Chapter 2

AMY'S POV

Attending my father's funeral, walking in on my mate cheating on me and finding my mother unconscious in the kitchen all in one day. I didn't know if the day could get any worse.

My face was buried in my hand as I sat in the waiting room in the hospital, waiting for any news from the doctor.

I had no idea what to do when I found my mother unconscious on the kitchen floor. The only thing I could think of was calling the ambulance. I was grateful that they came almost immediately.

It has been two hours now and I still haven't gotten any news. I raised my head and sighed in frustration.

At that moment, the doctor came out, looking somewhat stressed and I quickly jumped out of my seat.

“Doctor, how is my mother? What's wrong with her?” I asked with my heart slamming hard against my ribcage.

“Miss Hart, Your mother suffered a severe cardiac episode due to prolonged stress and underlying conditions. We need to perform an emergency bypass surgery to prevent further damage."

I nodded without thinking. “Then go ahead with the surgery.”

“The surgery would cost you the sum of sixty thousand dollars,” he said and I froze on the spot.

Sixty thousand dollars? How was I supposed to get that when we were in a lot of debt because of Dad's illness?

We couldn't even afford that month's rent and I was expected to find sixty thousand dollars.

“Did you say sixty thousand dollars?” I asked again to confirm that I heard him right.

“Yes, Miss Hart,” he responded and I swallowed hard. “The money has to be paid in the next twenty four hours so we can proceed with the surgery. Any further delays can cause your mother to be in more danger.”

My breath hitched in my throat and tears swelled in my eyes. “I need to arrange sixty thousand dollars in twenty four? How I am supposed to do that alone?”

I didn't even have a job to support myself financially because Derek's family insisted that it wouldn't look good on them if their daughter in-law does menial jobs for money. They even refused to let me go to college and told me to just focus on being a good Luna.

I had been dependent on my family and Derek my whole life and now I was stuck with no one to help me.

“Miss Hart, I suggest you look for a way to arrange the money as fast as you can if you want your mother to survive,” The doctor said and walked away from me.

I sat down back in the waiting room and buried my face in my hand as I began to cry.

‘Crying won't solve anything. We need to find a solution as soon as possible,’ Lexie said as she quietly whimpered. ‘We already lost dad, we can't lose mom too.’

‘What do you want me to do? I have no one that can give me sixty thousand dollars in an instant.’

She was quiet for a while before she continued, ‘There's actually someone.’

At first my eyebrows furrowed in confusion before realisation hit me. ‘Derek?’

‘He's the only one that would easily give us sixty thousand dollars without thinking twice,’ she pushed.

She was right. Derek was the Alpha's son and also the sole heir to his parent's company. The Wellington family were extremely wealthy, they had both money and power. Just one word from Derek could save my mother's life.

But the idea of going back to begging him for money didn't sit well with me. I didn't want to see the smug look on his face when he realized that I couldn't survive a day without him.

If anything, my mom would be disappointed to learn that I went back to Derek for help just to save her life.

What other options do I have left?

Derek and his family are the only powerful family in the entire New York city I could think of right now. I had no connections to the other packs.

Just then a name caught my attention from the TV playing in the waiting room. I looked up and there he was.

Richard Wellington, the 38 year old hot bachelor, who is also Derek's Uncle and the Alpha of Darkwood Pack. He was currently being celebrated for investing in 300 orphans education in Darkwood Pack.

Darkwood pack used to be one of the slum areas of Rainwood Pack. When the former Alpha, Derek's grandfather was about to die, he made Derek's father the Alpha of most of the Rainwood Pack territories and the CEO of the Wellington company.

Then he made Richad, his mistress's son, in charge of the factory located in the slums and made him Alpha over the area, so he renamed the place Darkwood Pack and separated it from Rainwood territories.

No one expected that Alpha Richard could develop that slum to be one of the biggest Pack in New York city.

