Chapter 003

[Apple]

Raising a single eyebrow, a young man with dazzling golden hazel eyes helps me regain my footing. My breath catches, as his warm hands send tingles along my arms. 

 “It's dangerous out here, Miss,” he warns, as he hands me my bag, his face blank and uninterested.“You should watch your step.”

“Thank you,” I reply nervously as I lean over to gather my remaining items off the ground. 

“My name’s Apple,” I start to say as I look up again only to discover that he has vanished, almost as if he was never there. 

“So much for people being friendlier here,” I grumble as I dust myself off. I guess cute doesn’t mean kind.

Shaking my encounter with the mysterious hazel-eyed boy, I rush to my car and begin the drive to the other side of town. Turning on my radio, I discover that all of my stations have changed with the new location, and it takes a moment to find one playing something I can sing along with.

When an ad for Rental Luna plays, I turn it off. Disgusted. 

I couldn’t imagine a job more pathetic or degrading than being a Rental Luna. I’d rather scrape gum off the bottoms of tables than sell myself off by the hour. 

Hopefully, if all goes well here, I won’t have to worry about that potential future. 

I get a few strange looks, and a few awkward sniffs in my direction as I push my way in through the revolving door. I wonder if my body odor is especially bad. I tend to sweat when I’m nervous. Discreetly, I take a brief sniff. 

I smell okay to me. Maybe they have a few werewolves working here. 

As I approach the main reception desk, I hold out the ad and announce that I’d like to apply for their entry-level position. She doesn’t even look at me, she just hands me a clipboard and points to the elevator. 

“You’ll want to hurry and catch that next elevator.”  She urges. “Or you’ll have to wait for the next batch. The Beta is interviewing candidates right now on the 14th floor.”

“Beta?” I say in question.

“Yes, Beta Forrester,” she confirms. “14th floor. Turn right, now hurry! You’re late..”

Confused, I find my way to the elevator just as it opens. 

I have to stand back immediately as a tall brunette wearing stilettos marches out, tears ruining her otherwise perfect makeup. Her designer suit hugs her curves perfectly, tailor-made to fit. 

“Luna Cindy, are you okay,” the receptionist stands, “what’s wrong? Can I help you with…”

“You can help by telling your Alpha that he is a BEAST!” she screams at the receptionist who bends under the force of the woman’s scream. 

She isn’t just a woman, she’s a wolf. An Alpha-level Luna. 

“Luna, I…”

“I’m not your Luna anymore. I quit!” I watch her throw the badge down on the desk as the elevator doors close in front of me. 

I’m not sure what button I press as I try to make sense of what I just witnessed.

I’m off to see the beta about a job. 

An angry Luna just marched out the front door. 

Everyone keeps sniffing me…

“Shoot!” I curse. “Goddess damn it! This isn’t a company, it’s a werewolf pack!”

The door opens. Do I go in?

Wolves are dangerous, passionate, violent creatures. I’m little more than prey to them. 

The receptionist at the desk in front of me smiles, “Oh you got here quick! Are you here for the interview?”

“Yes,” I find myself saying as I step forward. I need a job. If they are willing to hire me, I’m willing to try. Three times the minimum wage is too good a deal for me to pass up. 

“Usually the agency takes longer to screen our hopefuls,” she smiles warmly as she leads me past a bunch of desks to a big door at the end of a long aisle. “I’m so glad you were available. We need you!”

She pauses in front of the big door. “Here you are, he’s waiting.”

“Sylvester Sterling. Alpha. CEO.” 

My blood chills. 

And I’m just a human. A weak, defenseless, human surrounded by supernaturals. 

I need to get out of here before I do something that turns me into prey. 

I turn my body, intending to go back the way I came when a deep voice seizes my attention. 

“Enter,” it is more of a command than a request and I find myself shivering as I turn and move towards it, drawn by its primal energy. 

I push open the heavy wood door and seated with his back to me is an elegantly dressed man gazing out his large windows at the city beneath his feet. I cannot see his face, but his body gives off an energy, an aura of command that demands obedience.

