Fortunately, I had the anti-diarrheal medication Alpha Jason gave me.

Finally, no more diarrhea. I was feeling victorious as I pulled up my pants, but then-buzz buzz-Alpha Jason was calling.

I answered, my voice sweet as honey, but before I could even say hello, his voice came through, thin and furious.

"Kamelia! You absolute freak! Twenty-two hours on the toilet?!"

I winced, rubbing my sore legs. "Yeah, my legs are gonna need a massage now, thanks to you, boss."

"Don't give me that! What the hell happened?"

I gave a nervous laugh. "It's just... my diet changed suddenly. My body couldn't handle it. A little too much fiber, I guess?"

"And what do you plan to do about it?"

"Well... any chance I can eat something decent? My intestines feel like they've been scrubbed with sandpaper."

There was a long pause, then he spat, "Fine. But you better not ask me for anything again!"

The next day at lunch, I was starving.

My stomach rumbled louder than a freight train.

I was about to order my dream meal-an American hamburger, dripping with cheese, bacon, and fried onion rings, all sitting happily on a bed of crispy fries. The moment I was about to click "Order," my boss, the walking nightmare, wandered over.

I froze.

The keyboard clicked like it was a lifeline, but when I glanced at the screen, all it showed was the hamburger ingredients.

"Are you really working?" she asked, hands on hips.

I straightened up so fast my spine popped. "Uh, absolutely, boss. Just writing a... report."

She leaned over, scanning my screen. "Kamelia, the company is in the dumps, and guess what? You're to blame."

"Me? But I'm just-"

"Don't interrupt me. But," she paused dramatically, "I'm gonna give you a chance to redeem yourself. Do you know Adele?"

I froze. "Adele? The singer?"

She waved her hand like I was asking about the neighbor's cat. "Yes, that Adele. Get her to be our spokesperson."

"Wait, what?!" I pointed to myself, "Me? Ask her? Like, me?"

"Yes, you. And you're going to ask her for $500 to do it."

"Or maybe $100, if she's a friend." She winked, and I felt my brain short-circuit.

"I-I can't do that."

"Can't? You won't. You know what happens if you fail? I'll deduct your salary and freeze your benefits. You're useless."

I barely held back my tears, wishing I could punch a wall.

After she left, I sat there, feeling like a million dollars worth of crap. I wiped my eyes, but it didn't stop the frustration. My phone buzzed. Alpha Jason.

"Kamelia, I'm about to throw my phone against the wall! Why are you crying again?! I was about to make my move, and then-bam-you start bawling like a baby!"

I sniffed. "Alpha Jason, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. My boss just-"

"Yell at her! Slap her! What is this, you crying and doing nothing?!"

"I can't...!" I choked, holding back sobs.

"Can't? You're embarrassing me. You're turning into a whiny little sheep! Don't make me come over there and-"

"Alpha Jason!" I interrupted, voice cracking. "If I do that, I'll lose my job. She hates me."

There was a deep, frustrated sigh on the other end.

"How good is this job that you're willing to take this crap? How good is it? Tell me, Kamelia!"

"It's $5,000 a month."

There was a deadly silence.

Then Alpha Jason hissed, "Five thousand? Kamelia, that's chump change! Quit that job right now, and I'll pay you five times that salary. No, ten times!"

"Ten times?" I raised an eyebrow, feeling a smirk tugging at my lips.

"Yes, ten times! But if you keep staying there, getting stomped on, crying like a loser... then you're no better than them."

I hesitated, but just for a second.

"Deal. But if I'm doing this, I need a one-time bonus for... emotional damages."

There was a long pause.

"Ten thousand dollars, Alpha? That's barely enough! I need new clothes, makeup, rent, utilities, and-on a whim-I might want to hit the club and hire a male model."

"?"

Alpha Jason's laugh came through the phone, cold and mocking. "When you were earning five thousand a month, you were still living like this? Spending it all on nonsense?"

"I'm already a mess, okay? Don't I deserve a little fun?"

"I never said you didn't deserve it. Quit the tears. I'm about to go into battle here," I wiped my eyes.

"I'm not asking for a hundred grand a month, Alpha. I just want you to be happy, because if I'm happy, your health improves. And when you're healthy, uniting the packs will be a breeze."

I could feel him holding his breath.

His patience was wearing thin.

He finally exhaled.

"Fine. I'll send you twenty grand a month. But if you come with me, at least I won't have to worry about you starting trouble every damn day."

I hesitated, itching to say something cheeky.

