Gina

"I wish I could come there to beat her up for hurting my baby, Do you think you can survive another day in that apartment honey?" My mom asked.

I chuckled, feeling lighter. "There's no need, Mom. I'll be fine. I have started searching for an apartment, and I'm sure I'll get one by this weekend at the latest." I sighed heavily.

I looked around, I really loved this place, closer to work, comfortable for me but I guess life has other plans.

"Honey, if you need to take a break, just come home, I'll be waiting. You know how much I have missed you."

Trust my mom to use a moment like this to her advantage. I couldn't blame her, home was lonely without me.

It had always been just my mom and me. Though adopted, I never met my biological parents, and I never cared to. Celeste Robert was the best mother anyone could wish for, and I wouldn't trade her for anything.

She was both a therapist and a herbalist, I had seen her save countless people with her herbs. Even werewolves sought her help.

I sometimes wished she was more than a herbalist, maybe even a witch, then I would have asked her to cast a spell on Eric and Adele.

"Are you sure you'll be fine, honey?" she asked for the umpteenth time.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll be fine, Mom. You worry too much. I have to go, I'm checking out an apartment later this evening. I hope it's something I like."

"Okay, honey, be safe. I also have this couple coming over soon, I need to prepare an aphrodisiac herb before they arrive. Take care honey. Love you." she said and hung up.

I got out of bed to get ready for the day. I had been scouting apartments since last night, staying in my room the whole time.

I didn't know if Eric was still around. He had banged on my door until the middle of the night, begging to explain himself.

Just as I was about to step out of my room, my phone rang. The medical director. Why was he calling?

My shift didn't start until tonight. I picked up, only to be told to report to work immediately. Perfect way to start my day especially knowing I will probably run into Eric.

I packed my things and left for work. Adele must have already gone, there wasn't a single sign of her around, and her car wasn't parked outside.

When I arrived at the hospital, I headed straight for the director's office. I wasn't in the mood to cross paths with Eric. Inside, he gestured for me to sit. I watched him pull out a file before speaking.

"I'm sorry this came at a short notice, but we didn't have a choice. This is a VVIP client we can't say no to." He sighed. "A client has requested a live-in doctor to care for his sister who is a comatose patient. You'll provide all her medical needs. There's already a nurse on site to assist you. Eric recommended you for this role of attending physician for long-term home care. Given your reputation, I couldn't say no."

That bastard! Was he trying to atone or trying to win me back? This counts as nothing. "I don't know... I..." I stuttered.

"Nothing to worry about, Dr. Gina. You'll be provided with a very good apartment, and the pay is generous, triple the amount of your current salary. I'm sure this will be a boost to your career. Just do your job well."

Even though I hated that Eric had put my name forward, maybe to get rid of me or to atone for his sin, the offer was too juicy to pass up.

I needed accommodation, and this came at the perfect time. I could have asked for more time to think about it, but with everything going on, I needed a break.

"I'll take the job, sir. When do I start?" I asked, eager.

He chuckled. "Hold up, eager much? You have a few days off to pack your things. There are forms to sign and details to go over. The client is the King-King Tyler. His sister is the patient you'll be caring for."

My eyes widened. The Lycan King, the ruler of all werewolves. The most powerful man in the world. He had fought countless wars and never lost. Rumor had it he killed his three mates himself. Alpha of the Central Moon Pack and also Mateless.

I couldn't believe I was about to work for the King of Werewolves, especially given how much I hated their existence for nearly wiping out the human race centuries ago.

If not for the Moon Goddess intervening and cursing them to put them in check, humanity might not exist today. I have no idea how my mom would react if she learned I will be working for the Lycan King. She'd be livid, but I am taking this job.

"I will take it." I said. My voice steady despite the storm inside me. "Thank you for considering me, I promise I won't disappoint. May I review the patient's file in my office?

"Of course," he replied, passing me the folder. "The King has requested to meet you in person. He will be here shortly, once he arrives, I will send for you."

I nodded, offered my thanks again, and slipped out of his office.

Gina

I walked out of his office with the file tucked under my arm and went straight to mine. Dropping it onto the desk, I leaned back in the chair and exhaled.

