Chapter 278 The Unwanted Visitor

Author

"Damn it. I’m stuck in this dump while they’re living like kings on TV."

Jack Grant slammed his laptop shut. His face turned red with anger. The cheap motel room smelled like old cigarettes and failure.

Meanwhile, his niece was living in some fancy penthouse with bodyguards and maids. She was making millions just for being pregnant with the Alpha King’s baby.

He needed money. And that spoiled brat was going to give it to him.

For three days straight, he sat across from their building watching everything. He learned when people came and went. He waited for his chance. The building had crazy security. Motion sensors everywhere, cameras on every corner, and guards who moved too smoothly to be totally human.

Thursday morning, he got lucky. Alpha Dominic drove off in his expensive sports car. Probably going to some pack meeting or werewolf business. The engine was loud as it disappeared down the street.

Jack’s eyes lit up.

"Selfish little princess. She marries werewolf royalty and won’t help her own family."

He walked toward the building entrance. He was cursing under his breath.

A young production assistant stood by the door looking at his phone. The kid looked about twenty two. Skinny jeans and fancy coffee. Probably some film school graduate making minimum wage.

"Can I help you?"

Jack put on his fake friendly smile. The same one he used on bartenders when he wanted free drinks. "Jack Grant. Elara’s uncle. I flew in from Buffalo to surprise my niece."

The assistant’s face got excited. Today they were filming family and friends stuff. This must be one of Luna Elara’s relatives they were waiting for.

"Oh great! Luna Elara is filming upstairs right now. You can take the elevator to the penthouse."

"Wait a second." A sound guy ran over with a wireless microphone. "If you’re going on camera, you need to wear this. The supernatural community has strict media rules."

Jack’s smile got bigger. "Of course. I don’t want to break any rules."

He put the microphone on his old leather jacket and walked to the elevator. He was already planning how much money he was going to get from his rich niece.

This was going to pay off big time.

--

Elara was in the kitchen plating some pan-seared shrimp she’d just finished cooking. She poured herself a cup of homemade bone broth and settled at the marble island, savoring the rare quiet moment.

Her culinary skills were actually improving. The shrimp had that perfect golden crust she’d seen on Food Network.

The broth was rich and warming. She was genuinely proud of herself for once.

Then she saw him.

Jack Grant stood in her doorway, hands stuffed in the pockets of a worn Carhartt jacket.

Her stomach dropped to her shoes.

"Well, well. Little Elara all grown up."

Elara set down her soup spoon, her face turning to granite. "How did you get past the doorman?"

The air in the penthouse seemed to freeze.

Jack let out this gravelly chuckle that made her skin crawl. "My baby niece is gonna be the next Kardashian. Had to come see for myself."

He dropped a wrinkled Walgreens bag on her pristine counter. Inside were generic prenatal vitamins, the kind you’d grab during a beer run at 2 AM.

"Got you some supplements for the little one. I know it ain’t Whole Foods quality, but it’s what unemployment benefits can cover. Don’t think less of your old uncle."

Elara stared at the bag like it contained rat poison. "Take that garbage with you when security drags you out."

Jack completely ignored her, strutting over to her custom Italian sectional and plopping down like he was at a sports bar.

"Don’t be ungrateful now. Those vitamins are good for you. Pride goeth before the fall and all that."

The livestream chat started blowing up.

[Typical rich bitch behavior. Forgets her roots the second she gets money.]

[He seems harmless enough. Brought gifts. Why is she being so rude?]

Jack glanced at his phone, watching the viewer count climb. The corner of his mouth twitched with satisfaction.

"Listen here, kiddo. Your mama’s in bad shape. Real bad. I need some help covering her medical expenses."

Elara’s eyes turned arctic.

" I know there’s bad blood. But she’s still your flesh and blood. Stage four lung cancer. The oncologist bills are eating her alive. I’m not asking you to kiss and make up. Just help keep her breathing."

Elara saw right through his performance. "I don’t keep cash laying around. If she’s actually dying, tell her to bring me legitimate medical records from Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Then maybe we’ll talk."

"Come on, sweetheart. She changed your diapers."

Elara’s voice could shatter glass. "Don’t try to shake me down on live television, Jack. I’m not giving you a penny. Linda, call building security."

Jack’s mask slipped completely. He lunged forward and grabbed her forearm. "When did you turn into such a heartless bitch?"

"You’re streaming to half of America right now. Everyone can see you’ve got more money than sense, and you won’t spare pocket change to save your own mother’s life?"

Elara looked down at his nicotine-stained fingers digging into her skin. Her voice was deadly quiet. "Get your hands off me. Now. Or I’m calling 911."

Jack’s grip tightened like a vise. "We’re talking five million. Chump change for someone married to werewolf royalty. Your mama gets her treatment, and I disappear forever. "

He was betting she’d crack under the pressure. Not with millions watching. Not with her reputation on the line.

Elara wrenched her arm free, red marks already forming. "Show me hospital records. Pathology reports. Insurance claims. I wouldn’t believe you if you swore on a stack of Bibles."

She turned toward the staircase. "Linda, get this con artist out of my sight before I have him arrested."

Jack’s face crumpled like a deflated balloon. He looked at Linda with crocodile tears streaming down his cheeks.

"You’re ice cold. Your own mama is dying of cancer, and you won’t lift a finger to help. "

He shuffled toward the elevator, shoulders sagging, playing the grieving uncle to perfection.

The livestream exploded into chaos.

[Her MOM has cancer and she won’t help???]

[Money really does corrupt people’s souls.]

[Maybe there’s a reason they don’t talk? Abusive family?]

[Doesn’t matter what happened. That’s still her mother. The woman who gave birth to her.]

[She’s pregnant herself. How would she feel if her kid abandoned her like this?]

The comment section turned into a digital lynch mob in seconds.

Jack stepped into the elevator wearing a shit-eating grin.

Perfect. Let the internet do what it does best.

By morning, America’s sweetheart would be public enemy number one.

And then she’d have no choice but to pay up.

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