The Captain's Mate

1- Miss Independent

1- Miss Independent

ARIADNA

I have been living in London for nearly a month now, and the cost of living here isn’t cheap. With my money quickly running out, I feel the pressure of finding a job. I had been to a couple of interviews. I even worked for a day as an Office Admin for a real estate agency, but they never offered me the position. Cheap bastards didn’t even pay me for my day, but I suspected that’s how they got all their filing and boring chores done- they trialled new employees and I fell for it.

Scanning through job adverts online, I decided to try my luck and apply for a Receptionist position at London’s most sought after cruising restaurant. I could only dream of going on such a glamorous dining experience, but at least I could try and work for the restaurant and maybe I would get a discount or something. I did love me some perks.

The advert said the job required me to greet guests on board and also handle their reservations, answer any questions they might have. I gasped when I saw it paid as much as a mid-management job. They probably would hire someone based on looks not just on how capable they are. I am not bad looking, just I never considered myself to be gorgeous. With my long black hair and green eyes I could certainly pass as at least pretty and cute. Slap on some make-up and the right outfit and I would really be feeling myself. I was also tall and slim, so I should be able to fit into their shallow standards. God, I hated those stereotypical standards, but I had to admit I still considered looks important. I am a shallow brat myself apparently.

Two days after I hit “apply” I got a call-back for an initial telephone interview and I instantly hit it off with the HR lady interviewing me. She asked me if I would like to come in for a second interview, face to face and I happily agreed. During the actual interview I see that she is even friendlier in person. Her name is Hazel and is a bit older than me, maybe in her early 30s, with such a bubbly personality that I really felt I had made my first work friend. She is shorter than me, curvier but has something that makes her look really confident.

HAZEL

For some reason I am drawn to this one resume. I have read hundreds; I am not in the mood to read another one.

The task of finding a Receptionist for the restaurant had fallen onto me since no one else enjoyed spending countless hours reading resumes and conducting interviews. I agree, if I had the chance I would prefer doing something else also. I have plenty of s****l harassment and bullying complaints on my desk that need investigating. Russell being in the top pile for making inappropriate comments at one of the waitresses again. Working life isn’t that much different from high school, I found. There are still jocks, mean girls, bullies and shy ones, they just don’t have that much acne. Hormone levels were still high, though.

The candidate's name is Ariadna, maybe that's what made her stand out in a pile of Janes and Sarahs and other mundane names. I quickly read through and see that she has just graduated University, majoring in Business Relations.

“Another catchy yet useless degree” I found myself whispering.

I, on the other hand, am a Psychology graduate and along with being were, that made me a great judge of characters.

“Or just a judge” my wolf jumps in playfully, but I was still very proud of myself, and so were my parents and whole pack to be honest.

This is why I went into HR, I can smell bullshit from a mile away, literally. But this girl’s resume drew me to her, so I had to give it a go.

During the face to face interview she was very polite and so well spoken and I quickly realised that was more than qualified for the job.

I did notice that she was nervous, which it was expected, but I couldn’t help but think that is the type of girl I would want to be my sister.

I hate Grace, my brother’s girlfriend and soon to be chosen mate. She is as mean and conniving as she is beautiful, and she is f*****g gorgeous. But by marrying her, my brother would forge the union between the 2 most powerful packs in London. That is he wouldn’t find his true mate by then.

I wish everyone had it as easy as I did finding a mate. I had known Garreth since we were pups, and as soon as he turned 18 and matured he knew I was his mate. I also felt really drawn to him and I remember already having the biggest crush on him.

On the night of my 18th birthday he claimed me and it was just magical. Garreth had been waiting almost 1 year for me to mature and strengthen the mating bond, and that night he sure showed me how bad he had wanted me.

Thinking about that still makes me blush and sends shivers down my spine. I quickly text him an "I love you x"

"I miss you mate" a reply comes almost instantly.

My brother's soon to be chosen mate, Grace, has already rejected her mate, an Omega from her own pack, and the poor guy lost it and went rogue soon after never to be seen or heard of ever again.

I had heard stories, rejecting one's true mate was very rare, and it was said to cause so much pain that you almost certainly die from the heartbreak. But Grace, that heartless b***h, carried on with dating my brother even though he wouldn’t mark her yet, not while there is still hope for him to find his true mate. The clock is ticking on that though…

During the interview I ask my wolf through our mind link, if she thinks the girl is human or supernatural, but my wolf seems just as confused as me.

I don't sense her as a werewolf, yet her scent and her being makes me swear there is something werewolf in her.

I have never had any doubts about if someone is simply human or not, but I really like this girl, I feel like she could at least be a good lunch buddy and maybe a friend.

I couldn’t dream of her dating my brother if she was human though, and that bummed me out a bit.

There is something very interesting about Ariadna, something that doesn’t quite make sense, but I feel that I should keep her close to us. She may prove to be trouble or she may prove to be one of us. Either way, I decided to offer her the job on the spot.

“I don't do this often, but I have a good feeling that you would be perfect for the job, and being clearly overqualified for it, I don't have any doubts that you would do great.” I say as I can read the confusion, excitement and hope on her face.

ARIADNA

Wait, what? Is she really offering me the job? Damn, I am getting good at this interviewing stuff.

“Oh, wow, I would love the opportunity to prove that I am the right fit” I quickly said before Hazel could get a chance to change her mind.

“Great, you have everything you need here in your starter pack” she advises pushing a magazine towards me, which now I see it's called Employee Handbook, along with 2 copies of my contract. I guess I'll do some light reading over the weekend.

"I will hopefully see you back here on Monday, and please do call me if you have further questions."

Yeah, I decided I really like Hazel and hope that we can become friends. Since I am not from London I don't have a lot of friends here. Most of them are friends from University and I am realising I don't really feel like reaching out to them. Some friendships do have an expiration date, or only make sense in certain circumstances. I guess I have always been really picky with who gets to my friend, but in fact I am just really guarded.

FLASHBACK - ARTEMISA

I need to hurry and take the newborn pup somewhere safe. I had promised them I would keep her safe during the battle between the packs, but now that both Alpha Luca and Luna Jasmine are no longer alive, I know I am not enough to keep her safe.

“The witch! “ I say to myself, she is the only one that can help. I need to get to her and beg for help.