Chapter 2 Looking For Help
1173 Words
(Sherry’s POV)
I felt the blood drain from my face the moment my phone lit up. Twenty missed calls. All from Emma. And that message—something’s happened.
My breath stalled in my chest. Dear goddess, may it not be bad news. Please.
Eden glanced at me from the driver’s seat. “Are you okay?”
“No.” The word scraped out of me. “C-could you drive faster? Something’s wrong at home.”
My hands were shaking so badly I curled them into fists. I didn’t know if it was the remnants of last night, the mate bond making my nerves too raw, or pure fear—but I could barely breathe.
Eden didn’t argue, didn’t question. “Hold on.”
The car lurched forward as he hit the gas. I pressed my forehead against the window, trying to focus on the blur of passing streets and not the panic clawing up my throat. My heart hammered so hard I felt dizzy.
I didn’t talk. He didn’t push. I appreciated that more than I could say.
By the time we reached my neighborhood, I had my seatbelt off before the car even came to a full stop.
“Thank you,” I murmured, breathless and shaky.
Then I ran.
I didn’t look back at him. I couldn’t. My life was already spiraling in too many directions and the last thing I could handle was that man—my mate—seeing me break.
I burst into the living room and froze. Emma was on the sofa, hunched forward, face blotchy, eyes swollen from crying.
“Emma? Emma—what happened?” I rushed to her side.
She reached for me like a drowning woman grabbing onto a rope. “Sherry… It’s your father. They… they arrested him.”
My heartbeat stopped.
“What?” I whispered. “For what? Dad would never—”
“Dave,” she said, voice cracking. “Dave accused him of embezzling pack funds.”
For a second, I didn’t breathe.
Then heat—white, violent, blinding—rushed up my spine.
“He WHAT?”
Emma broke down again, covering her face. “Your father would never steal from the pack. Never. He’s been using his own money to help the members—he told me not to tell anyone—he didn’t want anyone to feel indebted to him…”
I squeezed my eyes shut, my stomach twisting. “Where is he now?”
“At the werewolf detention center,” she sobbed. “They wouldn’t even let me see him.”
I inhaled through my nose, long and steady, even though my chest felt like it was collapsing.
“Okay. Emma. Go upstairs and rest. I’ll handle it.”
“You can’t—”
“I’ll handle it.” My voice was soft but firm.
After a moment, she nodded weakly and shuffled toward the stairs.
The second she disappeared, I snatched my phone and dialed the last number I ever wanted to press.
Dave picked up on the third ring. “What do you want?” he asked, bored.
“You framed my father,” I hissed. “Drop the charges. Now.”
He laughed—actually laughed. “How brave of you to call me. Your father shouldn’t have meddled. And honestly, Sherry? No one in the pack likes him anyway. He’s easy to get rid of.”
My vision pulsed red. “I will defend him.”
“Cute,” he said. “Then maybe you’ll like my offer.”
My grip tightened so hard the phone creaked.
“What offer?”
“A three-year arrangement.” His voice dropped into something slimy. “You become my mistress. Quietly. No fuss. In return, I’ll drop the charges.”
My blood ran cold.
Then something snapped so violently inside me I felt it physically.
“Are you insane?” I choked. “I would rather die than touch you again, you disgusting—”
“Suit yourself,” he said lazily. “Tell your father I said hi at the trial.”
The call disconnected.
I stared at the screen, shaking so hard I could barely hold the phone. My chest hurt. My eyes burned with unshed tears I fought.
This was the man I thought would be my chosen mate. The man I wanted to be bound to.
Disgusting.
I sank into the nearest chair.
Something slid from my coat pocket and fell into my lap.
Eden’s business card.
I stared at the clean letters, the sleek design, the quiet authority of it.
Eden Astor
Managing Partner—Astor Law Firm
A powerful Alpha’s heir.
The most powerful lawyer in the country.
And my… mate.
I didn’t understand the bond. I didn’t even understand him. But I needed help. Desperately.
My fingers curled around the card.
Maybe… maybe he could do something.
***
By the next morning, I was standing in the marble lobby of Astor Law Firm, hugging Eden’s neatly folded coat inside a bag and trying not to crumble under the weight of everything.
He hadn’t answered any of my calls yesterday. Not one.
Maybe he was busy. Maybe he blocked unknown numbers. Either way, I had no time to waste.
So I’d come myself.
“Good morning,” I told the receptionist. “I need to see Eden Astor.”
“Do you have an appointment?” she asked, smiling in that professional, polite-but-not-really way.
“No, but it’s important. I want to return something to him.”
“Without an appointment, Mr. Astor is unavailable.”
“It’s really important,” I insisted softly. “Please.”
Her smile sharpened. “If you continue to insist, I will call security.”
That was it, my hope slipped into an abyss. I'd failed before even meeting him.
“Okay,” I whispered. “Alright. I’m… sorry.”
I turned to leave—
The elevator chimed behind me and I felt my wolf become alert.
I looked over my shoulder—and there he was.
Eden stepped out in a crisp dark suit, moving with that calm, controlled presence that made everyone subconsciously get out of his way. Beside him walked a gorgeous woman in a fitted dress, glowing with excitement as she tried to lean closer to him.
He smoothly shifted just a fraction away, expression unreadable.
I shouldn’t have felt anything about that.
But I did.
Heat prickled in my chest. It wasn't jealousy, it wad something else.
Insecurity.
He had options. Women lined up around the block for a man like him.
Why would he help me? Just because of some silly mate connection? He didn't seem like the type of person to even take that important.
I felt at loss. But I couldn’t lose my chance.
“Eden!” I called out, my voice trembling but loud enough to reach him.
His head snapped up, his eyes locked onto mine.
Everything went still around me as I looked at him. This was my chance.
- Writer
