CHAPTER FIVE: DERRICK

This can't be happening.

"You want to do what?!"

The words come out in a squeak and I clear my throat. My throat is still recovering from smoke inhalation, and with the help of Adriana's teas, I am recovering well.

But now, as I listen to her calmly explain what she wants from me, I lose my voice completely.

My breath hitches in my throat, and my heart is pounding in my chest.

I curl my hands into fists, fighting the change that comes as the wolf inside me prowls restlessly.

"So, let me get this straight," I say once she has finished speaking. "You want me to pretend to be your mate to your family. And in return, you'll pay for the entire compound's rebuilding?"

"You got it in one." She says, a satisfied smile stretching across her face.

Her mouth is wide and generous and perfect for smiling.

I have a feeling that Adriana is used to getting what she wants.

"But won't your family figure it out?" I ask her, my voice lower, huskier this time.

Do I imagine it, or do I see her shiver slightly, as she looks at me?

"I'll glamor us. I'll create a fake mating bond, just for the meeting and the crowning ceremony. I plan on living in New Haven permanently, so it isn't as though we'll spend a lot of time with them."

"And you have enough money to rebuild an entire compound? For three hundred shifters? The original compound had twenty buildings."

My voice is demanding, but I can't help it.

Because the truth is, I am considering it. Just the mere thought of being able to help my people is putting me on edge.

It would be so easy.

And if she is jerking me around, I think my heart will break. And I don't think it'll recover this time.

Adriana doesn't say anything, but gets up and heads to the table behind us.

We are sitting in the living room of the apartment, and it is large, bright, and airy.

It is filled with more plants than I have ever seen, even in New Haven's gardens.

There are floor-to-ceiling windows, and golden orbs shine, day and night, where they hang from the ceiling.

I know that they are powered by the magic of the ley lines. Most of the town is, because it saves us on electricity costs.

Because of the ley lines, we never had to establish an electricity grid.

That must have saved us billions.

Adriana lifts a heavy black suitcase from the table, and comes back around to me.

She places it on the smaller table between us.

We both look down at it, before I look up at her. She looks up at me, before raising her eyebrows.

With that prompt, I reach out reluctantly, and open it.

I hear my own sharp intake of breath, but don't really register it.

There has to be over a million U.S. dollars in the suitcase. The money is in one hundred dollar bills, and are neatly tied with elastic in stacks.

The suitcase is quite deep, so my estimate might be wrong.

There might be more money in there.

When I look up at Adriana, the witch's eyes are serious. For a second, I see a flash of orange burn through her eyes.

But it is gone in less than a whisper of a second.

"Don't ask me any questions," there is a warning in her voice. "This money is yours, if you agree to be my mate for the next three months. After I step up as leader of the coven, I'll just change the rules. We can then reject the mating bond."

It would be so easy. So easy just to take the money.

"And what about the town? What will we tell the council? They'll wonder where I got the money." I say.

I realize then that I am doing everything I can to stall making a decision.

"Just say you reached out to a wealthy, but estranged family member who agreed to help in return for your servitude." Adriana shrugs.

As if it is that easy.

Maybe it is.

Maybe it is that easy.

"Listen, this won't require anything from you other than a lie." Adriana says. "Besides, with the stress out of the way, you can discover who set the fire. Shouldn't that be your priority?"

Her words hit me like a slap in the face.

She is right.

Throughout the last two days, I have spent so much time mourning what I have lost, that I haven't given any thought as to who tried to burn my pack to the ground.

I look down at the money again.

The afternoon stretches, warm and inviting, into the apartment. It curls and twists around me, a warm caress, a beautiful kiss.

When I look up at Adriana, her warm brown skin is glowing, highlighted by the gold of the sun. Her honey brown hair is like a golden halo around her head.

She is looking away from me, her side profile on view.

I am starting to realize that I haven't felt this way about someone in a long time. It was almost instant, the minute I was coherent, I felt myself drawn to her.

If it had been any other time, I would have tried courting Adriana. But no, this cannot happen.

Right now, my pack is more important, and she has made it clear that this pretense is nothing more than a necessity for her.

But as I sit there, thinking, I know that could have been a possibility of something.

She has made it clear that after our deal is struck, we only have three months of this pretense. And I am not going to take advantage of her.

Not when she is helping me much more than I am helping her.

This money will help the pack rebuild, and will even help my investigation into the fire.

I can't say no.

"Okay," I clear my throat. "I'll help you."