Chapter 15 A Deal with Wolves
The two werewolf guards at the door must’ve sensed the shift in my energy. The moment I stepped forward, they shifted- towering black wolves, snarling, fangs bared, eyes wild with the intent to kill.
They weren’t bluffing.
Panic surged in my chest, and I reached inward. “Nancy?”
“Nancy?” Still no answer.
Damn it. I forced myself to breathe, to stay calm. If I made a move right now, they’d lunge without hesitation and rip my throat out. My adoptive parents were still in the hospital. If I died here, what would happen to them? The Dunnes were monsters. Vile to the core.
My fists clenched at my sides, trembling with fury. But in the end, 1 took a deep breath and stayed where I was.
A while later, Zoe and Leticia finally came back out.
“Melissa,” Leticia sneered, her tone smug, “you’re not getting 100 million, but after talking it over with Daddy, Mommy’s agreed to this.”
She shoved a check in front of me. “But you’ll need to hand over the login to that delivery app. And you’re taking your adoptive parents and leaving this city. For good.”
I glanced at the check. One million.
I raised my eyes slowly and gave them both a cold smile. “One million for a shot at being Luna to Alpha King Adrian? Real businesswoman logic. Gotta hand it to you.”
“You should be grateful!” Leticia snapped. “That’s more money than you or your parents could make in two lifetimes.”
“That’s none of your business,” I said coolly. “But one thing is. I can make damn sure you’ll never become Luna to Alpha King Adrian.”
“You greedy little-!” Leticia spat.
Zoe rolled her eyes, looking at me like I was dirt. “I can’t believe I gave birth to someone like you. You’re a disgrace. Thank God
you didn’t grow up in our pack.”
“Two million,” Leticia interjected quickly. “That’s our final offer.”
I paused, pretending to consider. “Two million’s doable. But I’ll only update the delivery app account to show you as the registered user. That’s it.”
“No. You need to leave the city, too.”
“Then forget it. Deal’s off.”
PANING.
duw
I turned to leave.
wwwwww.w
பரி
“Wait! Fine. I agree!” Leticia blurted out, panic creeping into her voice.
I didn’t even flinch. “No check. Wire it to my account. And I want a signed statement saying the money is compensation for donating blood to Zane Dunne.”
Did they think I didn’t see through their game? They’d wire the money, take over the app account, change the user info to Leticia’s, and the next day report to the police that the transfer was a mistake. I’d be dragged into an investigation and forced to give it all back.
“Bitch,” Zoe hissed, scowling. “You’re pushing your luck.”
I gave a cold laugh. “No one’s forcing you. But if we’re done here, I’ll just go explain everything to Mrs. Adrian.”
1/2
Leticia froze. “Okay, okay–fine! We’ll do it.”
Zoe shot daggers at me with her eyes but picked up her phone and gave the order. The money hit my account soon after, and I made damn sure we signed an agreement spelling everything out. Only then did I update the app profile, changing it to Leticia’s name.
That delivery order from that night had never actually been completed, which meant the app data was weak as evidence. But for the Harlows, it was enough to cast doubt. With the hospital record under Leticia’s name, the deleted security footage, and the ring Leticia gave Adrian, it was already set up to look like she was the one who saved him. If she had the delivery app, too, it would solidify her lie completely.
Damn it. To this day, I still have no idea what really happened to Adrian that night. How could someone like him–Alpha King, the strongest of them all–get into a crash and fall unconscious like that?
If he hadn’t passed out, he would’ve recognized me by scent alone. And if he had, maybe I’d already be sitting on a fat payout instead of watching some shameless imposter steal my place. But what was done was done.
All I could do now was move on–and hope I’d never have to cross paths with another damn wolf again.
“Once your dad’s out of the hospital, you’d better leave this city,” Leticia said, putting on a superior air as soon as the app’s backend info was changed. “You’re not welcome here.”
She said it like her family owned all of Gotham.
The nerve. Last I checked, the Harlows still ran things around here. Maybe Leticia had forgotten. Either way, I’d gotten what I came for. I didn’t say another word. Just gave them both a long, hard look and walked out.
I didn’t head to the hospital right away. Instead, I went back to my adoptive parents‘ house and made a stop at the local police station. I asked about the accident, but the report said the driver hadn’t been caught. That didn’t sit right with me.
I asked for more details and got the license plate number. I secretly recorded the entire conversation.
Then I went to a private investigation firm run by rogue wolves. They had contacts all over the city and a nose for secrets. I put down a deposit of 20 grand and handed over the lead.
I would find out who hit my parents. And I’d make them
pay.
The Dunnes were ruthless, cold–blooded. I had to be prepared. Adrian already hated me, and the Dunness clearly wanted me dead. I needed money for protection–real, trained werewolf bodyguards if things went sideways.
That was why I took the two million. It wasn’t about the app. It was insurance. If I’d pushed them too hard, they wouldn’t have hesitated to turn me into a vegetable right then and there.
Everything finally wrapped up. I dragged myself back to my apartment, exhausted.
I’d just stepped inside when someone blocked my path. It was Adrian’s beta, Andy.
“Ms. Cruise,” he said, voice low and calm, “the Alpha is waiting for you.”
