find out where she worked?”

“She was fired two days ago. Turns out someone sent this out to her company, threatening its reputation”

He turned back to the file they had. “Selena Webb. Who are you?”