Even if I couldn't understand how it happened because it seemed like the place changed overnight even though it took years of hard work from the people.

Richard now runs all the cooperation in Darkwood Pack, making him the richest CEO and Alpha in New York city.

‘Are you thinking of asking him for help?’ Lexie asked. ‘Do you think he would agree to help so easily?’

‘He seems like the best candidate right now.’ I shrugged. ‘He has more power and influence than Derek and he also hates Derek to the bone. He's perfect.’

My mind went back to Derek's twenty-fifth birthday party earlier that year where all their influential friends and families and the Alphas in New York city, including Richard Wellington, were present.

Derek had just publicly proposed to me in the middle of the party and I was starting to get overwhelmed by the massive attention I was receiving.

I excused myself to the restroom to calm myself only to come out to see Richard Wellington's 6ft figure casually resting on the wall with a flute of champagne in his hand.

His dark hair was slicked back and his green eyes bored into mine. My wolf instantly became intimidated and restless from the domineering aura that was oozing off him.

I cleared my throat and curtsy. “Alpha,” I said before I turned to leave but his voice stopped me.

“You seem like a smart girl but it seems you are dumb when it comes to picking men.”

My eyes widened and I swerved my head to look at him. “What do you mean? Derek is my fated mate, the moon Goddess picked him for me.”

“Fated Mate?” He scoffed. “Do you think he respects that? Fated mate means nothing in our current world. You should have seen that after spending two years with him, except you are purposely turning a blind eye to his shortcomings.

A man who couldn't even take care of himself or stay loyal before meeting his mate is not a good choice for a husband. Even if the moon Goddess gives you a mate, you are to make the final decision on your own.”

“Derek is not the first man that didn't stay loyal without his mate. I am here now and he has been loyal to me. That's what matters,” I said and he scoffed. “Besides, he is the future Alpha of Rainwood Pack. He needs to focus on Pack duties, I can focus on taking care of the both of us.”

He pushed himself off the wall and took a step closer. “He's also a reckless spender.”

“It doesn't matter, he's rich anyways.” I shrugged.

He laughed and took a sip of his wine. “Now I see what's happening. You don't care about what he does because he's rich which means you are with him for his money.” He took another step closer.

I wanted to defend myself but I had a feeling I would be wasting my time and energy. “Yes, so what?”

A smirk formed on his lips as he moved closer. I didn't step back because I didn't want to show any sign of fear.

He stopped in front of me with only an inch between us. He had to bend to lean closer to my ears.

“If money is what you want, I have more money than Derek,” he said and walked away, leaving me to ponder on what he said.

As I looked at him on the big screen in the hospital, everything he said to me that night began to make sense.

Without wasting time, I stood up and made my way out of the hospital. I hailed down a taxi and told him to drive me to the Wellington Company in Darkwood Pack.

The worst thing that could happen was that I would embarrass myself if I had misunderstood Alpha Richard's intentions but nobody would know what would happen if I don't give it a try.

‘Amy, are you sure about this?’ Lexie asked and I could feel her anxiousness.

‘This is the only choice we have to save mom and get revenge on Derek at the same time,’ I replied to her. ‘I'm ready to do anything as long as I get what I want.’

She sighed and withdrew because she knew nothing she said would change my mind.

I took a deep breath when I arrived at the Wellington company. The tall glass building was enough to intimidate me but I wasn't ready to back down.

I looked down at the black dress I wore from the funeral and smoothed it to look presentable. “Amy, you can do this,” I encouraged myself before I walked in.

It was my first time coming in there and I had to admit that the interior of the building was far better than that of the Rainwood Wellington company.

I controlled myself to stop gawking around and approached the receptionist.

“Hello, I'm Amy Hart. I'm here to see Alpha Richard Wellington,” I started then I added in a low tone. “I don't have an appointment though.”

“Welcome, Miss Hart. The Alpha is waiting for you in his office.”

Wait, what?