Chapter 4

SCARLETT :

I was to resume two days before the Alpha returned to the pack house. His personal assistant arrived ahead of time to give us a tour and inform us of his menu for the week.

Standing at 5'11, with dark hair and brown eyes, Mr. Hensley Victor, the Alpha's personal assistant, had a large scowl on his face.

"I am Scarlett De Luca," I introduced myself.

"I'm Reyes Von," the Chief Chef introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you," Mr Hensley replied.

"Thank you, Mr. Hensley," I smiled.

"Please, call me Victor," he told us. His voice seemed calm, but his expression was stern. "I don't like being called Hensley."

"Yes, Sir Victor," we chorused.

"Since you two passed the last stage, I have no worries regarding the steak. In the past, it wasn't a requirement to know the recipe before getting the job, but due to previous issues, we had to implement that. The recipe can be difficult to follow."

I could only wonder what the grand Luna was thinking when she made the recipe.

"Thank you, sir," we gave him a polite smile.

"I have three important things to tell you. One, never delegate the responsibility of serving the Alpha to anyone else. You must cook and serve him yourself. That way, if things go south, we'd know whose head to cut off," he spoke like it was good news. "Two, before quitting, submit a resignation letter twenty-four hours in advance. The pack house secretary will review it before letting you go officially. If you're having second thoughts about the job, now's the time to run away from it. Lastly, do not go anywhere or touch anything without permission. Your IDs will be ready by tomorrow, so get them from the pack house secretary," he added. "Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"So please, get used to the kitchen and set the utensils however you please, but neatly," he instructed before leaving.

Since we had nothing much to do, Reyes and I agreed on recipes since we had different methods of making our dishes.

"Why do you want this job?" Reyes leaned against the counter, folding his arms. We had been talking for a while now, and it was almost time to leave. His coffee-brown eyes stared intently at my face.

"I don't know," I lied, shrugging. "The pay is really good. I'm sure you'd agree with me."

"Yeah," he chuckled.

"So why do you want it?" I asked him.

"To get a favor from the Alpha. Also, the pay is amazing," he grinned.

"I hope we both get what we want," I smiled back.

"Me too."

"I saw Mr. Hensley earlier and he said we could leave anytime we wanted today instead of the usual time. We just have to come get the meal timetable tomorrow."

"That's cool," I responded.

"So?" he stood straight, removing the chef's cap from his dark blue hair. "Are you leaving or staying?"

"Leaving," I laughed a little before removing my chef's cap and leaving with Reyes. I thought the Chief Chef would be rude and insufferable, but Reyes was so easy to get along with, and he didn't even look at me with pity or disdain like the other staff did.

The next day, we got our IDs and the meal timetable.

"It's my official first day," I announced at breakfast. "Alpha Jax will be around today."

And hopefully, I don't get fired. I thought to myself. People usually quit themselves, but this time I might just be one of the few people he's ever fired.

Sophie replied with a mouth full of cereal. "Mine started three days ago, and Beta Zharn is a lot of work," she complained, rushing through her cereal as fast as she could. "Who knew he'd also be in charge of training and combat?"

"Slow down, honey," our mother warned Sophie.

"Mother, if only you could understand. That man is so demanding. I see why he's friends with the Alpha," she dropped the blue cereal bowl on our wooden dining table and stood up. "Birds that have the same feathers move together."

"You got the saying wrong," I corrected her. "Birds of a feather—"

"Bye, mom! Bye, dad! Bye, Scar!" She took her bag from where she hung it in the living room and checked herself out in the long mirror near our dining table.

"Bye, honey!" my parents smiled.

"Wait for me!" I pleaded. "Please."

"No way, you aren't even halfway done with your breakfast."

"I'm making your lunch, my love," my dad pleaded too. "Wait a few minutes."

"I love you guys," she shook her head vigorously. "But no." She added, "And I'm done with high school, dad, I don't need a lunch box." She bolted out the door before any of us could speak again.

I checked the time and I had twenty minutes left to resume work.

I hadn't packed my bag, dried my hair, or packed lunch.

I literally drank my cereal and ran to my room. Never had I ever gotten ready to go anywhere in five minutes.

"Bye, father and mother! Keep my lunch in the fridge!"

"Bye!" I heard their faint voices right after I closed the door.

The pack house was a little far, and my pink scooter decided it'd be an amazing time not to start. Thank Goodness for public transport.

"You're late," Reyes told me as I managed to catch my breath. My head hung low as my hands cooperated with my knees in a bid to make me stable.

"Only five minutes," I breathily said after gaining composure.

"You okay?" Reyes's brows knitted with concern.

"Yup," I gave him a thumbs up. "I'll just get changed."

"Okay," he nodded.

I swiftly changed into my uniform, hung my ID card around my neck, and hurried back to the kitchen.

"What do I need to do?"

"Brew Alpha Jax's coffee. I'll make the scrambled eggs."

"Got it."

And we got to work.

"The Alpha likes his coffee at a specific temperature, so be careful with the heat," Reyes reminded me.

"Understood," I nodded my head.

After forty-five minutes, his breakfast was ready. Bacon, scrambled eggs, fresh toast, and freshly brewed black coffee.

"Let me take it to him," I told Reyes.

"Oh, that'd be great," Reyes handed the tray to me. "I'd been planning to meet him one-on-one, but I feel jittery. Thank you so much!"

"It's nothing," I gave him a warm smile. "Also, I'm your assistant, remember? You can order me around."

"Nah, you're the good kind. I don't have to go boss mode on you," he waved his hands in dismissal. "Hurry along before the coffee temperature reduces. Can't get fired on the first day."

"So much for not going boss mode," I joked before heading to his office. Two guards stood right in front of an oversized double door made of fine pinewood. It had gold accents and a giant crest of a wolf at its center that would split in halves once the door got opened.

I showed them my ID card, and without a word, one of them went in. My confidence began to crack as he took some time.

"You can come in," he came back out and opened the door for me to go in.

Expensive ceramic tiles showed my reflection as I stared at them. The Alpha's office was large.

Three bookshelves filled with new and old books rested there. I'm sure no one even read them, and opposite them were three gray chairs and a glass center table in the middle, probably where he eats or relaxes. The windows were slightly opened, but in a way that gave the office minimum light.

Alpha Jax cleared his throat, and that stopped me from further exploring his office. He still hadn't looked up from the documents. He sat there ever so calmly. His whiskey eyes showed a bit through his glasses in a serious expression.

I dropped the food on the table and proceeded to leave. I was a bit offended that he hadn't even noticed me.

"Taste the food," he commanded me.

"Yes, Alpha Jax."

Once I spoke, his head rose up in reflex, and I flinched as his scowl deepened upon seeing me.

He muttered, "What the hell?" And I was able to catch the words because super hearing was one of my many abilities.

"You're toast," my wolf snickered.

"Shut up," I retorted in my head.

Only two things could happen. I get fired, or I keep my job.