Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)-Chapter 362 - Mnemonic For Your ABCs: Bait

As I rinsed out my bowl, I try to find the good parts about last night. The showcase was not *all* bad. I did enjoy myself when the other models were frustrated.

And when the cameras were flashing. When Sonya’s calls put the eyes of the room on me. That part especially-

| TASK: Your modeling swan song |

Pretty sure I understand what the suddenly flaring glow of text is getting at, but set the dish on the drying rack and pace over to look up the term on my smartphone anyway. Then sigh and grip the device like I wanted to throw it. Because I did want to throw the system itself.

And technology of any kind is the closest analog!

"Of course you want me to do one final job. Because nothing says ’ready to flee the city’ like stopping to pose for the cameras first."

Vrika gave me a whining growl. No matter how much it understood, it didn’t want to leave at all... and certainly didn’t like the System’s timing any more than I did. But we both knew I’d probably do it anyway.

> The rewards have been... useful. No, the flower one actually was not that useful. Even if it was kind of satisfying to watch her crush her own favorite flower, in a slightly sort of sadistic way? <

I seem to have lost the spirit with that last line of thought. But it understood where my mind went over what another improvement to our capabilities could mean when it comes to survival. The line between a tool, a perk, or anything else and *death* could always be thinner than I hope.

Checking the email account Anise had set up specifically to deal with ’work things’, as she put it, I found exactly what I’d expected. What the system must have known. Though I am not sure I would have looked at this if it had not just goaded me?

Five separate offers had come in. Two overnight, three at the start of business hours. Probably sent by people who’d seen me at the showcase... or at least their assistants. Two were all the way on the East Coast of this country, so I didn’t even bother reading further.

Another was also a bit too far, though it was still within a few days window of activity. Capital of a nearby state... probably had new werewolf politics to work through and even though I could just eat scent blockers like candy?

It sounds stupid to travel too far when I have plans. And that leaves only one local shoot that is planned for... tomorrow, since this is one of the morning arrivals.

[ Ms. Lomdi,

Ashen Threads is expanding our spring collection campaign and would be honored to feature you in our final promotional materials. We have a studio session available tomorrow with our lead photographer.

Location is convenient - Vossden city center, easily accessible. More details on acceptance. Single day commitment, professional rates, and we can attempt to accommodate your schedule if our rushed timeline is unsatisfactory.

If interested, please respond by this afternoon.

Best regards,

A.T. Talent Acquisition Team ]

Only ever so slightly did the brand name tug at something in my memory. Someone introducing themselves at the showcase had mentioned that company name, I thought.

One of the many that had blurred together. A couple of these other e-mails appear to be the same. Which reminds me, who threw me under the work bus? Did Maia give out the address?

"No matter. The timing is perfect. Today to finalize preparations, do the shoot quick the next day, and then... leave."

Circuitously to the caves. My fingers were replying before I could talk myself out of bothering. I pulled up the company and their website to be sure they existed. Messaged Anise to tell her I’d be accepting this, so that I can enjoy my vacation without regret...

And gave her the go ahead to ’manager’ for me all she wanted one more time.

⧖ ☾ ❄ ☽ ⧖

I knew it would look concerning to take everything in the apartment - especially if someone checked it in the next few days. But I left nothing important or valuable, to my eyes, behind.

The shipping container had been left at the warehouse twice in the last week to fill up with my last things. So my apartment was as bare of anything but the stock furnishings as the night I rented it.

Which led to me sitting on the couch for an hour, figuring out how to do something I could just ask Claire to manage. Ultimately coming to the conclusion that there *was* no other way than contacting one of them. For I would need account and ’routing’ numbers.

As well as the address on file and actual name of the bank that Kyrie Voss uses.

BK: [You just want me to handle it real quick? Wire transfers are no big deal.]

C: [If possible, I’d prefer to do it myself. It will feel better like that.]

BK: [Sure thing, I’ll put the info on your phone.]

BK: [Gotta say, I get it. But also this feels a lot less important if things are really going to be so Ragnarok-y.]

C: [Isn’t it even more important to stay true to yourself when the end comes?]

BK: [Guess so. That explains why I-]

Grimacing from the rest of her too detailed love-life gossip, I exit out of my messages and find the file that appeared on my phone screen. Enter all of the Alpha’s details on my banking app... and schedule a wire transfer of almost all of my remaining funds to occur in three days.

> Still quite a bit more than I ’owe’ her. But it won’t do me any good soon. No, I’m not sure she could possibly make use it in those two weeks either. <

Yet, it matters. That I do this. That I repay her for... we’ll call it kindness for the use of her funds.

"And not the number of rude assessments I could use to describe a silly wolf doing unwise things."

Though my inner tune on the *need* to do this changes just a bit as I spend the next half hour kindly explaining to bank representative that I am not, in fact, attempting to launder any money. After clearing up that I am who I say I am - at least illegally documented.

Unsurprisingly, I find myself quite hungry again after that ordeal.