Page 22 of Moon's Call

Lorelei stared at her reflection in the ornate mirror of her suite in Draken’s castle, brushing out her damp hair after another day of training. Her muscles ached pleasantly from the physical exertion of manipulating earth and stone. The past two days had been surreal - both exhausting and exhilarating.

“What are you doing?” she muttered to herself. “This isn’t like you at all.”

She’d always been the practical one, the planner. Now, here she was, swept up in whatever this was with Draken. Her skin still tingled from where he’d touched her during their practice session, guiding her movements as she learned to channel her newfound abilities.

The memory of their first intimate encounter made her cheeks flush. One moment they’d been practicing, and the next...pure bliss. Since then, each training session had ended the same way - with them tangled together, overcome by an attraction that felt almost supernatural in its intensity.

There was no logical explanation for how natural it felt to be with him, how her body craved his touch like an addiction. Or why he hadn’t pressured her about this whole “Luna” situation, instead letting her come to terms with everything at her own pace.

“You’re supposed to be focusing on controlling your powers so you can go back home,” she reminded herself firmly. But control seemed impossible around Draken. Something about his presence made her feel more alive than she ever had.

Every night after her training sessions, they’d share intimate dinners in the castle gardens. The moonlit meals were romantic enough to make her forget she was essentially living in a supernatural witness protection program. Tonight, he’d pulled out her chair, poured her wine, and discussed her progress with obvious pride.

But afterward, like clockwork, they’d parted ways at her bedroom door with nothing more than a lingering look. The mixed signals were driving her crazy. One moment, he was all passion and possession, the next keeping careful distance.

Lorelei crawled into the luxurious bed, her mind whirling. She still didn’t fully understand what being a “Luna” meant, or this mate bond thing everyone kept dancing around. Draken clearly wanted her to figure it out on her own, come to some sort of conclusion for her own future, but she felt lost in this new world of magic and shifters.

She rolled over, burying her face in the pillow. Her practical nature warred with the undeniable connection between them, leaving her more confused than ever about what the future held. But as she drifted off to sleep, her last thoughts were of Draken’s touch, and how desperately she wanted more of it.

Lorelei steppedinto the castle’s courtyard, the morning sun warming her skin. She’d chosen a comfortable outfit of leggings and a flowing top, perfect for the physical demands of power practice. Her hair was pulled back in a practical braid, ready for another day of working with Draken.

The courtyard looked different in the early light – the ancient stone walls caught the golden rays, creating dancing shadows across the cobblestones. The morning dew still clung to the carefully tended flowers in the garden beds, and birds called from the castle’s towers.

But Draken wasn’t waiting in their usual spot by the stone bench. Instead, a woman with steel-gray hair pulled into an elegant bun stood there. She wore a tailored pantsuit that probably cost more than Lorelei’s monthly rent, and her posture screamed authority.

The woman’s heels clicked against the stone as she approached. “Good morning, Ms. Chanda. I’m Marybeth Sheppard.” Her smile was warm but professional. “Prince Draken has asked me to spend the day with you. It’s time you learned about the Moonshadow pack and what being Luna truly means.”

A breeze rustled through the courtyard, carrying the scent of roses from the garden. Lorelei’s stomach did a little flip. After days of intense physical training and equally intense moments with Draken, this felt like a test. Or maybe an interview. The architect in her wanted to pull out a notebook and take detailed notes, but something told her this wasn’t that kind of lesson.

The courtyard suddenly felt very empty without Draken’s commanding presence. She’d grown used to starting her mornings with his deep voice giving instructions and his strong hands guiding her movements. The way his eyes would darken when she mastered a new technique...

Marybeth cleared her throat, drawing Lorelei’s attention back to the present moment. The older woman’s knowing smile suggested she had a pretty good idea where Lorelei’s thoughts had wandered.

Lorelei shifted her weight from foot to foot, feeling oddly exposed without Draken beside her. “Is Draken...” She caught herself, heat rising to her cheeks. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter.”

“Prince Draken,” Marybeth emphasized the title with a slight arch of her perfectly groomed eyebrow, “has duties to attend to today. As both prince of our sovereign territory and alpha of the Moonshadow pack, his responsibilities are quite extensive.”

The older woman’s voice carried a hint of pride that made Lorelei’s stomach twist. “He’s mentioned being a prince, and obviously we’re in a castle, but what exactly does ‘alpha of the pack’ mean?”

“My dear Luna, Prince Draken is centuries old, beloved by his people. The pack’s devotion to him runs bone-deep.” Marybeth’s smile softened. “That’s part of what I’m here to teach you today - everything about pack politics and who you are.”

Lorelei’s mind stuck on ‘centuries old’ like a scratched record. She knew Draken was different - the whole shifting into a wolf thing was a pretty big clue - but hearing it stated so matter-of-factly made her head spin. Here she was, barely thirty, playing at romance with an ancient prince who commanded an entire supernatural society.

The rose bushes beside her suddenly seemed intensely interesting. “I’m just an architect from the city,” she murmured, more to herself than Marybeth. “I design buildings. I don’t rule kingdoms.”

“You’re far more than ‘just’ anything,” Marybeth said firmly. “Now, shall we begin your education?”

Lorelei nodded, trying to ignore the flutter of anxiety in her chest. She’d always excelled at learning new things, but somehow she doubted her usual study methods would apply to “How to Be a Supernatural Queen 101.”

Lorelei settled into a cushioned chair in what Marybeth called “the morning room,” though it felt more like a museum with its gilded mirrors and antique furniture. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows illuminating dust motes that danced in the air.

“The Moonshadow pack isn’t just any wolf community,” Marybeth explained, pouring tea into delicate china cups. “We’re one of the oldest and most powerful sovereign territories in North America.”

“Like a country within a country?” Lorelei asked, accepting the cup.

“Precisely, Luna. Prince Draken manages both the supernatural and more human aspects of our territory. Everything from pack disputes to economic policies.” Marybeth’s eyes sparkled. “He’s quite skilled at multitasking.”

“How many wolves are we talking about?”

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