Becoming Luna

9 ~ A Good Samaritan and a Drunken Plan part 2

Siena can’t believe she said that. She can’t believe she actually asked him to sleep with her!

She should have started, at the very least, to ask him for a kiss…and then go from there, but no! She had to blabber out an invitation to bed, right away. They don’t even know each other's first name, for goodness’s sake!

No wonder he’s staring at her now like she has grown two more heads. She can’t really blame him, not after just throwing that curveball at him out of the blue.

“Miss Merrick—”

“I’m sorry!” She mutters, her face heating up with embarrassment. “I don’t know what came over me. I just…I thought it would be a good idea to let Andrew know how it feels to be cheated on and I…”

Oh, shut up, shut up, shut up!

Goddess, she’s just making it worse! Now it just sounds like she just wants to use him—which is technically true but still, it’s hardly flattering. Siena desperately looks around and her eyes land on the can of beer again. She definitely needs some liquid courage to go through this very awkward dinner.

However, before she can have a go at it again, Mr. Wolfenheim reaches out and puts the can out of her reach.

“As flattered as I am for the incredibly tempting invitation coming from probably the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met…” he speaks in a low voice, as if carefully choosing the right words before saying them out loud. “I’m afraid you’re only saying it because you’ve had too much beer and are understandably feeling…unwanted by your mate. Not a good combo…” He sighs. “I will not take advantage of a vulnerable woman who is under a lot of emotional stress. If I am ever going to take you to my bed, it will be because you really want to be there.”

Well, this is both flattering and embarrassing at the same time. Confusing too. He likes and respects her but he is refusing her because he thinks she’s just drunk. If she heard it right, he is also saying that he wants her, but will only bed her when she genuinely wants to be there.

What is she supposed to say to that? That she really wants to go to bed with him? He’s attractive—actually, he’s quite handsome, in a quiet, rather dangerous sort of way, but can she really do it with someone she barely knows? She has known Andrew almost all her life—he’s her mate, for crying out loud—and yet it was still very awkward at the beginning…and to be perfectly honest, she hasn’t even reached her ‘big O’ with him yet, and not for lack of trying. Maybe she’s just one of those girls who can't orgasm through vaginal intercourse. That’s hardly his fault… right?

Maybe she could just go to a bar to pick someone else up? Would Andrew feel the cheating pains even though she’s not enjoying the s*x with a complete stranger? What if it’s pathetic, and he just laughs about it? Goddess, that would be even more humiliating! She needs to find someone who can make her forget and stop thinking.

Siena glances at the man on the side of the table. Mr. Wolfenheim looks like someone who would know what he’d be doing. Perhaps if she closes her eyes and uses her imagination, it would feel good, like when she uses her own fingers… She grits her teeth, annoyed at her train of thoughts that are getting more and more ridiculous by the moment.

Maybe Mr. Wolfenheim is right and it’s just the alcohol in her talking. However, right now she’s not thinking straight, and his gentle rejection stings, even though she knows it’s mostly for her benefit.

He must have guessed what she’s thinking because he sighs and takes one of her hands.

“Believe me, it is taking all my willpower to be a gentleman, but I’ll say it once more: you deserve better. You will realize that as soon as you sober up, and you will thank me for not being an ass.”

Not the way she’s feeling right now.

Early tomorrow morning, she has to return home. Siena only has tonight here in town, and all she can think about now is how this is her only chance to give Andrew a taste of his own medicine.

Mr. Wolfenheim. No first name. Maybe that’s for the best. Details will only get in the way. True, he’s a stranger, but he’s here now, and he makes her feel…wanted again. That is, when he’s not letting her down gently.

Damn it, maybe it’s not a good idea. He’s too much of a gentleman. She’ll have to find someone else, and if she’s going to get even with Andrew, then she has to leave now, while she’s still inebriated enough to be brave and reckless.

She clears her throat. “I-I think I should go now, thank you for dinner.” She stands up, making sure to appear that she’s steady on her feet so he won’t stop her from leaving.

“Miss Merrick—”

“I understand what you’re saying. I’m sorry for all the inconveniences and I thank you for your kindness.”

“Miss Merrick—”

“Please, I just want to go back to my hotel room. I’m going back home tomorrow and I need to—”

He stands up and starts putting his jacket back on. “Very well, I’ll accompany you.”

“Oh, no…no, please, don’t bother—”

“It’s not a bother at all. Just let me call my driver so he can bring the car in front of the—”

F*ck. He’s going to ruin her plans.

