~THALIA EMERSON~
My vision blurred as I opened my eyes. I didn't bother to look around because the antiseptic smell and the beeping of the machines made it clear I was in the hospital.
This noon, I was hit by a car. An expensive one.
The first thought on my mind when I woke up wasn’t my injuries or the throbbing in my head. It was the car owner. I needed to ask the nurses who had attended to me. Whomever it was couldn't simply vanish after an accident like this.
I heaved myself up, grimacing, and was ready to swing my legs off the bed when I saw a male wolf sitting next to me.
He wore a polished suit that screamed old money. His scent was different from an ordinary wolf like me. His domineering aura filled the room like an Alpha. I bet he’s definitely one.
I also recalled his car before I was unconscious. It was ‘Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail’. Anyone who can afford a car like that must be crazily rich.
“You're finally awake,” he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You've passed out for two hours.”
I shot him a disgusting brief glare.
“You hit me. You need to pay me compensation!" I bellowed in fury.
“How much compensation do you want?” He inquired with a calm voice.
“500,000 dollars,” I replied swiftly.
He didn't reply immediately. Clearly, he found me ridiculous.
Well, the truth of the incident was that I was the one who ran into his car when I was in a hurry. But before I lost consciousness, I thought of a plan when I saw how luxurious the car was.
I was only trying to gamble with my luck. I tried my fucking effort not to show how nervous I was. I didn't have any serious injuries apart from the bump on my forehead and my knees skin that peeled.
Although what I tried to do was shameful despite knowing the truth of the incident, I was only desperate. The only family I had left, Aunty Jasmine, was having lung cancer. We've spent all we had at the hospital, and yet it didn't get us anywhere.
Right there when I was hit by that luxurious car, I knew I must get the money to save her.
“This small injury of yours is worth 500,000? Isn’t that an indirect robbery ?" He spoke in a deep voice.
I bit my lip.“You don't look like someone who cares about a mere 500,000 dollars. Why not pay me to avoid trouble?”
“Pay to avoid trouble? So, if I don't pay, what do you plan to do to me? Huh?”
He kept looking at me with a reaction I couldn't decipher.
“Are all female wolves these days so shamelessly greedy?”
I saw that at that point he wasn't ready to fall into my scheme, so I lost the little courage that I had. I decided to beg for the money with honesty. I became extremely anxious.
"Please, can you consider the money as a debt I owe you. I will be eighteen by tomorrow, and I will be able to work in a higher-paying job. I'll pay you back as fast as I can."
He laughed loudly as if it were the most insincere promise he had ever heard in all his years, and maybe it probably sounded quite ridiculous.
“Do you perhaps know who I am?”
“No I don't.”
“Then why do you think I will lend that huge amount to a stranger?”
My breath hitched. I clenched my hands to steady my nerves as if I were fighting a battle I must win. "Because you're very rich and rich wolves like being praised as a philanthropist.”
He burst into another loud mocking laughter. “Oh, that's not me. I might be rich but I don't give my money to just anyone.”
Suddenly, his aura changed, and it carried a hint of contempt. His scent became too strong as if he might turn and tear me into pieces.
“Well, my time here is up. Here's your compensation,” he uttered as he dropped a bundle of money on the table.
“How much is that?”
“Ten thousand dollars and it's damn enough for you to recover for a month.” He remarked.
Indeed, ten thousand dollars was a lot as compensation for my minor injury, but it was just a drop in the ocean compared to Aunty Jasmine's medical expenses.
“Usually, I wouldn’t stick around for this long only to have you wake up and try to swindle me. But today, I just happened to have a lot of free time," he muttered.
After he finished speaking, he turned to leave. Just as he was about to reach the door, I dashed behind him and grabbed his clothes tightly.
“Please help me. I really will pay you back in the future. I can write you an official agreement.” I pleaded desperately with tears dropping from my eyes.
He turned to face me. The scrutinizing and playful look in his eyes made me feel more embarrassed, but I still didn't let go of his clothes. I was praying in my mind that he should change his mind and agree.
Then he chuckled softly. “Of course, I can give you the money.”
I looked into his eyes in surprise. "Really?”
“However, I have a condition!"
“Oh, that's not a problem. I will agree to any conditions. As long as you lend me, I am even willing to serve you like a slave.”
"Are you sure you can do what I want to ask you to do?" His somewhat hoarse voice rang in my ear.
Because of the way the two of us were standing very close, his breath was all over my body, making my skin turn red from the heat. I instantly shrank back slightly, my expression somewhat blank.
"For the next three years, you are mine." He proclaimed and walked closer to me.
When I heard those words, my heartbeat and breath stopped for a moment.
I looked up in disbelief at his impeccable handsomeness, I was in awe. Because of the scheme that I was focused on, I hadn't realized how breathtaking he was until that moment.
But my admiration for him immediately stiffened into unease.
Seeing my expression, his lips curved into an even wider smile.
“You don't want to? I won't force you." He turned his back to leave.
“No, I’m willing!” I yelled.
