PlotlumeI've always been a gold digger at heart, and I somehow married Wall Street's most ascetic werewolf CEO, Garrick.
He's ranked number one on the richest list, yet he's so cheap he turned his mansion into free dorms for employees and sleeps on a cot in his own office.
His old-school pack mother grows organic vegetables in the estate garden every day and forbids the whole family from buying a single luxury item.
His two younger brothers are even more extreme. One donates his billion-dollar dividends to save the polar ice caps, and the other shows up to multinational board meetings in a thrift-store T-shirt.
Then there's me, head to toe in designer labels, quietly buying eight top clubs in Las Vegas. I'd even pry the solid gold cufflinks off Garrick's suit and sell them.
Every night I count my private savings before I sleep, wondering whether some wire in his wolf brain got crossed when he married me.
Then today, his first love, Vanessa, showed up holding the token she gave him when she saved his life, crying that she's Garrick's true mate.
I was so thrilled I nearly set off firecrackers right there and shoved our marriage certificate into her hands.
I knew it! A shallow gold digger like me could never spend a lifetime with this monk!
Quick, sign the divorce papers and take half his fortune. I can't stand another second of this stingy rich-widow life where we can't even run the air conditioner!
1
I slap the divorce papers down on the coffee table.
I turn and shout up at the second floor.
"Peggy, bring down the six Hermès boxes I packed!"
The living room thermometer reads eighty-two degrees.
Hot sweat trickles down my neck.
I'm sick of this monk's manor.
Vanessa stands in the middle of the living room, clutching a rusty wolf fang.
She's wearing a faded cotton dress.
Tears stream down her cheeks.
"Garrick, I saved you in the snowy mountains ten years ago. This wolf fang is the proof."
I rush over and grab Vanessa's hand.
"Sister, you finally came! I'll hand this Luna title over to you right now!"
Garrick strides over.
He snatches the divorce papers off the coffee table.
Rip!
The pages fall apart in shreds all over the floor.
The front door bursts open from outside.
My mother-in-law, Ruth, flings down a muddy hoe and charges in.
She hugs my waist and drops to the floor.
Mud smears across the Chanel dress I just bought.
"Helena, you're not going anywhere! Even if this woman comes with a wolf fang, you'll always be the only Luna our pack has!"
Garrick stands blocking the doorway.
"Helena, I'm making this clear right now: as long as I'm alive, the only name on my mate roster will be yours!"
Vanessa drops to her knees with a thud.
She clutches her chest and dry-heaves twice.
"Sister, I know I'm nobody. I don't deserve Garrick."
"I've suffered for ten years out there. I only wanted to come back and see him once."
"Since you can't stand me, I'm leaving right now, and I won't break up your family!"
She keeps saying she's leaving.
Her eyes, though, stare straight at the diamond Cartier bracelet on my wrist.
Brody and Leo, Garrick's younger brothers, burst in from outside.
Brody wears a T-shirt with a loose collar.
Leo has on slippers with peeling soles.
They each grab one of Vanessa's arms.
"Garrick, our pack territory may be poor, but can't we afford two more mouths to feed?"
"Yeah, there's so much food in the backyard. A couple more bowls won't hurt!"
I yank the Cartier bracelet off my wrist.
I stuff it into Vanessa's hand.
"See? The family can afford you. This is my welcome gift to my sister!"
I turn and shove Garrick.
"Enough talk. Grab your marriage certificate and let's go to city hall. It takes five minutes!"
Vanessa strokes the diamonds on the bracelet, her breathing quickening.
"Sister, this is too valuable. I can't accept your things. All I want is Garrick's heart."
Her fingers have already dug the gold bracelet into her skin.
Garrick raises his right hand.
Bang!
He punches the solid wood coffee table clean through.
Splinters fly onto my high heels.
"Helena, if you take one step out of this manor today, I'll kneel right in front of this door and stay on my knees until you change your mind!"