2
I blink, letting the meaning behind her words sink in. So, this is what the stare-down was about. My mother is human, so I am not a pure-blood shifter. But I am still a shifter. Certainly not as strong as the pure-bloods, but I doubt that has anything to do with my ability to do a good job. It's not as if I asked to be allowed to defend the pack in some great war.
"I do have somewhere you can thrive." She picked up a file I hadn't noticed lying in front of her and slid it over to me. I quickly peruse the document, and a wave of humiliation and disregard hits me with every word.
"The domestic workers around here appear to lack structure, and I was hoping that, with all your experiences, you could give them something to work with as the head janitor or something."
Head janitor. She says it like it's some sort of honor. Four years in college, doing my best to be seen as valuable, and I get to be the head janitor. Isn't that what dreams are made of? I continue to look at the words in the file, the stroke of each letter staring back at me in an almost mocking manner as if to say how dare you be so ambitious?
Eventually, I lift my head, hiding my humiliation behind a smile. "Thank you for considering me for the position. I'll give it a thought and get back to you."
She returns my smile, getting on her feet. "We'll be looking forward to working with you, Aurora. I'm certain you'll do a great job for the pack."
I nod, mirroring her movements. My eyes burn with humiliation, but I maintain a neutral expression, making my way out of the conference room. Her words feel like a dressed-up insult—like she is trying to show me where I belong.
"How did it go?" Jenny asks the moment I walk into the reception area, her smile as fake as the red bottoms on my feet.
I flash her my brightest smile, and when her brows crinkle in surprise, I revel in my little victory. I might've been treated like a sub-member of the pack, but I refuse to tuck my tail and act like one. If she's looking to entertain herself with someone's misery, she might just look in the mirror.I knew the pack valued pure-blood shifters over all else. I just didn't expect them to make critical decisions based on the same outdated values. The company belongs to the Blackwood Pack, and while we have secured our grounds in world politics, we are yet to make our mark in the finance department. I recall Lucien mentioning how breaking into the finance sector would be a top priority once he's alpha. That and my love for numbers contributed to me sticking with finance in college, and now I can't even get a chance to show how much I can do. I'm not trying to be smug, but I can say no one in Blackwood has a CV as impressive as mine.Back in college, when I mostly worked with humans, I was considered an asset to every firm I worked with. They were all reluctant to let me go, so I knew that this was not about my inability to perform. It was about the human in my DNA.My ride home is mostly quiet. I don't even turn on the music. I keep wondering what life would've looked like if I were pure-blood. Maybe I'll be treated with a little more respect when I send applications and have a voice that actually matters.
My father was pure-blood, but his fated mate, my mother, was human. He always told me stories of how he was constantly discouraged from getting married to her and how he was warned against tainting his bloodline. But he paid them no heed and went ahead to marry the love of his life.
They had the most beautiful, though short, love story. But that left them with me, the taint, and now I was being treated like one. Something told me if he was still alive, things wouldn't be so bad.
By the time I pull into my parents' little cottage, I am exhausted, and all I want is to curl into my bed with a tub of ice cream and let out my heart. Maybe I'll visit my parents' grave to talk.
I unlock the door to find Lucien lounging on the sofa, a bouquet of white lilies in hand. "Congratulations." The statement sounds more like a question than a celebratory word, his eyes slowly searching mine for answers.
The excitement bubbling through my wolf at the sight of our mate is a sharp contrast to the fresh wave of sadness flowing through me. I'm relieved to see him and to know I have someone to share my feelings with, but I also wish I returned with better news. He has been away for almost three weeks, and I wanted to welcome him with the good news.
My shoulders drop, and I avert my gaze, not wanting to see the disappointment in his eyes when he realizes he got flowers for nothing."Come here." Lucien drops the flowers on the table and pulls me into a hug. That's when I let out the first sob. This job is supposed to be my trump card, my way of contributing to the pack and showing my support for Lucien. Now, I have no way to do that.
"They said I wasn't good enough."
He stiffens briefly, pulling away from our hug to look at my face. "Who said that?"
His voice is sharp, and his eyes narrow. I have no doubt if I give him a name, he will seek them out. I let out a dry chuckle. "She didn't exactly say so, but she did offer me the role of a janitor. Apparently, despite my qualifications, I need to be pure-blood to be considered."
His expression softens, and he pulls me into a tighter hug, placing a long kiss on my head. "You're more than enough, and one day, when you're Luna, they won't be able to deny how amazing you are."
When you're Luna. It's all he ever says. There have been times I've expected him to do something about the situation, but he says his training is very critical and delicate, and he can't risk offsetting the balance until he has been named alpha. I'm not needy and inconsiderate, but sometimes I wish things were different and he could openly fight for me.
"How long till they get to see it?" I ask, my voice muffled by his chest. Lucien and I found out we were fated three years ago during the annual pack ceremony, shortly after the conspiracy of the white witches was exposed.
With no need for a public confirmation, we decided to keep it private and give him some time to settle into his role while I focused on my academics. Once we're ready, we'll make a public declaration. It wasn't a bad idea at the time, but now, I find myself wanting more than stolen glances and sneaky link-ups.
"As soon as my training is over, I'll take you to my father. Once we receive his blessings, you'll be publicly mine." His voice grows softer. "We've already come so far. I just need a little time, okay?"