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SEVENTEEN

LORELEI

T he sleek black SUV purred through the city streets as Chuck navigated morning traffic. Lorelei watched the familiar buildings slide past, each one a comfort after days in the castle’s stone walls.

“Draken paced all night, you know,” Chuck said, breaking the comfortable silence. “He barely slept. Kelly said she heard him prowling the corridors at dawn.”

Lorelei’s chest tightened. “I hate that I’m causing him distress.”

“Don’t. He respects that you need time. Besides...” Chuck’s eyes crinkled with amusement in the rearview mirror. “It’s good for alphas to learn patience.”

When they pulled up to her apartment building, Lorelei’s fingers traced the smooth leather seat. “Thank you for the ride, Chuck. And for everything else this past week.”

“Just be careful. Call if you need anything.”

The moment Lorelei stepped into her apartment, tension melted from her shoulders. Everything was exactly as she’d left it - her drafting table by the window, architecture magazines scattered across the coffee table, her favorite throw blanket draped over the couch. The familiarity wrapped around her like a warm hug.

She kicked off her shoes and pulled out her phone, dialing her office.

“Jaime? Hi, it’s Lorelei. I’m back home and planning to work remotely today to catch up on everything I missed.”

“Thank god! The Davidson project needs your input desperately. I’ll email you the latest revisions.”

“Perfect.” She settled at her drafting table, spreading out her tools with practiced precision. “Send everything over.”

For the next few hours, Lorelei lost herself in the clean lines and precise measurements of her designs. This was her element - where everything made sense, where problems had clear solutions. No complicated pack politics or mysterious powers, just the elegant simplicity of architecture.

But as the morning wore on, an odd heaviness settled in her chest. Her hands felt clumsy, her concentration wavering. She caught herself touching the spot where Draken usually rested his hand on her lower back when teaching her to channel her powers.

The ache intensified like a physical pull urging her back to the castle. Back to him. She rubbed her sternum, trying to ease the strange hollow sensation.

“It’s just nerves,” she muttered, forcing her attention back to the blueprints. But deep down, she knew it was more than that. Every fiber in her body seemed to protest the distance between them, growing with each passing hour.

Still, she pushed the feeling aside. This was what she needed - time to process, to find her footing. Even if her heart disagreed.

Later that night, Lorelei sank into the plush booth at Velvet, their favorite cocktail bar. She was grateful for the familiar comfort of meeting her friends. The warm lighting and soft jazz music helped ease the strange hollow feeling that had plagued her all day.

Helena slid a cosmopolitan across the table. “Spill. Where have you been? We’ve been worried sick!”

“Yeah, especially after that construction site collapse,” Thea added, stirring her martini. “Thank god you weren’t hurt.”

Lorelei took a long sip of her drink, buying time to carefully word her response. “Actually, I met someone. The guy who helped me after the incident - Draken.”

“Ooh, details!” Helena leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. “Is he hot?”

“Incredibly.” Lorelei couldn’t help but smile, thinking about his muscular build and intense presence. “He insisted I stay at his place while I recovered. He’s very... protective.”

“Like, controlling protective or sweet protective?” Thea asked.

“Both?” Lorelei laughed softly. “He’s definitely alpha male - used to being in charge. But also genuinely caring.”

Helena raised her eyebrows. “And you stayed at his place for days? Something must have happened.”

Heat crept up Lorelei’s neck as she remembered their passionate encounters. “Maybe.”

“Girl, your face says everything!” Thea giggled. “So are you seeing him again?”

The ache in Lorelei’s chest intensified. “It’s complicated.”

“Ah, the classic commitment-phobe male,” Helena nodded sagely.

“Actually, he’s the one pushing for commitment,” Lorelei corrected, thinking of his desire to mark her. “I’m the one who needs space.”

“A hot guy who actually wants commitment? Keep him!” Thea declared.

Lorelei swirled her drink, watching the pink liquid catch the light. “I just need time to figure out if I can handle all the... changes that would come with being with him.”

“Changes like what?” Helena asked.

“His lifestyle is very different from mine,” Lorelei hedged. “It would mean adjusting to a whole new world.”

“Sometimes the scariest changes bring the best rewards,” Thea said softly.

Lorelei nodded, her throat tight. If only they knew just how different Draken’s world really was.

