Zoey's POV
Hearing Manson's roar, my breath halted.
The room was left with only the echo of the bellowing; everyone was too scared to speak.
I cautiously turned my head to look at Tristan not far away.
The words he would say next would decide my fate and whether I had won my gamble or not.
Nearly half a minute passed without him speaking or looking at any of us, as if none of this had ever happened.
What does this mean?
No! I can't just wait for his verdict. I must fight for myself! This is my only chance!
"Why not? The only requirement on the announcement was having a normal uterus. Unfortunately, I happen to have one. Not only that, but I'm a virgin. So? Do you need a checkup?" I ask Mason using the same tone he used to address me.
No woman wants to equate her value to that of her womb, but I have to.
As I expected, Mason's expression darkening, and he moving in my direction with the intention to slap me.
However, to my surprise, Tristan grabs his arm before he can reach me again.
"That's enough, Mason. Calm down, or you just get out. Am I clear?" He commands his beta with an alpha tone.
For the second time, this is the second time he's helped me today.
Does this mean I've won my gamble?
I was almost ready to wake Tilly to celebrate my success.
But in the next moment, he turns around, looks at me, and says, "He is right. Why are you here? I believe I told you I don't want to see you again. Do I need to punish you so you'll respect my command?"
The words were like a bucket of ice water thrown down over my head.
This FUCKIING jerk!
Does he really think I want to see his stupid face after all the awful things he's done?!
I really want to curse and insult him just like I do with that jerk, Manson!
But I can't, not now. I can't give up on that half a million.
So, calming my spirit, I look directly into his eyes and say, "I haven't forgotten. I'm not here because I want you. I just need your money!"
The moment those words leave my mouth, I see a glint in his eyes, as if his wolf is trying to take control.
I took a deep breath to overcome my fear and looked at him directly, saying, "I thought you would follow your father's fair rules, and in this pack, even the poorest member has the right to speak at least."
Quickly, I brought out my trump card, "Moreover, you know, I am the most suitable candidate for you."
I saw Mason and Nicholas both show confused expressions, but given Tristan's earlier words, they dared not ask any further questions.
Indeed, even those closest to him don't know about this; he really considers me a disgrace.
I'm truly a cheap girl, presenting myself to him.
But it doesn't matter, I console myself, as long as I am useful.
(Flashback)
One year ago, on my birthday I came face to face with Tristan Mayer while I was cleaning the packhouse.
He is five years older than me and until then he never met his fated mate.
People said that he is cursed for always being cruel and with a bad temper, but that day I found out why he was without a mate until then.
I was his fated mate.
I remember it as if it was yesterday. It was another shitty rainy day.
I was born on March 3, and on every single birthday it rained. That was not an exception.
He looked at me and for a second his eyes glittered, making me believe that he would accept me.
He said nothing but motioned to me to follow him in his office.
"Close the door" he commanded me in a rough voice that made my heart stop.
He was going to reject me. I was so sure of that.
But you know what the jerk of the century?
He looked into my eyes and with the most horrible disgust that someone ever looked at me he said.
"You will never be my Luna. You are just a pathetic stupid bitch that causes trouble and sufferance around you."
I felt my heart breaking in pieces.
I was waiting for the rejection, thinking that it would hurt for a few minutes, hours, days and then I would be fine , but he looked into my eyes and said.
"I am not going to reject you. This would be too easy for you. "
He was damned serious.
"You will not tell anyone about this, or you will pay dearly for doing it."
"Just reject me" I remember whispering but Tristen laughed in my face.
"You have no word for this Zoey Carter. You didn't pay enough for what you did, but now I know you will. Starting today, stay away from me! I don't want to catch even a whiff of your disgusting scent anywhere! Understand?!" he growled at me as he opened the windows to let the fresh air come in.
I am making him disgusted! That's what he said.
"Please, reject me!" I begged him again. "I need to work. I will starve without my job!" and I was thinking about my poor Nana who needed treatment.
"Then starve!" he laughed. "Who am I to stop you from doing it?"
And seeing that I am not moving he grabbed me and pushed me out of his office.
(End of flashback)
Since that day, no matter how much I tried, he refused to let me off the hook, outright rejecting me.
