3. Amateur

As it turned out, this was Alpha Wayland’s house—a place the man himself didn’t actually live in full-time. He only occasionally visited. Which, in my opinion, was a little strange. The house was stunning and fully equipped with everything anyone could possibly need.

Later, Lakisha admitted that this estate had been built almost five years ago, but no one had ever really lived in it. The Alpha had an apartment in the city where he spent most of his time.

“An older local she-wolf used to maintain order around here,” Lakisha explained, a note of sorrow in her voice. “But time spares no one—she passed away just recently. Such a shame. She was a good woman.”

“That’s why we need someone new, just temporarily. The house is large, but since it’s not really lived in, all that’s needed is basic cleaning—dusting surfaces and freshening up the bedding. Everything must be spotless. You’ll need to come every other day early in the morning to tidy the rooms. And you must always check with security before entering to make sure the Alpha isn’t home. If he is, you’re not to go into his bedroom. Clean the rest, and wait until he leaves to tidy his suite. He might occasionally stay overnight, and trust me—it’s best not to get in his way,” she said sternly, walking me through the estate and explaining the workload. “Security will be notified, and I’ll make a special pass for you. There’ll also be a uniform for cleaning. You can change in the small staff room on the first floor. Got any questions?”

“What about payment?” I asked, the most important concern on my mind.

“Oh, right,” Lakisha smiled, pulling out a notepad and pen. She scribbled down a figure and handed me the paper.

When I looked at the number she wrote, I was stunned. It was triple what I earned scrubbing office buildings—and that was definitely a pleasant surprise. I didn’t care if I had to wake up earlier or finish before school started. Honestly, for that kind of money, I could even quit the office job. But I wouldn’t rush—first, I’d get used to this new gig.

Lakisha noticed the sparkle in my eyes and smiled with satisfaction.

“So I take it you’re accepting the position?”

“Yes,” I replied immediately. “Tell me though, why didn’t you hire someone from the nearby settlement?”

“This settlement is our pack,” she said with a smile. “Everyone here has their own duties and place in society. Most hold prestigious positions and ranks, so…”

“Cleaning wouldn’t be... respectable,” I finished her sentence, catching her meaning. But I wasn’t proud—I wasn’t ashamed of honest work, even as a cleaner.

“You could say that.” She chuckled as we left the house and headed toward the gates. “So it’s settled. Tomorrow morning, you’ll start. But Aline, listen carefully: Alpha Wayland doesn’t tolerate mistakes or negligence. He punishes severely. Don’t let us down.”

“I’ll do my best,” I promised, and we said our goodbyes.

Sliding into my car, I headed home, mulling over everything I’d just heard. So, this wasn’t just some fancy neighborhood—it was the pack’s private territory. That explained the guarded entrance and the fencing. The high-ranking wolves of our region lived here. Well, fine. Let them live however they want. As long as they paid on time, I didn’t care.

Back home, I was greeted by the mouthwatering aroma of borscht, and my stomach growled in response. Tanyusha was already awake and eating, the delicious smells wafting through the apartment.

Greeting my sister, I joined her at the table after reheating myself a bowl.

“Eat properly,” I nudged her. She was both eating and scribbling something in her notebook. As a teacher, I was proud, but health came first. “Studying can wait.”

“I know, it’s just this presentation is stressing me out,” Tanya sighed. “Why do we even have to put on a show for the Alpha?”

I could understand her frustration. Our school wasn’t exactly top-tier, so the administration turned to Wayland for sponsorship. You can’t tell by looking at a child whether they’re human or werewolf without special tests, so both the mayor (a human) and the Alpha were responsible for juvenile affairs in our region. The mayor didn’t bother giving us the time of day, so our only hope was Wayland.

He was coming to our school with a delegation, and we had to make an impression. A concert, student presentations—the whole parade. Tanya was among the top students expected to speak.