Chapter 4 – I want you more

Giselle straightened up and looked him squarely in the eyes. “No,” she said coolly. “The contract says one round for one hundred thousand dollars. That’s the deal. If you want another, you’ll have to book me again—and my schedule is full.”

Alpha Joel’s expression darkened, and he reached out to grab her arm, but his strength was no match for hers. With a swift push, Giselle shoved him back, making him stumble onto the bed.

"What kind of contract is this?!" Alpha Joel roared, his face reddening. "One measly time? Is that all I get? I demand more!" His voice cracked with barely controlled rage. He slammed his fist on the table, the expensive crystal glasses rattling precariously. Giselle, her expression unreadable, simply stared at him.

His outburst only solidified her resolve. With a swift, powerful kick, she sent him sprawling onto the plush carpet. "I said no," she repeated, her voice sharp as shattered glass. "And now, you're blocked. You won't be able to book me again. Ever." Her eyes, narrowed slits of icy fury, held his gaze. "And don't even think about trying to keep me here against my will. I have plenty of other Alphas who'd be more than happy to deal with your… inadequacies."

The bluster drained from Alpha Joel's face, replaced by a pathetic whimper. His arrogance, his bravado, vanished like smoke. He lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender, his voice a trembling plea. "I-I'm sorry, Giselle. Please… forgive me. I wasn't thinking…"

Giselle remained impassive. She snatched the check from the table, a contemptuous curl of her lip the only indication of her feelings. Without another word, she turned and walked out, leaving the desperate, humiliated Alpha alone in the opulent room, his anger replaced by a crushing sense of defeat.

Giselle then arrived in a poor, secluded omega village tucked deep within the forest. The dirt path leading to the small cluster of wooden homes was quiet until the children caught sight of her car.

“Giselle!” they squealed with joy, racing barefoot across the field.

Giselle parked her car beside the only paved area and stepped out with a warm smile. She opened the trunk and began pulling out bags of groceries, canned goods, bread, fruit, and bottled water. Instantly, the children swarmed around her, helping carry the bags with excited chatter.

From the little homes, the omega community members emerged—thin, tired-looking men and women whose faces brightened at the sight of her. “Thank you, Giselle!” many of them called, some pressing their palms together, others simply nodding gratefully.

A small boy ran to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, his eyes tearing up. “Thank you, Luna,” he whispered.

Giselle chuckled softly and bent down to ruffle his hair. “I’m not a Luna, little one.”

“But you’re better than a Luna!” one of the mothers cried out, holding her baby. “Even the Alphas don’t care to step foot here, but you—”

“You come for us,” an older man said.

“You feed us,” another woman added.

“They treat us like slaves,” someone muttered. “We worked day and night, but never enough to eat. You changed that.”

One elderly she-wolf, her eyes filled with emotion, reached out and held Giselle’s hand. “Because of you, we able eat three times a day. We owe you everything.”

Giselle smiled through the weight of emotion in her chest. “Don’t worry,” she said softly. “I will never stop helping you. We’ll build a better life—together.”

Just then, the small boy looked up at her and asked innocently, “Giselle, what’s your work?”

Giselle froze, her smile faltering. Her throat tightened. She couldn’t tell them the truth. She answered softly, “I’m a freelancer.”

The little boy tilted his head. “What’s that?”

Before she could say more, his mother gently pulled him back and said, “Don’t ask too much, just be thankful, okay?”

The boy looked up at Giselle and said, “Thank you, Miss Giselle.”

Giselle bent down and gave him a quick hug. “You're welcome. I’ll be back soon, I promise. Stay strong, alright?”

The crowd of omega villagers clapped and cheered softly. “Come back soon, Luna Giselle!”

“I’m not a Luna,” she chuckled, shaking her head.

“You’re better than one!” someone shouted, and others agreed with heartfelt nods.

As she drove off, Giselle's smile faded slowly. Her next stop was the cemetery. Wearing a long black dress and a lace veil that covered her face, she walked silently between the graves. She stopped at one with her mother’s name engraved. She placed a bouquet of flowers, lit a small white candle, and knelt down.

“Mom,” she whispered, her voice cracking, “I miss you every day.”

She paused and pressed her hand to her chest.

“Will I always be just… a breeder?” Her voice trembled. “Will I ever be something more?”

Tears fell from her eyes, soaking her veil. “Is it too late for someone like me to live a normal life?”

She stood and turned, wiping her face—only to bump into a muscular chest. She stumbled, but strong arms caught her.

“I’m so sorry,” the man said, steadying her.

Giselle looked up—and gasped.

He was tall, handsome, with stormy eyes and a face that looked carved by the gods. Her heart pounded wildly. Her wolf whispered, He’s the one. He’s our mate.

He stared at her, clearly unable to see her face under the veil—but his voice was kind. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she breathed, but her voice shook.

Suddenly, men rushed toward them. “Alpha, the enemy ran that way!”

The man glanced at them, then looked back at her. For a moment, neither moved.

Then he nodded once and turned. “Take care,” he said, before running off with his warriors.

Giselle stood frozen, her hand still tingling from his touch.

Back in her apartment, she dropped her bag, entered the bathroom, and stripped off her clothes. She slid into the bathtub and began scrubbing herself hard.

She clenched her jaw. “No matter how many times I clean myself, I still feel… used.”

Her tears mixed with the water. “I chose this path. I chose to survive. But sometimes... I just want to be normal.”

And yet, her thoughts drifted back to the Alpha's voice.

Who was he? Why did my heart race like that?

Even in her pain, his face lingered.

For the first time in years, Giselle didn’t feel numb.

She felt alive.

Her fingers gripped the edge of the tub as her heart thudded in her chest, the memory of his touch refusing to fade.

“Can a breeder like me… really have a mate?” she whispered to herself, voice trembling. “Would anyone ever truly choose someone like me?”