✿ Ulyana's POV

I take in a deep breath and bring the bottle to my lips.

1... 2... 3!

“Chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug...!” the crowd chanted.

I successfully chugged down the big bottle of beer and slammed it down on the table, erupting cheers from the crowd.

“And we have a new winner!” the MC roared through the microphone.

I grinned and gave the man I was competing with a two-fingered salute, before hopping off the stage. I headed to the changing room and pulled off my mask.

“Guess who made a hundred grand making people bet on you?” my best friend sang, shimmying her way up to me.

I chuckled.

“Was it necessary Mara?” I asked.

“Oh my goodness, Tate. Of course, it's necessary!” she cried out, tucking the money into her fanny pack.

I tousled my green hair and slipped on my leather jacket.

“You ready?” she asked me.

I was about to answer when a ring cut me off. Marioara turned her attention back to her reflection in the mirror and smiled. I checked my phone and it was a private number.

Could it be...

I instantly shook my head and hung up. I was about to speak up again when the call came through again. I hung up and it came through yet again.

“Someone's popular tonight” Mara chuckled.

I shook my head.

“It's a private number. I'm not answering.”

She slammed the hairbrush on the vanity and turned to me.

“Are you crazy?” she asked. “What have I always told you?”

I flicked my eyes back and forth.

“Start watching Game of Thrones just before the night of an exam.”

She gave me a straight face.

“No the other thing I've always told you.”

“Always support Team Iron Man in a civil war.”

She playfully hits my arm.

“Well yes, duh, but not that," she said. "Tate, what do I always say?”

I open my mouth to talk when she cuts me off.

“If you say 'Drink Complan to grow taller' I'll kill you” she warns.

I press my lips together and hold back my laugh.

“Always answer private numbers!” she groaned. “It could be a mysterious hunk or a mafia prince... or an actual prince!” she whined excitedly.

I chuckled.

“It's not Mara, c'mon. Get real.”

“Just answer it and put me at peace, Tate” she sighed.

Just then the call came through again.

“Oh would you please just answer it Tate?” she said firmly this time.

“Mara?! Someone wants to see you!” an indistinguishable voice called out from behind the door.

“Answer it,” she said as she walked out.

I turned my back to the door and accepted the call.

“Hello?”

“Ulyana? Where are you? We need to talk immediately!” my grandfather's voice boomed from the other end of the phone.

I held the phone away from my ear and sighed before holding it to my ear again.

“Bubba, can it wait?” I asked.

“Darling this is important. How fast can you get home?”

I massaged the back of my neck.

“I'm not in the country right now” I lied.

“What do you mean you're not in the country?!”

I made a face.

“Sorry Bubba, but I'm not in the country right now. I'm in... South Korea.”

“Well wrap up whatever business you have there tonight. I'm sending someone to come get you in the morning.”

“No!” I screamed.

Shit!

“I mean, I'll come on my own.”

I heard him sigh.

“Ulyana, I must see you right away. Please, my darling... it's really urgent.”

I frowned at how broken he sounded.

“Okay Bubba. Just please take it easy okay?”

He was quiet for a long time before he replied again.

“I'll see you then.”

Then he hung up. I frowned at my phone's screen.

“Psstt Tate!” Mara whispered to me through the window.

“What are you doing?”

“We need to go. Someone started a bar fight and that same someone got stabbed. The police are on their way.”

I quickly glanced around and grabbed my keys. Slipping my phone into the back pocket of my jeans, I pushed myself up and climbed out the window. Marioara was already waiting for me beside the motorcycle.

She passed me a helmet as I got on and wrapped her arms around me from behind.

“The shelter?” I asked.

“Yep. Chris is going to have a field day!” she chuckled, patting the fanny pack.

I started the motorcycle and zoomed off just as the sound of sirens reached my ears.

✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽

“Oh, you girls didn't have to!” Chris gushed as Marioara handed him the fanny pack filled with money.

“Of course we do. It's not a problem at all, right Tate?” Mara beamed, nudging me.

I chuckled.

“Of course not Chris. You know we'll do anything for you.”

He smiled up at us and hugged us both.

“Thank you” he whispered.

I nodded.

“Now we've got to get going, Chris. We'll see you next weekend” Mara grinned and tugged me.

I paused and walked back to give Chris one last hug.

He's not going to be seeing me for a while.

“Be good” I whispered, making him chuckle.

