Author's Note: Thank you all for the INCREDIBLE response. I was truly not expecting so many people to read the first chapter! Your kind words, follows, favorites, and suggestions mean so much to me. As always, I am open to any and all feedback. In the first half of this chapter, I lay a lot of groundwork, but we get a lot of Dramione action in the second part.
I don't have a beta/ alpha yet, so all mistakes are my own. If you catch any, feel free to let me know.
Now… on to the good stuff! ;)
-EMC
Secrets of the Moon
Chapter 2
Draco had not managed a comfortable night's sleep in weeks; since his run-in with the mysteriously alluring, chestnut coloured wolf in the forest to be exact. The night of their chase, he'd spent hours combing the forest, cursing himself that it had taken so long to convince his wolf to jump off that bloody cliff. No other wolf had ever managed to outsmart him before, and the compulsion to find the one who did drove him to unsafe lengths. When dawn approached, however, he had no choice but to make his way home, lest he be stranded naked in the wood.
Since then, a crevice of emptiness had opened in his chest, a longing which ached to be filled with the scents of warm vanilla and toasted cinnamon. The memory of his moonlight chase elevated his heart rate even now, and made him sweat through the night, tossing and turning against silk sheets in an infuriatingly lonely bed. Each time she eluded him in his dreams, his body grew more and more frustrated.
His inner wolf was restless, and demanded he try harder to find her but visiting the woods in human form had proved fruitless. Though her scent lingered in his dreams, it had been washed clean from the wet autumn leaves covering the earth. Knowing he'd never explore enough land in his current body, he was resigned to the daily cold showers which started his every morning, all while his mood further soured.
With a yawn, Draco sauntered into the dining room where his mother, the matriarch of the Malfoy Estate, was elegantly sipping tea.
"You didn't sleep again," she sniffed from the end of the long table, delicately placing her cup upon its dish. Astute, sparkling blue eyes never left her son's drawn face. With a flick of her wand, she called forth a steaming pot of water to fill another cup on the table.
Pulling out a chair, he took his place across from her, avoiding her gaze by fiddling with his napkin. "I'm fine," he growled.
"I didn't ask how you are," his mother said with a raised eyebrow, silently warning him against his plan at avoiding the conversation. "I'm your mother, I don't have to do that." There was a sparkle in her eyes, despite her stern tone.
The silence of the room was broken by the scraping of Draco's chair away from the table as he stood. "I don't have time for this," he hissed.
Another flick of her wand, and then, a sharp tug yanked on Draco's ear. The wooden chair thrust hard into the back of his legs and he let out a groan. Seated once more.
Narcissa's quirked lip and icy gaze told Draco he would eat his breakfast and shut up.
The pair were quiet while their house-elf served Draco his usual breakfast; a cup of tea, a heaping pile of eggs, four pieces of buttered toast, and Lincolnshire sausage, all served on delicate crystal.
Narcissa patted the side of her lips gently with her napkin. "What has your wolf so restless these past weeks?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Draco tepidly replied, his eyes flashing with annoyance.
"Hm," Narcissa tsked, and she folded her hands neatly in her lap. "Perhaps the full moon next week will help release your frustrations. I hear Astoria may be visiting."
"Mother," Draco groaned, massaging his temples with long fingers. "Can we please not do this. Not today."
But she ignored him. "You speak of starting a new pack. I only bring Astoria up because you cannot hope to achieve starting one alone," she snipped. "It's biologically impossible. You're getting on in age, and your father and I are concerned this venture is a mistake-"
"It's not a-"
She released a loud harrumph of breath, smoothing the edges of her perfectly coiled hair. "We understand your need to have something of your own, but the pack will be yours soon enough. Your father won't be Alpha forever. Everything you want can still be found here."
Draco dropped his fork. "The lakehouse and surrounding land is my birthright granted to me by Grandmother... Merlin rest her soul. And the purpose of separating our pack is to protect us if our land is taken-"
"It's an excuse for you to leave behind your responsibilities!"
"And what's wrong with that? I've never agreed with the pack dynamics here," Draco coolly argued, his long fingers twitching with rage.
"Then change them," Narcissa barked. "You're an Alpha. It's time to start behaving like one!"
The lakehouse. Draco's subconscious conjured images of a fireplace, of children, and a chestnut-haired woman curled up into his side. When his Grandmother passed a few months ago, her will entrusted him with her parcel of land, a lovely space bordering the national forest and the lake that was adjacent to Malfoy Manor. It was relatively small in comparison to the monstrosity that was the Malfoy Estate and its many hectares, but it satisfied his desire to be in charge of a pack he could be proud of - one that strayed from the old ways.
Draco picked up his fork. "Need I remind you that the muggle government wants to force our hand in selling large pieces of our property? If they win, the land won't be enough to support the current pack. Dividing the pack is the best strategy at maintaining some of our power. Obviously I'd align with father's goals." He shoved eggs into his mouth and swallowed in one gulp. "If the muggles have their way, there will be construction of an oil pipeline and hundreds of humans swarming our property within the next year."
