CHAPTER 10

I heard my bed room door open, my head throbbing but I could smell the sweet Tangerine scent. The smell I've been missing all day. I opened my eyes, and turned around. On the couch, I could see Gruvv busy in front of his laptop. He had already changed into home clothes, he was wearing glasses with half-wet hair. Among the dim light of the nightlight, I could see his silhouette that looked good.

"You're home?"

He turned and looked at me from afar, I was sitting on the bed, I rubbed my eyes and tidy up the blanket. Gruvv got up from his seat and walked over to me, without word he put his hand on my forehead.

"You're getting a cold again." He said while checking the IV drip. The liquid is almost gone, I think this is gonna be the last one. "And, you can't take a stroll today too. That's suck." 

"I hate this situation." I said.

He sat beside the bed and looked at me closely.

"Your body reacts badly to the another Alpha pheromone." He explained and I nodded. The nurse had explained, which is why I hated my body even more. "I'm sorry, it's because George coming to your room this morning."

His voice was so soft though it was deep, his gaze on me was very different from his gaze on others. There is something about him that seems like a mystery to me.

"I'm thinking about paying my debt." I tried to bring up a topic that he had been avoiding. Anyway, I have to discuss it first. I'm here as a guarantor.

Gruvv did not respond immediately, I could hear him taking a breath and exhaled it. He took off his glasses and pressed hard against the bridge of his nose.

"I've been trying to cut your debt, I sold some assets owned by your family. The main debt is paid off, all you have to do is pay the interest."

My chest hurts, I never used the money, I never saw it and now I have to bear it all. I grabbed the blanket.

"W..What do I have to do to pay for it?" I asked, trying not to tremble but still my body reacted differently. I had nothing to give him as a promise, and I was afraid of giving up my body. The thoughts of what peoples did to me when I was in the embroidery house still haunts me.

Gruvv sighed once more, he leaned on the chair and looked at me.

"Just stay at home, you just have to greet me when I come home."

"Huh?"

"Shiloh, your body is so weak right now, until you recover, all I want is that. Once you're much more healthy, let's think about what you can do to pay off your debt."

"But...."

Gruvv grabbed my hand that had been gripping the blanket tightly, he played my fingers in his big hand and holding it.

"Shiloh, you said my pheromones smell sweet.." He said and I nodded. "You are the first person to smell my pheromones like that. I want to know more about it, so I need you. You react so badly to the smell of the other Alpha pheromones, but you react so casually to my pheromone, instead you look so much calmer. Doctors also want to examine it further."

"Why?" I ask, because I really don't understand.

"Because like you, I also have an incurable disease. I'm looking for a way to cure it."

I'm gazing blankly. He looks very healthy, athletic body, he is full of muscles, he is tall, smells sweet. I don't see anything unusual in him.

"Disease?"

He nodded "Therefore, as long as you are still recovering, let me use you to cure this illness of mine."

I was still speechless, not knowing what to react. As understood, Gruvv grabbed my hand.

"I will pay you every month, I will make you savings and I will send you money. Every month, you can pay interest to my company until it's paid off."

I swallowed, staring at Gruvv in confusion, "How long?"

"I will pay you more than enough. You can pay interest and still get the rest for your savings." He said with eyes that looked at me.

"Are you going to use my body?" I asked carefully.

He chuckled and shook his head slowly "No, I won't touch you. The doctor said, I just need to interact with you. A lot."

I hesitated for a moment but finally the question came out of my mouth, "You...Can't control your Pheromone?"

I could see Gruvv's eyes rounded in surprise, he then smiled slightly and nodded.

"That's why in this house there are only betas. Since I can't control my own pheromones, sometimes it becomes a problem. But you don't overreact, my pheromones that you smell are very different from what others smell from me."

I looked at Gruvv, people like Gruvv apparently have their own illness. This is just a transactional relationship, I should be grateful this job is more relaxing than I have to entertain Alpha who intends to fuck me.

"You're going to find my dad, right? Take me as a hostage until you find him." I sound so desperate once again.

He nodded, "I will look for your father, when your father is caught later, I will release you. I will set your free, Shiloh."

That word feels so comforting. I want to be free, I don't want to depend on others. I am twenty-two years old and I want to live my own life. All this time I was always in my father's palm, I could not even get out of the room that had no light at all. I'm not allowed to decide what I want and what I don't want, I always belong to someone.

Gruvv, has brought me out of that darkness.

I'll do whatever I can, once Dad's caught, I'll be free.