Chapter 5

Natasha's POV

On my way home, I was in a state of excitement. Sophia had agreed to let me stay and take care of her, which meant I finally had a job, and one I had won after defeating so many werewolf competitors.

Thinking about my previous experiences, I couldn't help but proudly think: I'm not a useless ordinary human after all.

However, I had only met my little employer Sophia and still didn't know who I was actually working for. But it didn't matter; I would find out soon enough.

At six in the morning, a car was already parked in front of my apartment building. The door opened to reveal an expressionless male werewolf driver. He didn't say anything and was even quite cold.

"Don't be afraid, Natasha, you've already got this job," I told myself as I opened the car door.

The car slowly drove away from the city center, heading towards the wealthy area up the mountain. Through the window, I watched Selene City gradually awakening in the morning light. My human compatriots on the streets were rushing to work, while the werewolves seemed more relaxed. Many werewolves in high-end custom suits were being driven in private cars, carrying an innate sense of superiority.

Just a day ago, I was one of them, but now, even the person driving me is a werewolf. I clenched my fist, determined to make the most of this opportunity.

About half an hour later, the car turned into a long private driveway and finally stopped in front of a breathtaking mansion. The white marble exterior walls glowed softly in the morning light, and broad steps led to a massive oak front door.

As soon as I stepped out of the car, I saw Grace the housekeeper already waiting at the front door. She was wearing the same dress as when I first met her, with a serious and sharp expression.

"You're on time, good," Grace said, her tone slightly warmer than yesterday. "The master is already waiting for you in the study to sign the contract. Miss Sophia is still sleeping; we expect her to wake up around eight."

I nodded in understanding and followed Grace through the spacious entrance hall and up to the second floor. The carpet was so soft it felt like I could sink into it. My heart beat faster and faster, not knowing who my new employer was. Would it be Sophia's father? Or another family member?

Grace stopped at a large door at the end of the corridor and knocked three times gently.

"Sir, Miss Sophia's new tutor has arrived," she said, with obvious respect in her voice.

"Let her in," a deep, familiar male voice came from inside the room.

The moment I heard the voice, my heart skipped a beat, then started pounding frantically. That voice—that voice

. Images from that night flashed through my mind like lightning: pain, darkness, the way that man looked down at me... My stomach clenched with sudden panic.

Just as I was considering turning and running away, Grace had already opened the door and motioned for me to enter.

I hesitantly walked into the spacious study, with bookshelves covering all four walls from floor to ceiling and a marble fireplace in the corner. At a desk, a tall man stood with his back to the door, looking out at the magnificent mountain view.

When he turned to face me, we both froze. His blue-gray eyes immediately widened, and his cold expression turned to shock and confusion.

"You!" the man exclaimed in surprise, the authority in his voice instantly vanishing. "What are you doing here?"

My cheeks burned, embarrassment and anger rising simultaneously. "I... I'm Sophia's new tutor. I didn't know you were the employer."

"How could you not know?" he frowned, a flash of suspicion in his eyes.

"That... Grace didn't tell me the employer's name," I hurriedly explained. "If I had known it was you, I certainly wouldn't have come."

The man was silent for a moment, his gaze scanning me. "What a coincidence," he finally said, with obvious suspicion in his voice. "Out of all the applicants, Sophia happened to choose you."

"Maybe it's not a coincidence," I retorted, speaking loudly despite my embarrassment. "Yesterday I told Sophia I was an orphan and that I was willing to take care of her. I didn't know it had anything to do with you."

The man's expression returned to indifference. He walked to the desk, sat down, and gestured for me to sit in the chair opposite him.

"So, Natasha Foster, do you really think you're qualified to take care of a werewolf cub?"

I straightened my back and looked directly into his eyes. Even if he was an Alpha werewolf, even if he owned this mansion and countless wealth, I wouldn't let him look down on me.

"I have a degree in early childhood education, I've volunteered at orphanages, and I've taken care of many children, including werewolf cubs. More importantly, Sophia chose me. Don't you trust your daughter's judgment?"

The man's eyebrows raised slightly. "My daughter is only five years old. I trust my own judgment more."

"Then why did you let Sophia participate in the selection process?" I immediately asked, as if I were debating with him.

A silence enveloped the room; it seemed I had won.

The man examined me, a flicker of indecipherable emotion in his eyes. "Because the previous nannies were all unable to get along with her. I hoped to find someone this time whom she would be willing to accept."

"And that person is me," I said confidently.

The man sighed and took out a thick contract from the drawer. "In that case, this is the employment contract. The salary is 30% higher than the standard human wage, including room and board, with one day off per week. Your main responsibilities are to take care of Sophia, accompany her, and help her learn."

I quickly flipped through the contract, and when I saw the salary figure, I almost choked. It was much higher than I had expected, enough to pay off all my debts in just a few months.

"There's an additional clause in the contract," his slender fingers pressed on the document, his voice suddenly becoming serious. "Absolute confidentiality about what happened that night... Don't tell anyone, especially Sophia."

I looked up at him, noticing a flash of vulnerability in his eyes. Despite being a powerful Alpha werewolf, at this moment, he seemed just like a father who didn't want to disappoint his daughter.

"Why would I tell her? That would only hurt an innocent child."

The man sighed in relief. "Good. So, do you accept this job?"

I hesitated. On one hand, working with this man who had embarrassed me so much was a nightmare; on the other hand, I really liked Sophia, and the salary was enough to change my life.

"I accept," I finally said, picking up the pen and signing my name. "But on one condition."

The man raised an eyebrow. "What condition?"

"Basic respect for me," I said, looking directly into his eyes. "I am indeed an ordinary human, but I'm not your servant or plaything. Whether I'm Sophia's tutor or nanny, I should receive the appropriate respect."

The man's mouth opened slightly, about to answer, when the door was suddenly pushed open, and a sleepy-eyed Sophia rushed in, wearing green pajamas, her blonde hair messily falling on her shoulders.

"Daddy, I heard Natasha's voice!" she shouted excitedly, then seeing me sitting there, immediately rushed towards me. "You came! You really came!"

I smiled and caught the little girl, her innocent joy warming my heart. "Of course, I promised, didn't I?"

Sophia nodded happily, then looked at her father. "Daddy, this is the special person I told you about! She's not afraid of me like the others, and she said she came for me, not for you!"

The man looked at his daughter and me in surprise, seeming to truly see that this human woman might really have a special understanding of Sophia.

"Sophia, you're up early today," he said, his voice much gentler. "You don't usually wake up this early."

"I smelled her scent," Sophia explained innocently. "It makes me feel safe."

I looked at the little girl in surprise, then at the man, and we exchanged a confused look.

It's not unusual for werewolves to smell humans, but for a human's scent to make a werewolf cub feel particularly safe is very unusual.

The man cleared his throat and stood up. "Well, Natasha, you've been officially hired. Grace will take you to your room and introduce you to the house rules and daily arrangements."

"Thank you, Mr. Morgan," I said.

"Here, just call me Alexander," he replied, with a certain softness in his voice. "Since you'll be taking care of my most precious treasure, we should maintain a certain degree of... familiarity."