Chapter 005

[Apple]

My attacker releases me, dropping to the floor, showing his neck in supplication to the man growling behind him.

Alpha Sylvester Sterling.

“For the crime of touching my Luna, you are hereby dismissed from your position,” he snaps his teeth, now slightly pointed.

“Yes, Alpha,” the wolfman grovels.

Sylvester reaches down and with a single claw, scrapes a large, long “r” across his back as the man screams.

“You are packless now, rogue,” the Alpha spits in rage. “Any wolf low enough to attack a defenseless woman is not honorable enough for the Silver Crescent pack or any other pack within our organization.”

“Please Alpha, mercy,” he begs pathetically, dropping his chest to the pavement. “I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t know she was yours.”

“I am not your Alpha anymore,” Sylvester’s eyes are glowing like blue fire. “Now get out of here before I change my mind about skinning you and leaving your hide on the side of the building as a warning to others.”

Becoming a rogue slowly drives pack wolves insane. It’s a fate worse than death.

A fate he just condemned that wolf for touching me.

“You’re safe now,” he takes off his jacket and wraps it around me like a blanket as he scoops me into his arms and walks me into the parking garage. Carefully he opens the door to an expensive black sports car and settles me into the passenger’s seat.

“I’ll take you home,” his voice is soft and gentle as if I am so fragile that words could break me. “I’ll have someone bring you your car later.”

Still in shock, I am unable to make my mouth form the words “thank you,” so I nod and hope that he can feel the gratitude in my gaze.

I tell him my address and he types it into his GPS. The ride is silent as I stare out the window, not sure of what I should do next.

I have no food or money, and one of my only articles of clothing has just been destroyed by a wolf who tried to rape me.

And the person who saves me is the last wolf I wanted to see--the one who chased me out of the building because he wants me to be his fake rental girlfriend.

“Why did you do it,” I ask as I stare at the people on the street as the car rushes past. “Why did you interfere? I’m just a human. I’m worthless to wolves like you.”

The car is silent and I think he isn’t going to answer when he finally says. “You aren’t worthless. No person is, whether they are a wolf, witch, or human. Besides,” his voice grows deeper and I can sense his wolf coming to the surface by the intensity of his tone. “Nobody touches what is mine.”

“I’m not yours,” I argue, my body tingling at the word “mine.”

“You are MY Luna,” he counters. “Or you will be, as soon as you sign the contract.”

“And if I don’t…”

“You will.”

Neither one of us asked any questions for the rest of the ride. I lean my head back and I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I know we are parked outside of the apartment I share with Hazel.

“This isn’t a good neighborhood,” he observes. “Are you sure this is where you want to stay?”

“I don’t have anywhere else,” my voice is small. “This is all I have.”

Taking off his jacket, I place it on the chair as I open the door. “Thank you for the ride I…”

“Put the jacket back on,” he almost shouts and then softens it with a quiet, “Please. For me. I can’t bear the thought of you walking into your home looking so vulnerable,” he explains.

It must be a wolf thing. Shrugging, I pull the jacket around me, closing it, and crossing my arms in front of me.

Satisfied with my appearance, he leans back, the tension from the moment before completely gone. “Please, reconsider my offer to be Luna,” he requests. “The position comes with lodging, food, a sizable salary in addition to any beauty treatments or clothing the job may require,” he clarifies. “Since you aren’t a wolf, we can add a few more protections.”

“I still don’t think it is a good idea,” I think of the man from just a moment before and how easily he trapped me and I can immediately understand why Sterling Inc. doesn’t usually hire human interns. If that is how a wolf reacts around one, I’m going to be easy prey.

“The car will be here at 6 am sharp,” he ignores my words. “Unless you call to arrange a different time when you accept the position.”

“I still need time to think,” I protest.

“Take your time,” he smirks, “And if you have not made up your mind by 6 am, you can ask my Beta for an extension.”

I open my mouth to argue, but the flash of bright blue in his eyes makes me reconsider. It looks like he isn’t going to let me get away that easily. If he doesn’t give up, I might need to find a new city to live in.

He pulls a card from inside his pocket.

“Call this number when you are ready to give me an answer,” he instructs me. “I’m looking forward to your call.”

Standing next to his car, he watches me enter the building. When I get to my apartment and look down from the living room window, he is still standing there, watching the door as if he plans to stand guard until he knows all of the threat is gone.

Feeling my eyes on him, he looks up.

I wave.

He smiles, nods his head, and gets back into his car.

“Was that billionaire Sly Sterling, CEO and ALPHA of Sterling Inc and the Silver Crescent pack,” Hazel's eyes widen. “The most eligible bachelor in Crescent City?”

“Yes,” I groan. “He wants me to be his Rental Luna.”

Hazel looks like she might faint from excitement. “And…”

“I said no.”

“No,” she grips the back of a chair. “You told the most powerful Alpha on the West Coast no?” Her face blanches. “And he let you leave?”

I describe my day so far and watch as her expression grows more and more shocked by my story.

“You better take his offer,” Hazel suggests. “I don’t see that you have any other options.” She places a hand on my shoulder. “Enough money to pay your debt and the protection of a powerful Alpha. You won’t get a better deal. Having a protector in a city like this can make all the difference. This isn’t the country, Apple. Girls like us get gobbled up.”

I spend the rest of the afternoon into the evening thinking of her words. If I can’t make it here, my only option is to go back home to Pleasant Valley, where I will die like my mother, overworked and underappreciated.

That’s not the future I want for myself.

Picking up my phone, I dial the number on the back of his card.

“Hi, Alpha Sterling,” I try to sound cheerful, even though I feel like I just failed. “Can you please ask your Beta to pick me up at 7:30 instead? I don't want to sign anything...yet," I explain. "I just want to give it a try."