How can this be a real question! We agreed earlier that I was just... borrowing this apartment for now, but that also means I don’t intend to live here forever!
I must think about when I’ll have to leave eventually, and when that happens, I don’t want to be as hopeless as I was before. I almost died by the hands of my brother, and I let my pack step all over me. I’m not taking chances a second time. But I can’t tell her any of this for now.
“Tonia, I need a job, I need money. I told you, I don’t want to feel indebted or anything. Staying here is already too much for me.”
“Will you stop with this stupid money issue? You haven’t been here for 24 hours yet, and you’re already talking about leaving!”
“Because that is the correct thing to do, Tonia! I’ve never relied on anyone, and I don’t want to!”
Tonia lets out a growl of frustration, but I don’t care. How am I just supposed to accept this dream life and let myself be sheltered like a kid? Life is no fairy tale! I appreciate what Damian’s been doing for me, but I don’t want to stand back and do nothing. I’m done with fearing my own shadow. I need to learn to speak and live for myself. And it starts with getting a life on my own. And a job.
“Bobo, say something!”
I doubt her brother will step in to help her. He didn’t stop me when I said what I was about to do. Even now, he’s pretending to sleep under my chair, even though we all can tell he’s just ignoring his sister.
“Nora, I don’t think you realize your situation. You’re the Boss’s mate. From now on, you are going to be in danger 24/7. Do you think you’re here just because he is nice to you? Well, there’s that, but this is also for security reasons. Ithought you wanted to get away from your pack. Just consider that now you have to avoid all the other packs!”
As far as security go, yes, I did notice the 200-pounds wolf following me around all day... But I bite my lip as I realize she’s a bit right, too. I know how far Damian’s reputation goes, and it’s nothing pleasant. If anyone wanted to harm him, they could try and attack me. We may not be an official couple or have mated -yet-, but what I’ve experienced of our link so far tells me we would feel it if something happened to the other. My wolf agrees, too, she doesn’t want to part with him or let her mate be hurt. I don’t think she cares about the “getting a job” part at all. That’s human stuff. I turn to Tonia.
“How many people know I’m his fated mate?”
She looks a bit surprised by my question and stops frowning to think about it seriously.
“Not many, for now. We tried to keep it to a minimum. Only like, ten or eleven people perhaps, including the Boss’s brothers and mine.”
So they’re basically concealing my existence. Not that it bothers me; I also prefer it that way.
“But nobody needs to know, right? Tonia, I could find a job far from my Clan’s turf, act normal, and no one would know I’m related to him in any way.”
“No.”
I can feel some tension in her voice, and somehow, I think there’s something else. Something she doesn’t want to tell me. But what could it be? Is it that I’m really in danger, more than I thought? But neither Tonia nor Bobo really seem to be on guard. And Tonia did leave us for a couple hours earlier, something she never did when I was at the hospital.
After a long silence, both of us doing our own thinking, Tonia lets out a sigh. “Gosh, when you were mute for a fewweeks, I never imagined you could be that stubborn, baby girl. You know what? If you want to work, I get it. I really do. But please, talk to the Boss before doing anything. He’ll definitely be against it, and very mad.”
I really hope Tonia’s wrong. He wouldn’t get mad over something so trivial as letting me get a job, right...? I try not to think too deeply about it and just nod at her answer.
“Okay, then. I will ask Damian first, I promise. But do you know when I can see him again?”
She hesitates.
“I asked him earlier, but... he’s busy, Nora.”
The busy excuse again. I get that Damian is an Alpha and must be quite busy with such a large pack to handle, but I’m getting tired of it. He’s out there doing werewolf stuff while I’m stuck here cooking and reading books, and I hate it.
“I’m sure he’ll find time to visit you real soon,” says Tonia with a sorry look. “But meanwhile, no more talking about you getting a job, okay?”
“...Okay.”
I can see the relief on her face.
So, I did wait.
To be honest, living in the apartment wasn’t as dull as living at the hospital. Maybe Tonia trying to keep me busy had some effect, too, but there was a lot more to do here. Every morning, she would take me to the gym and guide me through a proper workout. She insisted on how I should get healthier by doing so and gain some more energy. It certainly did help me get more confident and stronger, I think. Then, I would prepare lunch for them, my favorite part of the day. Tonia and Bobo are no picky eaters, and I can cook anything I want.
After that, the afternoons were... long. Watch a movie, read a book or two on the terrace, play video games with Tonia, or study.
The days went on, and I had yet to hear from Damian. The worst thing is, Tonia would have him on the phone about three to five times a week, and he never wanted to speak with me no matter how many times I asked.
