As the meal progressed, everyone had their own thoughts, except for Emma, who was genuinely hungry and focused on her food. After finishing their meal, Harry asked Nicola if she had any other plans. Nicola didn’t want to expose his intentions, “Nothing much, could you please take me home and show me what changes there have been in the Silver Moon Pack over the past few years?”
After they left, only Emma and Patrick remained. “You shouldn’t have just run off without saying anything today,” Patrick remarked. Emma lowered her head, “I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to, I was just feeling terrible at the time.”
Back in her room, she intended to read some of the books she had brought with her. Instead, she accidentally stumbled upon the last letter her mother had written to her, tucked within the pages. “My dear darling Emmie, unconsciously, you have grown up. Your life will come to a turning point. You are different from me; you will find a better partner. No matter what happened in the past, I hope you know that I will always love you. My love for you will not fade with time, nor will it shatter with my passing. My soul will always be above truth. The farther you go, the closer you will get to my soul. I hope my darling is safe and happy. Love, Amy.” That letter shattered the protective shell she had built around herself. She thought she could be strong enough to calmly face her mother’s departure, but she was far from it. She longed to leave the place for somewhere warm, where she could reach out and touch sunlight, a place where she could be embraced and cared for. She constantly yearned to be back with Florrie, at least there would be someone to comfort her when she cried.
Emma didn’t want to stay in her room any longer. She saw a tree outside her window. Her room was on the third floor, not too high but not low either. However, she could climb down by hugging the tree; its branches were large and close, one of them almost reaching her window. It was a perfect bridge. She hugged the branch, easily jumped down, and at this time there weren’t many people on the streets of Silver Moon Pack. Everyone had their own matters to attend to-some were at school, some were at work, and she was the only one with nowhere to go, wandering the streets idly.
She began to search along the streets for any part-time work she could do alongside her studies. Regardless, it wouldn’t hurt to save some money for herself. At this moment, she needed a distraction. Although going to school kept her from thinking about other things, the gaps during and after school still left her feeling uneasy. Working could perhaps be the best way to distract herself. That’s when she spotted a bakery. It was clearly a vintage design, a stark contrast to the overall modern feel of Silver Moon Pack. However, her attention was drawn to the person behind the counter. He was around her age, maybe a year or two older. He was wiping the counter while humming softly. He was tall and well-built, with a poised posture, exuding a strong, spirited aura. His hair was a light golden color. His features were symmetrical, with a deep, straight nose and a distinct jawline. He was truly handsome and seemed very friendly.
Emma wanted to see if she could find a suitable part-time job here. So, she pushed the door open. “Sorry, but we’re closing now,” he said without looking up.
“I’m looking for a job,” Emma said nervously. “Do you still need staff?”
The boy finally looked up to appraise the girl before him. He had bright green eyes, seemingly capable of seeing into the depths of people’s souls. “You look like a new face, are you new here?”
“Yes, I’m Emma. I moved here not long ago,” she tried to appear less nervous, not wanting to seem inexperienced.
He furrowed his brow slightly. “Your face tells me you’re still young, are you a minor?”
Emma fidgeted nervously, “I’m sixteen, almost an adult. I’ve had experience working at a cashier in a restaurant before, and I’m willing to learn, as long as you’re willing to give me a chance.”
The handsome boy crossed his arms. “You’re only sixteen, you should be in school.”
“Yes, I’ll be going back to school soon, but I don’t want to spend all my time studying. I have some time left, and I want to work during that time to save some money.”
“You said your name is Emma?”
“Yes.”
“Can I know your full name?”
“Emma Bess.”
The boy let out a loud whistle. “You’re Nelson’s daughter.”
Emma wasn’t keen on admitting she was Nelson’s daughter in front of strangers. But now she had no choice. She neededthe man in front of her to offer her a part-time job, and he seemed relatively easy to talk to.
“Yes, is there a problem?” she asked.
“No problem. Silver Moon Pack prohibits the employment of minors in all restaurants, clothing stores, or similar service-oriented jobs. I’m sorry, I don’t want this either,” he said with regret.
Emma gritted her teeth in frustration. “This is my life, why does he get to meddle in it?”
“Nelson told us that if you ask for it, we shouldn’t give you a job,” he explained.
Emma wished Nelson was right in front of her, so she could punch him in the face.
“Why?” she asked, clenching her fists.
“You should know the answer to that question better than me. You’re his daughter,” the guy said as he started cleaning the bakery, wiping the counters and the cash register with a cloth. However, he did need a new experienced staff member.
Emma took a deep breath. She indeed knew the answer to this question. Nelson wanted to take care of her, to make up for his mistakes. Well, it was too damn late. He only remembered he had a daughter after she lost her mother. No excuse could make her understand and forgive him.
“I don’t care what Nelson wants,” she said. “I just need a job, something I can do after school.”
The boy stopped what he was doing. “Why?” he asked. “Your dad doesn’t want you to work. Our alpha is now your stepbrother, you’ll be well taken care of here. And you’re still in school, you don’t need to work.”
Emma hated being misunderstood, especially when everyone was eager to tell her that the former Luna’s partner was her father, and she could rely on her father’s connections without having to struggle for herself. It felt insulting. Moreover, hearing him refer to Patrick as her stepbrother was just too strange. She liked Patrick; he was kind to her. But she didn’t want to call him her brother.
“I don’t need my father to take care of me,” she said.