Chapter 4

Natasha's POV

A few hours after receiving the call, I was driving a used sedan along the winding mountain road.

I had purchased a simple outfit with my emergency credit card—a plain button-up shirt, fitted pants, and practical shoes—hoping to make a good impression on the employer. The tags were still hidden inside the clothes, so I could return them if the interview failed.

As I rounded the final curve, a magnificent estate came into view, and I couldn't help but hold my breath. This massive mansion stood on the hillside like a scene from a movie, with stone walls and gleaming windows shimmering in the afternoon sunlight. The circular driveway was already filled with vehicles, and I carefully parked my old sedan in one of the few remaining spaces, frowning as I noticed 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.

I'm glad I spent money on these clothes, I thought, noticing a line of well-dressed women walking toward the front door. I took a deep breath, grabbed my resume, and joined the queue.

The woman in front of me turned around with a smile. "Are you here for the interview too?" she asked, her canines slightly more prominent than a human's.

"Yes," I replied.

She leaned forward, lowering her voice. "You should have come earlier. Several ladies have already left in tears. This family must be very difficult to serve."

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

I shifted uncomfortably. "It's probably because I'm human," I admitted.

Her eyes widened, and she took a large step back. "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 go home now. They won't hire a human as the child's tutor."

I forced a smile but said nothing. She was probably right, but I had come this far, so I might as well see how things would unfold.

The line moved slowly, and I had been waiting less than half an hour when I heard loud sobbing coming from the direction of the house. I craned my neck to see what was happening and was surprised to find Lina—the confident werewolf from earlier—being escorted out by two staff members, her face streaked with tears.

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

I shifted nervously on my feet, wondering what kind of employer would reduce applicants to this state during an interview? Or was it the child who had provoked such a reaction?

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

"Name?" a stern voice demanded beside me.

I turned to face an elderly woman with silver-gray hair pulled tightly into a severe bun, not a single strand out of place. She wore a high-necked navy blue dress buttoned to the throat, covered with a gray apron that looked freshly ironed. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, and I grew more nervous as she scrutinized me.

"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 panic and back away.

"Why don't you run away like everyone else?!" she screamed, her voice becoming 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. May I ask why you wanted to scare me away?"

After I asked 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 was unwilling 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 to approach 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 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 moist, touched by the little girl's words.

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

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

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

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