AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do you know how long it will be before my stuff gets here? Or should I go back and get it myself?” I asked.
“Your stuff?”
“Yeah, all my furniture from my apartment in The Under. The stuff that was too big to bring with me before. It won’t fill this place, of course, but it’s better than nothing.”
“Is it?” Jalik laughed. “None of that was ever good enough for you. You are living above the Black Star Casino, Serena. Your apartment should reflect that. No, no, no, you’ll be getting all new stuff.”
“But Jalik, that’s all I have.”
“Trust me, you’ll love the new stuff.”
“Can I even afford new furniture?”
“Don’t worry about that. It’ll all be taken care of. My treat.”
“I don’t even know where to begin with furnishing a place like this. How many couches? What size bed? Where do I even shop?”
“Again, don’t worry about it. I’ve already reached out to the girls, and they’ve agreed to take you shopping today. They’ll be here any minute.”
“The girls?”
“Elara, Lila, Alyssa, and Claire. The mates. You’ll love them.”
“Okay… Are you coming, too?”
“No, I can’t,” he responded while checking the time. “I have to get down to the gym. I want to spend every minute up to the start of the fight training.”
I couldn’t believe it. He was pawning me off onto some strangers to watch me rather than do any of it himself. Though, at that point, how could I even let myself be surprised by this behavior from Jalik?
He kicked me out of his apartment to get back to his bachelor lifestyle. And he was now turning away and hoping my apartment would be in perfect shape when he returned for some quick fun. Did he ever really care about me?
Maybe there was something about him that I was missing. But it was hard to see past how I was so clearly being treated. It was hard to want to keep a relationship with him after all of this.
One moment he was protecting me, and we were getting closer and closer. Then the next, as the danger passed, he moved me down the hall. How was I supposed to react to that?
“Have fun today,” he said while heading to the door.
“Good luck in the fight,” I said back.
Not long after Jalik stepped out, a gaggle of human women showed up at my door.
“Serena?” the lead one asked. She was a beautiful woman with a red tracery on her skin.
“Yeah? Who are you?”
“I’m Elara. Jalik called us to help you find something to decorate your new apartment.”
“I appreciate all of you coming here to help, but it’s not necessary. I’m not exactly in the mood to go shopping.”
“Oh, nonsense,” Elara responded with a big, disarming smile. Her pearly white teeth and flawless complexion instantly hit me with an urge to get her to like me. I couldn’t help but want her as a friend. “Besides, what’s the worst that could happen? You spend an ungodly amount of Jalik’s money on something you don’t need?”
A laugh erupted from my lips before I could stop it. Going from Jalik’s cold distance to this left my head spinning.
“Don’t worry,” Elara continued. “You’re with friends now. And maybe someday, we’ll even be sisters.”
Elara grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the apartment. I figured there was no use protesting and relented as they ushered me toward the elevators.
Before I knew it, we were in the middle of an expansive furniture store. As far as the eye could see were couches made of gold, chairs encrusted with gems, and so much more. None of it looked very comfortable.