But before I could, Alpha Jason snarled, "Shut your mouth, Kamelia. Don't make me slap you through the phone."

"Ugh~"

I immediately agreed. Twenty grand was more than enough.

With Alpha Jason now my personal sugar daddy, I strutted into my boss's office, ready to quit with all the swagger of a queen.

"If you quit voluntarily, the company won't compensate you," she said, trying to sound all tough.

"That's alright, Fatty. You can keep that money. No need to thank me."

"What did you say?"

"Can't hear? Maybe get your ears checked. And while you're at it, get your brain checked too. Spending five hundred bucks on a female celebrity? You really crack me up."

I tossed my resignation letter in her face like I was throwing out garbage and turned on my heel.

To my surprise, Alpha Jason was waiting for me outside, leaning against a motorcycle, looking like he stepped right out of a bad boy romance novel.

He was tall, with legs that went on for days, and the cigarette hanging from his lips just added to the allure.

I felt a lump form in my throat.

When he saw my excited face, his eyes welled up with tears-totally not what I expected from this badass Alpha.

I blinked, trying to hold back my own tears. "A man crying... it's like... my adrenaline shot."

Alpha Jason pulled a roll of toilet paper out of his pocket and, without saying a word, started wiping his eyes.

"Kamelia, why are you crying now?" he grumbled.

I snatched a bit of the toilet paper and wiped my own tears. "Alpha, I'm just so... touched."

"No one has ever cared for me like this,"

"Stop,"

I followed Alpha Jason into his pack castle.

I took in the grand throne, its golden carvings almost sparkling under the lights, the fireplace adorned with gemstones, and the chandelier that looked like it could blind you if you stared too long.

The walls? Covered in priceless art. Every inch of this place screamed wealth, as if history itself had decided to set up shop here.

Jason casually waved a hand at me. "This is my person. Show her respect, got it?"

The pack members froze. Their eyes darted between each other-confusion, surprise, then realization.

"Hello, Sister-in-law!" they chorused.

"You're the first woman our boss brought back," one of them added, grinning like he'd just witnessed the most dramatic soap opera plot twist.

Jason's face hardened instantly. "She's not your sister-in-law. Don't get any ideas."

The underlings blinked in shock.

"Then whose wife is she?" one stammered.

"Boss, this is kind of shady-bringing another man's wife into the den. It's... immoral," another dared to add.

Jason chuckled darkly, his voice like a rumbling thunderstorm. "It's immoral? You want to lecture me on morality?"

The pack quickly backpedaled. "Alpha's laughing-this is a good sign, right?"

I spent my days in luxury-sleeping, eating, lounging around, checking my bank balance to make sure that money from Jason hit. Meanwhile, Jason was constantly out leading the pack on missions or whatever, with little time to actually pay me any attention.

"Just don't mess anything up," he told me one day. "Be a good mascot. Look pretty. Don't be a hassle."

I gave him my best, "No problem, Alpha!" smile.

So there I was, living the dream. No more slaving away at a desk, no more looking at my pitiful paycheck. I was wealthy, free, and just... existing. It was like everything was finally perfect.

Until one fateful morning.

A sudden, warm sensation caught me off guard.

My period had decided to make a dramatic entrance, and of course, I had forgotten to stock up on supplies.

Frantically, I tore through my bag. Two emergency pads. That's it.

Okay, I could work with that.

I slipped one in, figuring I'd go shopping later. I started to pull my pants up when-bang!-a knock echoed through the door.

Opening it, there stood Alpha Jason, looking like he had just crawled out of bed. His hair was a mess, his shirt wrinkled, and his collar-completely askew.

But then he just stood there, staring at me.

Just... staring.

I ran through the list of things I had or hadn't done lately. Was there something wrong?

"Alpha," I stammered, "What's going on? I haven't cried, I haven't screamed, I haven't rubbed myself raw, I swear!"

Jason blinked, his brow furrowing. "Kamelia... are you on your period?"

My jaw nearly hit the floor. "You can feel that?"

He nodded seriously, then awkwardly stuck out his hand. "Got any pads left? Can I borrow one?"

"."

Okay, I was really confused now. "Shouldn't you... you know... not need one?"

I mean, we were built differently.

Jason sighed in the most dramatic way. "I don't need one. But I feel... exposed. Vulnerable. Like I'm naked. Like I'm questioning if I'm a man or a wolf or some weird hybrid."

"."

And then I handed him the last pad.

He took it, looked at me with a deep sigh, "Thanks, Kamelia. "