A Luna's Power

Chapter 4: A Seat

-Lara-

The worst thing that could have possibly happened… happened. I did not want to find my mate. I had sworn off any alpha—any male, really—to protect my position. I couldn’t let this happen!

“Reject me right now!” I demanded.

I had never officially met James before, but I’d heard of him, and his reputation was well-known. He and the king, along with their circle, were like some kind of dark fantasy to the upper-class society and other wolves.

James, with his powerful blood—despite not being born an alpha—was the type any female would be thrilled to be mated to. But I knew better. I knew his dark history, how he’d lost his mate.

“What?” he asked, clearly confused.

“You heard me! Reject me!” I repeated.

He looked at me like I was speaking a different language, and I hated that he didn’t just do what I asked.

“Hey! Are you listening to me?” I snapped, growing more irritated.

At 5’7, I barely reached his chest, so I probably didn’t look all that intimidating standing there with my arms crossed and scowling. His face darkened at my words, and he leaned in closer, his scent overwhelming me. Why did he have to smell so damn good and look so… irresistible?

His black hair was short on the sides, longer in the front, and his blue-green eyes held a loneliness I recognized all too well. He wore a dark grey shirt that looked like it could barely contain his muscular frame, paired with leather pants.

A knife hung at his hip, and two guns rested in holsters on either side of him. He radiated danger, like a promise to fulfill your darkest fantasies. Not fair! I needed to stay focused.

“I hear you, little female,” he said, his deep voice washing over my skin like a caress.

I tried to suppress the shiver that ran through me. This was not going how I wanted, and the sooner he rejected me, the better.

“Then what are you waiting for?” I demanded.

“Why don’t you say the words?” he shot back.

“Because I’m telling you to do it! Don’t act like you’re happy about this either.”

His eyes roamed over me, studying me in a way that made me feel almost exposed. Part of me wanted to drop my arms and stand tall, refusing to hide even an inch, but I kept them crossed, making it clear that I wasn’t giving in to him.

“You’re right,” he said finally. “I hate it. I don’t want you.”

The sting of his words surprised me, though I knew it was just the stupid mating bond making me feel that way.

“Then what are you waiting for?” I demanded. “Reject me!”

“Why don’t you go first?”

I felt my anger boiling over. Why was he playing this game?

Maybe because you can’t say the words either, my wolf whispered.

I hated that my wolf was right. I could say the words... I could reject him.

“I—” The sound of his phone interrupted me. He pulled it from his pocket, checked the message, then looked at me again, his expression unreadable.

“You’re running out of time if you want that audience,” he said, his tone cold and emotionless.

“Then let’s not waste more time,” I snapped.

He slipped his phone back into his pocket and started walking out of the room. I followed, my eyes fixed on his broad back. I had heard when they brought him back home after he disappeared, he had been reduced to almost nothing, but now… now he had clearly regained his strength.

Something told me he could grow even stronger if he wanted to. The thought made me feel oddly warm, and I quickly looked away. I shouldn’t be thinking about him that way. I should see him as beneath me, like I did with all males.

“Here we are,” he said, stopping at the top of a second set of stairs.

We had walked down a long hallway and now stood in front of a closed door. James knocked, and a powerful voice from inside told us to enter. The room was filled with strong, powerful males, the king sitting at the center behind his desk. He smiled at me and gestured to one of the chairs in front of him.

I refused to shrink under the weight of their gazes. Straightening my back, I walked over to the king and sat down.

“Hello, Lara,” the king said warmly.

“My lord. Thank you for seeing me,” I replied.

“Well, using your sister’s invitation to dinner just to see me… I’m guessing this is something important,” he said with a knowing smile.

“She knows I don’t like celebrating my birthday.”

He didn’t look pleased with my words, but I didn’t care. I straightened in my chair, meeting his eyes, which I knew surprised him.

“What can I do for you?” he inquired.

“I’ve been ruling my pack for a few months now, on my own,” I said.

“That’s very impressive,” he acknowledged.

“But my position is always at risk.”

“Lara, if anyone is trying to mess with you—”

“I want a seat on the council,” I interrupted.

The room fell into stunned silence. Every eye was on me, shocked. But no female had ever held a seat on the council.

“Well?” I pressed.

The king slowly leaned back in his chair, still processing what I’d said. “A seat… on the council?”

I nodded.

“Lara, you realize that would mean extra responsibilities. Don’t you already have enough to handle? Is your father still being taken care of?” he inquired.

“My father is exactly where he belongs, and he’ll stay there. Unless he wants my pack members to hunt him down and kill him.”

Once again, the room was shocked. They were used to my sister, who was known for her kindness, her patience, and being a devoted mother and friend. But I was her opposite.

“Why not give me a seat?” I inquire.

“It’s more difficult than you think.”

“No one thought I could rule on my own either, my lord, but I am.”

He nodded slowly. “I know, and that is very impressive for your age.”

“My age? Or because I’m not a male?” I challenged.

He smiled, shaking his head slightly. “I don’t doubt you because you’re female,” he said. “But I’m concerned you don’t realize how time-consuming being on the council is. You’ll barely have any time for yourself.”

“I don’t like parties, I don’t socialize much, and I enjoy working. Still think that’s a problem?”

“Lara, you’re still very young. Don’t you think—”

“I want the seat, my lord. I don’t need to spend my time making friends, going shopping, or partying. I want the seat. I want to show people I can do this.”

“You can’t take a seat on the council just to prove a point.”

“I’m not,” I said firmly. “I want the seat because the council is made up entirely of males. It’s time a female had a place there, too.”

He leaned back, folding his hands in front of him as he studied me. I couldn’t tell if he was leaning toward a yes or a no—his expression was impossible to read.