The Unruly Luna

Chapter 6

Same evening. The Stone Golem Club.

Amir eventually decided to call Ruslan himself. He didn’t dare contact him directly earlier, considering Polina’s response. Even so, passing on her refusal was terrifying. Wolves were aggressive creatures, notoriously prone to conflict.

“For starters, let me congratulate you, Alpha,” — Amir began, choosing politeness as his entry point. — “Your brother explained just how important this is for you — finding your mate.”

“Let’s skip the formalities, Amir. I want to know more about my little troublemaker,” — Ruslan replied. He was genuinely glad for the chance to talk about Polina. Gathering full information so quickly had proven difficult, and he wanted to know everything. — “Alec already told me she’d only come to see me to kill me. And that, in her eyes, I’m a bastard. I’ll have to make it up to her with gifts. My Luna is a strong one.”

The wolf smiled, satisfied.

“Yes, you’re going to have a hard time with her,” — Amir admitted honestly. — “Polina has worked for me for two years. Alec said you’d kill me for this, but I did try to pursue her. As you can see, it didn’t work. At first, I simply tried to get closer — casual touches, canceled business dinners turning into dates. She didn’t react at all. Then came hints, gifts, trips abroad. Still nothing. Eventually, I went straight for it. Called her into my office and told her to sit on the desk and help me relax. Alpha, she smiled and said:‘I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that, Amir Sabirovich. If you continue insisting on intimacy, I won’t stay here. I’ll write my resignation today and bring it in for signature this evening. If it’s on my desk in the morning, we’ll part peacefully. If not — I stay, but you never bring this topic up again.’

After that, I stopped trying. Besides, she really is an excellent assistant.”

“Good evening. Sorry I’m late,” — Alec said as he entered the private room. — “I was sorting things out with Marcus regarding our stubborn Luna. Brother, she won’t be able to get a job anywhere. The only option left is administrator or supply manager at your house. We decided to dangle that option in front of her.”

“Sit down. Thanks,” — the Alpha drawled with a predatory smile. — “I’d dress her in uniform, maybe even an apron. Still — don’t make a habit of being late.”

“One of my assistants went on maternity leave again. Without my involvement, mind you. That’s the third one!” — Alec protested. He took off his jacket, poured himself whiskey, loosened his tie, unbuttoned his shirt, drained the glass in one gulp, and refilled it.

“Everyone knows about your appetites, Alec,” — Ruslan smirked. — “That’s why they prefer not to risk their females. Finish your drink and keep quiet. We’ll discuss your assistant problem later. Amir, please continue.”

“I called Tahir that night, and we drank until morning,” — Amir went on. — “I complained that Polya had rejected me. He’s a lover of women too — I’ve heard lions are all like that. So Tahir decided to try his luck with Polya as well.”

“There were no traces on her. Tahir got nothing either — whatever he told you,” — Ruslan said coldly. — “I would have sensed a shifter’s mark. He was lucky. Otherwise, I would’ve killed him for my Luna.”

“Wait — so she rejected Tahir too?” — Alec blurted out. — “Lions are built for harems. Those bastards can get any woman into bed. What’s wrong with her?”

“Tahir courted her for three months,” — Amir continued. — “Nothing worked. He admitted it himself. Even he couldn’t get anywhere. You can’t take her by force. Alpha, you did the same thing I did — now she’s deeply offended. She’ll go on principle and resist to the very end.”

“Alec, this only proves she’s my mate,” — Ruslan said, draining most of his glass. — “You saw her a few times too, during meetings with Amir. She didn’t respond to you either.”

“That proves nothing, brother,” — Alec teased. — “She rejected you as well. Amir never brought her to meetings with me — same with you. Admit it, Amir, you kept her for yourself.”Then he turned to Ruslan. — “She doesn’t know me by sight. We weren’t introduced at the party either. You got there before I did.”

“Curious why that is, brother,” — Ruslan remarked.

“As if you don’t know,” — Alec replied with a shameless grin. — “I saw her photo. I wouldn’t have missed the chance to get closer. Looks like the Great One favors me — otherwise you’d have killed me that day.”

“Amir, for what you told me just now, I would’ve killed you,” — Ruslan said calmly. — “But now I understand why she reacted so sharply to my proposal to leave the party and spend the night together. I didn’t offer her money — everything was on equal terms. She refused to meet me outright. Even after I admitted I rushed things and offered to simply have dinner and talk.”

“For her, that’s unacceptable,” — Amir said. He finished his gin and poured another. He was relieved the Alpha wasn’t going to kill him. — “Her parents raised her properly. If she liked someone, that man drowned in her affection. She’s terribly possessive. We had an employee she befriended. I once caught him just hugging her — the bastard. She was sitting in a chair, and he had his arm around her shoulders, whispering something. She smiled at him so sweetly. He could even drink from her cup — which usually infuriated her. She hates people touching her things. He also brought her chocolate all the time. Polya loves fruit in chocolate and glaze — usually cherries or figs hidden in her desk.”

“I’ll remember that,” — Ruslan said with a smile. — “So sweets lift her mood.”

“And where is he now?” — Alec asked immediately.

“Quit unexpectedly,” — Amir replied slyly.

“I see,” — Ruslan smiled the same way. He would have torn the rival apart.

“You can pressure her as much as you like — she’ll fight to the end,” — Amir concluded. He paused, thinking. — “But she has a friend. Permanently in love, permanently dumped. Polina usually rescues Irina from depression, and they can spend a whole week hopping between clubs. That’s how I first saw how cold, detached Polya dances. Tahir and I followed them on purpose. The lion even helped remove a boyfriend or two. Irina could easily fly off with a man for one night — Polina always went home alone. She’s extremely selective with men. I never figured out her type.”

“Information about the friend is useful,” — Alec said at once. — “Irina’s boyfriend needs to dump her. By Friday. I’ll talk to Marcus tomorrow and set things in motion.”

“I want to see how she dances,” — Ruslan said dreamily.

“You’ll like the view,” — Amir promised.