Chapter 3

I was overjoyed when I reached the hospital, hopeful that we could soon secure a suitable kidney donor. Perhaps it was something inherent in our family—Alpha Kamden had suffered kidney failure from overwork, and our son Micah was born with a congenital kidney condition. Just as the hospital informed me that a suitable donor had been found, the Silver Moon Pack’s accountant called. She said there had been a mix-up; Alpha Kamden had intended to provide only half of the $40,000 needed for the surgery and wanted me to return the rest. She even suggested I could sell my own kidney for $20,000 and use it for Micah’s treatment.

I held the phone, even after the call ended, frozen in disbelief. Alpha Kamden knew exactly how to break me—offering hope only to snatch it away. I had already donated a kidney to Micah; him demanding that money felt like he was asking for my very life. The hospital was ready to proceed with Micah’s surgery, but it was all on hold because of insufficient funds.

At my lowest point, an old friend reached out. She asked if I needed money and offered me a job opportunity. "I’ve just opened a new gathering place for our pack. You could help out, but I doubt the waitstaff position would appeal to you—it doesn’t pay much."

"You could work as a hostess, and I’d give you a share of the tips. You could earn a couple thousand in a night."

I knew what being a hostess entailed—it was essentially serving drinks and entertaining clients. As I hesitated, the hospital gave me an ultimatum: Micah’s health wouldn’t hold out much longer. I immediately contacted my friend and told her, "I’m willing to do it."

This job pushed me to make a choice, forcing me to completely set aside my pride. Moreover, after my kidney transplant, my health had declined significantly. During my pregnancy, one kidney was removed, and the surgery left me in a weakened state. Giving birth to Micah had nearly cost me my life. Over the past four years, my health had deteriorated, but I constantly overlooked my condition to care for Micah. Now, faced with the current crisis, if I didn’t take the hostess job, Micah had no chance.

What I didn’t expect was to run into Alpha Kamden on my first day at work.

The moment I saw him, my wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, a faint echo of the bond that had once tied us together. He stood tall, his broad shoulders and muscular frame commanding the room, his Alpha aura radiating dominance. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something—regret, perhaps—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"Ellis," he said, his voice low and steady, though I could hear the edge of authority in it. "What are you doing here?"

I swallowed hard, my hands trembling as I clutched the tray of drinks I was carrying. "Alpha Kamden," I replied, forcing my voice to remain calm. "I’m working here."

His gaze narrowed, and I could feel the weight of his judgment pressing down on me. "Working as a hostess?" he asked, his tone sharp. "Do you have any idea how this reflects on the pack? On me?"

I bit my lip, my wolf stirring uneasily within me. "I have no choice," I said quietly. "Micah needs the surgery, and I don’t have the funds. I’m doing what I must to save our son."

For a moment, he was silent, his expression unreadable. Then he turned away, his voice cold. "Do what you must, but don’t expect me to clean up your mess."

As he walked away, I felt the sting of his words, the weight of his rejection pressing down on me. My wolf whimpered again, a faint echo of the bond that had once been so strong. But I pushed the pain aside, focusing on the task at hand. Micah needed me, and I would do whatever it took to save him—even if it meant sacrificing my pride and facing the judgment of the pack.