Chapter 4

Natasha's POV

Hours after receiving the call, I was driving a used sedan up the winding mountain road.

I'd purchased a simple outfit with my emergency credit card—a modest button-up shirt, fitted pants, and practical shoes—hoping to make a good impression on my potential employer. The tags were still tucked inside, ready for a return if the interview didn't pan out.

As I rounded the final curve, a majestic estate came into view, and my breath caught in my throat. The massive mansion stood on the hillside like something out of a movie, its stone walls and gleaming windows shimmering in the afternoon sun. The circular driveway was already filled with vehicles, and I carefully parked my old car in one of the few remaining spaces, wincing at how out of place it looked.

I checked my appearance one last time in the rearview mirror, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear.

Thank God I splurged on these clothes, I thought, noticing a line of impeccably dressed women walking toward the front door. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my resume and joined the queue.

The woman in front of me turned with a smile, her manicured nails tapping lightly against her folder. "Here for the interview too?" she asked, her canines slightly more pronounced than a human's would be.

"Yes," I replied.

She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "You should've come earlier. Several ladies have already left in tears. This family must be absolute hell to work for."

As she moved nearer, I noticed her nose twitch slightly, her friendly expression faltering. "I can't smell you. Are you using some kind of scent neutralizer?"

I shifted uncomfortably. "Probably because I'm human," I admitted.

Her eyes widened as she took a giant step backward. "What? But this position is for—"

Before she could finish, an older woman's voice called from the doorway. "Next, Lina!"

The woman in front of me eagerly raised her hand. "That's me!" She turned to face me, her expression a mixture of pity and mockery. "You might as well head home now. They won't hire a human as the child's tutor."

I forced a smile but stayed silent. She was probably right, but I'd come this far—might as well see how things played out.

The line moved at a snail's pace, and I'd been waiting less than half an hour when I heard loud sobbing coming from the house. I craned my neck to see what was happening and was shocked to find Lina—the confident werewolf from earlier—being escorted out by two staff members, tears streaming down her face.

"She's a monster! I've never seen such a horrible child!" Lina wailed as they practically carried her down the steps. "She's absolutely terrifying!"

I shifted nervously on my feet. What kind of employer reduced job applicants to this state during an interview? Or was it the child who had provoked such a reaction?

After several hours of waiting, I finally entered the house. The hardwood floors creaked beneath my feet as applicant after applicant went in with confident expressions only to emerge looking defeated.

"Name?" a stern voice demanded beside me.

I turned to face an elderly woman with silver-gray hair pulled tightly into a severe bun without a single strand out of place. She wore a high-necked navy blue dress buttoned to the throat, covered with a freshly pressed gray apron. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, and my nerves intensified under her scrutiny.

"Natasha Foster," I answered, my voice trembling slightly under her intense gaze.

She muttered something under her breath, checked her clipboard, and I guessed she was marking my name.

"You're human?" she asked, and when I nodded in confirmation, her expression betrayed a hint of disgust. "Very well. Upstairs."

Following her instructions, I climbed the stairs with trepidation. The hallway was lined with ornate wooden doors on both sides. We walked in silence until we reached a door at the end of the corridor. The housekeeper opened it directly and gestured for me to enter.

"I told you I'm tired!" a childish voice called from behind a high-backed chair facing an empty fireplace. "I don't want to see anyone else!"

"Hello," I said softly, walking toward the chair. "Actually, it's me who wants to see you."

A small golden head peered out from behind the chair back, observing me for a few seconds. Suddenly, the little girl jumped up and charged toward me, her young face contorted with anger, revealing her werewolf fangs. Two pointed little ears twitched angrily backward in her messy golden hair.

I stood my ground, trying not to back away in panic.

"Why don't you run away like everyone else?!" she screamed, her voice turning shrill.

I knelt down to her eye level. Her hair partially covered her face, and I slowly reached out to brush it aside. She flinched, growling and baring her teeth, but when I gently persisted, she quieted down instead, revealing surprisingly bright blue eyes.

"You're beautiful," I said softly. "What's your name?"

The little girl paused, looking down at the floor, her voice becoming smaller. "Sophia."

"Nice to meet you, Sophia," I said warmly. "I'm Natasha. Can I ask why you wanted to scare me away?"

After this question, I saw her eyes suddenly flash yellow again, cold and distant, as she returned to her chair. "Go away. I don't like you."

I didn't understand her sudden change but wasn't willing to give up, slowly approaching her chair. Suddenly, she whipped around, half her face transforming into wolf-like features. "I said, leave!"

I took a step back, then after taking a deep breath, continued toward her, gently touching her cheek. "I really want to take care of you. Give me a chance, okay?"

Surprise flashed in her eyes. "Can't you feel it?" she asked.

The housekeeper stepped forward. "Miss Sophia, she's just an ordinary human," she explained gently.

Hearing this, Sophia's face gradually returned to normal, though her ears and fangs remained visible.

I'd heard that powerful werewolves often struggled to control their transformations before completing awakening training. Was this little girl really that powerful?

"I hate all of you because my daddy is handsome and rich," Sophia said softly. "All the pretty young women want to work for him so they can marry him and take his money. No one really wants to come keep me company."

My eyes grew slightly misty, touched by the little girl's words.

"You know," I said softly, extending my palm, feeling my tension dissolve as Sophia voluntarily touched my fingers, "I was an orphan at your age. I understand what loneliness feels like."

"Really?" Sophia looked up at me, wonder filling her face. "You're not here to steal my daddy?"

I shook my head, suppressing a smile. A wealthy Alpha interested in a human like me? How ridiculous.

"No," I answered gently. "I'm here for you."