Claimed By The Lycan Bodyguard

Chapter 1 Annie dashed down the hospital corridor, her heart pounding with anxiety. She burst into the doctor's office, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Please, doctor, you honestly have to tell me the truth about my mother's condition." The doctor, a stern middle-aged man, sat behind his desk, examining the test results. Looking up at Annie, he signed worriedly. "Please, Annie, take a seat," he said, removing his glasses and gesturing to the chair in front of him. Annie reluctantly complied and sat down, “Go on Doc,” she urged the doctor to share the news. "I'm deeply sorry, Annie. Your mother is in critical condition. She's in the ICU and the prognosis is not favorable," the doctor explained. “What?” Annie muttered with despair, and her heart sank at the words. Her mother had been battling cancer, and lately, her the condition had deteriorated significantly. Despite her efforts to stay optimistic, the recent weeks had taken a drastic toll. Her mother had visibly lost weight and appeared constantly fatigued. The reality that her mother might not survive shook Annie to her core. "What can we do, doctor? Please, you have to help her," Annie pleaded, her voice cracking. The doctor's eyes met her gaze with a grave expression. " I will be honest, your mother requires surgery. It's the only way to treat her condition, but the hospital insists on upfront payment." Annie's eyes widened as she glanced at the bills on the table. "$10,000!" she gasped, struggling to breathe. Their family's finances were stretched thin, and this sum was insurmountable. "Doctor, I... I don't have that kind of money," Annie stammered, her distress evident. “I understand, Annie,” The doctor nodded, and his voice filled with sympathy. "It's indeed a challenging situation, and I wish we had more options, but the hospital's policy is strict." Annie's shoulders slumped, and a heavy weight settled on her chest. The realization that there were no other options began to sink in, and she could no longer hold back her tears. "Doctor, what else can we do? Is there no alternative to go about this?" Annie's voice shook with desperation. "I wish there were," the doctor sighed, and Annie lowered her head sadly. The office became quiet and the tension hung in the air, only Annie’s sniffing could be heard. "I... I understand. Thank you," she muttered, her voice heavy with defeat. “I'm sorry, Annie,” the doctor stared apologetically since there was nothing he could do. With that, Annie silently rose from her seat and left the doctor's office, her steps heavy and slow. As Annie left the doctor's office, the weight of her mother's dire condition pressed heavily on her chest to the extent she could barely catch her breath. Heading to her mother’s ward, she got there and stood outside the threshold. Through the glass window, Annie could see her poor mother, lying on the bed connected to various machines, fighting a battle for her life. The rhythmic beeping of the life support equipment seemed to emphasize the dire of the situation. Fresh tears welled up in Annie's eyes as she watched her mother, frail and vulnerable in that sterile hospital room. She knew that she had to do something; she couldn't stand by and watch her mother suffer. “Pleaee hang in there, Mom. I promise I'll find a way to make you better,” she whispered against the window. Annie sniffed as she turned away from the sight and walked out of the hospital, the automatic doors whooshing shut behind her. Just then, her phone rang, and she quickly pulled it from her pocket. The caller ID displayed her best friend, “Sarah” name, and she unhesitantly answered with a mixture of relief and anxiety. "Hey, Sarah," Annie greeted, her voice shaking. “Annie, how's your mother’s health? I've been worried,” Sarah's concerned tone came through the phone. Annie sniffed as she looked up at the sunlit sky, she took a deep breath before starting to explain the disturbing situation. "To be honest, It's not good, Sarah. Mom's in the ICU, and we need $10,000 for her surgery. I don't know what to do.” “Oh my God! I'm so sorry, Annie,” Sarah exclaimed and there was a brief pause on the other end of the line. After a few minutes, Sarah's voice came through again, “I just came back from Bluestone pack, I went to see a friend, but I'm at home right now. Uh, I think I might have a solution." “A solution!” ANNIE was stunned and her heart skipped a beat of hope in Sarah's words. "You really do? Please, Sarah, tell me." "I don't want to get your hopes up just yet," Sarah cautioned, "but I have an idea. I'm coming over to your place right now to discuss it. Hang in there, Annie. We're going to figure this out together." “T-thank you, Sarah. I will be waiting,” Annie's eyes filled with tears of gratitude. The phone call disconnected and Annie hurriedly boarded a taxi, she couldn't wait to hear what solution Sarah had. As Annie sat in the taxi on her way home, her mind wandered back to her painful past in Astral Pack. It was a place filled with memories she tried hard to forget. That place was far from being the loving pack she had once imagined it would be. After her father had been killed in a brutal rogue attack, leaving her and her ailing mother to fend for themselves. The loss of her father had been devastating, but the cruelty she endured in Astral Pack was equally heart-wrenching. As a lowlife omega, she was treated as an outcast, a burden, and a target for relentless bullying in the pack school which prompted her to drop out. She was only 16 when all this happen, in such a young age she has to face such trauma and made life decision on her own. Many years passed but she still felt like it’s a fresh wound in her heart. She recalled the countless days of torment, the harsh words, and the physical abuse. The pack members made it clear that they considered her worthless. She had tried to protect her sick mother, but there was only so much she could do in a place that showed her no compassion. When the suffering became too much to bear, she made a desperate decision by secretly escaping Astral Pack with her mother, leaving behind the life they had known, even though it meant embarking into the unknown city with no money, and no resources. However, it was in the city that she found an unexpected lifeline – her best friend, Sarah. Sarah had been there for her and her mother when they had nothing, offering support and friendship. With Sarah’s assistance, she was able to fend for herself and her mother by working as a waitress and also doing other menial jobs. Unfortunately, her mother resorted to drinking and gambling as she squandered every penny she made. Annie's taxi pulled up to her home, and as she stepped out, she saw Sarah waiting for her. "Sarah, you mentioned you had a solution. What is it?" Annie's eyes were filled with anticipation. Sarah hesitated for a moment before she finally spoke. "Annie, tomorrow is Grey’s coronation as the alpha of Astral Pack. I heard they need extra help with the preparations, especially assisting the pack maids. It could be a way for you to earn the money for your mother's surgery." “What!” Annie’s eyes widened, shaking. Of all places in the world, does it have to be Astral Pack?!