We got back on the motorcycle and drove to my studio apartment.

“I am so exhausted!” Mara groaned, flopping herself down on the bed.

I closed the door and set my keys into the ceramic catchall on the table. Mara sat up abruptly as I hung my purse.

“Did you notice the SUV following us from the shelter?” she asked.

I looked at her.

“No one's following us, Mara” I assured, taking off my jacket and then my top.

She got up from the bed and walked towards the window.

“Really? Because it's parked right outside. Are we being stalked?”

I finished taking off my jeans and joined her by the window.

“That's a minivan, Marioara” I chuckled.

“Whatever. We're being followed.”

“Didn't you say you liked mysterious things? It could be your mafia prince after all” I teased.

“A mafia prince who's a stalker? Please. I'm no longer interested.”

I laughed and pulled her away from the window.

“We're not being followed or stalked, okay?” I said.

She pouted.

“You watch too many true crime shows” I teased.

She glanced at the window again and I gave her a look.

“I'm going to bed, Mara.”

“No, no. You know I need to fall asleep first or else I can't sleep” she huffed and quickly changed into her nightwear.

I chuckled as I watched her hurry to get under the covers.

“The lights are going” I announced.

She closed her eyes and I flicked them off before getting in the uncomfortable motel bed beside her.

“Tate, you'll always wait for me to fall asleep before you sleep, right?” she whispered in the dark.

“I'd you keep talking, I might just not.”

She laughed and gave my shoulder a little squeeze before closing her eyes.

“Night, Tate” she whispered.

“Sweet dreams, Mara” I whispered back.

✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽

“Tate Engle! Get down here and move your motorcycle before I scrape it down the road!”

I sighed, my eyes still closed.

“Tate!”

Marioara groaned and nudged me.

“Please go move the bike. You know it's our only means of transportation” she said between yawns.

“Tate Engle! You're daring me, young lady!”

“I'm coming!” I screamed in annoyance and opened my eyes.

With a matching annoyed groan, I got out of bed and moved to the window. Holding it up, I peeped my head out.

“You know it's not polite to scream so early in the morning, Mrs. Dell,” I said.

The woman looked up at me and pointed to the motorcycle.

“Ten seconds, Tate. Or I'll ask Jason to run over it with the RV” she threatened.

I sighed and moved away from the window.

“Get some milk when you're coming back, Tate. We're out” Mara mumbled in her sleep.

I threw on my jacket, grabbed my keys from the catchall, and stepped outside of the apartment.

“I see your beauty sleep doesn't work” Jason teased when I stepped outside.

“How will it work when I have your mother yelling at me at five in the morning?”

“It's eight” he corrected.

“Even worse" I rolled my eyes and began to move my motorcycle which wasn't even in the way. "All done, Mrs. D!” I called out.

“Hey, some guy was here looking for some ugly Betty” Jason chuckled. “Maybe you and your sidekick would know her since you two know everyone in this building.”

I looked over my shoulder.

“What guy?”

“Tall, dark, handsome, and very muscled.”

I made a face.

“You just described Michael B. Jordan” I chuckled.

“I think I'd recognize Micheal B. Jordan if I saw him” he frowned.

I shrugged and leaned against my motorcycle.

“Well, your descriptions suck so.”

He rolled his eyes.

“He was in that minivan” Jason pointed.

I followed the direction and I narrowed my eyes.

“That's not a minivan, Jason,” I said. “It's an SUV.”

The SUV from last night that Mara saw!

“Whatever. He looked important so whoever they're looking for is obviously in trouble with the law or something” he laughed.

I ignored him and made my way toward the SUV.

“Should I alert your sidekick?!” Jason called after me.

I waved him off and stood in front of the tinted window of the SUV. I tapped angrily.

“Are you stalking someone?” I asked, still knocking.

The glass was rolled down and he gave me a look.

“South Korea huh?” he chuckled.

His face fell and he sat up straight.

“Ulyana?” he asked. “Wow, you look—”

I frowned and quickly glanced at Jason who was watching me.

“Brett? What are you doing here?” I asked, looking back at him.

“I was um... you look... I mean, your grandfather asked... wow” he exhaled. “You look great!” he grins.

“Brett!” I scolded. “I lost a hundred and fifty pounds. Get over it. Now why are you stalking me?”

He cleared his throat and I heard the car door unlock.

“Get in,” he said.

