The Serene Moon and Her Frozen Wolf Lord

Chapter Three- Evaluate Her

Joanna turned back to her seat at the bar. "Two beers, Henry, please! " she requested, her voice tinged with exhaustion. Henry nodded and quickly prepared the drinks, handing them to her. Joanna took a sip of the slightly bitter beer, the brief moment of relaxation offering her a fleeting respite.

Andrew's gaze, almost unconsciously, drifted towards Joanna. He noticed that the subtle fragrance she carried earlier seemed to have diminished. This subtle change stirred a pang of disappointment within him. Reflecting on the morning's meeting, he realized his heightened sensitivity might have been influenced by her scent, leading to an early onset of his rut. This psychological and physiological reaction left him feeling perplexed.

Andrew rose from his seat and walked over to Joanna with a measured deliberate stride. He approached her with a hint of a teasing smile and asked, "What perfume are you wearing?"

Joanna looked at him with mild curiosity. " Are you interested, Mr. Andrew?"

She retrieved a small sample from Henry and handed it to Andrew. He took it, sniffing the fragrance with a practiced nose. However, his brow furrowed slightly as he failed to find the expected answer. Leaning closer to her ear, he whispered, "Not this one. Miss Joanna, are you truly just a beta?"

Joanna felt his breath against her ear, causing her heart to race. She struggled to maintain her composure. " Of course, I’m a beta. If I were anything else, I’d have a better way to earn money, wouldn’t I? "

Andrew was about to press further when a striking figure entered the bar—tall, with golden hair and blue eyes. Her arrival caused a stir; she was Sarah Bennett, the owner of Rousseau Bar. Her gaze scanned the room before landing on Andrew and Joanna. Approaching Andrew, her brow furrowed with irritation, she asked, " Andrew, what brings you to the bar? Has Alex been found?"

Andrew’s lips curled into a wry smile. " Not yet. But I’ve found his sister. Perhaps you should ask her—she might know where Mary and Alex are."

Joanna felt a jolt of shock at the mention of her brother's name.

Sarah’s attention turned to Joanna, her impatience evident. "Do you know where Alex and that wretched Mary have gone?"

Joanna replied," I don't. I’ve been unable to reach Alex. "

Sarah’s tone grew colder. " One's an omega prostitute working here, and the other’s a fighter at Richard's underground boxing gym. They both disappeared after donating. If I find them, they’ll pay for it. "

She shot a contemptuous look at Joanna. " You're Alex's sister? How come you don't know where your brother is? Don't you keep in touch? "

Joanna explained, "We rarely stayed in touch after Alex went to college. After he dropped out due to fighting, our contact diminished further. I have no idea where he might be now. "

Sarah turned to Andrew, who had been quietly observing the exchange. “What’s your plan to cover the losses?”

Andrew took a sip of his strong drink, his expression steely. "I've increased our efforts to find Alex and Mary. The longer it takes, the more likely their money will be spent, resulting in greater losses for us. It’s best if we locate them soon. If we find them before they spend everything, the costs will be on them. Mary relies on her clients, and as for Alex, with his strong build, his organs should be in good shape." He cast a sidelong glance at Joanna, a sly smile creeping onto his face. " However, organ trafficking isn’t our style. Hopefully, we find them soon, and the money isn't all gone. Also, Joanna's flower shop could offset some of the losses. "

Sarah, listening to his plan, seemed to approve of his approach. " You need to find them quickly. Mary has too many regulars. Announce that she’s ill to the public and let other omegas handle her business, but this arrangement won’t last long."

She turned to Joanna, her gaze assessing. "Miss Joanna, where is your flower shop located? If you can’t find a buyer, I might be able to help."

Joanna felt a pang of nervousness but forced herself to stay calm. "Miss Sarah, I came here about the omega fragrances. I have several pure, natural fragrances that could be used as a form of debt repayment. Would that be an option?"

Henry handed the samples Joanna had brought to Sarah. Sarah took them, sniffed each one, and her expression grew thoughtful. " Are you an omega? Do you have s****l experience? You should understand from our conversation what kind of scent I need. Therefore, my standards are quite high."

She examined the two essential oils closely, wrinkling her nose. " The scents are very pure but too fresh for the theme I'm looking for. However, I can have these samples sent to the biochemical department for testing and the marketing department for evaluation. Even if they pass, there won’t be a substantial demand for them."

Joanna's face took on a resolute expression. "I didn’t understand your requirements at first, so the samples I brought might not meet your expectations. Although I’m not an omega, I have an understanding of s****l experiences. I hope you can see my talent in fragrance creation. As you know, only those with true talent can create outstanding fragrances efficiently."

Sarah nodded slightly, seemingly acknowledging Joanna’s determination. " Someone will contact you regarding whether the samples are acceptable. It would be beneficial for you if you could provide any information about your brother Alex. "

Joanna understood Sarah’s implication, nodded slightly, and prepared to leave with her bag. Sarah turned to Andrew, her curiosity piqued. " Andrew, is there a specific reason for your visit today? Let’s discuss it in a private room. "

She led Andrew toward the bar's private room.

Andrew cast one last lingering glance at Joanna, a hint of renewed interest in his eyes. Following Sarah into the private room, he sat down. The staff poured whiskey and then exited, leaving Andrew to speak directly. “I need a high-level omega. I sense my rut might be approaching earlier than expected.”

Sarah's brow furrowed slightly. " What happened? "

Andrew hesitated, the image of Joanna’s face surfacing in his mind. He spoke quietly, "The reason is still unclear. I need you to contact Monica and have her return to help me investigate. "

The two sat across from each other, their glasses clinking with a crisp sound. After a moment of silence, Andrew broke it. " What do you think of Joanna? "

A flicker of disdain crossed Sarah’s eyes as she took a sip of her drink and smirked coldly. " Joanna? She seems like a weak beta. Alex must have treated her, otherwise, she wouldn’t be so submissive, like an omega. But if she were an omega, with her physique, many of the more depraved customers might…"

Andrew interrupted her. " What about her fragrances? What’s your opinion? "

Sarah responded, " She's likely a talented perfumer. Her products are very clean, and if she were an omega, it would be even better. "

Andrew nodded slightly, seeming to agree with Sarah’s assessment. His gaze grew deeper, a complex emotion crossing his mind. After a long pause, he said in a low voice," Indeed. "

Sarah's gaze lingered on Andrew, seemingly pondering the implications of his words. They continued their conversation, their glasses reflecting their intricate inner worlds under the dim, hazy light.