“Sit,” he orders me like a common dog as soon as I cross the threshold. I open my mouth to say something and as my breath catches, he perks up the smallest amount in his chair.

If he can hear the sound of my breath, he can probably hear the sound of my heart and who knows what else. Closing my mouth, I do as I’m told.

Once I’m settled, he rotates his chair to face me. 

I can’t help but gasp. 

Seated before me is easily the most attractive creature I have ever seen. He almost glows with barely contained power. Well built, thick black hair that ends with gentle waves, and the clearest blue eyes, like pools of water. 

There is something about him that seems familiar, but I just can’t put my finger on it. 

And then he starts to speak. His voice is deep and rich, rolling off his tongue like melted chocolate, delicious, dark, and sweet.”

"I'm assuming you're here for the open position?”

I nod nervously. 

“Have you looked over the contract?" He pours me a glass of water and sets it on the edge of the desk before pouring some into his own glass. 

I shake my head. 

“I see,” he pauses and the air seems heavy with the silence. “It doesn't matter, it is a pretty standard contract. I'm sure you've signed dozens like them before."

I try to say something, to let him know I have no idea what he is talking about, but he doesn't give me a chance. 

"Since you don't have a contract in front of you, I'll go over the basics. Under this contract, you are expected to appear in attire, hair, and nails that meet the level and standard of your rank as my companion.”

“Companion?” I ask. He doesn’t respond as he continues to explain the parameters of the job. The more he speaks, the less this sounds like an internship.

“You will be ready and available for all official events involving the pack. It doesn't matter what time of day or what day of the week. You will make yourself ready and present yourself as expected based on what is laid out in this contract."

"But I'm a student," I finally get a word in edgewise. "How can I..."

"What are your rates for sex?" He doesn't even blink as he says this as if asking what I charge for my body is just something you do in an office. 

I cough. “Sex? Do you usually have sex with your employees?” 

He takes a step closer.

"If you're my Luna, it is expected that occasionally we will come together physically. Most she-wolves are excited about the idea, actually," he raises his eyebrow as he adds, "Some have even offered to pay me for the service."

“Luna?” I take a step back, not sure of what he means. 

“What is your name,” he finally asks. 

"Apple," I am barely able to breathe under the weight of his influence. "Apple LeRoux"

"Like the snack?" he laughs leaning in closer, "Did your parents really name you that? Or did the rental company give you that name?"

"I'm not from the rental company!" I insist, but he ignores me as his teeth graze the place where my neck and shoulder meet. 

"What kind of wolf are you?" His eyes dilate, becoming less and less human. "You aren't from the Rental Luna, are you?"

"No," I choak. "I'm human.”

“Human?” He takes a step back, wiping his nose to clear the smell. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” my body is shaking. I’ve never been in the presence of a real werewolf before. And he isn’t just any werewolf, he’s the most dangerous sort--an Alpha. “My town is a human-only community.” 

“Human-only,” he curls his lip. “How quaint.” A curious expression crosses his face.“If you are a human raised in an all-human community, why did you come looking for a job here? This is a werewolf pack. How did you, a human, end up here as my Rental Luna?”

“I’m not your Rental Luna,” I repeat carefully. “There’s been a mistake. This is the wrong job.”

“Obviously,” he laughs. “Only a fool would send a human to do a wolf’s job.” 

His laughter stings. I already feel stupid, and having him laugh at my mistake is embarrassing. 

“I was supposed to meet with the Beta to interview for the internship, but I got off on the wrong floor,” I look down, unable to meet his intense gaze.  “I didn’t realize my mistake until your assistant brought me to you.” 

A tear rolls down my cheek, followed by another. “I didn’t know it was a werewolf pack. All I knew was that this job offers 3 times what everyone else is paying.” 

“I see,” he says slowly, taking in my words.

Bowing to hide my tears I mumble,  “I am sorry I wasted your time.”

As I turn away, I hear an almost imperceivable, “Wait.” 

That simple, small word, touches something deep within and I feel a spark of something warm and bright.

“I have an offer for you,” he encourages me to retake my seat. “One that will be mutually beneficial.”