CHAPTER 3
1274 Words
I'm nowhere near close," I groan, pushing away from Bella's laptop. My eyes burn from staring at numbers that refuse to add up to enough.
Bella sighs, running her fingers through her messy hair. "We've tried everything. Mortgaged what's left of your mom's estate, your properties, even my parents' house." She pauses, voice smaller. "Two days left."
Two days. The words echo in my head like a death knell.
Every night for the past two weeks, a new video arrives. Ethan, beaten. Bloodied. Sometimes screaming through the duct tape. Sometimes too weak to lift his head.
"What about—" My voice catches. "No, we've tried every bank. Every lender."
"Except—"
"Don't say Nathan." I cut her off. "House Lewis doesn't deserve to be dragged into this mess. And how would I even explain?"
Breaking up with Nathan had been hard enough. One phone call: 'We're over.' He'd deserved better, deserved a real explanation, but all I could say was 'because we have to be.' His quiet acceptance only made it worse.
"Have you considered asking Patrick again?" Bella's voice is hesitant.
I retreated to her bedroom, phone clutched in my hand. The cheerful K-pop posters and fashion magazines mock me with their normalcy. When did my life become this nightmare?
I close my eyes and see him – Tyler, my mate, sleeping peacefully in that hotel room. Trusting. Unaware of what was coming.
Patrick answers on the first ring.
"Please," I whisper, swallowing my pride. "Ethan deserves your help. Tell me what to do."
His plan makes me physically ill. Blackmail my mate. Betray the one person the Moon Goddess chose for me. The very thought feels like sacrilege.
But then I see Ethan's face in my mind – bruised, terrified, so young – and I know I have no choice.
I borrow Bella's yellow sundress, apply makeup with trembling hands. My reflection shows a stranger – someone desperate enough to destroy her own happiness to save her brother.
"I'll be back," I tell Bella, hugging her tight. We both know it might be a lie.
The taxi ride to Moonrise Entertainment feels like a journey to my execution. Tyler Wright, CEO of a corporate empire, future Alpha of the most powerful pack in America. And I'm about to betray him.
'He'll never forgive us,' Rayne whimpers in my mind.
'As long as Ethan lives,' I think back, 'I can live with that.'
The gleaming corporate building towers above me, all glass and steel. The taxi driver gives me a dubious look. "Want me to wait, miss?"
I force a smile. "No, thank you. I've got it from here."
I smooth down the borrowed dress, straighten my shoulders. Channel every ounce of confidence I don't feel. Two days left to save my brother. No time for doubt.
'Forgive me, Tyler,' I think as I walk through the doors. 'Some debts can only be paid with betrayal.’
The security guard eyes me skeptically as I approach the elevator banks. My heart pounds against my ribs, but I force my chin up. Channel every mean girl from high school who ever made me feel small.
"Excuse me! I have to see Tyler Wright." My voice comes out stronger than I feel.
The guard – 'Martinez' according to his name tag – steps forward. "Do you have an appointment?"
"I don't need an appointment." I inject as much entitled disdain into my voice as possible, though my stomach churns.
"Everyone needs an appointment, ma'am." His tone is practiced, professional. "Please check in at the desk—"
"Do you know who I am?" I interrupt, channeling four years of watching Regina Thompson terrorize our school hallways.
Martinez sighs. "No ma'am, I don't. That's why—"
The elevator dings, cutting him off. A group emerges, led by a heavily pregnant woman in an expensive suit. Two men hover around her like satellites.
"Sarah, I'll have those reports on your desk by tomorrow," one says, steadying her elbow.
"Take your time, James," she laughs. "This little one's not due for weeks."
I watch them, mind racing. Patrick's words echo: 'Just get to him in person. One whiff of your scent and he'll give you anything.'
"Tyler didn't mention anything about needing special access," I say loudly, noting how the pregnant woman's badge lets her bypass security entirely.
Martinez's jaw tightens. "The security desk will call ahead—"
"Call ahead?" I laugh, the sound brittle. "To announce his mate?"
That gets his attention. His eyes narrow, scanning me more carefully. "Mr. Wright hasn't announced a mate."
"Of course he hasn't." I step closer, letting Rayne rise just enough to make my eyes flash. "We've been keeping it private."
"Ma'am." His hand moves to his radio. "I really can't—"
"Can't what?" I snap, desperation making me bold. "Let his pregnant mate up to see him?"
The lobby goes quiet. Even the clicking of heels on marble stops.
"Pregnant?" Martinez's voice cracks.
Rayne whines in my head. 'We shouldn't lie about pups!'
'Shut up!' I tell her. 'Ethan needs us!'
"Yes," I press on, one hand moving to my stomach. "And if anything happens to me or this baby because you wouldn't let me see my mate..." I let the threat hang.
"I... I need to call this in." He reaches for his radio again.
"Fine." I cross my arms. "Call. But when Tyler finds out you made his mate and child wait in the lobby..."
Another guard approaches – older, greying at the temples. "Everything okay here, Martinez?"
"She claims to be Mr. Wright's mate," Martinez explains. "Says she's pregnant."
The older guard studies me. "Name?"
I lift my chin. "He knows me."
"I'm sure he does," he says dryly. "But we need a name for the log."
"Then call him." My voice wavers slightly. "Tell him his mate is here. Tell him..." I swallow hard. "Tell him it's the girl from LUST."
Both guards exchange looks.
"LUST?" the older one asks. "The casino?"
"Please," I whisper, letting real tears fill my eyes. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't important. Our baby—"
"Jesus," Martinez mutters. "Anderson, we can't risk—"
"Call up," Anderson decides. "Mr. Wright's office. Now."
While Martinez makes the call, I pray silently. 'Please let this work. Please, Tyler, help me save my brother.'
"Yes, sir," Martinez says into his radio. "She's... yes, sir. Right away."
He turns to me, expression unreadable. "Take the express elevator to the top floor. Mr. Wright's assistant will meet you."
Relief makes my knees weak. First hurdle cleared. But the hard part is still to come.
As I step into the elevator, Rayne whimpers again. 'He'll smell the lie. About the pup.'
'I know,' I think back, watching the numbers climb. 'But Ethan's worth any price. Even this.'
The elevator rises smoothly, each floor taking me closer to either salvation or damnation. By the time it reaches the top, I'm trembling.
'Forgive me, Tyler,' I think as the doors open. 'I never wanted to hurt you.'
A sleek reception area greets me, all chrome and glass. Behind a modern desk sits a woman who could model for business magazines. Her smile is sharp as a knife.
"Mr. Wright's mate?" Her tone suggests she doesn't believe it for a second.
I straighten my borrowed dress. "Yes."
"How interesting." She stands, heels clicking on marble. "Especially since he was just telling me this morning how he hasn't found his mate yet."
My heart stops. But I've come too far to back down now.
"Then he'll be very surprised to see me, won't he?"
- Writer
