Too Human To Be His

2 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.

“Well, you know the school needs funds for repairs and development,” I shrugged, amused. “We’re dancing as best we can.”

“As if he’s going to care about our dumb presentations,” Tanya huffed, finally putting the notebook aside and focusing on her food. “He’ll die of boredom before we finish.”

“Then make your speech so good he wants to listen,” I advised with a grin. “Otherwise, you’ll be charged with involuntary manslaughter.”

“Haha,” she mocked me with a smirk. “If I want to make this circus entertaining, I’d have to dress like a clown and perform magic tricks. Or better yet, send you to give the speech—naked. That would definitely keep their attention.”

“Where do you get this from?” I narrowed my eyes, watching her laugh.

“Two apples didn’t fall far from the same tree,” she said with a smirk.

After our... breakfast-lunch combo, I dumped the dishes on her and went to check final exams from my 8th and 9th graders. Winter break was a week away, and I had to finalize their grades.

Stifling a yawn, I began decoding their handwriting. Some kids wrote beautifully, others… it was like a demon had possessed their pens. I lost track of time reviewing their work. My neck ached, my back throbbed, and my eyes refused to focus, but I got it done. I stretched out the stiffness and did a quick set of light exercises.

After a quick snack, it was time to head to the offices. The building wasn’t far from home, and as soon as I stepped out of the elevator, the stench of leftover booze, salami, and citrus hit me. Guess someone thought one office party wasn’t enough and had their own after-hours bash. With a week and a half still left before New Year’s, I really hoped this wouldn’t become a daily routine.

Seeing me arrive with my cleaning cart, the rowdy group quickly started packing up and disappearing. I decided to begin with the far offices, which were already empty.

Rolling my squeaky cart toward the last office, I didn’t notice someone watching me. I dunked my rag in soapy water and began mopping the tiled floor—only to feel a firm slap on my backside. I jolted, knocking over a chair with a loud crash.

Spinning around, I saw the smug, drunken face of some skinny little punk.

“Not bad,” he said, eyeing me like a piece of meat. “Up close, you’ve got hot MILF vibes.”

Excuse me?! I was only twenty-five! Was I seriously already in MILF territory?! Okay, maybe the headscarf and secondhand cleaning uniform didn’t help—but I wasn’t here on a date! Still, that stung. Deeply. At least he didn’t call me “auntie.”

“Young man,” I said, trying to keep my cool. “I believe you’re in the wrong office. Your group is two doors down, to the left.”

“Oooh, feisty,” he slurred, swaying slightly. The gleam in his eyes gave him away—a young werewolf, clearly. Just what I needed. And with a full moon glowing outside the window, too. Great.

“Don’t fight it,” he insisted. “You won’t regret it. Nothing beats the passion of a wolf.”

I almost burst out laughing in his face but held it in. I’d heard similar pickup lines before.

“Listen, kid,” I snapped, “there are women who get paid for that sort of thing. Go find one of them.”

“Aha! I got it!” he exclaimed, as if struck by divine inspiration. “I’ll pay you!”

Fueled by liquid courage and the full moon, the pup staggered toward me. But his fantasy of getting lucky died fast—thanks to my good old mop. Thank God my employers were too stingy for a modern flimsy one. I had a solid wooden stick, and with a single swing, I knocked the horny mutt out cold.

“Amateur,” I muttered, eyeing him curled up in the fetal position on the floor. Then I continued mopping the floor like nothing happened.