But fortunately, it's like this; today I have an extra bargaining chip!
That's why I dared to try today; after all, conceiving offspring with one's destined mate seems like the best choice!
But as Tristan stared at me, letting out a cold snort from his nose, his expression colder than before, we both knew this was a prelude to his anger.
Clearly, this wasn't the reaction I was hoping for.
He approached me with a mocking look, each step feeling like it was stomping on my heart.
I couldn't help trembling, instinctively wanting to back away, but my legs felt as if they were frozen by the chill he emanated, unable to move.
Yet I couldn't show any fear, my eyes still fixed on him until he was right in front of me.
He scanned me from head to toe, and perhaps noticing my stiffness, gently caressed my face with his hand.
In that moment, I quietly exhaled, unable to deny that his scent brought me comfort, something I hadn't felt in a long time.
But in the next second, he tilted his head, smiling as he said, "So, does the status of 'Alpha's mate' make you think you're worth $500,000?"
"Of course..." I stiffened my neck, about to reply.
But in the next moment, a sharp pain shot through my jaw, and I felt myself lifted again, but before I could struggle...
Bang!
This time, I was thrown against the door, my jaw stinging so much I couldn't close it.
Barely opening my eyes, I saw Tristan's feet approaching me, the floor echoing ominously with his steps.
Soon, he stopped right in front of my head.
He looked down at me coldly and said, "Don't let me hear you say that again."
With that he stepped over me opened the door and left.
I'm sorry, Nana, it looks like I've failed...
He hates me more than I imagined...
Tristan's POVThe moment Zoey stepped into my office I literally died.Mason and Nico were telling me about me being too picky with women and that I need to make a decision when the door opened and that scent that it makes me damned crazy hit me directly.I knew it was her before she appeared in front of me.That precious scent of magnolia and cinnamon along with the smell of cedar wood embodies happiness for me. It evokes lust for life and lack of worry, something that I missed for years.I hated the feeling of being uncontrollably attracted to it, and it made me wonder if I was what others would call powerful or not.I almost forbid her to come near me, even keep her away from all the places I'd be because her scent is irresistible.I can't be in her presence without Viggo, my wolf, starting to kill my brain. I'm much less likely to let anyone see that she's my damn mate.I don't need Manson's warning, I know those rumors better than anyone, but only someone with a sick mind would s
Zoey's POVI had no idea how long it's been since I passed out but the next moment I open my eyes , I am on the hospital and a lot of machines are beeping around me."Tilly?" I asked a little bit scared and my heart hurts when she is not answering me."Shhht" someone whispers. "You are fine now."Fine? I don't want to be fine! I scream in my mind.I want to save Nana and now I have no chance to do it anymore.I open my eyes slowly and I blink a few times as there is so much light in the hospital's ward."Don't worry" the same voice tells me softly."You are in the hospital." and then reality hit me.I was sent to the hospital?How the hell am I going to pay for the bills? I can't pay the bills for Nana and now there are other bills to pay?I am doomed.I push the hospital sheets and try to get out of the bed, but two arms are keeping me in my place."Hey, you are still wounded." the woman says, and I lift my eyes just to see a girl staring at me.Rose Mayer?Why is she here? She doesn
Zoey's POVEarly the next morning.I open my eyes slowly and I literally melt when I feel two arms hugging me and a warm forehead resting on mine.This is what makes me continue to move forward.The fact that in this cruel world someone still cares about me.I smile and kiss Nana's temple as I leave her arms.She was waiting for me in the living room when I got back yesterday, and my emotions, which had calmed down, broke down the moment I saw her, and tears came to my eyes.She asked me again and again if I am fine, what really happened but I continued to cry as for the first time since my life went upside down I collapsed.Just like that, she held me all night long on our little sofa in the living room.I take a thick blanket and wrap it around my Nana so she will not suffer from the cold and I move in the kitchen where I start to prepare breakfast.Tea and toast with jam and peanut butter. That's all we've got for today as I didn't find anything to work during the last week.I need
