Page 7

SEVEN

DRAKEN

D raken sank deeper into his leather office chair. The moonlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast long shadows across his mahogany desk, matching his dark mood.

“She thought the stone chamber was a prison cell,” he said, letting out a frustrated breath. “A prison cell. Can you believe that?”

Scorpio’s lips twitched. “To be fair, it does look like a dungeon.”

“It was meant to be a tribute.” Draken’s fingers tightened around the armrest. “Any female wolf would have understood that immediately. Would have felt the connection to their powers, to the pack, to me.”

“But she’s not a wolf.”

“Exactly my point,” he growled. “How can she be my Luna if she doesn’t understand the first thing about our ways? About her powers?”

“At least she agreed to stay in the suite.”

“Only because it looked ‘normal’ to her.” Draken’s jaw clenched. “I expected... I don’t know what I expected. Recognition. Understanding. A partner who could stand beside me from day one. Not someone I’d have to teach everything to.”

Scorpio moved to the window, his reflection overlaying the moon-bathed grounds below. “You want everything to be as predictable as the moon’s cycle. But life isn’t always that simple.”

“Simple would be nice.”

“Would it?” Scorpio turned, raising an eyebrow. “Tell me, what’s more satisfying - winning a fight with one blow, or earning the victory?”

“That’s different.”

“Is it?” Scorpio’s knowing smile irritated Draken. “Think about it. Everything worth having requires effort. Maybe this is the universe’s way of making you work for your mate.”

Draken’s wolf bristled at the suggestion that he needed to prove himself worthy of his own Luna. But something in Scorpio’s words rang true even if he wasn’t ready to admit it quite yet.

“She destroyed an entire construction site today,” Draken said instead. “She has no control over powers that could level mountains. And I’m supposed to... what? Start with Luna 101?”

“Well, it would be better than putting her in a dungeon.”

“It isn’t a dungeon!”

Draken leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking beneath his weight. “Fine,” he said. “You’ve made your point. I can’t expect her to understand our ways without teaching her.”

“Was that actual humility from the mighty Alpha?” Scorpio’s eyes danced with amusement.

“Don’t push it.” Draken stood, his height casting a long shadow across the office floor. “But you’re right. If I want a true partner, I need to earn it. Show her what being Luna really means.”

“And maybe learn something about yourself in the process?”

Draken’s wolf huffed at the suggestion, but he tamped down the instinctive denial. “Maybe. She’s... different. The way she handled herself today – there’s strength there.”

“Strength you didn’t expect from a human?”

“She crumbled that wall like it was nothing.” Pride crept into his voice unbidden. “Raw power, untrained but pure. And instead of freaking out, she complained about the dust.” His lips curved despite himself. “Who does that?”

“Your mate, apparently.”

The word ‘mate’ sent a surge of possessiveness through him. His wolf howled in agreement. “She needs to learn control. Understanding. But maybe...” He walked to the window and stared out at the moon. “Maybe teaching her doesn’t have to be a burden. Maybe it could be...”

“Fun?”

“I was going to say rewarding .” But Draken couldn’t hide his small smile. “Watching her face when she discovers what she can really do – that might be entertaining.”

“Just try not to put her in any more dungeons.”

“Dammit, it is not a dungeon!” Draken’s protest echoed off the walls. “No more stone chambers. I’ll have to win her over the human way.”

“You mean actually courting her? Using charm instead of alpha commands?” Scorpio clutched his chest in mock horror. “Whatever will the pack think?”

“The pack will deal with it.” Draken’s voice held the steel of command. “She’s my Luna. Even if I have to prove worthy of her first.”

“Well, then, I’ll go check on dinner,” Scorpio said, slipping out of the office with a knowing smirk.

Draken remained at the window, his reflection stark against the dark glass. The moon hung brightly, reminding him of the night he’d first felt Lorelei’s powers awakening.

“A human mate.” He shook his head. “Who needs wooing, of all things.”

But the thought wasn’t as distasteful as it had been hours ago. The way her eyes had lit up when she’d crumbled that wall, the sharp wit in her complaints about the dust – she wasn’t what he’d expected. Not at all.

He turned from the window and paced his office, his mind churning with possibilities. “She’s an architect. She understands structure and design.” His fingers traced the spine of an ancient book about pack history. “Maybe start there. Show her the old tunnels beneath the castle, let her see how our ancestors carved homes from living rock.”

His wolf approved, recognizing the strategic value of playing to her interests while teaching her about their ways. But it wasn’t enough. She deserved more than just lessons.

