Chapter 4

"I swear the salary is good," Jennifer said, looking guilty as she handed me the skirt so short you could see my underwear. "Much better than anything else you can find right now." I nodded. Whatever I would face, I would put up with it, as long as they didn't put a dick in my vagina. I took it right away and changed into it. Even though I saw how revealing it was, I started to shake when I looked at myself in the mirror. It was too short, the black maid uniform hardly covered anything – so short that it showed too much when bending over, the neckline so low that every breath made my breasts almost jump out. The fishnet stockings and high heels finished the embarrassing look. But the picture of my father's pale face, surrounded by noisy machines, made me determined. Just get the money. "You look beautiful, honey," our supervisor, Amber, who was also an experienced dancer, walked over and said, pleased. I tried to smile to calm myself down. I nodded. "I'm ready." Amber smiled slightly and warned: "Guest in Room #3 asked for you by name. Remember, don't let money slip through your fingers." My forehead wrinkled. Why would someone ask for me? I'm new. But Amber didn't care how I felt. She pulled my lips into a smile shape and said, "Don't worry, sex costs extra. You only need to dance on their laps and let them touch you – with your clothes on, okay? Got it?" I nodded numbly. Holding the thin skirt, I took a deep breath and stepped into the dark hallway. The main area of Lupine Essence was a mess for the senses – flashing lights, loud bass music, bodies pressed against bodies. Half-naked women leaned against men in sharp suits, lying lazily on velvet couches. In one corner, a woman wearing leather swung a whip over the head of a kneeling man – a BDSM show designed to arouse. My stomach felt sick. What had Jennifer gotten me into? This wasn't a normal club. I hugged myself and forced myself to walk towards the VIP area. Every click of my heels felt like I was betraying myself. I whispered: "Temporary, temporary. Just get through it." The VIP guard just glanced at my pass and nodded towards suite #3. I straightened the extreme outfit, forced a smile I hoped looked attractive, pushed open the door, and then froze. The man sitting in the shadowy booth was Silas Vance – Adrian's closest friend, and the heir to the rival gang, the Iron Claw. I never forgot the greedy way he used to look at me. Now, his intention was clear – to humiliate me. A wave of panic hit me. Get out quick! My muscles tensed, ready to run. Silas's voice sounded behind me. "Claire. Leaving now? Giving up on your father's hospital bill?" My blood froze. How did he know? He smiled at the corners of his mouth and slapped his thick thigh like it was a throne. "Information flows freely here. Sit. Let's see what helping Dad is worth." Just dancing. The rules say no sex. I held tightly to Amber's words, speaking through clenched teeth. I sat stiffly on his lap, all my muscles tight with disgust. His hand immediately came down, fingers like claws gripping my hip tightly, pulling me hard against him. "Relax, baby." His whiskey-smelling breath burned my ear. "Move. Prove it." For Dad. Only for Dad. I prayed silently, but he gripped harder, trapping me. His thigh pressed tightly against me. "Harder," he whispered, pushing his hips up on purpose. His voice became rough, full of desire. "Show me why Adrian failed." His hard body pushed against me through the thin fabric. I gasped and slammed into his chest. "Stop!" I arched my body, trying hard to escape. He grabbed my hair and jerked my head back. I saw a flicker of mean amusement in his eyes. "Stop?" He sneered, showing his true predator nature. "You sit on my lap like cheap candy... and beg me to stop?" He used brute force to flip me onto my side on the cold leather couch. One hand pinned my wrists above my head. The other hand went under the thin skirt. "NO!" I screamed, struggling wildly. My wolf-spirit roared inside me, a raw panic shot through my body. "Don't want it?" He sneered, breathing hard as we fought. His other hand tore hard at the thin shoulder strap. Riiiip. The sound was loud like a gunshot. The black silk hung down. "Dressed like a slut... and acting pure?" He leaned closer, his face twisted with anger. "Adrian's garbage equals a death sentence. Face it, no one helps Adrian's enemies. Of course, except his father—" His other hand went even lower— "Help!" I screamed desperately, kicking my legs at him, but his alpha strength was too strong, his hand felt like bugs crawling on me. I cried hopelessly. Suddenly, a cold voice cut through the noise— "Problem?" Silas froze. I saw Theo. His face was hidden in the club's shadows. His big frame blocked the entrance. His cold grey eyes fixed on Silas's hand gripping my torn clothes. The raw violence coming from him made nearby whispers stop dead. Silas scrambled back, letting go of me instantly, smoothing his jacket. "Lindbergh! Just... negotiating. The girl's appealing, I have to admit." He said, pretending to be calm. "Vance. Get out." Theo commanded coldly. His voice was iron-hard, with an Alpha's authority. Silas's face flushed red, anger and fear mixing. No one openly challenged Theo Lindbergh. He shot me one last hateful look. "Enjoy the debt spiral, honey." He spat, then pushed past Theo quickly and vanished. I shook hard, grabbing the torn strap to cover myself. Theo finally looked at me. He stepped closer: "Alright? Claire? Things like this always happen in clubs. If you don't learn to dodge customer trouble, you'll keep getting hurt." I opened my mouth to explain I was here for my father's hospital bills, but he interrupted. "Making your own money isn't shameful. You don't need to explain, especially to someone like me, who has nothing to do with you." Nothing to do with me. My chest felt like a huge rock was stuck there. I thought he saved me because he still cared. "Then why did you save me?" I asked my question. "Last time, I thought I had to pay you to avoid future trouble." Theo explained. "Now I saved you, we're even. Clear?" The sadness inside me grew deeper. I had to leave, since he didn't want me. But before I left, Theo grabbed me. He pulled a jacket over my shoulders. "If you don't want to be a piece of meat everyone fights for in the club, better wear my jacket." "Thanks," I choked out. My wolf howled sadly inside me. Leaving the club, my chest felt like a big rock was crushing it. How will I pay Dad's hospital bills? Tears ran down my face. Suddenly, Adrian's name lit up my phone screen. "Claire! You'd rather be ridden by all those men than take my help, do you?" Adrian yelled.