Tristan 's POV"Alpha, you... the person you sent yesterday has already left."I knew it. I shouldn't have listened to Viggo, rushing to the hospital first thing in the morning without even having breakfast, making it seem as if I cared about her.I quickly clarified, "No, I'm not here for her. My sister Rosie wasn't home early this morning, and I came to see if she was here."The nurse then had a realization and said, "I see, we haven't seen her this morning; maybe you could give her a call.""Right," I said and turned to leave when a voice stopped me."Alpha," I turned to see it was the doctor who treated her yesterday.What does he want? He doesn't think I'm here to check on Zoey, does he?The doctor smiled and said, "Alpha, Zoey still owes our hospital a significant debt. She just left yesterday, and we..."I was confused and asked, "Debt? Didn't I already pay for yesterday's medical expenses?"And even if I hadn't, my meddlesome sister would surely not let it go. How could she ha
Zoey's POVEven if my heart hurts like hell I forced myself to act as if nothing happened."Rosie is a beautiful grown up woman now" Nana says coming into the kitchen , where I prepare the lunch for us. A simple boiled pasta with tomato juice, but at least we won't starve. I really need to get out of this pack and find a job."I wonder how Tristan is." Nana says again and I stop from mixing the pasta and look at her.He is a jerk, that's what came directly into my mind, but I suppress that impulse and smiling at Nana, I say, "He is very busy ,Nana. I suppose that the Alpha ‘s duties are way too difficult."But Nana waves her hand in the air, suggesting that that's bullshit."I don't know why he changed so much. I raised him to be a brave young man and yet he became arrogant. I failed as his nanny."No, Nana. He is cruel. You don't become cruel in an instant. That evil was placed in his heart from the beginning, waiting for him to let it out.But I can't tell her that, so I place the p
Zoey's POV"The lightning?" Nana asks and looks at me in horror as she just figured it out that yesterday I faced Tristan and that's why I was looking like crap."Zoey, look at me" she said in a commanding voice, even though her voice was calm and full of love, I knew that she won't let me escape without being sincere with her."Did I say the lightning?" I asked back, trying to change the subject but she stared at me with that serious face , giving me no chance to escape."What is going on between you and Tristan Mayer, Zoey. And I want the truth." she says visibly affected.What truth ,Nana? You already know what is going on between us. You have a sixth sense. I was never able to hide anything from you."Zoey Carter! Do you recognize me as your godmother?" Nana says almost growling at me."Tell me the truth!" and my poor Nana starts to shiver.Oh my goddess, I am going to put her in a grave sooner at this pace!"Nana, please, calm down" I say with teary eyes."I am sorry, I didn't in
I went to the pack's shop where I bought something new to wear. I am going to do as Nana said but I don't want to make her more sad than I already did because of my scoundrel mate.So I have no other option but to listen to her.Sincerely, I have no idea why Tristan asked me to come to the packhouse.Maybe he wants to punish me for telling Nicholas and Mason that we are mates, but difficult times call for extraordinary solutions.The only goal in this life is to save Nana. Nothing else counts.Now that she doesn't want to leave the Crescent Moon Pack, I need to follow her wish and make Tristan come around so he could choose me as his surrogate."Tilly!" I growl at my wolf. "Stop wagging your fucking tail! I can sense your stupid happiness. This is not going to end well.""It doesn't matter," Tilly tells me with a sick excitement. "At least , until the baby appears he will not push us away."And holy shit, I just died!If I will be his surrogate, I hope that he will not force me to sta
I enter Tristan's office and I can cut the tension in the air.He passes me and walks to his desk and I thought that he would take a seat, but he motioned me to come close.Oh goddess, give me strength to survive this day and I promise you that I'll never make such stupid plans again.I had a lot of good intentions ,but this is already too much!Help me goddess, and I will be your most submissive child you ever seen."You know that I don't like to repeat myself!" Tristan says in a commanding voice, that makes my heart skip a beat. If he wouldn't be so arrogant and cruel he would be so damned perfect, but he is a jerk.I am watching him directly into his eyes and while I am coming in his direction I answer back, "And until now, Alpha Mayer, you should know that I hate being forced."I take a seat on the visitor chair , right in front of him.I have no idea why he asked me to come here, but I am a little bit nervous.Not as nervous as I was when I left the house, because now I am more c