“Dinner under the stars,” he muttered, planning aloud. “She responds to the moon, even if she doesn’t know why yet. And the garden...” He paused, remembering how flowers seemed to lean toward her as she’d passed. “The roses are in bloom. Perfect place to help her practice smaller manipulations of earth.”

The moon’s light caught on his signet ring as he absently twisted it. “Court her properly. Show her this isn’t a prison, but a home. Her home.” His voice dropped lower. “Our home.”

The possessive growl in those last words surprised him. His wolf had never doubted she was theirs, but his human side was finally catching up to that certainty.

Draken pulled out his phone, his fingers moving swiftly across the screen. “Scorpio, change of plans. Move dinner to the garden. Set it up under the stars. Yes, now.”

His wolf prowled with anticipation as he strode through the castle’s corridors toward Lorelei’s suite. The stone walls seemed to hum as he approached - her power calling to his even through closed doors.

He knocked, and when the door opened, his breath caught. Lorelei stood there in a flowing sundress that Kelly had chosen, the soft fabric highlighting curves his wolf very much appreciated. The dress was the color of spring leaves, making her brown eyes shine like amber in sunlight.

“You look...” His voice came out rougher than intended. He cleared his throat. “Would you join me for dinner?”

“That depends. Is it being served in another dungeon?”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “I told you, that wasn’t a dungeon.”

“Could’ve fooled me.” She stepped into the hallway, and the scent of her - earth and rain and something uniquely her - made his wolf howl with satisfaction.

He led her through the castle and out into the gardens. Scorpio had outdone himself - dozens of candles floated in glass bowls among the roses, their light dancing off crystal glasses and silver place settings.

“This is...” Lorelei’s voice trailed off as she took in the scene.

“Too much?” He pulled out her chair.

“No, it’s beautiful. It’s just...” She sat, but her shoulders remained tense. “This morning I was worried about building permits. Now I’m having dinner with a wolf prince who says I have magical powers.”

His wolf bristled at her tone. A proper Luna would understand the honor being bestowed. Would already know her place in their world. But he remembered Scorpio’s words about earning victory.

“Try the wine,” he said instead. “It’s from our own vineyards.”

She took a sip, and finally - finally - her lips curved into a genuine smile. “That’s actually amazing.”

“We do know a few things about the finer things in life.” He leaned forward, letting his voice drop to a playful growl. “We’re not all dungeons and stone beds.”

Her laugh, when it came, was unexpected and delightful. “Good to know. Though I have to say, as an architect, your castle is fascinating. The stonework alone...”

Her eyes lit up as she talked about flying buttresses and Gothic arches, and Draken found himself entranced. Not just by her beauty, but by her passion. Her intelligence. Maybe there was something to be said for a mate who saw his world through fresh eyes.

“Would you like to see more of it tomorrow?” he asked. “The old tunnels beneath the castle are particularly interesting.”

“Really?” She beamed at him, and his wolf preened at having put that expression on her face. “I’d love that.”

The rest of dinner passed in comfortable conversation, and Draken discovered that making his mate smile was oddly addictive. Perhaps courting a human wouldn’t be such a hardship after all.

Moonlight spilled across the garden path as Draken guided Lorelei around his ancestral grounds. The scent of night-blooming jasmine mingled with her intoxicating natural fragrance, making his wolf rumble with contentment.

“The roses lean toward you,” he said, watching as another bloom tilted in her direction. His own powers thrummed under his skin, reaching for hers like a magnet.

“Maybe they’re just friendly.” She trailed her fingers along a petal, and the entire bush shivered. “Oh! I didn’t mean to do that.”

“Your power responds to your emotions.” He stepped closer, drawn by the way the moonlight danced in her hair. “The more relaxed you are, the more natural the control becomes.”

“Is that why you brought me out here? To relax me?”

“Is it working?”

Her laugh sent a shiver down his spine. “Maybe. Though it could be the wine.”

“Would you also like to learn more about your powers tomorrow?” The words came out deeper than intended, his wolf pushing forward at the thought of teaching her. “After the tunnel tour?”

“Yes, please.” Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “Though maybe somewhere less dusty than that stone dungeon?”

“How many times do I have to say that it wasn’t a dungeon?” he growled, but without heat. Her teasing smile was doing dangerous things to his self-control.

Before long, they reached her suite door far too soon for his liking. She turned to face him, and the moonlight filtering in through the windows made her skin glow. His wolf urged him to claim her right there.

“Thank you for dinner,” she said. “And the walk. It was... nice.”

“Nice?” He arched an eyebrow. “I’ll have to try harder tomorrow.”

She slipped inside with another laugh, closing the door softly behind her. Draken stood there longer than necessary. His wolf was already eager for morning.