Wicked lessons from the Luna

Not as innocent as she looks

*Matilda*

Partially hidden by the draperies, I stand at my bedchamber window, gazing out at the retreating carriage. I am glad the man is leaving. He unsettles me in ways I don’t want to explore. He exudes sexuality in the same manner that the sun exudes heat... naturally, as though he has been created to do nothing else.

The jealousy that speared me when he had asked for a private moment with Gina was entirely inappropriate. He is courting my sister, and I certainly have no interest in him. I have been married once, and by the Goddess, that had been a lesson in humility and subservience. My opinion, my preferences, my desires had mattered not one whit.

I much prefer having my independence, being completely in charge of every aspect of my life. Never again am I going to let a man have control over me.

Even as I thought, I understand Gina's desire to marry. Not every she-wolf flourishes in solitude. There is something to be said for being part of something, of someone.

But only if it is the right something, the right someone. Otherwise, one is guaranteed naught but misery.

The door to my bedchamber bursts open and Gina flounces in, spreads her arms wide, and spins in a circle. “Isn't he wonderful!” She flops onto the bed and smiles up at the canopy as though it represents heaven. “He's so remarkably handsome and charming. And one day he will be an Alpha, and I shall be his Luna. How lucky I am!”

I am not quite so certain. I cross over, sit on the edge of the bed, and take my sister's hand. “Sweeting, you have to search beneath his chiseled nose and strong jaw...”

Gina bounces up into a sitting position. “You noticed?”

His features have been engraved into my brain as effectively as they have been carved into his face.

“How could one not?”

“His eyes are such an incredible blue. I could become lost in them.”

“That's the thing, Gina, you don't want to become lost when you're with a man. You need to keep your wits about you. With clever questions, you need to dig into his past, his present, his likes, his dislikes in order to determine what he's really about. Men put on a false façade when they're courting, especially when the she-wolf in question is in possession of a fortune. At some point, you even need to make him angry.”

Hard lessons learned.

Shock washes over Gina's delicate features. “Why ever would I do something as unpleasant as all that? If I'm not biddable, he'll move on to someone else.”

“If upsetting him causes him to take his affections elsewhere, then they never were yours to begin with.”

“Is that what happened with you and Downie? You never talk about it.”

And I never will. Marriage to him had been horrendous. He had never struck me with his fists, but words sometimes cut deeper. “The man who courted me was not the man I married. It's important for you to discover all you can about the person you're marrying. Take this afternoon, for example. He spoke very little to you. It's as though you were a prize he was showing off.”

“I think he just didn't know what to say because we don't know each other very well.”

That isn't it. He and I know each other even less, and yet he never seems to lack words where I am concerned. He hadn't settled for something as mundane as the shape or hue of a petal when he spoke with me. “Which means he should attempt to get to know you, all aspects of you, and I just didn't have the sense he is striving to do that.”

All the exuberance drains from Gina, and I hate that I have burst my sister's bubble of happiness, but I can’t stand the thought of her marrying a man who doesn’t appreciate her, who won’t treat her as kindly and as well as she deserves. My mother had guided me toward a title and nothing else. She had never sought to counsel me on the ways of men, on how to best determine what lurks within their souls... whether it is for good or wicked.

“Do you think it's possible you made him uncomfortable?” Gina asks. “I did catch you glaring a few times.”

“I doubt anyone makes the Beta of Greywind uncomfortable.”

“He does seem rather strong, doesn't he? Very sure of himself. I was left with the impression he wanted to be driving the horses himself.”

I smile encouragingly at my sister. “Yes, I think you're correct there. He didn't seem to have the patience for just sitting. I actually think he would have preferred to be out riding.”

Gina perks up. “I'll suggest that next time, that we go riding instead of in the carriage.”

Again, that tightening in my chest when I think of my sister with Rexton. It is damned irritating. I want my sister to find happiness, and it is quite possible that I have misread the Beta and his intentions.

“Just don't become so infatuated with the notion you'll become a Luna someday that you forget you'll be married to the Alpha. Pay very close attention to the way he treats you, to the things he says, look for little signs that he's not being honest with you.”

