It was around ten in the morning when I was wandering through the luxury mall, my heels clicking softly against polished floors humming with human noise and wolf awareness beneath it. The Louis Vuitton store glowed like a shrine to excess, its glass shelves lined with bags that screamed status and dominance. My wolf didn't care for leather or logos, but I did. They were proof proof that I had clawed my way out of weakness.
Just as I lifted a bag to inspect it, my phone rang. I frowned when I saw the caller ID and answered without much warmth.
"Hey, Mom."
"Hayley," she said immediately, her voice already heavy with expectation. "Do you have some money to spare? Your brother needs to pay his school fees. We just need a little help to get through."
My grip tightened on the bag strap. My wolf snarled, low and irritated. "Where would I get the money, Mom?" I replied coldly. "I can barely keep myself afloat. I can't help you."
