Chapter 3

Three

JADE

I didn't feel like getting out of bed the next morning.

My thighs and back ached after standing in heels all day at the Omega Ball. The heels I wore weren't a good choice, and this was the price I had to pay. Blearily opening my eyes, I noticed my blanket was off, and the top half of my body was freezing. Pulling the blanket up, I rolled onto my side and looked at my phone. It was ten a.m., and I could hear the rain pelting against my window.

I saw a text from Bruce and smiled.

Good morning :)

I didn't know whether to respond right away or not. He wasn't flaky, and it seemed like he felt a connection with me as well. So instead, I texted the group chat with Keera, Lyra, Vanessa, and Tiana.

Ladiessss help

Keera

What is it?

I met someone last night. Like an alpha, and he texted me this morning. Should I respond right away?!

Vanessa

Omg yes. What did he say??

But it's going to make me look desperate. He said good morning.

Keera

You are desperate, bitch lol

Vanessa

Text him back. Who is he?

An older alpha. His name's Bruce. Refined and hot.

Tiana

Damn girl, u snagged a good one

Then another text came in. This time from my cousin, Shanna. Closing out the group chat, I opened the text, and my heart sank immediately.

Shanna

We have to cancel plans, Jade. I'm sorry. We're postponing the wedding :/

Fuck.

There goes my rent money for this month. The emergency money I was relying on.

No worries. Focus on you, okay?

Shanna

Thank you, babes

Sitting up in bed, now wide awake and alert, I couldn't believe what just happened.

Now that my cousin's wedding was postponed or canceled, there was no way I could make the money I needed in two days for rent. As I opened the curtain in the living room, I looked out at the gloomy day. The rain was coming down hard. It was rare when it rained on Howl's Edge Island.

I couldn't ask my family for help.

They still thought I was working at Howl's Honor Hospital . And my brother was taking care of his omega, children, and his pack. I couldn't ask him for rent money. This was entirely my fault for relying on my random gigs for support.

I turned away from the window and noticed my glittering clutch abandoned on the coffee table where I had left it last night. Opening it, I saw a pink card and was suddenly reminded of the strange man in a suit from last night outside the bathroom.

Did they really match up omegas with wealthy alphas? Have I stooped low enough for this? And I already had a spot as a replacement for the runaway omega.

I decided maybe I was that desperate.

If I didn't like the alpha pack, I would ditch them. But I had no choice. I had no stable income and would have nowhere to live if I was kicked out. I couldn't imagine moving back in with my parents and answering my mom's overbearing questions about my job.

I wouldn't have the artistic freedom I wanted.

So I picked up my phone and dialed the number on the card.

"Hello, this is Enchanted Nests , where all your mating dreams come true. May I ask who's speaking, please?" said a chirpy female voice on the other end.

"This is Jade," I said. "I was just…"

She cut me off. "We were looking forward to your call. Do you have time to come in today for the interview?"

"Yes," I said, put off by her already.

"Great, we'll see you today at three. Do you have the address of our location?"

After sorting out the address and hanging up on her, I seriously doubted whether or not I should go through with this.

The drive to the dating agency was hellish.

The rain pelted furiously against my windshield, obscuring my vision of the road. Once I reached the agency, I was relieved to finally park the damn car. Grabbing my umbrella, I struggled to open it while standing in the rain and getting soaked. The space in my car was too small to unleash the umbrella inside of it.

The building was tall- made of glass, and looked professional. The words Enchanted Nests Agency on the front were embossed in gold. It wasn't some rinky-dink establishment. Suddenly, I felt self-conscious and not dressed for the occasion. I looked down at the raggedy jeans I was wearing with my black shirt with a picture of a rose in front. I looked like the poorest omega to ever step foot in here.

I ran across the parking lot and made it to the building, my shoes soaked through.

The door was tall, well above my height, swinging open automatically for me.

Walking inside, I took in the beige and gold tones of the walls and carpeting. Upon entering, there was a high desk made of marble and a blond beta female sitting behind the desk. Her hair came in waves around her shoulders, and she wore a dress with a name badge with Chelsea on it. She pursed her lips upon seeing me enter. I know I would be confused if I saw some chick wearing jeans entering an establishment like this.

But whatever .

She was going to have to get used to it.

"Hi, how may I help you today?"

"I'm here for an interview. I have an appointment today at three," I said.

"Your name?"

"Jade."

She typed endlessly on the computer with her long nails while I stood there, getting annoyed. She was the same girl on the phone, if I wasn't mistaken. If she didn't want me to be there, she could just say so. I didn't have much patience for bullshit, and I could sense it a mile away. When she was finally done making me wait, she looked up with a large smile.

Fuck that. This Chelsea bitch knew what she was doing.

"Third floor, and it'll be the room to the left. Room 204," she said.

"Kay, thanks," I said.

My wet sneakers squeaked on the shiny floors as I walked to the gold-covered elevator doors. In the elevator, I contemplated what the hell I was doing here. My heart was starting to beat faster, and my breaths were coming in short. I was way out of my element, but if I was going to get matched to a wealthy alpha pack, it would solve all my problems. When I saw my best friends with their packs, I was envious but also happy for them. Maybe this would be the only way I'd find my happily ever after.

I wanted to faint when the elevator reached the third floor. Regardless of how much I wanted a pack, I still wanted to run.

I could find another way to pay my rent.

This idea was so stupid.

Breathe, Jade, I told myself.

When I reached room 204, the door was already wide open.

It looked like a conference room with a long table with four alphas sitting behind it. A whole pack was about to interview me, and I was settling into full panic mode. The alpha I met outside the bathroom was there, dressed impeccably in a suit, and my heart nearly stopped when I saw someone else there.

Bruce was there, too, looking distinguished in his suit. And he looked just as surprised to see me.