“I can't” I muttered.

“This is important, Ulyana.”

“You think I don't know that?”

He huffed.

“In all my years of serving your grandfather as Beta of the pack, I've never seen him this terrified, Ulyana. So no. You don't know how important this is.”

I frowned.

“He's terrified?” I asked. “Why?”

“I don't know. But we're not to leave without you” he answered.

“Tate?!” Mara called out.

I turned and saw her with her head out the window.

“Could you pick up some red kidney beans along with the milk you're getting?!” she yelled out.

“Okay!”

“Could you also maybe get some green lentils and pasta? Oh and some of that all-purpose flour and—”

“Just toss me the grocery list, Mara!” I called out, cutting her off.

She smiled shyly and balled the paper in her hand before throwing it my way. The wind changed its direction and the paper landed in the drain. I sighed.

“I'll just text it to you, is that okay?!” she called out.

“Yep, do that!” I answered and waited for her to turn back inside before facing Brett again.

“Tate?” he asked. “Is that why you live in this dump and have green hair now?”

“I'm undercover, Brett.”

“No. You've been hiding out in the human world for eight years, Ulyana. Alpha Eamonn needs you and I'm not leaving here without you.”

“Yes, you already said that Brett so okay. I will come with you” I sighed. “Just let me get the groceries and drop my friend off at her parent's house, then we go.”

He nodded.

“Okay. So get in. We'll give you a ride. Which way is the grocery store?”

“No that's okay. I have a means of transport.”

He looked at me.

“Oh thank the goddess. At least you have a good car” he sighed.

I chuckled.

“Who said anything about my ride being a car?”

✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽

Walking into the house, the memories from my childhood came flooding back. I rubbed my arms, praying the goose pimples would disappear.

“I'll go tell Alpha Eamonn that you're here,” Brett said softly, probably sensing my uneasiness.

I nodded and went back to looking around the house. My eyes fell on my family portrait and my breath hitched to the back of my throat.

How was I the only one who survived?

“Where is she?! Brett! Where's my little... Ulyana?”

I turned around and there she was. The only mother figure I'd ever had.

“Chole” I whispered.

She choked on a sob and I opened my arms to her. She made her way toward me and wrapped me in one of those nostalgic hugs. I found myself squeezing into her like I did when I had nightmares or when the kids at school called me names because of my size.

“Oh I'm so happy to see you my little angel” she sobbed happily.

I smiled.

“Me too,” I said.

She let me go and examined my face.

“I like your hair.”

I laughed.

“It's terrible, Lolo. Green has never been my color” I admitted.

She smiled.

“Oh, my little angel.”

I squeezed her hand that was resting on the side of my face and smiled back.

“Woah, Uls is that you?” I heard a familiar voice ask.

I looked over Chole's head at his annoying face.

“Where'd the jelly belly go?” he teased.

He was part of the kids who called me names at school.

I smiled.

“I don't need to gain back the hundred and fifty pounds I lost to sit on you as I did in fifth grade, Mitchell.”

His smirk disappeared and Chole laughed, patting my back.

“That's my girl” she smiled.

“I'm sorry to break up your little reunion but the Alpha's expecting his granddaughter,” Brett said, walking back into the foyer.

“Go on angel. I'll put your things away for you” Chole whispered to me.

I nodded.

“Thank you Lolo” I smiled.

“You remember the way, right?” Brett asked.

“Yes, Brett. I remember” I chuckled and made my way to my grandfather's study.

Nothing had changed. I knocked on the door gently and let myself in.

“Hello Bubba” I greeted with a smile as I closed the door.

He was facing his house of cards, his back to me. I held back a chuckle and walked over to him to give him a tight warm hug from behind.

“Ulyana, I needed you here thirty-three hours ago. Where were you?” he asked, not bothering to squeeze my arms that were still wrapped around him.

I let him go and stepped back.

“Bubba, I'm here now and that's what matters. Now what was so important that we couldn't talk about it over the phone?” I asked.

He turned around and blinked at me.

“Bad hair day. I'll wash it off, I promise” I explained before he could ask why my hair was green.

He eyed me and narrowed his eyes at the tattoos on my arm. I sighed.

“It's not real either, Bubba. I'll just get rid of it too” I said. “Now can you please tell me what this emergency is about?” I asked.

My brows furrowed as I noticed a strange wave of despair that washed over his face.

“Bubba? What is it?”

