1

Aurora

"Miss Belmont?" a gorgeous redhead walks into the reception area, her eyes scanning the faces in the room.

I slowly raise a finger, gaining her attention. "That would be me." All eyes turn to me, and I try not to let the attention frighten me. You've been to a lot of interviews at world-class companies, Aurora. This should be a walkover for you. I mentally encourage myself, willing my nerves to calm down. It doesn't work, and my ever-working brain chooses the moment to remind me of how my past interviews might be high profile but don't compare with this in importance. The very fabric of my future hangs on this.

She condescendingly gives me a once over, her eyes indiscreetly trailing from my hair to my toes before coming to rest briefly on my eyes. She ticks the file she was clutching to her chest. "This way, the personnel officer is expecting you."

She turns on her heels, and I follow, feeling anxiety slowly creeping over me. Despite spending a great part of the previous day watching multiple interview videos on YouTube and Lucien assuring me that I would do great, I feel my palms growing sweaty and my chest tightening.I wipe my hands on my shirt, the movement disguised as a quick adjustment of my red silk shirt and not the nervous wreck I currently am. Over the years, the shirt has come to be my personal rendition of a hero's cape. I always get a lot of compliments whenever I wear it. Paired with my black suit pants and a cheap imitation of Louboutin's red bottom, it is safe to say I am dressed to kill. But with every step that brings us closer to the personnel officer, I feel less like a predator and more like prey.

The redhead stops in front of an intimidating wooden door with the words "conference room" written in elegant cursive strokes hanging on top of it. My heart races with anticipation, and my nerves grow erratic, firing nervous impulses through me.

One of the most emphasized points in every video I've watched for my interviews is the power of body language and how inferiority can be sniffed from miles away, so I straighten my spine and raise my head. Despite nature dealing me a losing hand in this venture, I am determined to make this a success. This is my longest and biggest dream. Many things in my life have only served to lead to this moment. I can't mess it up.

"Good morning, ma'am. This is Aurora; she applied for the role of the assistant financial advisor," the redhead announces as we step into the conference room.A middle-aged woman who looks stern in her pleated Chanel suit and tight chignon sits at the head of the table, observing me through the bottom of her lenses.

"Thank you, Jenny. I'll take it from here." Her voice is flat and monotonous, giving nothing away.

"Good luck," Jenny whispers before slipping out of the room, her words sounding more like mockery than goodwill.

The temperature of the room drops by a few degrees following Jenny's departure. The personnel officer continues to scrutinize me without a word. Clearing my throat, I decide to break the ice. "Good morning, ma'am. I'm scheduled for an interview today." I inject an extra amount of sweetness into my voice in case she has a quick temper.

"I already got that bit. I wonder how long you intend to stand there before pitching yourself."

Pitching myself? How am I supposed to know I am to start when she barely offers me a word of greeting?

"Sit." She commands softly, and my feet move on their own accord, settling me into a chair close to her. She clasps her hands on the table, leaning in to rest her chin on them. "Tell me, Aurora, why should I consider you as an assistant finance officer?"

A smile creeps to my face. This is exactly the question I hope to hear. It's a chance to sell myself and display my outstanding academic performance and experiences. "I graduated at the top of my class in both high school and college, and my top scores were always in statistics, economics, and finance. Through multiple internships and fieldwork, I've been able to fine-tune my—""I know all about your academic prowess and multiple awards." She cuts me short, leveling me with a look I cannot decipher. "What I want to know is why the pack should trust you with its finances."The question is different from what I prepared for, but I understand the necessity of it. Whoever handles the finances of the pack controls a lot of things, and as much as degrees and awards are a huge deal, trust and reliability are also paramount.

"Mrs. ….?"

"Kingston," she replies. "Anna Kingston."

I nod, picking up from where I stopped. "Mrs. Kingston, I understand the need for someone who can be trusted; that's why I'm here. I believe I can be an asset to the pack if I'm hired. With me on the finance team, you won't have to worry about inconsistencies. All transactions will be transparent. I'll develop a system to ensure that, and I'll devote myself to the financial growth of our community. I'm certain I can make incredible changes in record time. I only want the opportunity to show that the pack's finances will thrive with me on your team."

She let out a slow "hmm," leaning into her chair and watching me closely. Her eyes feel like visible weights on my shoulders. If this is some intimidation tactic, I'm afraid it's working on me. My wolf is practically shrinking beneath the dominant weight of her eyes while I try to keep myself from visibly squirming in my seat. Tough luck.

A long minute passes before she finally says something. "Aurora, your grades are beyond impressive, and the same goes for your experience, but I'm afraid the pack is looking for something slightly different at the time. We need someone who can display both intellectual and physical strength and someone who cannot be forced into submission. Do you understand?"