Page 12 of Moonlit Choosing Ritual

He tilted his head as he peered at me. “No, but you’ve been bought for three million dollars. How are you going to repay that?”

“By getting paid for my services,” I pointed out. Right?

His lips curled up in a sad smile. “You’re so naïve, Kimble. You’re asking him to pay you after he already bought you?”

And realization slammed inside my chest like a heavy wave dashing every castle I had built in my mind. “Then how will I get free?”

“This isn’t hell, Kimble,” he said as he walked out of the room. “You’ll start liking it. Just stay under the Alpha and Aria’s radar. He’s going to select her in the Moonlit Choosing Ritual. Once he chooses her, he’ll marry her. After they’re married, our Alpha will be more… settled emotionally.” He sighed, shaking his head slightly.

I followed him, feeling helpless and desperate. There had to be some way of getting out of here. These people had strange customs and traditions. Yep, definitely a cult.

Shirley was an experienced, no-nonsense housekeeper, who looked to be as old as my mom. But she had sharp green eyes and a commanding presence. Her hair was neatly tied in a bun.

I took her in as Mason explained to her what I was supposed to do. She nodded curtly at him. After Mason left, she said, “Precision and discretion are key. This isn’t just any household. This is Alpha Talon’s house, you understand?”

I swallowed hard. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Now there are a few rules you have to follow. First, never enter when Alpha is in his room. Clean his room when he isn’t there. Second, if you hear howling, stay indoors.”

My eyes widened. “Howling?”

Shirley turned to pick up some sheets from the table. “This pack—I mean this town—has a lot of wolves nearby in the forest. For your safety, you better remain indoors.”

This place was becoming stranger than fiction.

Shirley handed me the sheets. “Your tasks will vary depending on what Alpha needs. Everything must be flawless. Lucky for you, today, I’ve already done all the work.”

I nodded as I took the sheets from her. “Shirley, if you don’t mind me asking, have you worked here long?”

A hint of a smile came over her lips. “Over thirty years. I worked for Alpha Talon’s father, but this is the first time I’ve seen a recruit like you.” She pursed her lips. “Look, this is a demanding household, but if you serve the Alpha well, you’ll find your place.” She stopped at a large ornate door. “This is where you’ll find the cleaning supplies, in the closet to the left.” She turned to me. “Remember, attention to detail. The Alpha has keen eyes.”

“I have one more question.”

She let out an exasperated sigh. “What?”

“Is there any place where I can work a few more hours in this town? I mean, how long will I be serving Talon?” I chuckled nervously. If I wasn’t going to be paid by Talon, I might as well work outside.

“Address him as Alpha Talon!” she immediately corrected me, with a hint of fear in her eyes.

“Yes. Yes, of course!”

“My sister, Megan, has a bar where she constantly needs help. Her daughter, Jackie, helps her off and on. I’ll ask her. How old are you?” she asked, tapping her chin.

“I’ll be eighteen in a month,” I replied, excitedly.

“Oh! That could be a problem.”

Oh no. No, no, no. “Please, Shirley. Please, please. I really need an extra job!”

“Okay…” she drawled. “I’ll ask her.”

“Thank you!”

“That’s okay,” she said. Just as she was leaving, she turned her head. “I’ll ask Jackie to give you a phone. And you can fetch food for yourself from the kitchen. No one’s going to help you with that.”

And at that my stomach grumbled with the intensity of a restless lion. The kitchen was… fucking luxurious. A symphony of opulence, there were marble countertops. The gleaming appliances sang in perfect harmony. Two young chefs looked at me with amusement. As if understanding me, one with curly hair pointed at the fridge. “You’ll find bacon and cheese there. If you like, I can grill you some tuna.”

“Ah, no, thanks.” I grinned. “I’ll help myself.”

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