Chapter 1
nternship interview
POV Linda
I was having a nightmare. One of those recurring ones. I struggled to open my eyes. I remained silent, watching to see if He was there. I didn't feel Him, not even for a second. Was I sad? Why?
When I was a child and had nightmares, I would wake up scared and always feel a presence. Something I didn't know whether to fear or be reassured by.
Anyway, as the years went by, I grew accustomed to that almost comforting feeling. There was someone there, for a few seconds, I could almost see them. But as I grew older, between the ages of 16 and 18, the presence faded.
I never knew if it was a figment of my imagination or if someone, somehow supernatural, human or not, had actually been there.
Yes. I said supernatural. I'm a hybrid. Human with something else that no one could explain. I'm an orphan too. And in my world, witches, werewolves, vampires, and some strange beings live peacefully mixed with the human race. I decided to wake up and get ready; today would be an important day. I had a job interview, a position in marketing for a large beverage company. I put on my short, thigh-high V-neck dress. I had thick thighs and a big chest. An unusually tall and thin figure. But I had one asset: my round butt, I laughed to myself.
Some guys really adored my butt. I also wore glasses. I had several frames to match my look. I wore them to try to appear more serious. This only worked for those who didn't know me, of course.
My college friends—werewolves, vampires, wizards, and humans—knew I was a clown. I was half-human, but I got along with the other beings of this world without a problem. I could identify them by their scent and see some sign of who they really were in their faces. It was bizarre, but that's how I knew who they really were.
My supernatural friends said I also smelled strange, according to them, a mix of witch and lavender. My friend Liric said that I smelled like sulfur. Which is probably a joke, but I didn't really have any supernatural powers.
Well, I didn't get sick or tired like a human. I could go days without eating or drinking. My alcohol tolerance wasn't as strong as a wolves', and I needed sun, fresh air, and nature. I loved swimming. Well, most wolves and witches did too. Only vampires were nocturnal and didn't like water.
I was raised by a nice couple, Ana and Wagner, two wolves who never managed to have a pup, so they adopted me.
I met them when I was five. As soon as I saw my adoptive parents, I said, "Wolves." I don't know why, but I saw them as wolves, and I think that's what made them decide to accept me.
Later, I discovered that my mother had rejected me. From what I researched about my history, in the orphanage and police files, she gave me up for adoption. I had a werewolf crush who worked for the police, and he helped me get this information.
I finished getting ready and got in my car, turned on the stereo, and drove to Kanet Industries, the largest beverage manufacturer in the country.
Toby was standing in the line of applicants, staring at me, judging my near-lateness. We hadn't seen each other in a few days; he was the one who tipped me off about the internship. He was training with his pack in Nevada. He showed up out of nowhere at the college with a poster for the job. And it was like we'd never seen each other again. He had more muscles than the gym teacher, he was ripped.
I jumped on him during break. And kissed him like never before. I was kind of his girlfriend until that day. After I decided he would be my first, he told me he'd found his mate. That kind of soulmate that werewolves have.
I still hadn't gotten over losing him to someone else, but that was it.
"Good morning, Linda!"
"Good morning, wolf!"
"Late."
"Not so much. I'm here and it hasn't even started."
I looked at him lustfully. I licked my lips.
His golden brown eyes were turning black. I still had an effect on him. He turned his back on me.
"Are you going to leave me here alone?"
"You're Little Red Riding Hood and I'm a wolf, luckily, I'm not evil. Need I remind you that I'll soon mark my mate and…"
"Little witch, you shouldn't chase dogs. Why don't you try one of your own kind?" A seductive, arrogant voice made me look away.
Toby growled softly. I smiled at the blond, blue-eyed wizard, but I saw he was something else… a bat-like expression appeared on his face when he wasn't smiling.
"I think you're a vampire hybrid. But isn't it too sunny for you to be here, little bat?" I laughed. "Seriously, you think I'm more than a wizard?" he tried to hide it.
A formal lady called out some names. I took the opportunity to approach the strange blond. Toby gave me an angry look, but turned away.
"You're half vampire. But how can you get out of the sunlight?"
"My blood is magical. This mixture is rare. I can do many things better than a vampire!"
"Seriously? Like what?"
"I can show you when we get out of here."
"No. Thank you. I was just curious. You called me a witch, I mean, did you see something, or just by the smell…"
"Come on, pretty girl, I didn't play with me, you don't know what it is?"
"I was adopted, so I can't know for sure… I don't have powers…"
"I'll give you some advice. Don't tell strangers you don't have powers. Doubt can keep you out of trouble."
"Thank you. You're a nice guy."
"See, don't you really want to get to know me better?" "Do you want to see my claws on your neck, ripping your head off?"
Toby's eyes were black and his fangs were long. The tips of his claws disappeared when I touched him and stepped in front of him.
This was no place for a fight, much less to show that we were supernatural beings. The place was full of humans.
"I'm really sorry. Calm down," I told my ex-boyfriend.
We sat in line silently. We were called in for the interview in pairs. Unfortunately, I ended up going in with the blond wizard.
He had a super cocky look on his face, but when we entered the room, the mood changed. Our interviewer walked in, and I saw a wolf in him. What a gorgeous guy, by the way. Something in me felt a little strange; it was like I could only look at him and think of nothing else.
The idiot must have noticed because he gave a half-smile, as if he knew the effect he had on women. He immediately scowled at the wizard. Could he have smelled a vampire on him? Werewolves and vampires don't get along. Never have.
"I'm sorry, but we've already filled today's spots. Thank you for coming."
The blond wizard turned his back and left. I should have done the same. But I couldn't pull myself away from the guy in the suit. He was very handsome. But that wasn't the reason. Well, I hoped not. My body froze. I couldn't move. I'd had this a few times before, but this was definitely not the time.
"Miss Halpern, you can leave the office now."
I didn't even blink. I tried to speak but couldn't, my body wouldn't obey.
"Miss Halpern? I know I have a lot of effects on women, but I hadn't heard of paralysis."
Anger overtook me. Presumptuous. What a stuck-up old man. When I unlocked him, he would see... I blacked out.