Something felt off. My grandfather sighed and made his way over to me. He exhaled loudly as his face paled.

“Bubba, stop that. You're making me nervous” I frowned. “What happened?”

He took my hands in his.

“I took a loan from Parnell MacQuoid,” he said.

I flicked my eyes back and forth.

“Okay?”

“He's dead and his grandson has taken over all his businesses. And now he's demanding I pay him back the thirty million I owe.”

“So pay him back, Bubba” I chuckled.

He just stared at me.

“Darling, I can't,” he said, his breath shaky.

I frowned.

“What do you mean you—”

“We're bankrupt, Ulyana” he cut me off.

“What?” I whispered.

He nodded.

“For two years now. But we're going to be just fine, darling. I promise.”

My face fell.

“Bubba... why didn't you say something earlier?” I asked. “Two years?” I sighed.

I had pink hair two years ago.

“I promised I wouldn't drag you into a mess and I'm fixing it, I promise, darling.”

I nodded repeatedly at him.

“Well, let's talk to Parnell's son then. Tell him we'll pay back. But we need a little more time.”

My grandfather sighed.

“Unfortunately, he's nowhere near understanding as his father was,” he said. “He threatened I pay back every dime I owe by the end of this month, or he'd be forced to take legal action and if that wasn't good enough, he'd make sure that every family in our pack attended a funeral every week.”

I frowned.

“Wait, is he crazy or something?” I asked. “Why is he dragging the pack into this?”

My grandfather squeezed my hands.

“Ulyana, he asked for Nexus Vale” he whispered.

“Excuse me?”

I was angry. The guy was insane.

“You and that land are all I have left in this world, Bubba. My parents worked so hard for that land. They put their blood, sweat, and tears into all of this. That's my heritage, Bubba. And he just wants it because of thirty million?” I asked, furious.

“We're not giving up Nexus Vale, darling. Don't worry.”

“Bubba” I sighed. “He's not going to take away this company either, okay? We'll find a solution. There are multiple ways to fix everything. I know how much this company means to you, and I promise you that I'm going to help in whatever way I can. I cross my heart, Bubba” I assured him with a warm smile.

He squeezed both of my hands but the sad look in his eyes remained there.

“If we are unable to pay him back soon, not only is he going to take the company and freeze all our remaining assets, Ulyana. He's going to go to the elders.”

My heart skipped.

“No” I whispered trying to steady my heartbeat as my eyes roamed the floor.

From the corner of my eyes, my grandfather nodded.

“He will, Ulyana. Only if we agree to his final condition.”

I furrowed my brows for a second, trying to guess what this bastard's last condition was.

“What is it, Bubba?” I asked.

I watched him hesitate for a while, contemplation filling his every move. What was this last condition that had gotten my grandfather to get this way?

“Bubba, just tell me what that bastard wants. I promise, we'll find a way to give it to him... whatever it is.”

He looked up at me, his eyes filled with so much dread.

“He says... he wants your hand in marriage, Ulyana. And he'll forgo everything.”

That's bullshit!

“I'm sorry, I think I fell asleep there for a second... what?” I asked with a laugh.

The look on my grandfather's face was enough to turn my laughter uneasy.

Again, this is bullshit!

I slowly withdrew my hands away from his and began to pace. Then I stopped abruptly when he remained silent.

“What did you say to him, Bubba?” I asked. “Did you accept his proposal?”

His eyes widened for a second before he shook his head and frowned.

“Of course not, darling. That's bullshit!” he barked. “Why would I ever subject my little girl to a loveless marriage in the hands of a cold-hearted and self-centered man like Zoltan MacQuoid?!”

Zoltan.

“Ulyana,” he said, his voice calm and gentle as he takes my hands again. “I don't care if he takes me to the council and has me thrown into a dungeon for the rest of my remaining years. But I would never force anything on the only person I love most in this world” he told me.

Zoltan.

I squeezed his hands in mine and he smiled at me, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

Zoltan.

My grandfather wasn't going to force anything on the person he loved most in this world and it wasn't going to allow the person who loved me most in this world to spend his remaining years in a nasty cell because of thirty million.

I wrapped my arms around my grandfather and he hugged me tightly, caressing my hair.

Zoltan!

He was going to get what was coming to him.

Thank you for reading!
Vote, comment, and recommend if you liked this chapter.
Bye!
~the_atticwriter ♥