Page 17 of Moon's Call

“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.

EIGHT

LORELEI

The stone steps spiraled down into darkness illuminated only by ancient wall sconces. Lorelei ran her fingers along the rough-hewn walls, fascinated by the construction techniques used centuries ago. The stone hummed with energy.

“These walls are remarkable. The masonry work is unlike anything I’ve seen.” She paused to examine a particularly interesting joint where two massive blocks met seamlessly. “How did they achieve this level of precision without modern tools?”

Draken’s broad shoulders filled the narrow passage ahead of her. “Our ancestors had their own methods. Magic played a role in much of the construction.”

“Magic. Right.” Lorelei shook her head, still struggling to reconcile her rational architect’s mind with this new reality of supernatural powers. “So, you’re telling me someone just...” She wiggled her fingers. “Poof! Built a castle?”

“Not exactly.” His deep chuckle echoed off the walls. “They worked with the earth like you can. They shaped the stone, encouraged it to grow and form in specific ways.”

The tunnel opened into a vast underground chamber. Lorelei gasped at the sight of massive crystalline columns that grew straight from the floor to the vaulted ceiling high above.

“This is incredible!” She spun in a slow circle, taking in the otherworldly architecture. “These formations - they’re natural but also clearly engineered. The load-bearing calculations must have been fascinating.”

“You sound like my great-great-grandfather. He was obsessed with the technical aspects too.” Draken’s eyes sparkled with amusement in the crystal-reflected light. “Most of his journals are filled with structural diagrams.”

“There are journals?” Lorelei perked up. “I’d love to see them.”

“Later.” He stepped closer, his presence making her skin tingle. “First, I want you to try something. Close your eyes and feel the earth around you. These crystals grew through the power of Lunas past. See if you can sense their energy.”

Lorelei closed her eyes, hyper-aware of Draken’s proximity. The stone beneath her feet pulsed with a subtle rhythm like a heartbeat. “I feel... something. It’s like the walls are breathing.”

“Good. Now reach out with your power. Let it connect with the crystal.”

She extended her hand toward the nearest column, gasping as warmth flooded through her arm. The crystal began to glow with a soft inner light.

“I did that?” She stared at her hand in wonder.

“You did.” Pride colored his voice. “And that’s just the beginning.”

Lorelei soon followed Draken through another winding tunnel, marveling at the intricate stonework. Unlike yesterday’s tense interactions, he seemed more at ease, pointing out architectural features she found intriguing.

“These load-bearing arches are remarkable,” she said, running her hand along the smooth stone. “The precision is incredible.”

“My ancestors were master builders.” Draken’s deep voice carried a note of pride. “They understood the marriage of magic and engineering.”

“Speaking of engineering, I should probably learn to control these powers before I accidentally demolish another building.” She winced at the memory. “My insurance definitely won’t cover ‘accidental earth manipulation.’”

A ghost of a smile crossed Draken’s face. “We’ll start with the basics. Far away from any structures.”

They emerged from the tunnels into bright sunlight. Draken led her to a sleek black SUV waiting in the courtyard. As he opened her door, his hand brushed her arm, sending tingles through her skin.

The drive took them deep into pristine wilderness. Lorelei stared out her window, taking in the vast expanse of untouched forest and meadows.

“How much land does your pack own?”

“About twelve thousand acres.” He navigated the vehicle along a narrow dirt road. “We need the space to run freely.”

“Run freely?” She turned to study his profile. “You mean as wolves?”

“Yes.” His jaw tightened slightly. “Though I imagine that concept is strange to you.”

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