Naya was ushered into the office of the businessman, who took little interest in her activities in Alaska, by a tall, strong secretary with her hair tied back in a perfect bun, and saw the man bent over some documents, concentrating on something probably infinitely more important than interviewing an intern.
She lowered her head to the folder in his hands. It contained all her school projects and ideas about the quality of life of workers, with figures that she herself had collected, studied and qualified.
Naya didn't know how to make the rudeness stop when he finally looked up at her. Naya took a step back. He wasn't just beautiful. He was marvelous. The blue of his eyes was intense and bright. She couldn't remember ever seeing that shade of blue anywhere before. But his eyes were cold, and gave the impression that he was a cruel man. Ruthless. She had looked for information about him, but no one could say what his personality was.
"Is that your resume?" The strong voice, rough and impatient, woke Naya up.
With trepidatious steps, she approached and left the folder on the table, crossing her hands behind her.
He stared at her inquisitively.
"What are you doing?"
"She widened her eyes in surprise.
"Sir?"
"You'd better sit down. I'm not going to hold my head up uncomfortably while we talk." He said and, without waiting for an answer, took out his briefcase and pulled out Naya's projects, starting to read, concentrating.
Naya hated him. But she really wanted that internship, and she sat down, wanting to swipe the objects on the table and throw them on the floor, but she forced herself to say:
"I'm sorry."
He looked at her again after long minutes.
"Your projects to increase worker safety and cut company costs are impressive for a girl of... 18?"
"A woman of eighteen, who has studied this data hard for two years." She retorted.
"You haven't graduated yet. You don't have a degree. Why should I hire you?"
"Because you know that werewolves don't need degrees. It's a mere formality."
He stared at her coldly in silence.
"A woman of eighteen is supposed to be looking for a husband and bearing children. That's the custom among werewolves. And that makes your argument about the diploma invalid, don't you think?"
Adam watched with pleasure as her perfect, lightly freckled face turned red. He was feeling like the luckiest man in the world. Those gray, expressive eyes, that rare beauty, was enough to make any man fall in love. He just didn't like her conflicting thoughts. She sounded like a child. But her next words changed his mind.
"I don't know what cave you came out of, but the role of women in society has ceased to focus solely on marriage and childbearing, and we've gained prominence in all the areas that men used to dominate."
Adam began to have fun with the young woman.
"Do you think you can do the same job as a man, better?"
"I wouldn't be arrogant and overbearing, sir. Not better. But equal."
Adam nodded.
"It's just an internship, Miss. Naya. Prove to me that you deserve to be hired in this six-month period." Adam said and put her papers back in the folder and threw it in front of her.
Naya's eyes lit up with excitement. She hadn't expected that arrogant man to allow her to do the internship. She picked up the folder and stood up.
"Thank you." Naya said and left.
...
Naya arrived at her small house and ignored the pack gathered around her. Ever since the elements had manifested, so that she could master them like Luna, they had been lurking around all the time. She threw her briefcase on the sofa and went to her room. She didn't want any of that. She wanted to be a normal girl. She wanted to be like the humans who didn't know werewolves existed. She would be somewhere else now. Young werewolves don't get their freedom at eighteen. They have to comply with werewolf traditions and stay with their parents until they get married.
This reality wasn't a bother to her a few weeks ago. The prospect of leading all five packs alongside the powerful Alpha was every girl's dream. But when Luna manifested inside her and she demanded that her parents meet the Alpha to take her rightful place, they informed her that he had already married. She argued that she could leave him a widower, but then they informed her that she was a Bruma.
She frowned when she heard a knock on the door.
Her mother came in, with her easy-going manner that irritated Naya so much. Why was she always happy? Her mother was a shallow werewolf, and she was to blame for that handsome but arrogant CEO's opinion being so archaic about women's place in society.
"Darling, your father has found a fiancé for you."
"Does he think he's a good werewolf? Rich and handsome? Prosperous?"
"Yes. He wouldn't choose just any man to marry our little Luna."
"Then either he himself or you can marry this werewolf. I want to finish my studies."
"Your father suspended your enrollment in college, Naya. Werewolves don't need their wives to work."
Naya looked indifferently at her mother. She had expected her father to do that.
"I don't need a degree to work, Mom. And I don't care what werewolves need from their wives. I'll earn my own money, and once I'm established, I'll leave, and you'll never see me again."
"Don't talk nonsense, my child. You're a Luna. The werewolves will sense your presence as soon as you approach. You can't run away."
"I don't want to get married. I don't need to get married to be happy, Mom!"
"But you're getting married in three weeks." Naya's father's stern voice penetrated her ears like sharp knives.
"Why the rush, Dad?" She asked proudly, but couldn't stop her eyes from misting over with tears.
"We can't risk you running away. Your fiancé is already on the island."
"Who's my fiancé?"
"You'll meet him over dinner tonight." Naya's father said and left.
Her mother left after him and Naya took a deep breath. She had to get this fiancé to give up on marrying her.