Chapter 2

A few days later

Amanda's POV

As I took a stock count of the things in the store, my mind couldn't stop drifting to Mom's worsening condition and what David had said. I shook my head, I wouldn't consider David's perverted and greedy plan an option but would I raise so much money from it?

“ Amanda? Amanda!” My manager called again raising her voice slightly at me to get my attention.

“ Huh? Yes,” I said finally snapping out of my deep thoughts as I stood up from my previously squatting position.

“ You seem rather distracted today, did something happen?” She questioned. I guess I was that easy to read.

 “ No, it's nothing major,” I forced a smile. Even if I told her, what difference would it make? Even if she gave me advance pay for many months ahead, it wouldn't still be enough to settle mom's hospital bills and talk more about surgery.

 “ Hmmm... Alright,” she said with her arms folded. She didn't necessarily buy it but she was also the type that didn't like prying.

 “ I'll continue the stock record. It's already opening time and customers would need someone to attend to them,” she volunteered for fear that I would make mistakes because of distraction today.

  “ Thank you,” I gave her a warm smile as I turned to leave.

  “ Don't get distracted on the job, you'll only make things harder for Mia,” she advised.

 “ I won't, don't worry,” I reassured her.

I walked back to my position behind the counter beside Mia the other worker, we began our duty of attending to the customers. A few minutes after I started checking in customer goods, my phone rang. Initially, I didn't want to pick it up until I saw the name of the doctor in charge of Mom.

“ Yes? Do...”

“Your mom needs to undergo surgery now, the earlier the better. Her vitals are terrible and she's sinking. I'm not sure how long she will last if we don't hurriedly arrange for her to enter the theater,” my heart stopped beating for a moment as he explained my mother's dire situation. I froze up with tears falling down my eyes onto my cheeks.

“ I'll find a way to get the money today, I promise. Just save my mom, please,” I begged him as I cried. I took off the supermarket apron I had on and ran out of the store without thinking of the consequences. I could hear my manager yell my name out but I couldn't care less, my mom was going to die if I didn't do something quickly. The one person that came to my mind was David.

Flagging down a cab, I got in and gave him the address to head to. By this time, I was very sure we're David would be - betting pool. Getting out of the cab, I paid off the cab man and rushed towards the pool house. I had only come here twice before and hated it but this wasn't a matter of preference.

Letting myself inside, I searched around the room with my eyes searching for my stepdad and ignoring the whistles from every corner. I heard a familiar voice behind a purple bead curtain.

 “ David?” I said rushing in.

 “ Oh, Amanda!” He exclaimed. “ What are you doing here? I thought you hated coming here?” He said with a smirk and I would have cussed out at him if I didn't need his help. I watched as girls surrounded him and the other men who ogled at me.

“ That's the least of my problems now. I need your help,” I went straight to the point. “ Mom is going to die if I don't raise the money for her surgery today,” I got on my knees, I was going to throw away my pride if it would save Mom. 

“ Uhhmmm,” he smirked in delight as he watched me beg.

“ I will take the offer of becoming a breeder for the Alpha,” I said clenching my fist in annoyance. I never thought I would come to this point.

“ It's good to see that you're finally coming to your senses,” he laughed hysterically. “ I never thought I would see the day you would beg me,” he laughed.

“ This is satisfactory enough for me to help you but of course, I will take my share of the money,” he smiled a crooked smile.

“ As long as I can treat mom, I'm fine with it,”

“ Good, let's be going then. I'll put a call across to his personal assistant now,” he said walking past me as I got to my feet. I followed him out. As long as I saved Mom, I would be more than satisfied.

We sat down in the living room waiting for Asher, Alpha Xander’s personal assistant to arrive. He had already agreed to the terms and conditions.

“ I hope you've packed your things. I don't want you delaying,” David wouldn't shut his trap. Just then, a man in a suit with a group of bodyguards following behind walked in. I presumed it was Asher since the Alpha wouldn't bother himself to come.

“ Welcome,” David gave the most materialistic smile ever as he got up to welcome him but Asher wasn't at all receptive to David's embrace or handshake.

“ I don't have time to waste. Let's get down to business,” he walked past David and took a sit opposite where I sat. “ Is she the one?” He pointed at me.

“ Yes, she is,” David beamed as he sat beside me.

“ You really didn't lie this time about something. She's definitely worth it,” he commented and I wasn't exactly sure of how I should feel about that.

“ When have I ever lied to you? I mean, this is our first time doing business,” Stepdad scratched the back of his head.

“ You don't need to do business with Alpha Xander for me to know you. I do background checks on anyone the Alpha plans to do business with and from the looks of it, you're pretty shady,” Asher was blunt. “ I can't believe you are selling your own daughter to me, even if she's just your stepdaughter,”

“ Don't put it that way. I'm the one who agreed to this,” I rebuffed. Even if I was letting David make a profit from pushing me into a breeder contract, I still loved having the feeling that I made the choice.

“ Alright,” he nodded his head. “ This is ten million dollars in cash he dropped two bags of money and one briefcase. I believe that should be enough,”

“ More than enough, sir,” David sucked up as dollar bills appeared in his eyes.

“ I want to make a request,” I entered into the conversation again.

“ Go ahead,” Asher urged me.

“ The money should go into treating my mom and settling her hospital bills and I'd like you to manage that, Mr. Asher,” I spoke formally to him. “ I only agreed to this because I want to save my mom and since I won't be here to monitor and manage the money, David here might not exactly be willing to use the money for my mom's treatment so I need someone I can trust to handle this,”

“ Are you insane?!” David fumed at me. “ You wanna double-cross me, huh?” He stood up wanting to intimidate me but Asher's men quickly held him down.

“ Fine but you do know that this money would be more than enough to settle everything about your mom, right?”

“ Yes and that's why the other money would be kept in a fixed deposit account if you can for me,” I pleaded with him. Did David think I was really going to let him ruin my family and still eat part of the money I was selling myself to raise for Mom's treatment?

“ Alright, I have no issue with that but you're going with us today,” he informed and I nodded my head. At his command, the guards took back the money as we headed out, David cursed at me as I left. This would be the last I would see of him.

As we drove to the Blood Bond pack, I couldn't help but think about all the memories I had made in my own pack. I would miss home.

“ Once we get in, I'd advise you to really compose yourself. Alpha Xander is not such a tolerable person,” Asher who was sitting beside me advised as we approached the mansion. It was overly luxurious and huge, I knew he wasn't just rumored now as the richest man, I had confirmed it.

I took a deep breath as we walked into the house, the maids watched me as I followed Asher side by side, walking up the stairs. Getting to a door, Asher stops and knocks.

“ Come in,” a cold masculine voice came from behind the door which terrified me. Everyone had heard about the rumor of Alpha Xander. He was the cruelest, most emotionless Alpha.

We walked into his study, my heart pounding against my chest walls. His eyes immediately landed on me and I didn't know when I began to shiver in fear.

“ Is she the one?” He asked Asher quietly, still not taking his eyes off me, and trust me it wasn't in a perverted way he looked at me. I couldn't even tell what he thought with the way he stared.

“ Yes, sir,”

“ Before we go further, I just feel the need to remind you that once you're in my territory, you live by my rules and failure to comply... Well, I'm sure you've heard the rumors,” he snickered and I gulped in fear. What had I gotten myself into?