01. The Payment

"How many times did I tell you I will no longer tolerate late payments, you bitch!" the landlord exclaimed, his saliva spreading all over my face. Yuck.

I wiped away some remnants of his saliva on my face, disgusted.

"I'm not a bitch," I replied. "I'll pay you, old man. I promise. Give me more time, okay?"

"When? You always promise. If I did not pity you, you would be sleeping on the streets right now."

With a bored look, I stared at his fancy gold pieces of jewelry distributed all over his body. He was brave to flaunt his wealth with no fear of being robbed. Yes, he had his bodyguard with him, but that was not enough if the thief intended to snatch all his belongings away.

I could take everything he had in one single take. A snap in the neck. And putting poison inside his bodyguard's body. Everything was easy.

However, I did not want to do that.

I had to blend in the mortal world. Be at peace with them though werewolves and humans were already in cohabitation. Humans were slowly accepting we were living in their world.

"Your mercy is boundless, old man. The heavens will praise you for that," I added.

His lips curled. "Be sure to keep your promise, bitch."

I made a salute. "Point taken, old man." I pressed my fingers together and put it in front of my face. "A little."

I was a she-wolf, although I was a servant, I should be superior to humans.

The way this old man treated me was unacceptable!

"Do you mean that?" he asked, not believing me.

He used a cane whenever he walked. I could use that cane to beat him. To his death. Again. Not a good move.

His angry demeanor reminded me of the alpha of the Stonewind Pack, but not in strength. Of Alpha Lennox who rejected me.

He was an old man with no teeth at all but had a complete denture. He thought he was mightier than me just because he had the money while I was penniless as the mouse. He thought he had the right to disrespect me just because I looked like a child—more like an eighteen-year-old despite being a twenty-eight-year-old.

"Yes, of course. I am true to my words. This time, I got no customers," I answered. "Give me this night and I will give you the money."

I was selling different pastry products like croissants, pies, macarons, pretzels, and a lot more. I forced myself to learn, and little by little bought myself the ingredients and baked them in the safety of my rented place. However, there were times when there were no customers despite the endless attempts of advertising my products on different social media platforms.

"Sell your body, if you have to. Work, work, work! Don't be a lazy bitch!"

"Bastard," I muttered and put my hands on the pockets of my pants. Could I punch him now?

"What did you say, wench?" he asked.

I smiled at him, hiding my irritation.

"Nothing, sir. I wasn't saying anything."

I wanted to be cool, despite his rude behavior. I had been trying to pay on time so that our paths would never cross, but shit happened. No one wanted to buy my products, but I did not want to just give up.

I fought myself settling into the human world and refused to sleep in parks anymore and be homeless.

"If you can't pay, sleep outside! There are a lot of people after this place!"

I stared at the sky and let the old man continue his ramblings. This would be a long night and a cold one if the landlord will not take pity on me. If the rent was higher than the rest, I would never choose this place. But it was affordable. I was tempted.

The room was small. Barely fit me. The bed had an uneven height and holes on each mattress. The sink was broken. Tap water was shy, no water would come out during the afternoon and night, and only came out every morning. I had to stock water if I wanted to use it for the rest of the day.

My situation in the human world was more pathetic than I was in the Stonewind Pack. Back then, I had my room. My privacy, water, electricity, and food. As well as money. But here? I sighed.

I wanted to move to a much more comfortable place but held myself. My savings was still not enough to pay the monthly rent.

"Do you understand?"

I nodded.

The only thing I understood was the urgency to look for money.

If I had not known he was a peeping tom, the previous renters had already told me about this, I would never rent his place.

Not trusting the place, I did not shower in my bathroom. Instead, I went to every public bathroom available and took a bath there.

I was willing to suffer all kinds of hardships, as long as I would not return to Stonewind Pack. I wanted to forget about that and move on. This was my world. Now.

When he stopped, I finally said, "I don't care if I do not have the money, but I won't sell my body. No one could afford me."

I normally respected all the elderly, except this old man. He was sick. My patience was already wearing thin and if he made a bad move by saying unnecessary things, I won't promise anything. Even if he had his bodyguard with him. Oh, Moon Goddess forbade me.

The old man laughed and looked at me. "The only thing beautiful to look at is your body," he spat. "But not your face. Make use of your body, girl. Before I throw all your belongings in the garbage bin."

My fist shook as I looked at him with pure hate. See? That was how evil humans were. Their hearts were already turned into stone.

“Don’t glare at me!” he said and attempted to poke my eyes.

I dodged his attacks.

Inhale, exhale, Keira. No need to fight this old man. You got this. Since I was a rogue, the Council would give me disciplinary actions for causing a scene and endangering the werewolf community. And then the punishment will follow after. They would hit me with a whip at my back until I would beg for mercy and stop from becoming a bad she-wolf. Or they could kill me directly so they will no longer have a problem.

I shivered. No! They will not get me.

“I was not! Your eyes are betraying you,” I lied. "Wear your glasses next time, old man." I stepped away from him so that I will not cause him harm. “I promise I will pay,” I said.

“This will be the last chance, girl,” he threatened and stomped away from my house. His steps were slow and uneven. I could trip him and he would fall. Then, blood would come out of his head and flood my house.

You evil girl. Stop thinking about that. Or the Council will look for you, dragging you back to the Stonewind Pack. Back to Alpha Lennox. No fucking way.