Teach Me

LENA POV

"I brought His Majesty the wine."

Julian said nothing.

"Good." Ethan relaxed. "Father wants the private dinner moved out here."

"I'm tired. Luma can attend to him."

"Luma isn't Luna yet."

Yet? Pain moved through the mate bond, and Sera whimpered.

I kept my expression blank. "Then perhaps you should enjoy my usefulness while it lasts."

Ethan's jaw tightened. "Go change and come back. You're hosting."

I almost laughed.

My mate was ordering me to entertain the man I had just tried to seduce.

Behind him, Julian raised his glass, and our eyes met over the rim.

The bastard looked amused.

An hour later, I sat across from Julian while Ethan talked endlessly about Shadowfang.

Alpha Felona had been delayed, but Ethan still managed to bring Bloodmoon into almost every conversation.

I kept my tablet open on my lap, quietly recording the details worth remembering.

Ethan had always mistaken my silence for obedience. It was one of his more useful mistakes.

By midnight, he was slurring his words. Ten minutes after insisting he knew his limit, his head dropped against the couch.

Sera snorted. 'Future Alpha.'

"I'll have someone take him upstairs," I said.

"Leave him." Julian set down his glass and stood.

I rose too. "I should apologize for earlier."

"For trying to seduce me?"

My face heated. "I was going to say for interrupting your evening."

"You didn't." His gaze dropped to my hand. "Your ring is still missing. So is your scent blocker."

I curled my fingers slightly.

"You removed both before coming to find me, brought my favorite wine and tried to put your hands on me."

"When you say it like that, it sounds terrible." I muttered.

"Is there a better way to say it?"

I couldn't think of one.

Julian studied me. "How long have you known about Luma?"

My stomach tightened. "I never mentioned Luma."

"You didn't need to. Ethan spent the evening discussing Bloodmoon while his Luna sat beside him without her mating ring."

He glanced toward Ethan.

"And his petition reached more ears than he intended."

I stared at him. "You knew about it?"

"I knew there was movement against the Luna seat."

"Then you know what happens if it passes."

"I know Shadowfang law." His gaze returned to me. "And I know your father refused to take you back yesterday."

My breath caught. Nobody outside my father's office should have known that.

"Who told you?"

"You aren't the only one who keeps a ledger, Lena."

Sera went alert. 'He's been watching us.'

I looked toward Ethan. Despite everything, the ceremonial bond still pulled painfully inside me.

'Don't,' Sera whispered. 'He already chose.'

I turned back to Julian. "I need help."

"Is that what tonight was?"

"Yes."

"Then ask."

I hesitated.

"You were willing to uncover your scent and put your hands on me, but asking is where you lose your nerve?"

The words stung. "What do you want me to say?"

"Something honest."

I held his gaze. "I need you to help me survive what Ethan is planning."

Julian studied me for a moment.

"And what are you offering me in return?"

I froze.

That was the question I had avoided asking myself upstairs.

Sera shifted uneasily. 'Lena...'

Julian stepped closer, and his scent surrounded me again.

"You came to me without your ring. You uncovered your scent and tried to touch me." His golden eyes held mine. "You knew exactly what you wanted me to think."

My mouth went dry.

His gaze dropped briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes.

"If you're going to seduce the most dangerous Lycan in these territories because you want him to save your life, Lena..." His mouth curved slightly. "...you should learn how to do it properly.”

"Then teach me."

The words left my mouth before I could change my mind. Ethan was still slumped at the table, too drunk to notice what I was doing a few feet away.

Sera stirred uneasily. 'Lena, think about this.'

'I have.'

"Your Majesty, please save me."

Julian studied me. "You removed your ring and scent blocker, then tried to seduce me. Surely you knew what you were doing."

"I thought I did."

"And now?"

"Now I know I don't."

Amusement touched his eyes. "Show me what you know, then."

I glanced at Ethan before rising onto my toes and pressing my lips against Julian's jaw. The kiss lasted barely a second, but my face burned when I stepped back.

What in the Goddess's name was I doing?