“Such as?”

So many things. Where to even begin? “His attention is diverted to other she-wolves when he's with you. Talking at you and not with you. It's really difficult to explain.”

Gina shifts around on the bed, takes my hands, and squeezes. “You're so much wiser than I am, Tillie. You're right that I get so caught up in being with him that I don't pay as much attention as I should. I'm not objective because he makes my stomach do all these crazy somersaults. But you, you’re objective."

Not so much. Not really. Especially as he makes my stomach feel queasy.

“He has invited me to go to the theater tomorrow evening. Will you come with us? We'll tell him you're serving as my chaperone, which you will be, but you can also analyze him. Help me determine if he's the one.”

I shake my head. One afternoon in his presence is enough. “No, I don't think that would be wise.”

"Why not?"

Because he causes me to grow warm, to wonder what his kisses might be like, if his lips are as soft as they appear. He makes me wonder what his hands look like without gloves, what his chest looks like without a shirt, and what his backside looks like without trousers. What his front side looks like as well. “I don't think I made him uncomfortable, as you insinuated earlier, but I do think I might be a distraction.”

“Because he's drawn to you?”

I shoot off the bed and begin pacing. “No, of course not. But he does know I'm judging him. I said as much before you joined us in the parlor.”

“Then he'll probably expect you to accompany us. I need you, Tillie. I need your guidance. I don't want to make an awful mistake like you did.”

I bring my pacing to an abrupt halt.

“I'm sorry,” Gina says quickly. “I didn't mean to say you made a mistake.”

I smile softly at her. “But I did. Then I made it worse.” And tainted my sister in the process. “Rexton requires a mate who is not stained by scandal. The reception we received at the park had nothing to do with his horses, and everything to do with my presence. In public, we must be separate and keep a distance between us if you are to have any hope at all of snagging a future Alpha... or any ranked man, for that matter.”

“That's hardly fair.”

“But it is the way of things.” Returning to the bed, I take Gina's hands and squeeze. “I want you to find happiness. Nothing matters more to me.”

“I want you to be happy, too.”

“And I will be. Once you are well situated.”

*Gina*

Some minutes later, when I return to my bedchamber, I ring for my maid. While waiting, I remove my hat and gloves before glowering at my reflection in the mirror. “Not as clever as you thought, are you?”

The rap on my door is faint. My servant comes to call. “Enter.”

Annie comes in and closes the door behind her. “Yes, miss?”

“Should Luna Moonsdowne ask after your migraine, tell her it's fine now and thank her for her concern.”

"My migraine, miss?”

I sit on the bench in front of my dressing table. “It is as I suspected, Annie. His interest in me is feigned.” I have a feeling my uncle has put him up to it, although I am not certain what Rexton hopes to gain with his actions. Perhaps he is simply a kind man helping a friend. But he isn't at all like the heroes in the romance novels I read.

He doesn’t make me feel light-headed or grow warm or tingle anywhere that I ought not.

I am rather certain the same can’t be said for Tillie. When I had met the Beta, I had suspected that might be the case. And his interest in my sister isn't feigned. That is obvious. Although Tillie might deny it, when I had walked into the parlor, I had been nearly scalded by the heat generated between Rexton and Tillie. That was when I had decided that rather than sending for my maid to function as chaperone, I would ask Tillie to serve in the role.

It had been quite fascinating to watch the two of them verbally sparring, striving to get the better of each other. But if a man looked at me with a gaze as smoldering as Rexton when his eyes settled on Tillie... Well, I certainly would encourage his suit.

I know Tillie well enough to know she would not do any encouraging when it comes to the man, so it is left to me to guide her along. My sister has been gravely hurt, suspects all men of being up to no good. Perhaps she is right. Or perhaps she needs someone like the Beta of Greywind to help heal her damaged heart.

But because of Tillie's stubbornness, I am going to have to think of another ruse to get my sister to accompany me to the theater. It is going to take a great deal of ingenuity because I can’t have my maid fall ill again. I fear when all is said and done, I am going to turn out to be a very poor matchmaker.