The worst part wasn’t getting rejected.
It was why.
Every ti I refreshed my email, I saw another polite “We regret to inform you,” and another “We’ve decided to go in a different direction.” At first, I thought maybe it was bad timing. Maybe too many applicants. Maybe I was just unlucky.
But by the sixth rejection—from places I had personal contacts at—my gut started to twist.
By the tenth, I knew it wasn’t a coincidence. Soone had to be sabotaging on purpose.
Elliot’s face ca to mind. I didn’t want to believe it, but nothing else made sense.
My resu was solid. My grades were so of the best in my year. I had the training and the experience, along with glowing testimonials from my teachers. I should have been able to get at least an internship, but I was t with rejection at every turn.
Elliot did say I’d co crawling back to him eventually. Maybe this was what he ant. Maybe he was going to keep shutting doors until I had no choice but to knock on his.
But I wasn’t going to give up yet. Lying on my bed with my laptop, I scrolled through a local job board again. My stomach churned. I’d applied to over a dozen places already, and my pride was already bruised enough.
Then I saw it.
(Private tutor needed for a strong-willed young female werewolf. Basic academic subjects and warrior training are preferred. Pay: 3x standard rate. Must be patient. Serious applicants only.)
My eyebrows shot up.
Three tis the usual rate? And located in Frostfang territory?
It felt too good to be real, but I clicked the number anyway. I typed a short ssage and attached my resu, not expecting anything.
But five minutes later, my phone rang. I sat up quickly. “Hello?”
A woman’s voice ca through. “Hi. Is this Jasmine Lowett?”
“Speaking,” I said, trying to keep the hope out of my voice.
“My na’s Isa. I’m the older sister of the girl needing a tutor. I saw your resu. You’ve got an interesting mix of skills.”
“Thank you,” I said, heart thudding.
“But just to be clear,” she added, “this isn’t going to be easy. My sister doesn’t like rules. She’s smart and stubborn, and she’s driven away more tutors than I can count. You sure you’re up for it?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “I’ve worked with kids before. I’ve trained younger wolves in basic combat and survival skills. I’m a Delta trainee, top of my class. I know how to plan lessons and keep them interested.”
There was a short pause. “Alright. Co over. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Relief poured through . “Thank you. I’ll be there.”
Isa gave the address and said soone would pick up within the hour.
I didn’t waste a second. I changed into clean jeans and a navy T-shirt—comfortable but neat. I tied my hair back, brushed my teeth again, and packed a few notes I’d saved from Delta training just in case.
When the sleek black car pulled up outside my house, I was already on the front steps.
The ride to Frostfang territory was smooth and quiet. I hadn’t been here in a long ti. As the car turned into a long driveway, my breath caught.
This wasn’t a house. It was a mansion.
The place looked like it belonged in a movie. White stone walls, tall windows, and ivy climbed up the sides. Even the gate looked expensive.
I stepped out slowly as the driver opened the door.
A man in a crisp gray uniform stood at the door, hands clasped neatly in front of him.
“Miss Lowett?” he asked with a polite nod.
“That’s .”
“If you’ll follow , my lady has arranged for you to et the young miss.”
I swallowed hard and nodded.
Inside, the house was even more stunning. The floors shone like glass. Soft lighting lit up every corner, and expensive art hung on the walls. Everything slled like pine, citrus, and money.
As I followed the butler deeper into the mansion, I tried not to gape at how fancy everything was. The marble floors shined like water. A crystal chandelier hung overhead, glittering even in daylight. Soft classical music floated through the air from sowhere I couldn’t see.
The butler started to slow down as we reached a long hallway. He glanced over his shoulder at , looking nervous.
“Miss Lowett,” he said gently. “Before you et the young miss, there’s sothing you should know.”
I raised a brow. “Go on.”
“The girl... Miss Michelle... she’s a handful,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “Very bright, very strong for her age. She has a temper and doesn’t trust easily. Most tutors don’t last more than a few days.”
I gave a small nod, keeping my face neutral. “Understood.”
He paused, then added, “And one more thing. Please don’t ntion her mother. At all.”
That gave pause. I nodded again. “Got it.”
We turned a corner and stepped out through a wide glass door into the backyard—and my jaw nearly dropped.
It looked like a private park. A huge, perfect lawn, tall hedges trimd to perfection, and massive trees that swayed gently in the wind.
Then I heard it. Crying. A woman sat on the grass, wiping tears from her face with trembling hands.
And beside her—barking, snarling—was a dog so big I had to blink twice. It looked like a wolf and a polar bear had a baby. Snowy white, fluffy as hell, but growling like it was ready to maul soone.
“What the...” I muttered.
Then I looked up. There she was. Michelle Laken.
Perched high on a thick tree branch, legs swinging like she didn’t have a care in the world. Her jet-black hair was tied in a ssy ponytail. Her sharp green eyes were full of mischief.
She was laughing and throwing acorns at the crying woman.
“Miss Michelle!” the butler shouted, hurrying forward. “Enough!”
She didn’t even flinch.
“Co down, please!” he begged. “This isn’t how a young lady behaves!”
“Oh, she’s leaving anyway,” Michelle called, flinging another acorn. “She said so herself!”
“Michelle,” the butler said, firr now. “That’s enough. Call off Milky.”
The giant dog let out a final growl before settling beside the woman, who scrambled away as fast as she could.
I narrowed my eyes. The butler wasn’t joking when she said Michelle Laken was a handful. A nace might be a better description for her. But before I could even introduce myself, sothing silver flashed through the air.
A knife was flying straight at my face.
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