Chapter 004

[Apple]

As I take the offered seat he relaxes and much of the pulsing, tense energy in the room starts to dissipate as he moves into a more professional, less predatory, position behind his desk.

 “A luna is not just a companion, she is the Alpha’s help mate, taking a share of the pack responsibilities so that everything runs smoothly.” He explains. “Luna is the public face of the pack. She speaks for them and represents their strength.”

 “So like a customer service position?” I squeak nervously, trying to make sense of everything.

“No.” His eyes glow, offended by the comparison. “An Luna serves her pack, but she is not a servant,” his lip curls, upset at my cultural misunderstanding. “She does the work of being approachable and available to our people so that I can do the work of managing the more aggressive elements of pack leadership. She guides our pack with a firm but gentle hand, almost like a pack mother.” 

“Why are you telling me this?” I tap my fingertips on the knee of my jeans. “I don’t see how I can help you. I’m not a luna. I’m not even a wolf.” 

“I know,” he smiles like the predator that he is. “And that is what makes you so perfect. My position requires that I have a luna. Either through marriage or contract. I don’t want a luna,” he confesses. “Lunas want you to love them and love is just another way to control a person, and I refuse to be under anyone’s control.”

“I’ve been using the Rental Luna escort service for 6 years now, and while it works for the most part, it isn’t a good long-term solution. There are too many misunderstandings about what my expectations are, specifically that I have no interest in taking any of them as my mate.”

“Oh,” I mumble,  not really understanding at all. Does he really want to live a life without love? 

“Which is why you’d be perfect. You are human, so you can never be my mate,” he nods enthusiastically at his own good idea. “We’d be in a contract-only relationship. I don’t need to worry about you falling in love with me or expecting things you can’t have.”

He looks intimidating and powerful standing there with the sunlight glowing behind him. This is a man who is used to getting everything and everyone he wants. 

Someone not used to hearing no. 

“You get all the money you need to do whatever you want, and I get a beautiful spokesperson with no strings attached,” rubbing his hands together he adds. “This really is a perfect solution.” 

“Except that I’m not a wolf,” I point out. “Also, I have no experience as a luna. I don’t know how to help run a pack or be a spokesperson or any of it. I’m just a simple HUMAN girl from Pleasant Valley looking for a way to pay my rent and go to school.”

“We can hide your scent,” he counters, still negotiating even though I keep saying no. “We an even teach you how to walk and act like a wolf. It wouldn’t be that hard. Put you in the right dress and heels and you have more than enough charisma.”

I feel the heat rising to my cheeks. First, he said I am beautiful, and now he is saying I’m charismatic enough to fake being a luna. Does he mean to flirt?

“And I can have my beta train you in everything you lack as far as your duties,” he assures me. “You get your money, and I get to keep my pack without the board of directors insisting I get remarried. If they think I’m serious enough about you to keep you around for more than a month, while I work on a new peace alliance at the Alpha Convention this winter, they’ll leave me alone, hopefully for good.” 

He makes it all sound so reasonable. 

But it’s far more than I can handle. 

“Could I have the entry-level position instead?” I counter. I just need a job, not a ticket into political intrigue. It sounds like this pack leading business is a mess, and I don’t want any part of it.

“It’s the Luna position or nothing, I’m afraid.” He reaches into his desk and pulls out a contract, “We don’t hire humans for entry-level positions. Too dangerous. They tend to get hurt. But if you sign this Luna Contract, you will have all the protection of the pack, and of me, as your Alpha. You will help me in a tricky time, and in turn, I can help you during yours. “

His eyes are glowing, his wolf making an appearance. 

“Do we have an agreement?” they both ask, his voice deeper than it was a moment ago. 

Standing slowly, I step back towards the door, hoping the wolf in the room lets me leave. “I’m sorry,” I apologize as my hand touches the knob. “But I can’t.” 

He growls behind me as slam the door and run down the hall.  A few minutes later I hear him coming after me. Thankfully I hit the button to close the elevator door before he makes it around the corner. 

Good, I might just get out of this alive. 

As soon as I make it past the reception desk, I move as swiftly as I can to the main lobby door. I know that if I run, I’ll draw attention, and then I’ll have more than one angry wolf to worry about. 

I feel a touch of relief as my sneakers hit the pavement but it isn’t until I reach my car that I finally release the breath I’ve been holding. 

Leaning against my car, I take long, deep, grateful breaths as I fumble to find my key.

“Hey there, beautiful,” a voice snarls behind me. “Need help?” 

Turning, I freeze a tall young man in a suit swaggers towards me. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

“Not yet,” his eyes flash revealing his true, wolfish nature. He must have followed me from Sterling Incorporated. But why? What reason would he have?

“You smell amazing,” he closes the space between us trapping me against my car. I reach back to grab the handle, but he slaps my hand, laughing when I rub my bruised wrist, his wolf strength damaging my delicate skin. 

“Leave me alone,” I beg. “I’m not here for any trouble.”

“Oh, neither am I,” His eyes glow as he traps my arms above my head. “I just want to make friends,” his teeth graze my neck as his free hand finds the edge of my shirt and pulls it out of my jeans. “Don’t you want to be my friend?” 

“No,” I cry, shaking my head. “No, please stop.” 

“Oh don’t be like that,” his hand squeezes my breast, his sharp claw-like nails piercing my flesh. 

I cry out in pain, but this excites him more. His face begins to elongate into a muzzle as he slowly transforms into more of a wolfman. 

I have never been this close to a wolf in my life. I’ve been raised my whole life to fear them. I know I should fight, but I know if I make one wrong move my delicate throat will be in his teeth and I will be gasping my last breath. 

“I bet you like it rough,” he laughs as his hand reaches down and tears the front of my jeans open. 

Screaming, I struggle, but it’s no use, he’s so much stronger. There is nothing I can do against a wolf. 

“There now,” his hand reaches into my pants. “That’s right, just…

“GET YOUR GODDESS DAMNED HANDS OFF MY LUNA!”