Chapter 5

Serena’s pov

The Alpha needed a nanny? I could do that! This was my chance.

“What is it?” The man asked upon noticing that I had stopped walking.

“The alpha,” I whispered. “He’s looking for a nanny?”

He narrowed his eyes on me. “It’s not your concern.”

“Why not?” I lifted my chin. “It’s a job, isn’t it?” If it was going to give me food and a roof over my head, then I would do it!

A soldier behind me scoffed. “You think you can walk into the alpha’s home and care for his heir?”.

"I have nothing left to lose," I shot back, “please let me try."The men glanced at each other.

“Are you sure about tha…”My voice steadied with conviction. “I’ll apply for the position. If I’m accepted, I’ll have a place.”

^^^^^^^^^

I glanced at the huge mansion in front of me. The golden, heavy double doors of the estate was carved with intricate symbols.

I swallowed hard as I crossed the threshold into the grand hallway. I was suddenly feeling out of place.

Once I was inside, my gaze swept around the long corridor. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their lights casting a warm glow on polished marble floors.

That’s when I saw them, small…tiny…almost invisible. They were tucked discreetly into the corners.

Cameras!

My stomach twisted. There weren’t many of them, but I still felt conscious, knowing that they were watching me, following me.

‘You’re imagining things,’ I told myself, forcing my feet forward. But no matter how much I tried to dismiss the thought, I couldn’t shake the sensation of being watched.

I adjusted the thin scarf I had gotten earlier, around my shoulders, suddenly conscious of how plain my dress was.

The man from earlier had been kind enough to give me a dress and it was all I currently had, simple and a little too small, but clean. The other women waiting for interviews wore tailored skirts and flowery blouses, their perfumes heavy in the air. They glanced my way, whispering.

I didn’t care. I was here for one reason, to find a place in this pack, a job that would give me shelter and keep me from wandering as an outcast omega.

“Next!”

The sharp voice cut through the air. A maid with bright green eyes and a tight bun held a clipboard, her eyes scanned the room with practiced authority. Her gaze fell on me, her brow arching.

“You,” she snapped. “Follow me.”

I straightened up and followed her down a narrow hall lined with portraits. Each face was regal, powerful. Alphas of past generations.

As we passed another hallway, I caught a glimpse of a maid carrying a tray, her head bowed. A young woman followed behind, her dress finer than the others, her eyes cold as they flicked in my direction.

She slowed, her lips curving into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Well, what have we here?”

I kept walking, but she stepped into my path.

“Are you lost?” she asked sweetly.

“No,” I said firmly.

Her smile widened. “You don’t look like you belong here.” She tilted her head, her golden curls bouncing. “Are you here for a job? Let me guess…” She pretended to think. “Dishwasher? Or maybe you scrub floors.”

I clenched my jaw. “I’m here for the nanny position.”

Her laughter rang out like a bell. “You?” She turned to the maid beside her. “Did you hear that, mother? This one thinks she can be a nanny.”

Her mother, the one I guess was the head maid, looked me up and down with open disdain.

“Some strays don’t know their place,” she muttered and then she plastered a fake smile on her face. “You need to get to the infirmary to get a report from a doctor. I need to know that you’re not some walking infection,” she said the last part with part scorn and part mockery.

I swallowed hard and nodded.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp tug on my shawl, then heard the rip of fabric. I gasped, turning to find it dangling from the woman’s fingers.

“Oops,” she said innocently. “Clumsy me.”

“You did that on purpose,” I snapped, unable to take it in anymore.

The daughter’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “What are you going to do about it?”

I stared at her, fury burning in my chest, but I knew better than to retaliate. Omegas didn’t win battles with higher-ranked wolves, not without consequences.

She flipped her hair. “Nothing?” She chuckled. “I thought so.”

I turned sharply, but the next thing I knew, something wet and gooey was all over my body and I shrieked with horror.

This was my turn and she had just ruined it!

“The bathroom is that way,” she said, followed by a loud laughter and I dashed towards it, deciding that if I could successfully clean up, I wouldn’t be too late for the interview.

When I found the bathroom, I slipped inside, washing away the sticky substance from my body. Whatever it was she had been drinking, it was slimy and smelled horribly.

Suddenly, I heard the lock click behind me. I spun around, my eyes wide with fright.

“What—” I pushed it but It wouldn’t budge.

“No, no, no.” Panic surged through me as I tugged on the handle. “Let me out!”. I pounded on the door, the cold reality of being trapped making my head spin. “Somebody! Help!”

Silence.

I clenched my fists, pressing them against my forehead. “Moon Goddess, please… I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this, please…help me…”

These last few days had been hectic, from getting banished from my pack and being rejected by my mate to getting attacked by rogues and now these?

Suddenly, a low chuckle filled the room.

I froze. It wasn’t inside, but just beyond the door.

“Who’s there?.” My voice trembled.

The laughter came again, smooth and amused.

“My script says I’m supposed to save Cinderella’s fairy godmother,” the voice drawled.

“Quite the twist, isn’t it?”

I stared at the door, my pulse hammering.

“Fairy godmother?” I whispered.

“Mm.”

The lock clicked, and the door creaked open.

I stumbled back as it swung wide. There was no one in front of it and so I stepped into the hallway, my expression a mix of fear and confusion. “Hello?”

Nothing.

I glanced around, time had long passed and I needed to find the doctor quickly.I had seen the infirmary earlier when I had gotten to the mansion and I ran towards it. When I finally reached the infirmary, my chest heaved, and my hands trembled.

“Please,” I gasped, clutching the doorframe. “I need help!”

A man looked up. He was tall and imposing, wearing a medical mask, with ice-blue eyes that gleamed with sharp intelligence.

For a moment, he was caught between light and shadow. One eye burned ice-blue in the sunlight, sharp and piercing, while the other was swallowed by darkness, unreadable.

The contrast was unnerving—like standing at the edge of something dangerous, something you couldn’t quite see until it was too late.

But now I need him.

“You’re a doctor, right? Please You have to help me.” I hurry towards him and pleaded.

His brows lifted in amusement. “A doctor?”. He frowned, like the word was strange to him. Well, he’s wearing a mask and a glove…?

“Yes!” I tugged desperately. “Please, I came for the interview and they said I needed to get a report. I was locked in the bathroom that’s why I’m late but you can check me now, right?.” His eyes trailed over my body a little, before meeting my eyes again.

“I’m afraid…” he stopped and I could feel him smiling beneath the mask. “Alright,” he finally agreed. “Let’s go.”