Page 26 of Moon's Call

He threw on the first clothes he could grab – black athletic pants and a white Henley – not bothering to dry his hair. Water dripped down his neck as he sprinted through the castle’s corridors, his bare feet silent on the marble floors.

His wolf clawed at his insides desperate to reach their mate. Had someone attacked her? Was it the strain of her new powers? Why hadn’t he stayed with her today instead of sending Marybeth?

“Status update,” he barked into his phone.

Chuck’s voice crackled through the speaker. “Still unconscious. Doctor’s with her now.”

Draken’s jaw clenched as he took the grand staircase three steps at a time. “And Marybeth?”

“Says they were just talking about pack stuff when it happened. No warning signs.”

The castle staff pressed themselves against the walls as he passed, heads bowed in submission to their alpha’s obvious distress.

His mind raced with possibilities, each worse than the last. Had he pushed her too hard with training? Was her human body struggling to contain such powerful magic? The thought made his chest constrict painfully.

“I should have been there,” he growled, rounding another corner at full speed.

TWELVE

LORELEI

Lorelei’s eyes fluttered open to find herself lying in the plush four-poster bed of her castle suite. The silk sheets whispered against her skin as she tried to sit up, but a gentle hand pressed her shoulder back down.

“Easy there,” a woman in a white coat said. “I’m Dr. Sanders. You gave everyone quite a scare when you fainted.”

Kelly and Chuck stood on the other side of the bed, concern etched on their faces. The room spun slightly, making Lorelei grateful for the soft pillows cradling her head.

“Everything appears normal,” Dr. Sanders said, putting away her stethoscope. “Just dehydration and exhaustion. I recommend rest and plenty of fluids.”

Lorelei’s mind wandered to her training sessions with Draken - the way the earth responded to their combined touch, how his presence intensified her powers, their passionate encounters afterward. Heat crept into her cheeks.

“Thank you,” she managed, reaching for the glass of water Kelly offered.

As the doctor packed up her bag and slipped out, Lorelei’s thoughts drifted to everything Marybeth had taught her that morning. Pack politics. Luna duties. Fated mates. A week ago, she’d been focused on building designs and project deadlines. Now she was supposedly destined to be queen of a wolf pack?

“I should be drafting blueprints right now,” she muttered, pressing her fingers to her temples. “Not learning about moon ceremonies and pack hierarchies.”

“You’ll get the hang of it,” Kelly said, smoothing Lorelei’s blanket. “Chuck was completely lost when he first joined the pack, weren’t you, honey?”

Chuck scratched his neck.“Still am sometimes. But you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Better than most born wolves I know.”

“Thanks, I think.” Lorelei sighed. “It’s just... a lot. My friends must be worried sick. And that project site...” Her stomach clenched remembering the destruction her uncontrolled powers had caused.

“I’m sure your friends know you’re safe,” Kelly assured her. “And buildings can be rebuilt.”

“Plus, I never believed in destiny or fate,” Lorelei admitted, tracing patterns on the silk comforter. “But then again, I never thought I could make the ground shake with a thought either.”

Kelly’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Speaking of destiny...” She glided to the massive oak wardrobe in the corner of Lorelei’s suite, its carved panels depicting scenes of wolves running through forests.

When Kelly returned, she held what had to be the most stunning dress Lorelei had ever seen. Forest-green silk cascaded like water, catching the afternoon light streaming through the windows. Gold threadwork traced delicate patterns along the bodice and hem, reminiscent of vines and leaves.

“There’s a party tonight,” Kelly announced, laying the dress across the foot of the bed. “The seamstress worked all day on this.”

Lorelei ran her fingers over the smooth fabric. “A party? Tonight?” The thought of socializing after her fainting spell made her head spin, but the dress called to her like a siren song. “It’s beautiful.”

“Wait until you try it on. The cut will show off those curves perfectly.” Kelly winked. “Though I suspect a certain alpha won’t be able to keep his eyes off you regardless.”

Heat crept up Lorelei’s neck as she thought of Draken’s intense stares during their training sessions. “I don’t know about that...”

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