10. Why Not?

Raiden’s pov

“Are you up for a date tonight? Or we could head straight to your room.” Lisa said seductively. While I normally like a woman who knows what she wants, some parts of me wanted to say no.

The appeal just wasn’t there.

But I had to prove to myself and to Zev that this wasn’t about that big, blue-eyed little mouse.

That little timid woman who smells like lavender and something fruity. Mom always picks lavender, puts it in the palm of her hand, and rubs her hands together. I used to do it too; my hands would smell like lavender, and I love the scent. It’s like a reminder of my childhood.

The packhouse garden is filled with lavender plants, and when the wind blows in the right direction, the whole air smells like it.

Atalanta smelled like that, but there was a hint of something else that I couldn’t put my finger on. Something citrusy.

It didn’t matter anyway.

“Yeah, why not?” I replied, earning a smile from Lisa.

She was one of the new students, and she had been hanging around me all day. There were a few—okay, a lot—of female students I had dated. But they all knew that my eighteenth birthday was coming up and that I wasn’t interested in anything serious.

What was the point? I wouldn’t reject my mate for any of them, no matter how good they were in bed or how well they could suck my dick.

I want that mate bond, that connection that my parents have, and no one else will be good enough.  

So why not say yes to Lisa?

Zev’s not like me. Despite not wanting a mate bond, he’s not a manwhore like I am. He needs a connection. He needs some sort of friendship or love to be able to sleep with anyone.

And I can’t really blame him. My first time was awkward and sloppy. It would have been better with someone I actually liked.

But I’ve gotten better. A lot better, if I’m to believe the women I am sleeping with. Practice makes perfect, right?

And tonight, I will be practicing with Lisa, I guess.

Okay, Raiden… Maybe sound a bit more enthusiastic?

Tonight I am practicing with Lisa!

Yeah, I don’t even believe it myself.

But fuck it, bad sex is better than no sex, right?

“I can join you for dinner later?” Lisa suggested. Alpha training had just ended, and she had been lurking around outside, I guess, waiting for me or maybe another alpha heir to come out.

Are all of these wannabe Lunas this desperate?

It never bothered me before. I always saw it as independent women going for what they wanted. I loved how forward they were. Maybe it’s because I’m close to my birthday. It’s me that’s changing, not them.

“Sure,” I said, not really paying attention to what she asked. I needed to shower and get out of these sweaty and bloody clothes. Today had been a lot of fun, but it became a bit of a mess when they paired me with Dylan.

That man got on my nerves, and I wanted to knock him down a peg. I might have broken his nose. And knocked out a tooth.

Oopsie…

I checked my phone and saw that dinner had already started, and I was starving. I’d shower afterwards, I guess. Maybe my sweaty scent would have the same effect on the little mouse that hers did on mine. Most shewolves love it when their man is all sweaty and covered in the blood of his enemy.

Shit. I did not just think that!

The moment I stepped into the mess hall, I heard Zev apologize for me. He actually said he would handle it, so that must mean my plan is working. Getting under her skin, got under his skin.

But she claimed she could handle it.

Good. Cause I was not done yet.

Once I made my presence known, I could see both of them staring at my shirt. So what there was some blood and sweat. We’re werewolves. It happens.

But if Zev wanted me to take it off, I would.

Our little mouse did not disappoint, staring at my chest with her mouth half open. It felt good to know she found me attractive enough to stare like this.

“You’re drooling, little mouse." I teased Atalanta. “Let’s get some food, or would you rather, -“

Before I could say more, Lisa was there. “O, you’re here already! And without a shirt. Hot!”

I quickly put the shirt back on and got in line to get some food. Lisa could not stop talking to me, but I barely heard any of it. I answered in short answers or grunts, pretending I was listening.

When we sat down, Lisa took a seat next to me. Zev sat on the other side, and Atalanta and Suzie were opposite us. Suzie had joined just a few minutes ago, but I barely noticed.

“So you’re all part of this friend group?” Lisa asked Suzie and Atalanta.

Suzie shook her head, “nope. We just started hanging out recently, actually. Lana here is a new student just like you. Just started last week.”

Lana… That’s new.

“Just last week, and already you have a seat at one of the most desired tables.” Lisa joked.

Little Mouse simply nodded and looked down.

“And your name is Lana?”

“Atalanta,” she said softly.

“So are you both here for the Luna program as well?”

Goddess, Lisa was chatty.