Lorelei’s heels clicked against the sidewalk as she made her way home. The cool night air was a welcome relief after the warmth of the bar. The streetlamps cast shadows between the historic buildings she’d always admired. The Hanover Building’s art deco facade caught her eye - she’d referenced its elegant lines in three different projects.

Suddenly, a hand clamped over her mouth from behind. Her body tensed, ready to summon the earth’s power, but she caught herself as she glimpsed the beautiful limestone cornices above. One tremor could bring tons of carved stone crashing down on innocent passersby.

“Miss me?” Gideon’s voice slithered against her ear. “I’ve been waiting for you to leave your wolf prince’s protection.”

She twisted in his grip, managing to break free enough to speak. “How did you even know I left?”

“I have eyes everywhere. The pack isn’t as loyal to Draken as he thinks.” He spun her to face him, keeping a bruising grip on her arms. “Now, about those earth powers of yours...”

Lorelei’s gaze darted around the street. A couple walked past on the opposite sidewalk, completely oblivious. A taxi cruised by, its yellow paint gleaming under the streetlights. She could bring this whole block down with one focused thought - but at what cost?

“Smart girl,” Gideon said, noting her internal struggle. “You won’t risk hurting your precious buildings or these humans, will you? That’s the difference between you and me. I don’t care who gets hurt.”

“What do you want from me?” The words came out steady despite her racing heart.

“Your power. The ability to control earth itself.” His eyes gleamed with an unsettling hunger. “And you’re going to help me get it, or I’ll start taking down these architectural masterpieces you love so much, one by one.”

A group of teenagers were walking toward them. There would be mass casualties if she tried to fight here. She wouldn’t have the blood of these innocents on her hands. She had no choice but to surrender to him. For now.

“Fine,” she said, letting her shoulders slump in defeat. “I’ll go with you.”

“See? Humans are so easy to manipulate. All you need is the right leverage.” He steered her toward a waiting car. “Your wolf would have died fighting. But you? You cave at the first threat to some old stones.”

If this bastard thought she was relenting because of threats to some buildings, then let him think that. She’d get the upper hand soon enough.

Lorelei forced herself to stay still and calm as Gideon bound her wrists with rope and shoved her into the back seat of another black sedan. The rope bit into her wrists, but she focused on channeling her inner strategist. As they drove out of the city, a plan began forming in her mind.

“So tell me,” she said, injecting just the right amount of bitterness into her voice, “what’s your beef with Draken? Because honestly, that arrogant wolf can go howl at the moon alone for all I care.”

Gideon’s eyes met hers in the rearview mirror. “Oh? What happened to the precious Luna-to-be?”

“Please. He took one look at my human face and decided I wasn’t good enough.” She let out a convincing scoff. “Kept going on about how a human Luna would weaken the pack.”

“That sounds like Draken.” Gideon’s grip on the steering wheel loosened slightly. “Always so concerned with appearances and power. You know why he kicked me out? Because I couldn’t control my shifting perfectly. Like that makes me less of a wolf.”

“What a jerk,” Lorelei agreed while privately noting how Draken’s decision showed wisdom. An unpredictable shifter could endanger the entire pack.

“And get this - he called me unstable just because I got into a few fights. So what if I roughed up some packmates? They deserved it.”

With each revelation, Lorelei’s respect for Draken grew. He’d protected his pack from this loose cannon, made the hard choice even knowing it would create an enemy.

The city lights faded behind them as they wound into dense forest. Perfect. Her powers would be strongest here, surrounded by earth and stone. She just needed the right moment.

“You know what the worst part was?” Gideon continued. “He acted like he was doing me a favor. ‘This is for your own good, Gideon.’ Such a self-righteous bastard.”

“Totally,” Lorelei agreed absently, her mind elsewhere. The truth crystallized with stunning clarity - she belonged with Draken. Not just because fate said so, but because she chose it. Because he was exactly the kind of leader, protector, and mate she wanted.

Now she just had to escape this idiot and get back to him.

Trees pressed closer on both sides as they turned onto a dirt road. Lorelei hid her smile. Gideon couldn’t have picked a better location for what she had planned. She just had to bide her time and play this smart.

“Looks like we’re almost home,” Gideon said. “Ready to learn what real power feels like?”

“Can’t wait,” Lorelei lied, already cataloging the terrain around them. Somewhere in these woods, she’d find her opportunity.