CHAPTER : WORK WITH ME

As Austin was about to lead Rosemary, Ariana, and Lydia out of the hospital building, a nurse rushed up to him.

“Alpha Austin,” the nurse said, slightly out of breath. “The doctor wants to speak with you. It's urgent.”

Austin turned to Rosemary, Ariana, and Lydia. “Give me a minute. I’ll be right back.”

Lydia, arms crossed, rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Just hurry. It’s hot outside.”

Austin left them and walked briskly back down the hallway to the doctor’s office. The doctor stood waiting, a serious expression on his face.

“Alpha Austin,” the doctor said, handing him a file. “I just finished reviewing your wife's lab results.”

Austin opened the folder and scanned the pages. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong exactly,” the doctor explained. “But there’s something… strange. Rosemary’s body is healing faster than any normal human. Her strength, her temperature, her reflexes—they’re all changing. I believe she might regain all of her memory within the next few days.”

Austin looked up sharply. “So she’s not human?”

“I didn’t say that,” the doctor said carefully. “But she’s definitely not just human anymore. Something inside her is waking up.”

Austin nodded slowly, thanked the doctor, and shook his hand before heading back to rejoin the others.

When Austin stepped outside into the sunlight, he found Rosemary waiting quietly by the car. Lydia was already walking off with a deep frown on her face, heading toward the street.

Ariana smiled sweetly. “Austin, I just remembered I have to get my hair done. A little touch-up at the salon.”

Austin glanced at her, unsure if she was telling the truth. “Alright then.”

He turned to Rosemary. “Come, let’s get home.”

As Austin opened the car door for Rosemary and helped her in gently, Ariana turned and walked quickly in the direction Lydia had gone.

Lydia had just reached a black taxi and opened the back door to get in. But before she could close it, Ariana slipped in through the other side and sat down beside her.

Lydia looked startled. “Hey! This isn’t your Alpha’s car. You’re definitely lost.”

Ariana gave a smug smile. “Oh, I know exactly where I am.”

Lydia narrowed her eyes. “Then what do you want?”

Ariana leaned in closer, her voice low and full of poison. “I see you need money, Lydia. And I can give you more than you’ve ever had in your miserable life.”

Lydia blinked in surprise but said nothing.

Ariana continued, “All I want is for you to help me get rid of your useless step-sister, Rosemary.”

Lydia’s eyes gleamed. “You want her gone too?”

“Oh, I want her erased,” Ariana whispered. “Forever.”

Lydia looked thoughtful. “What’s in it for me?”

“How about this?” Ariana said, pulling out a gold card from her bag. “Unlimited shopping. Designer bags. Money wired every week. All yours—if you do what I say.”

Lydia reached out and touched the card. Her lips curled into a wicked smile. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

Ariana grinned back. “Perfect. Because we both know… Rosemary doesn’t belong in Austin’s world. And very soon, she won’t be in it at all.”

The taxi pulled away into the street, their dark deal sealed in silence.

Meanwhile, Austin was driving home with Rosemary, unaware of the snake that now slithered behind them in shadows. Rosemary stared quietly out the window, holding the flowers Austin had given her.

Lydia slammed the front door behind her as she entered the house. Her heels clicked angrily across the marble floor as she stormed through every room, searching for her father.

“Dad!” she shouted, pushing open the door to his study. Empty.

She ran upstairs to his bedroom, threw the door open. “Dad?”

Nothing.

Frustrated, she pulled out her phone and called him. After two rings, he picked up.

“Lydia?” his voice came through in a whisper. “I can’t talk for long. I’m hiding.”

“Hiding?” Lydia frowned. “Why? Where are you?”

“Not at home,” he whispered. “Some men came looking for me again. We owe too much, Lydia. We need to pay them off quickly before they freeze everything. Our company, our house… everything is falling apart.”

Lydia grinned. “Relax, Dad. I’ve found our golden ticket.”

“What are you talking about?”

“That tramp Rosemary—the one you always called useless? Turns out, she’s married to a werewolf billionaire.”

There was silence on the line.

“I saw him,” Lydia continued. “And not just any man. He’s rich, and I think he might be the Alpha of a powerful pack.”

Her father cursed under his breath. “You mean we’ve been feeding her scraps, and she married into power?”

“She doesn’t even remember who she is,” Lydia said, grinning. “She lost her memory. It’ll be easy to control her. We just need to stay close and pull her strings.”

“I don’t care what you do,” her father said coldly. “Just get that money. Fast.”

Lydia smirked. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll make sure Rosemary pays for every meal she ever ate under our roof.”

Back at Austin’s House...

Austin carried Rosemary gently up the stairs, bridal style. She had dozed off in the car and still looked weak. Her hands clutched the flowers he gave her like they were the only thing familiar in the world.

He pushed open the bedroom door with his foot and laid her carefully on the bed.

Rosemary blinked up at him, confused. “This… is our home?”

Austin smiled softly. “Yes. Your home.”

She looked around the room slowly, her fingers brushing the bedsheets. “It feels...warm.”

Before he could say more, there was a knock at the door.

It was Maya.

“Austin,” she said, peeking in. “Is she awake?”

“Yes,” Austin replied. “Come in.”

Maya stepped into the room, her eyes instantly falling on Rosemary. She looked at her with a mix of sadness and concern. “Hi, Rosemary,” she said gently.

Rosemary tilted her head. “Do I know you?”

Maya forced a smile. “We were friends. Close friends.”

Rosemary nodded slowly. “I don’t remember anything. It’s like my life started yesterday.”

Austin's jaw clenched slightly, but he kept quiet.

Maya sat beside her. “It’s okay. You’ll remember with time. You’re safe here.”

Rosemary smiled faintly. “Thank you.”

After Maya left Rosemary’s room, Rosemary changed into her nightwear and got ready to lie down. The lights were dim, the air was cool, and the silence around the house made her feel safe.

She pulled the blanket over her and closed her eyes—but then she heard something.

Creak.

Her eyes snapped open. Something moved. Something tiny… crawling near her pillow.

“Ahhhhh!” Rosemary screamed and jumped off the bed, her hair flying behind her as she ran across the room.

Austin was in the sitting room, going through a stack of files when he heard her scream. He threw the files aside and rushed upstairs.

“Rosemary?!” he called out, pushing the door open. “What happened?”

Before he could take another step, Rosemary leapt at him, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

“Spider! There’s a spider in my bed!” she cried, shaking.

Austin blinked. “A… spider?”

“Yes!” she clung to him like a child. “Don’t put me down, please! It might still be there—it might come for me!”

Austin chuckled softly, even though he tried to hold it back. “Alright. Let me check.”

But when he tried to place her on the couch, she clung tighter. “No, no! It’s probably on the floor now!”

Austin smiled gently. “I promise I’ll protect you.” He managed to settle her on the couch and then crouched down to check under the bed.

Sure enough, there it was—a small, brown spider crawling by the leg of the bed.

Austin grabbed a tissue, gently trapped it, and opened the window. “Go live your best life out there, little guy,” he muttered as he let it out.

When he turned back, Rosemary was curled up on the couch, her eyes wide with fear.

“You can’t leave me here,” she said, hugging her knees. “What if it comes back? What if it brings friends?”

Austin tried not to laugh. “You’re serious?”

She nodded quickly.

He sighed and extended his hand. “Alright, then. Come on.”

She looked at him. “Where are we going?”

“My room,” he said simply.

Her eyes widened. “Your room? Are we… sleeping together?”

Austin blinked, caught off guard. “I—no, I mean… Not like that.”

She tilted her head. “Then how?”