Savage Alpha Werewolf Prison Romance

Kaida

Two months earlier

It would have been great if crystals indeed fell around here; perhaps, I would have one single detail to be happy about living in this town.

Crystal Falls was a quaint, bustling town where every local knew one another. There were hardly any secrets in this town. The locals, especially the old fogeys, were unrepentant gossipers. The town had been around since the first lupine community was established, making it one of the oldest communities in California and the hub for the annual convergence of all werewolves in California.

I had grown up here. My ancestry stemmed from the soil of this land. Pity that I had failed them. I was unable to retain the inheritance that had been passed down through generations-the house-due to my inability to find a steady job and manage my finances effectively.

I was barely getting by nowadays, given that I had just been laid off from my job recently. The owner claimed the store's earnings were insufficient to cover salary expenses, and he would have to lay off some of us. Fortunately for me, I was among the staff members who were laid off, despite having been recently employed and not having worked up to a month. Oh, the irony of my life!

I had worked diligently upon resuming the job, hoping I would get noticed. However, my efforts were all for naught. If I had known I would end up being laid off, I would not have wasted my strength.

Why could they not have observed that they were incapable of covering salary costs before recruiting new employees?

I wrinkled my nose, wanting to curse them. Nevertheless, I held my tongue; I had been compensated generously.

My circumstances gnawed at me nonetheless. I had substantial debts to pay, including student loans, housing fees, and sustenance, which were a herculean task nowadays, especially when one was on the brink of financial ruin.

I had reluctantly sold my inheritance since the taxes it incurred far exceeded its actual worth. I was already overwhelmed with debt, and paying property tax on an old, family building that held no significance for me would have been a burden too far.

Currently, I was staying at my best friend Meredith's house. We had been friends since high school through college. She was fortunate to have living parents, unlike me, who had no one to turn to for assistance with bills.

My parents had passed away in my final year of college in a fire at the restaurant where they were celebrating their anniversary; there had been no survivors.

Meredith and I split the household expenses, but I owed her a considerable amount. She was understanding about my predicament, but I was ashamed of my inability to secure stable employment after graduating from college.

Meredith worked at a pharmaceutical company, where she earned a significant salary. She often received financial support from her parents and three older brothers. As the last born and only girl in her family, she was doted upon. I, on the other hand, was an only child, an orphan, and seemingly plagued by unemployment. Or perhaps my ancestors were antagonizing my future because I had sold my inheritance?

I huffed exasperatedly, pushing my cart to the shelf housing the next item on my shopping list. I economized by utilizing coupons for my purchases and always looked out for promotions or products near their expiry dates, as such items came at cheaper prices.

The box of granola bars I intended to grab had been placed on a shelf higher than my 5'3" frame. My diminutive stature often left me at a great disadvantage.

I inched onto my toes, stretching my hand to grab the box. My fingers skimmed its edge, but it was not enough to get it within my grasp.

I groaned, carefully planting my hand on a lower edge of the shelf, standing on my toes as far as I could go, impatient to grab the box. However, I couldn't reach it.

I was about to withdraw and retrieve an object to push the box over the edge when I felt the heat of a masculine body behind my back.