Chapter 5
[Amelia's POV]
When he finally pulls away from the kiss, I can barely breathe. My lips feel swollen and tender, still tingling from his touch. The Alpha scent clings to me like smoke, making Ashley practically drunk with satisfaction.
More, she whispers urgently. Need more.
But the man just looks at me with those amber eyes, completely composed while I'm falling apart.
"I'll trade this kiss for the money," he says, pressing the cash into my palm. "So you can take it freely."
"But..." I try to protest, my voice coming out breathless and shaky. "My kisses aren't for sale!"
My body is still humming from his touch. Every nerve ending feels alive, hypersensitive. I can taste him on my lips – mint and something darker, something that makes my knees weak.
He smiles that devastating smile again. "I enjoyed the kiss, so you've already earned the money. Well done!"
His amber eyes flash with gold in the setting sun, looking satisfied. Pleased with himself. Like he's just solved some complicated problem.
"I won't take back my money," he continues before I can argue. "If you don't need it, you can burn it for all I care."
And then he just... leaves.
Walks away like nothing happened. Like he didn't just turn my entire world upside down with one kiss.
I stand there for a moment, watching his retreating figure. He's taller than I initially thought. Broader. The way he moves is confident, predatory. Pure Alpha.
Ashley is whimpering in my mind, wanting to follow him. To chase after that intoxicating scent.
Let him go, I tell her firmly, though my own body is screaming the opposite.
I sink back onto the park bench, legs shaking. The money is still clutched in my hand.
My lips still burn from his kiss. I can feel his warmth lingering on my skin, that rich Alpha scent wrapping around me like a claim.
"I enjoyed the kiss, so you've earned the money."
What kind of man says something like that? What kind of man kisses a complete stranger and then just walks away?
I touch my mouth gently. My lips are definitely swollen. There's no hiding what just happened.
Ashley is pacing restlessly in my mind. Find him. Track him.
He smells like trouble, I correct her.
But even as I think it, I know she's right about one thing. I've never felt anything like that kiss before. Never felt so completely overwhelmed by another person's presence.
I look down at the money again. Hundred-dollar bills. At least forty of them, maybe more.
This could buy me the perfect audition outfit. Professional shoes. Maybe even a decent purse.
Use it, Ashley urges. Take what the Alpha offered.
I bite my lower lip, still tender from his kiss. "If I get the contract with Silver Moon Pack, I'll find a way to pay him back," I whisper to myself.
I stand up, legs still a bit unsteady, and head toward the shopping district.
Three hours later, I'm standing in front of the mirror wearing a complete transformation.
The black blazer fits perfectly, professional but not stuffy. The matching pencil skirt hits just below my knees. The silk blouse underneath is a soft cream color that makes my silver-gray eyes pop.
And the shoes. God, the shoes are perfect. Black heels with just enough height to give me confidence without making me wobble.
I deposited the remaining cash in my bank account, but kept enough for a small emergency fund.
The stranger's face keeps flashing in my mind. Those amber eyes. That devastating smile. The way his lips felt against mine.
Tomorrow, I tell myself. Focus on tomorrow.
I've never been more ready for anything in my life.
If I see him again, I'll thank him. And I'll pay him back every penny.
But something tells me I have no idea who he really is. That confident way he carried himself, the expensive clothes, the casual attitude toward money – he's definitely someone important in this city.
The next morning arrives gray and cloudy, but I refuse to let the weather dampen my spirits.
I dress carefully in my new outfit, apply just enough makeup to look polished, and spray myself with Mom's special perfume.
Standing in front of the Silver Moon Pack building again, I feel different. Confident. The expensive outfit makes me stand taller, walk with more purpose.
Inside, the atmosphere is completely different from yesterday. Quieter. More intense.
"Please maintain your seating and wait for your name to be called," the receptionist announces. "You can view the audition rooms and scheduling on the monitors around the waiting area."
I find a seat and try to calm my racing heart. This is it. The private callback that could change everything.
The other candidates look just as nervous as I feel. A mix of humans and werewolves, though most are probably Beta level. I can smell the faint scent markers that identify their ranks.
None of them smell like Omega. Which means I'm still the only one of my kind here.
Good, Ashley says smugly. Let them see what we can do.
I prepare my answers about why I want to join Silver Moon Pack. This company has been my dream since I was a little girl. The premier agency in the industry. The place where stars are made.
"Amelia Brown..."
My name echoes through the waiting room. This is it.
I take a deep breath, smoothing down my skirt, and follow the assistant down a hallway lined with awards and photos of famous clients.
The audition room is bigger than I expected. A long conference table dominates the space, with three chairs on the opposite side.
Three evaluators. That's more than yesterday.
I step inside, keeping my shoulders straight and my head high. Professional. Confident.
And then I see the face of the man sitting in the center chair.
My entire body freezes. My eyes widen in shock. My mouth falls open.
Silver-gray eyes flash with gold as recognition hits me like a physical blow.
The Alpha is here!
Ashley is practically howling with excitement in my mind, recognizing that intoxicating scent that still lingers in my memory.
It's him. The gorgeous stranger from the park. The man who kissed me senseless and gave me a fortune in cash.
He's sitting at the Silver Moon Pack evaluation table like he belongs there.