Suzie shook her head, “I’m in the beta program, actually, but Lana is.”

“But I haven’t seen you in any of the extracurricular Luna classes.” Lisa sounded shocked while looking at Atalanta.

“Have you been skipping classes, little mouse?” I teased the girl across from me, who was looking very nervous.

“I haven’t applied yet. I was waiting for, um,”

“You aren’t seventeen yet?” Lisa filled in Atalanta’s words, angering me. She could speak for herself.

Little Mouse nodded.

“You aren’t?” Suzie asked.

Most of the students started when they were seventeen. Every semester, new seventeen-year-olds could enroll. The only reason a sixteen-year-old is able to join is if their birthday is really close to the entry date for the program. It would be a shame if they had to wait almost four months to attend.

“When is your birthday?” Zev asked.

“Um, next week.” Atalanta said softly.

“And you’ll be going home this weekend to party?” Lisa said excitedly. “My seventeenth birthday was great! I can’t wait for my eighteenth birthday, though. Meeting my wolf is going to be so amazing. And then I can finally, -“

I stopped Lisa from finishing by talking through her, while looking at our little mouse, “what date?”

“The tenth.” She whispered.

That is next Monday.

Suzie smiled at Atalanta, “maybe we can do something fun that day.”

Little Mouse shook her head. “That’s okay.”

“You don’t like celebrating your birthday?” Lisa asked. “I love it. A day all about me. My parents let me do whatever I want that day. Eat whatever I want to eat. It’s great.”

Suzie rolled her eyes, “in my family we usually have a big breakfast together as a family and then cake with presents later with the extended family. Then a separate party for my friends, because I don’t want my grandma and grandpa hogging the dance floor.”

I chuckled, “my grandparents are like that. Always hanging out on the dancefloor, all romantic and stuff. Every song is a slow song to them.”

Zev was quiet, and I knew why. His birthdays were fun too, but there were hardly any of his family around. After what his dad did, his family felt ashamed and left to join another pack. They didn’t want to be tied to Zev’s any longer. Sadly, that also meant losing contact with their grandson. Sad for them, that is. Zev was better off, in my opinion.

His mother’s family would make an effort to come on the big birthdays, but it was always a bit awkward. That’s why mom always went all out, trying to give Zev the best birthdays. At first, I was a bit jealous of all the attention, but I learned that mom is just trying to compensate for all that Zev doesn’t have.

“So, what’s the plan for your birthday, then?” Suzie asked. “Are you going home or?”

Atalanta shook her head. “No.”

Once again, she had barely touched her food. “Eat, little mouse.”

Lisa playfully slapped my arm, “don’t treat her like your pet, silly.” Then her eyes went to slit, biting her lip and trying to look seductive. “But you can order me around later, if that’s what you like.”

Atalanta looked up at me, and then Lisa and I wanted to see what she would do. I wanted to know if I was getting to her too. I know it’s childish, but what can I say? I did it anyway.

“I’d like that, Lisa.” I said, leaning in. “Now, be a good girl and give me a kiss.”

“Yes, Alpha.” Lisa replied seductively before planting a sloppy kiss on my lips.

Atalanta did not have the reaction I hoped for; she simply looked at her food, which was very disappointing.

Zev smirked at me, though. “I guess I can expect a sock on the door tonight….”

I wanted to reply with something snarky, but I got a message on my phone instead. I recognized the sound; it was the tone I had assigned to mom. It was a little oehoe sound because mom is fascinated by owls.

“I’m scheduling a call for tonight. It’s been too long since either of you contacted me or your dad. Love, mom.”

I chuckled to myself. It had only been a few days, and it wasn’t like we hadn’t seen her for the whole week last week. But I knew better than to argue with mom. We were there to celebrate Joy's birthday, and we added a few extra days to hang out with family and friends back home. 

“Lisa, I guess we need to reschedule. I have some pack business to attend to tonight.”

Lisa pouted, but I was already over her.

Thankfully, I was almost done eating, so I had no reason to hang around any longer. I didn’t even bother greeting anyone goodbye, instead moving to my room.

Mom usually wanted to videocall, so I would have to shower before she called.

Wen I got out of the shower, Zev was already in the room waiting for me.

“So, pack business?” Zev said, with a face that showed he clearly thought I was bullshitting.

“Mom wants to talk to us. Both. So no running away.” I teased Zev.

Zev shrugged his shoulders, “fine.”