She pastes a bright smile on her face, trying to look more sober than she might actually be. “Really, Mr. Wolfenheim, there’s no need, I can manage perfectly well on my own. The hotel I’m staying in is just a couple of blocks away and I prefer to walk. The fresh air will help clear my head. I’ll be all right.”

“Still, I will feel better knowing you’re safe. Come, if you want to walk, then I will walk with you.”

Okay, change of plans. She will just have to go out again as soon as he leaves. She can spare a few minutes. And if she’s suddenly having doubts, she’ll just drink again. Hopefully there’s alcohol in her hotel fridge too. Or she could call room service…

Damn it. He had to be one of the noble ones. Where are the selfish and unethical jerks when you need them for a good time and a bit of revenge f**k!?

“It’s a lovely night today,” he murmurs as they are walking outside.

“Hmm…” she hums distractedly, thinking of her plans.

“Are you coming back to the city anytime soon?”

She shrugs. “Well, I’m not staying home for long so, I don’t actually know. I’m only going back to pick up some personal belongings and then… who knows…”

“But what about your project?”

She frowns. “What about it?”

“What if you win the grant?”

She stops walking, staring at him in surprise. “What?”

“Hypothetically speaking, of course. I’m just curious.”

“Oh…” she shrugs again. “I…I don’t know. The plan was to use the pack as manpower for the production and everything else. That was when I was going to be Luna. Since that’s no longer an option and I don’t think I can bear to stay, I’m not really sure what I’d do now should I win the grant money. There are so many pups and vulnerable people there… and they really need better security and stronger defense against the rogues. It’s how I lost my leg, you see. From a rogue attack. It’s been a nightmare since our neighboring territory became the dump yard for the undesirables and the foul.”

“You mentioned that your pack’s territory borders the Barrenlands. I think I know where it is. Perhaps it is worth petitioning the alpha king for assistance.”

Siena shakes her head and they continue walking. “Our alpha won’t do it. Too much pride in his own leadership and men. The pack has strong warriors but he’ll never admit it’s not enough. We need drastic changes and it will only happen with a leader willing to take risks and embrace improvements. I was hoping it would be my mate…and I would have supported him in everything…”

“He really is a stupid ass,” he mutters under his breath, loud enough for her to hear.

“The thing is… he wasn’t always a stupid ass…” she whispers. “He was kind to me, and he stood by me when everybody expected him, me included, to choose another mate, given my state… I don’t know what happened,” she sighs and looks up at the night sky. “The first time it happened, he told me he’d been drugged. That he wasn’t in control. That’s why I gave him another chance and he swore it wouldn’t happen again. But it did…while he’s supposed to be in our territory, preparing for our alpha and luna ceremony in two days…” she shakes her head again. “Now I don’t know what to think.”

Mr. Wolfenheim is silent for a while before he nods. “I understand. But you need to understand too, that there are people who are good at showing us the face we want to see, the one that would benefit him most. It’s not the same face that others see, and it’s possible that the one you know is not the real him.”

She frowns. “I’m his mate, why would he lie to me?”

“I would guess that because he knows you are a very capable woman, and worthy luna. I’m not saying it’s true, it’s just my best bet. Cheating is a choice, and maybe he’s confident that you will forgive him anyway.”

Siena scoffs, rolling her eyes. “He knows me better than that.”

“Does he?”

“I—Yes, he should. He should know that I won’t let a second insult slide.”

“Is that why you’re still planning on going out tonight, after I’m gone?”

“Yeah—wait, what?” She stops walking again and glares at him. “How did you—? Can you read minds?”

He chuckles. “No, but your face might as well have subtitles on them. You’re quite easy to read and predict. And you just confirmed my suspicion.”

She scowls at him before walking again, faster this time. “Then there’s no sense pretending, is there? You can go now, it’s getting late and I still need to find someone who won’t mind helping a desperate girl get laid.”

He grabs her arm. “Siena—”

She pulls her arm away. “That’s Miss Merrick to you, sir. I’m grateful for your kindness but I need to do this.”

“No, you don’t…”

“Yes, I do!” She yells, making some passersby turn to look so she lowers her voice when she speaks again. “I need him to understand how much he’s hurt me. To show him that breaking a promise to me has consequences, and that this time…there is no going back.”

He stares at her for a long time.

“Very well. I’ll help you.”