Chapter 6

Natasha's POV

Sophia clapped her hands excitedly. "Can I show Natasha my toys, Daddy? Please!"

Alexander checked his watch and shook his head. "Not now, sweetheart. I need to get to the office, and you should have breakfast. Natasha needs to settle in first."

Sophia's face fell instantly. I noticed Alexander's expression turning anxious—clearly overwhelmed by his daughter's emotional shifts. Typical workaholic dad, I thought to myself.

"I have an idea," I said softly, crouching down to Sophia's eye level. "I'll put my things away first, then we'll have breakfast together. After that, we can check out your toys, okay?"

Sophia brightened immediately and nodded. "Great! I'll tell Grace to make pancakes for you!" With that, she bounced out of the room.

Only Alexander and I remained, an awkward silence hanging between us. I could feel him studying me, though I wasn't sure what was going through his mind.

"You're good with her," Alexander finally said, his voice carrying a hint of reluctant admiration. "That's... unusual, especially for a human."

I shrugged. "Kids are kids, whether human or werewolf. They all need to feel understood and valued."

Alexander nodded thoughtfully, then picked up his briefcase, preparing to leave. "I typically work late. Sophia's bedtime is seven-thirty. If you have questions, ask Grace, and for emergencies, contact my personal assistant—the number's in the contract appendix."

I watched him walk to the door, struggling internally before deciding I couldn't let the misunderstanding continue. "About that night..." my voice tightened slightly, "I didn't drug you."

Alexander turned back, a mocking smile playing at his lips. "Whether you did or not, you're the only one who benefited. But let me warn you about something," a cold glint flashed in his eyes, "don't think that after that night your position here will be any different. I'll be watching you."

My hand clutched the freshly signed contract, regretting how quickly I'd signed it.

"In that case, I have a supplementary agreement of my own," I lifted my chin, meeting his icy gaze. "Given that you previously tried to humiliate me with money like I was some beggar or prostitute, I want your guarantee you won't act beyond your role as my employer."

Alexander let out a cold laugh, something unreadable flashing through his blue eyes. "The contract is already signed. Even if I disagreed, I doubt you have the courage to break it." With that, he turned and opened the door.

"You... even if the contract is broken, the responsibility won't lie with me."

I was about to follow him when suddenly, his body froze mid-motion, still holding the door.

He shifted slightly to reveal Sophia standing in the doorway. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her golden wolf ears pressed flat against her head, her eyes—now glistening with tears—burning with unmistakable anger.

"You promised you wouldn't try to steal my daddy," she growled, her tiny fangs bared, cold and sharp.

"Liar!"

"Sophia—" I tried to explain, stepping forward, but it was too late.

The little girl turned and ran away, her sobs echoing down the hallway as I failed to catch up with her.

I whirled around to glare at Alexander, watching his expression shift from indifference to concern. The Alpha father's instinctive protectiveness toward his cub clearly overrode his contempt for a human woman.

"You should be ashamed," I said angrily, striding toward the door. "I have absolutely no designs on you. Why do you always look at me with such prejudice?"

I rushed out of Alexander's office and hurried to Sophia's room, but when I tried to open the door, I found it locked.

Muffled sobbing came through the door, piercing my heart like needles.

"Sophia, please talk to me," I pressed my forehead against the cold wooden door. "I never wanted to steal your daddy."

After a brief silence, all I heard was an angry hiss. "Go away! Human liar!" Despite her anger, the little girl's voice trembled slightly at the end.

My situation with Alexander had truly hurt her.

I sighed deeply and slowly turned around to find Grace standing at the end of the hallway, her thin arms crossed disappointedly over her chest, her face filled with disapproval.

No doubt she'd heard the entire argument and was looking down on me too, assuming I was just another lowly human trying to exploit an werewolf's wealth.

A wave of intense humiliation and anger surged through my chest. I suddenly realized everyone here harbored ill will toward me, treating me as a lowly human, a deceiver.

Working in such a place, I was nothing more than an inferior creature without dignity or value.

Faced with their distrustful or contemptuous gazes, I'd rather be homeless than accept such insults!

I stormed past Grace, returned to my room, and quickly grabbed my bag and a few personal items from the dressing table.

Hopefully my landlord hadn't locked me out of my apartment yet, so I'd at least have somewhere to go.

Without saying goodbye to anyone, I hurriedly left the mansion, the cold wind whipping across my face as if mocking my unrealistic fantasies.

What a fool I was! Trying to negotiate terms with an arrogant werewolf like Alexander just to stay here, when he, like all werewolves, looked down on humans.

I walked furiously the whole way, vowing never to return to the Morgan estate.

After finding the nearest subway station, I boarded the last train headed to the human residential district.

The car was nearly empty, save for a few exhausted human workers and a pair of visibly intoxicated werewolf youths lounging at the far end, surveying every human with contemptuous glances and occasionally bursting into jarring laughter.

I lowered my head, trying not to attract their attention, fingers tightly gripping my handbag strap, feeling a wave of helpless anger.

But my tolerance didn't bring peace—the two werewolves only grew more emboldened.

"Move!" one of them barked at a worker.

Looking at the nearly empty car and their uninhibited laughter, I gradually clenched my fists.

I stared hard at them as the human workers meekly stood up and moved to the other side. The werewolves weren't satisfied and continued making them move, until after several repetitions, the workers were forced to sit on the floor.

"Filth like you belongs on the floor," one sneered.

I couldn't tolerate this bullying any longer. Days of restraint had pushed my inner rage to the breaking point.

"Enough!" I stood up abruptly, shouting loudly.

The car suddenly fell silent as the two werewolves looked at me in surprise. "Look at this car—dozens of empty seats, and you force people who've worked all day to sit on a filthy floor? Is this how your so-called 'superior race' behaves?"

The taller werewolf narrowed his eyes, a dangerous gleam flashing through them. "What's your problem, human?"

"I want you to stop this pointless bullying." I looked around at the other humans, heads bowed, cowering in corners. "Why should we endure such humiliation? We humans have dignity too! There are only two of them and seven of us. If we stand together, what can they really do to us?"

At first, there was no response—only silence and fearful glances. But then, an older worker slowly rose to his feet, his eyes flashing with long-forgotten defiance. Then a second stood, then a third... soon, every human passenger was standing.

The two werewolves clearly hadn't anticipated this response. They exchanged uneasy glances. Though werewolves naturally outmatch humans in strength, these two weren't Alphas, and facing seven angry humans, their advantage suddenly seemed less pronounced.

"You'll regret this," the shorter werewolf hissed, though his tone already betrayed retreat. "We're getting off at the next stop anyway."

When the subway reached the station, the two werewolves indeed sheepishly prepared to exit. Seeing their defeated expressions, I felt an unprecedented sense of victory. The other humans gave me grateful looks; several even summoned the courage to pat my shoulder.

But as the werewolves passed by me, the taller one suddenly whirled around, his eyes flashing with malice.

"You think this is over?" he snarled, suddenly grabbing my hair and slamming my head into the metal handrail.

Excruciating pain exploded through my skull as the world began to spin. I heard people screaming and felt warm liquid trickling down my temple.

I collapsed to the floor, my vision rapidly blurring. Through the haze, I saw the two werewolves fleeing as panicked human passengers gathered around me.

I did it, I thought hazily, feeling a strange satisfaction. We stood up. We fought back.

As darkness rapidly consumed my consciousness, I wondered: is this the price of resistance? Am I going to die here?