Chapter 1

During dinner, Kaelan tossed a black card at me. His face was a mask.

"I've approved the treatment fee for your father's lupus next month."

His voice dripped with Alpha authority. The kind you didn’t dare question.

"From now on, don't bother me with this pathetic money crap. I know humans and their families can be money pits, but you're my mate. Don't make us look ugly."

I just stared at the card.

Black. Metal. Engraved with the pack's silver moon crest.

No limit.

Three years ago, I would have trembled with excitement.

Now, it just made me sick.

"Thank you," I said calmly, pushing it back toward him.

Kaelan frowned. "Take it. That's an order."

"I said, thank you."

I stood up and walked to the study.

In the drawer, the signed Mate Bond Severance papers lay waiting.

My phone buzzed.

A text from Kaelan: Stop trying to scam me for money. This is your last warning.

I replied: OK.

Then I turned off the screen.

Three years ago, I was the youngest doctoral student in Columbia University’s genetic sciences department.

I heard werewolves might hold the cure for my father’s terminal illness, so I chased that rumor into their world without a second thought.

The moment I set foot on their land, a wave of dizziness hit me.

A strange scent. A powerful pull. Fated Mates.

My first reaction was panic.

A human girl, bonded to a supernatural creature? It was a nightmare.

Until I met Kaelan Sterling.

One of the most powerful Alphas in the North. CEO of Sterling Enterprises.

He was gorgeous, powerful, and radiated an aura that demanded submission.

"Don't be afraid," he said, taking my trembling hand. "I'll protect you."

In that moment, I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world.

I was poor, but now I had someone to lean on. My father's rare disease finally had a hope for a cure.

But I was wrong.

"Clara, bringing your sick father into our isolated pack territory was a huge exception. I had to push back against the Elders for you," Kaelan said after our bonding ceremony.

"Human supplies are expensive. They're all imported and drain the pack's funds."

"You can't hold a pack position. No more of your dangerous research, either. Just stay home. Be my Luna."

I gave up my doctorate.

I gave up a job at a top research institute. I gave up the science I lived for.

But he never gave me an allowance.

"The pack has a comprehensive financial system," he said coolly. "Just file a request for what you need."

Every single penny required a formal request.

Groceries needed approval. Feminine hygiene products needed approval. Even a $2.75 subway ticket needed a receipt uploaded for approval.

The approver was Seraphina.

A pure-blood wolf. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Kaelan's childhood friend and the pack's financial controller.

She scrutinized my every expense like I was a beggar.

"Clara, this $28 bottle of shampoo is too expensive. The pack's money is earned through hard work, not to keep a freeloader like you in luxury."

"Clara, your father's wolf gene serum expenses are over budget again this month. Synthesizing it costs the pack a fortune in rare materials. You'd better not be selling our secrets to the human world."

"Clara, human products are so wasteful. We wolves just use a simple bar of soap."

I swallowed the humiliation. It was all for my father, to keep him alive on the meager medical budget the pack allowed.

Three days ago, it all fell apart.

A critical condition notice came through from the clinic.

My father's lupus had worsened dramatically. He needed $50,000 to activate a high-tier med-pod and synthesize a dose of pure "Wolf Gene Repair Serum" to save his life.

I called Kaelan frantically.

It rang three times before her sickeningly sweet voice answered.

"Clara? The Alpha is in an important international meeting. Is it urgent?"

"Let me talk to Kaelan!" I was crying so hard my voice was raw. "My dad's dying! I need $50,000!"

Seraphina let out a small laugh. "Clara, you know the pack's financial rules. You have to go through the system."

"Please, Seraphina, this is life or death—"

"Rules are rules. That amount is way over the monthly limit for a human dependent. Just go fill out the form."

The line went dead.

My fingers trembled as I opened the pack’s resource portal.

Emergency Medical Expenses: $50,000.

Purpose: Life-saving medication and equipment rental for terminal illness.

Patient: Henry Miller, applicant's father.

Attachments: Clinic Critical Condition Notice, Treatment Plan, Medication List.

Submitted.

I knelt on the floor of the pack's remote clinic, staring at my phone. Ten minutes later, the screen lit up.

System Notification: Application Rejected.

Rejected by: Seraphina.

I stared at the rejection reason, tears blurring my vision.

Amount requested ($50,000) is excessive and involves restricted genetic material. Distribution to humans is prohibited on suspicion of intent to sell pack secrets.

Please provide a detailed list of high-grade material consumption, down to the milligram, signed by the attending physician, and wait for next month's Elder Council financial meeting for review.