Bear's Fake Bride (Shifter Marriage Service 2)

Neither option was something she was willing to accept.

“I’m out. I’ve got to get down to the mill and check on things,” Muriel told her as she passed back by the kitchen on her way to work.

“Okay,” Kelly managed to croak, once again listening to the sound of the front door opening and closing as she continued to struggle with her own thoughts.

Cullen was disgusting. He was older, at least twice her age, and known to be quite lecherous. The thought of his filthy paws all over her made her want to hurl. Churning out cubs for such a vile creature while he whored around and brought who knows what back for her to catch was not something she was going to do.

So, what were her options? That was the thought that now ran through her brain. She wasn’t sure. She turned to the only person she knew could be the voice of reason. Her friend, Sheila, always had the answers. Picking up the phone, she called her for a chat.

“You need to get out of there, Kelly. Cullen is no one to toy with. He is the alpha and he will get what he wants, one way or another,” Sheila told her from the other end of the line.

“Where would I go? You’re the only one I have and you’re here. I don’t have any family or friends outside of town.”

There was silence from the other end for a moment. She began to wonder if Sheila had hung up or if they had been cut off when her friend finally spoke again.

“I have an idea, but it’s pretty major. How much money do you have?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been saving to leave here, but I thought I had a while longer. How was I supposed to know the alpha was going to take an interest in me before I could move away from here?”

It was, in fact, Sheila that had made Kelly realize she couldn’t stay here as an omega. Sheila was on her third litter of cubs. The first two litters had been small for an omega and her husband had not been happy. Their third litter, he had decided it best to bring in a few members of the pack to increase the odds of having more. It had worked, doubling the size of her litter from six to a dozen. It had also taken a toll on Sheila’s health and self-esteem.

Of course, that was nothing compared to having two dozen children to tend to every single day. Though they matured more quickly than human babies, they came with their own problems. There was the sheer number, for one thing, though older omegas in the pack were usually good about helping the younger mothers out. Mostly, it was just the high-energy activity of so many cubs that wore a young mother down.

It wasn’t a life that Kelly desired. Whatever solution Sheila had, she was willing to give it a try.

“Get together every penny you can. I’m going to give you a number to call. Just call them and tell them your situation.”

“Who are they?”

“People who can help you. Write this down and call them immediately. I’m going to have to go, but promise me you will call them right away.”

“I will,” Kelly replied, writing down the number Sheila prattled off before saying her goodbyes amid the sound of a crying child in the background.

Kelly ended the call and immediately called the number. A woman answered the phone using only her first name, rather than any other identifying information. Kelly wondered who these people were and what it was they might do that was going to help her out so much.

“Yes. Charlotte, was it? I was told you could help me.”

“Tell me your story,” Charlotte replied.

Kelly found herself telling this complete stranger on the phone all about her situation. The woman listened patiently, only prompting her when she got stuck. When she was done, the woman spoke again.

“We can get you out of there for ten thousand.”

“Dollars?”

“Yes, dollars,” the woman replied, her tone unchanged despite it being a ridiculous question.

“I’m not sure I have that much.”

“I understand, but it’s our fee, payable up front. My suggestion is that you sell anything you might have of value to come up with whatever shortage you’re experiencing. Sounds like it will be worth it in the long run.”

“When can you get me out of here?”

“You come in, pay the fee. We will put you up for the night while we procure new identification and arrange for you to be relocated. You will be offered a chance of employment in a new location. If you accept, we will broker that for you with our client. We provide no services past that.”

“When can I come in?”

“We have an opening tomorrow morning at ten. Will that work for you?”