Their Human Mate

The Offer

Ember

I woke up in my bed and in my nightgown. I was wondering if it was all a dream, but a “Good morning, little flame” from behind me made me jump out of bed and spin around. There was Ryder, just sitting on my bed like it was the most normal thing in the world. I was about to make a break for my mom’s room, but he was fast, blocking the door before I could reach it.

“Now why would you go and wake up that beautiful lady?” he asked. He held a finger to his mouth in a hushing manner and cracked open the door to mom’s room. She was indeed sleeping, and there was a woman inside wearing a white doctor’s coat. She smiled and nodded once at me before attending to my mother.

Ryder pulled me back into my room.

“What do you want with me? Who is that woman in my mother’s room? How the hell do you even know where I live?” The questions seemed to tumble out at once. I had backed into one corner of my room and he leaned against my dresser. He was wearing a black shirt, denim jeans, and black and red Jordans.

“I have a proposition for you. As for the woman, she is a personal doctor of mine, and is now charged with overseeing your mother’s condition, per my instructions. As for where you live, I’m a pretty powerful man. Finding you was easier than finding my lost watch. You should make your tracks more easily covered. You never know what could be hunting you,” he said with a smirk. It didn’t escape my notice that he said ‘what’ rather than ‘who,’ and it sent a chill down my spine.

“Give me one good reason I shouldn’t report you to the police,” I told him. “Breaking and entering is a crime.” He laughed a little loud at that before pulling out his gun and setting it on the table. The fear of dying came back, so I decided to tread carefully. He saw the fear in my eyes. It was a threat.

“All of the cops here are under my payroll. None of them would listen to you, though they would probably believe you,” he said.

“So what, you’re some mafia crime boss or something?” I asked.

“Something like that,” he said, smirking.

“That still doesn’t answer my question. What do you want with me?” I asked him, eyeing his gun, then back to him. If he wanted to kill me, he would have shot me last night. With that thought, I moved from my corner, crossed my arms, and leaned against the wall. He followed my every motion.

“Ember Maze. 20 years old. Dead father. Paraplegic mother. Going to culinary school to train to be a top chef, paid for two years by your daddy’s money before he died. I imagine that’s why you were working at that cafe — to save money. Daddy only paid for two years, and you’ve been paying the bills with his life insurance money. School starts next month for you, and you barely have just enough for a semester. Tell me if I’m missing anything,” he said. I stayed silent. Just who the hell was this guy? He smiled.

“My proposition to you is simple. You saw me commit murder last night, and I need you silent, which means I need you in my sight around the clock. I’m offering you the chance to have the remaining two years of your school paid for and your mother taken care of, as long as you play by my rules,” he said, uncrossing his arms. The wheels were turning in my head. He couldn’t be serious.

“And what would I have to do in return?” I asked him. I was no w***e.

“Simple. You will come, every morning, to my mansion at 10am, and train my chefs.” This surprised me. I was not expecting that.

“You want me to… teach your chefs how to cook?” I asked slowly, just to make sure I heard it right.

“That’s correct. The chefs there — you could say they are part of my extended family, so I don’t want them fired. I want them trained, and after they are trained, I want you to lead them as part of your job. You will be paid, handsomely, of course. Money is no object to me,” he said.

“You haven’t even tasted my cooking. How do you even know I’m the chef you are looking for?” I asked. He looked serious.

“Because if you aren’t, then I will have to finish the job I started last night,” he said, motioning toward the gun.

“So work for you and get my bills paid, or die. Those are my choices?” I asked. He nodded. Even with all of this bizarreness, I was putting the pieces together in my head. This could be the best thing for me. I could have school paid for, my mother taken care of, and make more money in the process of doing what I love. He was offering me a golden ticket.

“How do I know this isn’t some sick game you’ve cooked up to torture then kill me?” I asked him.

“Call your school. Ask about your balance,” he said, tossing me my phone. Not taking my eyes off him, I called my school, and they told me the remainder of two years had been paid in full earlier that morning. Well, s**t. He put his gun back in his belt and walked toward me. His presence close to me, as I looked into his brown eyes, was not threatening, but I still knew he was a dangerous man. He brushed a piece of my hair off my face.

“Believe me when I say I don’t want to hurt you, Ember. Work for me. I’m offering you a chance to make your life better than before. If you don’t do it for me, then do it for your mother,” he said sweetly, before tucking my hair behind my ear. I stood frozen, not sure what to do. He grinned, then walked to the door before turning around.

“I’d hate to see anything happen to her. I’m sure you will make the best decision,” he said menacingly, before leaving. I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Did that really just f*****g happen?

I received a text on my phone from Ryder. The fucker had already put his name in my contacts.

* * *

Come tomorrow to 113 Brownsville Road for your new job. Be here by 9:45. Don’t be late, little flame.

Ryder.

* * *

I went to my mother’s room. She was just waking up and was looking confused at the woman inside.

“Who the hell are you?” she asked the lady.

“My name is Doctor Charli Hanes, but you may call me Charli, ma’am,” she said, looking at the tubes connected to my mother. I spoke before my mother had a fit.

“Mom, I got a new job as a cook — a job I applied for a few weeks ago. I didn’t want to tell you if I didn’t get it. Along with the new job comes the last two years of school being paid off, as well as your fees. They are paying me to teach their cooks how to better manage the kitchen, and then I will be leading them,” I told her, coming to sit beside her. She was shocked.

“Are you serious, Ember? Oh my God, that is amazing,” she said, almost in tears. She hugged me tight. I did my best to put on my bravest face as I felt like I could break down at any moment.

“Oh, your father would be so proud of you. I know I am. You’re destined for great things, my little fire Ember. I just know it.”

A clip came on the TV — a news report about a wolf being spotted and breaking into people’s homes. I kissed her head and went back to my room, shutting the door. I allowed myself to finally process everything, and somehow I just ended up in tears. Charli knocked on my door a little later, letting me know she was heading out.

“I will be here every day at 9am, so you just focus on yourself and your job. She will be well taken care of, Ember,” she said from behind the door. I heard her leave.

This was the start of everything, and if I had known what was coming, it probably would have been a mercy to have him just kill me on the spot.