Chapter 24

Hours later, we finally stepped out of the apartment. Hunger gnawed at my stomach, threatening to claw its way out of me. Kaï had probably had enough of the agonized growls rumbling from within me. We grabbed something to eat on the way, but even that didn't quell the dread curling in my gut. I hated wasting my time and energy, and I knew this trip to the bank would be exactly that. A waste. They were going to turn me down. I was sure of it.

The building loomed ahead, a towering monolith of gray stone, its oppressive size suffocating. It felt taller than I remembered, like it had grown over the years, waiting to swallow me whole. A cold shiver crawled up my spine. Kaï's warm, steady hand landed on my lower back, grounding me, guiding me toward the entrance.

The moment we stepped inside, a sharp mix of Pine-Sol and bleach assaulted my senses. I swallowed against the urge to gag. The marble floor was so polished it reflected the overhead lights, and every step I took echoed through the vast lobby. A tall blonde woman in a navy-blue suit greeted us with a rehearsed smile. Her sleek ponytail was perfect, her makeup flawless. Werewolf.

"Oh! Good afternoon, Luna. Alpha." She dipped her head respectfully, lowering her gaze.

"My name is Lizzy. How can I assist you today?"

"Luna Aleena would like to speak with someone in charge of her mother's will and assets," Kaï said smoothly. He was in his element—commanding, confident. A born Alpha.

"Absolutely. What was her name?"

"Penelope Armani," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. My mother's name felt foreign on my tongue, like something I hadn't spoken in years. Not since the day I told the police she was missing.

Kaï turned my chin toward him, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. A silent reminder—I wasn't alone. I gave him a small smile, grateful for his presence.

Lizzy strode toward a man in a black suit, exchanging a few hushed words. Everyone here looked like they belonged on a movie set, all stiff and composed. Did they ever get tired of it? The suits, the masks, the endless formality? It had to be suffocating.

Lizzy returned, her ever-present smile unwavering. "Please, follow me."

She led us through a hallway, past rows of offices with glass walls, until we reached a conference room. Kaï moved first, pulling out a chair for me before taking the seat beside me at the head of the table. A statement. His way of showing them exactly who he was. His intense green eyes locked onto mine, our bond flaring to life between us. I could feel him, as if he were an extension of me.

I swallowed hard, my fingers twitching against my lap. This was it.

The door creaked open, and a gray-haired man entered, a folder in hand. He took the seat across from us, his expression unreadable.

"Miss Fotos, a pleasure to meet you. My name is Albert. I understand you're here regarding your mother's inheritance?" He flipped open the folder, scanning its contents as if this were just another mundane appointment.

"Well… yes. If it even exists. I was very young when she was taken, and I never came back until now."

"That doesn't matter." Albert waved a hand dismissively. "In cases like these, we safeguard the assets until the rightful heir returns. It's even more crucial with werewolves, given your long lifespans."

He offered a polite smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. He was just doing his job. Reading from a script.

"Your mother inherited several businesses and properties from your father, along with a substantial amount of wealth. Your father also included you in his will, but the terms stipulated that it wouldn't be valid until you turned twenty-one. I assume that's no longer an issue, given that you're now…" He chuckled. "What, around fifty?"

I stiffened. My blood ran cold. What the hell was he talking about?

"Your father owned multiple self-sustaining properties—three rental buildings, two grocery stores, and a weapons company that continues to thrive. Your mother ran a clothing brand, though she sold it a few months before her disappearance. Additionally, there's a significant sum from their life insurance policies and personal accounts, all of which are now transferring to you. Lastly, your mother left behind a safe deposit box here at the bank. If you'd like, I can escort you to it."

Albert snapped the folder shut and stood, gesturing for us to follow.

I couldn't move.

The words hung in the air, pressing down on me, squeezing the breath from my lungs. She told me he went bankrupt. That he left us with nothing.

Did she know? If she did… why hide it from me?

Kaï noticed my distress instantly. He stood behind me, his hands firm on my shoulders before guiding me forward. I let him. My legs carried me through the bank's maze of hallways until we reached a heavy metal door. Albert unlocked it, stepped inside, and retrieved a small metal box.

"I'll give you some privacy. Take your time."

He left, and Kaï followed, murmuring something to him about the paperwork. Their voices faded into the background, nothing more than static.

My entire world had shrunk down to this—this small, insignificant-looking box. My mother's last remnants.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my fingers trembling as I reached out. The metal was cool beneath my touch. Foreign. Unknown.

With a deep breath, I opened it.

Photographs. So many photographs. Of her. Of me. Of my father.

Jewelry, delicate and familiar. Baby stuffI hadn't seen in years. And letters. Letters addressed to me.

The scent of her perfume clung to them, a ghost of the past wrapping around me, suffocating me with memories.

I broke.

Tears blurred my vision, hot rivers carving down my cheeks. I clutched the letters to my chest, my shoulders shaking with the force of my grief. I missed her. I missed her so much it hurt. Like a knife twisting in my gut, carving out the pieces of me that still longed for her.

I couldn't do this. It was too much. Too raw.

I shoved the box closed and stormed out of the room.

"We're leaving. Thanks for your time."

I didn't wait to see if they followed. I didn't care. My feet carried me blindly toward the exit, my heart slamming against my ribs.

Albert's voice called after me. "Miss Fotos, you'll need to come back when you've calmed down—"

I snapped.

"Calmed down?" I whirled on him, fury igniting every nerve in my body. "You didn't give a damn about my feelings this entire time. You sat there, listing off numbers like they were groceries on a receipt, and now you want me to calm down?"

I snatched the pen from his hand, scrawling my signature across the paper with a force that nearly tore it.

"There. Now fuck off."

And with that, I bolted, desperate to outrun the weight of everything crashing down on me.