Page 14 of Moon's Call

The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. Everything logical in her screamed to run, but something deeper, something primal, urged her to take his hand. Maybe it was the same force that had let her crumble solid stone with just a touch.

Lorelei’s fingers tingled where they touched Draken’s hand as he led her through corridors that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a European castle. Marble floors gleamed beneath their feet, and tapestries adorned walls that stretched up to vaulted ceilings.

“So, I caused that construction site collapse.” Her voice cracked. “All those workers could have died because of me.”

Draken’s grip tightened. “But they didn’t. You protected them instinctively. The building partially fell, but not a single person was seriously injured.”

“That’s supposed to make me feel better about having earthquake powers?” She stumbled on the polished floor, and his arm shot out to steady her. “What’s next - am I going to accidentally create the San Andreas Fault 2.0?”

“I’ll teach you control.” His voice carried absolute certainty. “You won’t hurt anyone.”

They stopped before massive double doors inlaid with silver. Draken pushed them open to reveal a suite that made her inner architect swoon. Soaring windows overlooked forested mountains while hand-carved wooden furniture and silk drapes in deep blues and silvers created an atmosphere of understated luxury.

A petite woman with auburn hair stepped forward. “I’m Kelly. I’ve laid out some clothes and run a bath for you.”

“Thank you.” Lorelei glanced at her dust-covered clothes.

“I’ll leave you to settle in.” Draken’s eyes lingered on her face. “Kelly will help you with anything you need.”

After he and Kelly left, Lorelei called her office. Her hands shook as she dialed.

“Lorelei! Thank god!” Her assistant’s voice cracked with relief. “When the building collapsed-“

“I’m okay. Just... taking some personal time.”

“Of course, take all the time you need.”

The marble bathroom was bigger than her entire apartment. She sank into the deep soaking tub, letting the hot water ease her aching muscles while her mind spun with questions. Earth magical powers. Wolves. A castle in the middle of nowhere. It felt like she’d stepped into some bizarre fairy tale.

SEVEN

DRAKEN

Draken 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.”

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