Saved [First Half] ✓

Saved First Half Alpha Male Series Book #5 i. epigraph i do not need a kind of love that is d r a i n i n g i want someone who e n e r gi z e s me — rupi kaur ii. introduction Some people see their parents as their heroes. It was not new for a child to see the one that raised them to be the epitome of perfection, one that they ought to look up to. For years and ends, it was a natural thing for a child to take upon the image of their parents. All knew of that one kid who was close to their parent and would always present them during class when the teacher would like them to introduce the hero in their life. While everyone knew that parents, especially the parents who are raising their children all on their own, might get the credit every time that a child achieves something, there are always instances where they should not get a single cent for how their children lived their life. It always does not have to be all because they did everything to take their daughter into success. No. Sometimes, they are the very reason why their children hated the success they were at. Even with their lives, they were unsure if they wanted to thank their parents for giving them something that they were not happy with. That thought that would linger from a child's brain would be something that they will dread for the rest of their life. Should they be thankful that they have a steady job, despite being neglectful of their mental health? Take, for example, Emmi Parker. She is an 18 years old she-wolf who had reached her degree in medicine at such a young age. The young child had a bright future ahead of her, but this was not in her plan. Every kid in the pack wanted to be her, and all the parents in the village adored her for being such a bright doctor who was doing everything to raise her family to the ground. Through her knowledge in the field and her ways and medicine to heal wounds, all members knew that she would have a promising future ahead of her. Despite her gratefulness for her mother, she does not see it as an achievement of the woman. It was solely hers and her sacrifices alone. “How much did you make this month, Emmi?” Elaine, her mother, was first to say when she had arrived. Everything happened quite fast that Emmi had not reacted when her mother quickly swatted the envelope that she had taken out of her bag to count the content one by one. She then frowned, looking back at her daughter. “This is a bit less than usual.” Emmi did not bother to fight, her feet just dragged her to the kitchen as she checked for food. The small wolf inside of her wanted to get angry upon seeing that the money she had given her mother for groceries was nowhere to be seen. It was not like she expected the woman to actually use it for something essential, but it was annoying to get home tired and without a portion of food to eat. "I am talking to you, Emma," Elaine grumbled. Her indifference was such a regular thing in the household that even her mother does not realize if she speaks of the truth. “I got sick earlier this week, remember? So I did not make anything by then. Did you cook anything, mom?” “WHAT?” She shrieked, grabbing her daughter by the arm to see her eye to eye. Pure rage and annoyance were masked in her face, not believing her stories. Knowing exactly how much her daughter was being treated in this place seemed impossible. “You’re hiding some of the money, aren’t you?” She was getting suspicious. For the many times that Emmi had done this, her mother reacted quite heavily today. “Did you owe someone some money?” She could not help but ask, seeing the agitation in her mother’s face. As usual, she had received a flat slap. Her cheeks sting from the way her mother’s palm had collided with it. If her mother had not put anything that would seal the sounds coming from the inside of their home, everyone in the pack should have already known how much her mother treats her. Maybe they will finally see her mother’s facade die down. “You are hiding some money from me, brat!” “And where would I use the money?” Emmi frowned, concealing that she was indeed saving some for herself. For when she finally has the strength to leave this place. “Where is the cash!” She continued snapping in a voice that would not let anyone hear her from outside. To everyone in the pack, she was a supporting mother who only wanted the best for her child—but behind closed doors, Elaine is a mother who stripped her daughter of her salary because she was too lazy to do anything productive in the pack. She's a freeloader and an abuser. Emmi sighed, now good at deflecting her emotions so her mother would double guess her reactions. For someone who had not lied since she was young, she pushed a lot of points for herself. It did pay off being someone who was a good child. Then again, it was not like her mother knew her reactions well. “Mother, that’s all my salary. I told you I got sick while you were out playing with Mrs. Rogers. Don’t you remember?” She questioned, knowing that it did happen. All she did by then was drugged herself to take some rest day. She did quite a lot from there while her mother continued to create some mess all on her own. If it had not been for Emmi, this woman before her had been hunted by humans long ago. Her inability to work for herself is something else. “Oh, that’s right. You were sulking that day.” Her mother offered a frown as if the words were nothing to her. Emmi should have felt hurt, but she was used to this kind of thing. “You made me lose money because you kept on crying.” That is my money. Emmi whispered in her mind. She had worked long hours in the infirmary only to notice that her mother had not cooked anything, and she would probably go out and have some quality time with some humans. There was something in her need to boast about her daughter’s own money and say that it was only hers. Emmi has a good house for both her and her mother in the pack. Back when she was nothing but ten years old, she used to think that she was doing her mother a favor since her father had left her mother. But when she reached sixteen, and her mother blabbed when she was drunk, she soon realized that her mother’s fault was that her father had left. She didn’t know why, but she realized that she was being used. She frowned. “Mom, you didn’t even cook for me? I am famished.” “You’re already 18, Emmi. Do not act like a child,” Elaine moaned, rubbing her head. “You should know how to cook. It’s about time you find your mate anyway. Be sure that he’s someone of high standards, or I will not approve!” Elaine did not even wait or care that her daughter was overworked before she had walked out of the house and planned on going out to have some fun with her human friends. That was soon out of the table as she was stopped from the second that she took more than ten steps away from her home. “Beta.” She smiled. “Can I help you?” The man tried his best not to cringe at the stench that covered the woman. “Alpha Joshua wanted to talk with you.” Despite her confusion, Elaine had no grounds to reject the invitation of the Alpha. She was subjected followed the beta into the packhouse, all while thinking what this was about. There was no beef between her and the Alpha, so she was not worried about anything. Besides, she was loved in the pack, as her daughter was an ace in the packhouse. Everyone outside the pack wanted to hire her daughter as they had all claimed that she would be the next Doctor Adam in the realm of the werewolves. The pack took pride in them. That being said, she entered the Alpha’s room with a smile. “What can I be of service, Alpha?” She greeted, bowing as soon as she entered. “Elaine.” The man nodded, putting his files down as he had offered the seat in his office. His eyes were trained on the woman with a frown. Elaine had shivered, feeling like the man was grilling her before her. While he was not strong in the realm of werewolf, his strength was still enough to get her killed. “I wanted to talk to you about your daughter.” She nodded. “Of course, Alpha.” On usual notes, Elaine would have crept her way to be the Luna, but Joshua had always been very fierce that she was scared to be in the same radius as the man. She was only casual and very friendly, all because she knew that the Alpha would not harm her, as her daughter is very important in the pack. “Emmi is already 18 years old, isn’t she?” “Yes, Alpha. She had turned 18 two weeks ago.” “Good.” He nodded, crossing his arms. “Because I wanted to make that woman as my bride—my Luna.” But... this man is twenty years older than her daughter. He is even much older than her for two years. How can he think of this thing?