Ethan and I had been mated for almost two years, yet he barely touched me unless we had to appear affectionate in public. He was the only man I'd ever allowed this close.

Until tonight.

Julian lifted my chin. "You don't mean it. You're terrified of me."

I couldn't deny that.

"You want my power, Lena, but you haven't decided what you're willing to offer."

"I came here, didn't I? I removed my ring and scent blocker. What am I doing wrong?"

He released me. "Come back when you have something real to offer."

He stepped toward the terrace doors, and panic rushed through me. Ethan's petition could reach the Council tomorrow. Once he rejected me, I'd have three days to leave Shadowfang.

'Please stop him,' Sera whispered.

'You wanted me to stay away.'

'I still do. But I don't want us to become rogue.'

"Wait!"

Julian stopped. I hurried after him and caught his shirt.

"Ethan is going to reject me for Luma Felona. Bloodmoon has more to offer Shadowfang than Silvercrest, so the Council will probably approve his petition. My family already knows, and they refuse to take me back."

Julian turned toward me, but I couldn't stop now. I had rehearsed this conversation so many times, imagining how calmly I would explain everything. Yet standing before him, with Ethan sleeping nearby, all I could think about was how quickly my life could fall apart.

"I'll have three days to leave. No pack will risk offending Shadowfang and Bloodmoon to shelter me."

'Don't cry,' Sera urged.

I tried, but my voice shook. "I know what happens to lone she-wolves beyond the northern border. I don't want to die."

It wasn't only about Ethan choosing Luma or losing my title, I wanted to live.

"Please, Your Majesty. Help me."

"Why should I?"

I released his shirt and reached for my phone.

'What are you doing?' Sera asked.

'Giving him a reason.'

"Your mother's birthday is in three weeks. You've been looking for someone to paint her portrait."

Julian narrowed his eyes. "How do you know?"

"I did my research."

"On my mother?"

"On you."

I showed him the photograph saved on my phone. "You've rejected several painters, so I made a test portrait."

I'd painted it two nights ago using a photograph of his mother. It wasn't finished, but I'd spent hours getting her eyes and the small smile on her face right.

Julian enlarged the image and studied it without speaking. I watched his expression, searching for any sign that the portrait meant something to him. I had never met his mother, but the few photographs I found showed a woman with kind eyes. I hoped I had managed to capture that.

'Does he hate it?' Sera asked.

'I don't know.'

"You painted this?" he finally asked.

"Yes. Give me better photographs and I can do much better."

"How much better?"

I tightened my grip on the phone. "Help me, and you'll find out."

'You're bargaining with him?' Sera sounded horrified.

Apparently I was.

"And if I refuse?" Julian asked.

"Then you'll have to keep looking. You don't want to advertise the commission and ruin your mother's surprise."

His brows rose. For a moment, I feared I'd gone too far. Then he laughed.

"You tried to seduce me before telling me about the painting?"

"I wasn't sure it would be enough."

"And you thought seduction would?"

"That part of the plan could have been better."

"Clearly."

I almost smiled. "Does that mean you'll help me?"

"You'll paint my mother's portrait until I'm satisfied."

"Within reason."

His mouth curved. "Fine."

"And you'll help me?"

"I'll make sure Ethan doesn't dispose of you before you've finished it."

It wasn't a promise to stop the rejection or restore my position as Luna. He could still decide I was no longer worth helping once the portrait was finished. But Julian had offered me time, and I desperately needed it. I would have to use every day carefully.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet." His gaze dropped to my mouth. "You still asked me to teach you. Do you want that?"

Sera tensed. 'Lena.'

I looked at Ethan, and the ceremonial bond tightened painfully. His wolf still recognized ours, even if he'd chosen another woman.

I turned back to Julian. "Yes."

"Yes, what?"

"Teach me."

Julian gently held my jaw and kissed me. Moonberry wine lingered on his lips, and his cedar and smoke scent surrounded me. Then pain pierced my chest, and I gasped.

The ceremonial bond recognized what I was doing, even with Ethan unconscious.