Chapter 44

I was nervous. I stared at myself in the mirror, hardly recognizing the girl in the reflection. The suit was a deep navy, sharp at the shoulders and tapered perfectly at the waist, the kind of outfit that said I belong in the room before I even opened my mouth. The silk blouse underneath was a soft cream, subtle but elegant. I touched the lapel like it might vanish.

I had never owned anything this nice before.

“I promise I’ll take good care of it,” I said, turning toward my cousin.

Arielle snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s yours.”

I blinked. “What?”

“The suit,” she said looking through a jewelry box before pulling out a length of what looked like black pearls. “Grandpa bought it for you. These two. Your new laptop should be here and your new phone. I had your old files transferred." She gestured to the structured tote on the dressed. "They're in there. That's yours too by the way. Can't ruin the look with a messenger bag.”

I stood there, speechless. No one had ever done anything like that for me before. Not without strings. Not without expecting something in return.

Arielle came over, looping the long length around my neck so they hung properly beneath the collar of my blouse. She nodded.

"I told grandpa you won't get used to it if we try to ramp you up, so consider this being thrown into the deep end of what it means to have me as your luna and him as your alpha."

She pinched my cheek. "We’re family, Renee. This is the tip of the iceberg. Ready?"

Family.

The word landed heavy and warm in my chest. I nodded and grabbed the tote. I recognized the tote as one that Vivian had wanted for a long time even though she was barely attending classes.

Arielle drove me into the heart of Brightclaw’s main city, chatting casually about the new law firm she was consulting with, completely unfazed by how tightly I was clutching the bag, running through the answers I had prepared for the interview.

The company building wasn’t huge, but it was polished, professional and nowhere near the capital. I liked it immediately.

Arielle squeezed my hand before I got out of the car. “You’ve got this. If they lowball you, go work for grandpa.”

I nodded, heart hammering, and stepped inside.

The waiting room was full. There was at least a dozen other applicants, some of them were older than me, but most of them were my age. Most of them were in pressed slacks with stiff expressions. I sat quietly, breathing through the nerves. I didn’t know if Dominic was watching out for me or I had really just applied, but I wasn't going to worry about it.

A large part of me hoped that I had earned this opportunity on my own.

"Candidates with IDs ending in 20 through 55, this way."

Mine ended in 35. I stood and hoped for the best.

Three rounds of interviews later, my head was spinning. I’d talked through everything from financial ethics to group dynamics to a practical simulation of an emergency client call. My voice felt raw, but I’d done it. I’d held my own. After the final assessment, one of the hiring managers, an older man with a kind smile and sharp eyes, walked me back to the reception.

“I have to say,” he said, shaking my hand, “your scores were excellent. More than promising, Ms. Caldwell. I’d be surprised if you don’t get a call in the next few days.”

My fingers were trembling just slightly as we shook, but I smiled. “Thank you, sir. I really appreciate the opportunity.”

He handed me a folder. "Your assessment scores. If for some reason you aren't chosen, unlikely so please don't make any hard plans, but if not, you can add this to your portfolio." He winked. "If we're too stupid to keep you, no one else will be, I promise."

"Thank you." I took the folder and headed out.

Out of the corner of my eye, the glass doors swung open and Vivian stormed in, hair perfectly blown out, heels clicking loudly on the tile.

My stomach dropped. What was she doing here? Or rather, why was she here now? The only reason she would be here would be that this company had something to do with the Brightclaw pack. It seemed… that I had likely gotten the interview because of Dominic. I looked down at the folder, some of my joy deflating.

I shook it off. He might have gotten me in, but I had been alone in those interviews and with the assessment. I stepped back, hoping that she hadn’t seen me. A dreadful though crossed my mine.

Maybe it didn't have to do with Dominic or Brightclaw so much as Tyler and his family?

Goddess help me.

“Ms. Caldwell?" the interviewer asked gently.

I forced my smile back into place. “Sorry. I just… got lost in my mind for a second. Thank you."

I turned to head out, walking at a normal pace, bBut my chest was tight. I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get complicated.

Vivian

I stormed off the elevator the second the doors opened and marched down the hall, heels stabbing into the carpet. I knew he was here. I’d heard through the grapevine that Dad was attending interviews at one of the companies he owned.

I’d tried to do a little stress shopping earlier after the way he embarrassed me a few days ago.

Only none of my cards worked.

Not one. Not my emergency card. Not the Amex that always cleared. The cashier had given me this sad little “Do you want me to try again?” smile like I was some pathetic wannabe who didn’t belong in the boutique. Not even my debit card worked! My driver didn't have a card to be used to cover the purchase either.

That humiliation—that—is what started the whispers. I knew it the moment I walked past the café next door to the boutique and heard two women snickering.

"Isn't that her?"

“Heard all of her cards got declined. Serves her right."

"You think she’s on the outs with her dad?"

"Probably got tired of footing those ridiculous shopping bills."

I found Dad in a glass-walled office, speaking with one of the company partners like nothing was wrong.

“Dad.” My voice sliced through the room like a blade.

He looked up. Calm. Detached. Annoyingly unreadable.

“I need a word,” I hissed.

The man he was speaking to nodded awkwardly and left, clearly not wanting to get caught in the blast zone.

As soon as the door shut, I whirled on him. “What the hell is going on? Why are my cards aren't working! I was humiliated—humiliated—in public today! Do you have any idea what that kind of thing does to my reputation?"

“I told you what would happen, and you still went shopping?" His voice was cold steel. “Did you really think I was bluffing?"

“You can't be serious!” I slammed my bag on the table. “I'm your daughter not her! You’re pickng her over me! I'm supposed to —”

"Be grateful." He folded his hands calmly. “You’re not being punished. You’re being taught. Have you started looking for a job?"

“Taught?” I let out a laugh, sharp and broken. “Taught what? I'm the princess of Brightclaw! The continent. I don't need to be taught anything. You need to fix my cards!”

He didn’t even flinch. “You’re going to work for what you want, Vivian, or have nothing. Those are your choices. I suggest you start applying." He cocked his eyebrow. "Not just in school either."

My face heated. "You'll regret this! I'm going to tell everyone that you're abusing me."

He smiled. "If you had attended even half of the classes that you need and paid attention, you would know how to file that suit easily… By the way, I've let the administration of the college know to fail you if you continue on the way you are. You're on academic probation for cheating."

My jaw dropped. "You— You're the one who is going to be embarrassed if I fail!"

"No," he said. "You'll be twenty-five soon, and no longer my problem. You're about to get a really hard reality check when I transfer you to your mother's birth pack."

I flinched at that. The world spun for a second, and I blinked hard against the sting in my eyes. No. I would not cry.

“You’ll regret this,” I whispered, voice shaking. “You think she’s so perfect? So worthy? You think this’ll end the way you want it to? Just wait.”

I turned before I could break any more in front of him, stormed out and hit the elevator button hard enough to crack the panel.

But then I saw her.

Renee.

Walking and talking to one of the hiring managers with the biggest smile.

“Thank you again,” she said, glowing. “I can start as soon as this week.”

And just like that, my rage found a new center.

If she could get a job here, then so could I. And I’d make sure every minute of her time in this building would be a reminder that she ruined everything.