Lunar Temptations

Ch 2

Winnie and Esme exchanged a look as I continued pacing aggressively.

"Why can't you just not go?" Winnie suggested innocently.

If only! - I thought, trying to calm my mind.

"I don't have a choice. What impression will it leave when a future Luna will not bother to attend the engagement of Zayden f*****g Castillo - the goddamned Alpha of Night Walkers!?" I ranted and rolled my eyes. The two exchanged a horrified look.

"Yeah, only she can talk about him like that." Esme looked at Winnie, explaining.

I would rather have the world swallow me or turn into a rogue than see his damned face again. He was a liar, a betrayer and nothing - not even the fact that he now was the alpha of the strongest of packs - could change that.

"I don't wanna see his face. At least not yet." I murmured, then sighed in defeat. There was nothing that I could do. Avoiding his engagement tonight was impossible. I had spent the last night figuring out all the ways, yet none weighed out the opportunities I'd be getting tonight.

I would be formally introduced among the packs as my father's heir and the next Luna, giving me a headstart. Another advantage was the chance to find my mate, just as luring, meaning there was no bunking Zayden's ceremony.

"Weren't you once best of friends or whatever?" Winnie asked. Esme and I exchanged a look. She shrugged and raised her hands in submission. Esme knew everything, but Winnie was unaware of the war between him and me, which didn't surprise me since our bad terms never affected our families.

"Yes, we were friends." I emphasized 'were', then continued. "But he decided to f**k that up..." my jaws clenched as a few flashbacks passed. "Badly."

"What did he do?" Their faces were now a blur. The only moments wandering my gaze were of the time I had spent with him. "Doesn't matter. I despise that man, and it's all you should know." With a wave, I dismissed the topic.

Esme got up excited, "Yeah, forget it. Let's get you a dress for tonight."

"Yeah, you should make an entrance. Everyone will be fascinated by you!" Winnie jumped in. I was about to change the topic until I saw their puppy eyes.

"Okay, fine." I smiled and got ready for shopping.

Technically, I was making an official entrance back into our werewolves' world after five years, better make it memorable. Soon we arrived at a boutique which had a classy look to it. The label, Veshik, was written in a curve font above the store. It was located in one of the posh areas of our town, shouting rich designers and overpriced dresses.

Even though our family was wealthy, I didn't admire wearing overpriced outfits. If it weren't for my sisters dragging me here, I would have worn something from my wardrobe.

"She's one of the best designers around her. You'll see." Esme said as we entered. A heavy scent of fresh flowers hit me as I noticed the interior. It was an elegant boutique and I could tell just by the look of it that either the designer was wealthy or she was gaining a good profit, or it could be both.

"I've also heard that she's one of us," Winnie whispered to us, as a few women roamed the store.

"Why won't she be? Nobody would open a store here and become successful if they aren't one of us." I stated obviously. I knew the business and everything about it. After all, I had left for years to pursue a degree in it and one look at a business big or small could tell a lot about its owner.

"What are you both waiting for? Go get yourselves a dress too, it's on me." I said, turning my attention to my sisters. Their face brightened instantly, making me happier too. Tonight was important not only for me but for my entire family.

"Well, the dress hunt begins!" Winnie exclaimed and I chuckled watching her get excited and run off to the nearest cabinet. Well, coming home back to Los Angeles wasn't proving to be as bad as I had anticipated.

We spent half an hour in the trial room, well mostly Esme and Winnie since they both would choose the same dress and then quarrel over it. As much as I would wanna growl at them to shut up, I knew better. Teenagers could only be handled delicately.

"Nah, I just think we can do better..." Esme said making a face at the 5th dress I tried, all of which were among the best in the stores.

"I like this one." Winnie protested. "Come on, she has gotta make an entrance. The dress has to be glamorous, and this one clearly isn't." Esme sighed in defeat.

I let them both decide, since I had no idea of this stuff, but I was sort of regretting it now.

"Excuse me?" Esme motioned to a worker.

"Yes, how may I help you?" She asked with a smile.

"Do you have any other ones?"

"Yes, but-" She hesitated but Esme cut her off. "Great, we'd love to try those and don't worry about the budget."

"I am sorry, those dresses are only available for Miss Boone's private clients." The worker then began to walk away.

"Is there no other way?" Winnie asked innocently.

"If Miss Boone was here, then maybe-" The girl hadn't completed her sentence when another girl like her whispered, "She's here."

"Would you please wait for a moment?" She said to me, of course, the designer was here. I opened my mouth to reply but stopped. My breath hitched and my heart skipped a beat, it was phenomenal yet euphoric. I could feel a rush in my veins, like adrenaline. A spark, so strong, rushed through me that if it had intensified even a little, my knees would have given in.

What was happening to me?

A strong pull took me in, and before I knew it I was walking towards the entrance of the store. A black Bugatti could be seen through the transparent glass walls and a woman got out of it. I knew it was someone in the car whom I was feeling the pull towards.

"Raya? Where are you going?" Winnie's words echoed somewhere in the background, but everything seemed worthless then, even the concerns of my sister.

Fastly approaching the exit, I was about to open the door when a hand pulled me to a stop.

"Hey!" Esme and Winnie's troubled faces stared back at me. "I-it's him. It's my mate." I whispered to them breathlessly.