That's when I realized I hadn't eaten a single thing today. In the rush of coming here, I forgot to grab something. My stomach twisted in protest, reminding me how empty it was.

With a sigh, I grabbed my phone and headed for the cafeteria.

The cafeteria wasn't particularly lively, just the low hum of conversation and the occasional clatter of trays.

I sat down with a quick meal, eating slowly, though my mind was far from the food. I thought about calling my mother, about telling her the update she's been waiting on. But I knew how that would go.

She would remind me of every reason not to take this path and right now, I couldn't afford to hear her voice pulling me back. No, I will only call her after I signed the documents and sealed this job. By then, it would be too late for her to stop me.

On my way back, I stepped into the lobby and there I ran into Eric. He was leaning casually against the reception counter, laughing with one of the nurses. The second his eyes met mine, his smile faltered.

He excused himself quickly, as though he had been caught in something he shouldn't be doing. I spun on my heels, pretending not to notice, and quickened my pace toward my office. But of course, Eric followed.

He caught up with me at my door, his hand wrapping around mine before I could step in.

I jerked free, glaring at him, "What the hell do you want, Eric?" My voice trembled with anger.

His expression softened instantly, the same look he always wore whenever he knew he had messed up.

"Gina, I'm sorry," he murmured, his tone heavy with practiced regret. "I never meant to hurt you."

I almost laughed at the audacity.

"Never meant to hurt me? By sleeping with my best friend? Oh, it was just an accident.

It wasn't even the first time you two were sneaking around behind my back while I was busy loving you. While I was killing myself covering your shifts, working overtime just so you could-" my voice cracked, rage and betrayal crashing together in my chest, " fuck her in the comfort of my absence."

Eric's eyes dropped, guilt flickering in them for the briefest second. "How can I make things right?" He asked in a low, pleading voice.

"You can start..." I snapped, "by never showing your face in my presence again. We're done Eric. You and Adele can have each other."

He flinched, his voice desperate. "Whatever happened between Adele and I was just casual. Don't throw this away because of her, I don't want to lose you."

This time I did laugh loudly and bitterly. "You must really think you're something.

Let me make this clear, Eric, even if every man in the world ceased to exist and you were the last one left, I'd sooner become a nun than take you back. You are nothing but a piece of shit."

His jaw tightened, his tone shifting from guilty to arrogant in an instant. "So that's it, you're breaking up with me after everything I've done for you?"

"Yes," I said coldly. "And don't act like you recommended me for this new job out of kindness. It was just a way to get me out of your sight, wasn't it? To make sneaking around with Adele easier. So thank you, because now I won't have to look at either of your pathetic faces again."

He smirked, leaning closer. "You really think you're walking into something better? You do realize this isn't just a job. It's a position for the Lycan king, worse than werewolves, and I know how much you hate their existence.

You will still see me around, every day."

I crossed my arms, savoring the flicker of unease in his face as I replied. "The director already updated me and I have accepted the job. And if it comes down to it, I'd rather face wolves than waste another second with you."

His smirk faltered, slipping into genuine alarm. " Please tell me you thought this through. We are talking about him, the cursed king, the one who murdered all three of his mates in cold blood. One mistake, Gina, one slip and he will tear you apart."

His words buzzed in my ears, but I had no interest in listening to more of his poisonous warnings. I was done with the cheating, the lies, the manipulation. Done with the walking red flag I had wasted years of my life on.

I turned to leave, but his hand clamped down on my wrist, painfully tight.

"Eric, you're hurting me, let me go." I struggled, twisting against his grip.

"You're not taking this job," he barked, his voice losing its fake softness, revealing the selfish, controlling man underneath. His hold only tightened, and before I could react, his other hand grabbed a fistful of my hair.

"Let me go!" I cried, my voice breaking as tears burned my eyes.

"Let her go."

The voice wasn't Eric's, it was deeper and dangerous, certainly did not belong to a human.

A growl rumbled through the air, and before I could even process what happened, Eric was ripped away from me. His body was thrown across the hall like a ragdoll. He hit the wall with a sickening thud, sliding to the floor.

My breath caught in my throat. My hands trembled as I stared wide-eyed at the figure standing in the shadows. Tall, commanding, and radiating a presence that made the air itself heavy.