"Your father won't allow that," Narcissa whispered sternly.
"It may not be that simple, mother." Draco sighed in exasperation and took another bite of perfectly warmed bread as he mulled over their predicament. "Father can't protect everyone forever. Other pack members have lost their land. Just look at the Notts! We are going to fall victim to the same fate if we don't prepare."
"Leaving is not the answer," Narcissa half pleaded, observing her son idly pick at his toast. It did not take the keen eye of a mother to tell that his mind was elsewhere. "You can't abandon the pack, not now."
Draco sighed. There'd be no need for a new pack if today's meeting with the lawyer was disastrous; he needed to keep his composure and focus. If the muggles won, and Malfoy Manor was no longer the safe haven to the pack, it was likely his father would move the new headquarters to the lakehouse- his lakehouse. Then, his dreams of being the alpha of an autonomous pack in England would remain just that, a dream.
"Drop it, mum. I will not discuss this any further today." Draco exhaled through clenched teeth, the cold of his genteel mask slipping back into place.
While the tense silence droned on, unsolicited images of silky chestnut fur drifted through Draco's mind. He wanted to erase the smell of the petite wolf from where the memory had permanently embedded itself in his nostrils. It was a scent clean of others, and he knew she was unmarked, which only served to drive his wolf mad. It struck him as odd she was alone; It was unusual, and dangerous, to be caught without pack protection. Uncommon even for him. As an alpha, he had only been alone to scout the boundaries of his land, where he one day hoped to start a new pack.
Noticing his mother's breathing had slowed, and the angry glint in her eye subsided, Draco began cautiously, his tongue gently swiping his teeth beneath thin lips. "Do you know of any other packs currently residing around the northern region, near the lakehouse?"
"No. That land belongs to the government now, save for a few private residences. It's why your Grandmother loved it - the peacefulness of the place. There have not been wolves there for a long time, not since the dying out of the shifters."
"Shifters?" Draco questioned, failing to hide his intrigue behind another bite of toast.
"What was the purpose of your pack tutors..." Narcissa muttered under her breath in disdain. "Before the use of the lycanthropy virus to create packs, there were those who could shift into wolf form at will. They did not require the moon, nor the virus to shift. It was simply in their blood, a duality of wolf and man, living within one body. A gift from Morgana herself."
"What happened to them?"
A touch of sadness entered the normally stoic woman's features. "Their beauty and spirit was unmatched, and though they held both the power of magic, and soul of wolves in their blood, they were too gentle in nature, too mysterious, too few, too different. The lycanthropy virus comes with limitations, but, after generations of fine breeding the resulting wolf is more powerful, more vicious. Shifters were less equipt in the art of killing for sport," she whispered solemnly. "The fight for territory is not a new challenge. With the increase in population across Europe, werewolves of all kinds had a difficult job maintaining their secrecy. Most were killed by loss of habitat, others at the hands of muggle efforts to control the wolf population. Some were killed off by those infected with lycanthropy."
"Why would werewolves kill shifters?"
"For the same reason they have killed each other since the dawn of time. Power. Control. Greed. Territory. They were unusual. Seen as a threat by some." Narcissa shrugged delicately, skirting the horrors of her own decisions under that justification before taking a graceful sip of tea. "Why do you ask?"
Sensing his mother's nagging intrigue Draco shook his head slightly, quickly tucking the image of the auburn wolf just out of reach in his mind. "I'm considering building my compound on the northern edge of the property, where the old hunting lodge is located. I just need to ensure I don't stumble upon any rivals. My pack will be small to start. No more than ten to begin."
"Assuming your father agrees to allow this." Narcissa narrowed her eyes, shrewdly observing the avoidance of his stare. "There are no secrets in a pack, Draco," she murmured.
Oh, but there are.
The slow unfurling of his wolfish grin finally broke the tension, and he abruptly stood from the table. "Of course, mother," he drawled, walking over to give her shoulders a slight squeeze. "I'm off to meet father and the lawyer."
"Is this the muggle lawyer you were discussing last week?"
"Indeed."
"Lucius did not mention the appointment was today," Narcissa quipped coolly.
"Father is positively furious it's come to this. A muggle is his only option at protecting his land. The sight of him in muggle attire may well be the best of my life," he chuckled darkly. Unable to contain his grin, Draco chose to ignore his mother's disapproving glare, and he leaned down to press a light kiss against her cheek.
"Draco," Narcissa scolded. "Do try not to take so much joy in his suffering. It's unbecoming."
"Of course," he mischievously muttered. "Have a wonderful day, mother." He bowed theatrically before turning on his heel toward the apparition point outside.
Landing in muggle London, Draco quickly adjusted his crisp dark charcoal suit jacket. Empty streets greeted him for his short walk, and once again he lost himself to the thoughts of his future. His mother was not wrong; he needed a mate if he ever hoped to start his own pack. As a natural alpha, Draco was always a leader; wizards and witches followed his word, often without challenge or argument, and his authority infiltrated his every interaction.
When he had been turned during the transition ceremony at the young age of ten, it was obvious that with the guidance of his father, he would one day lead the pack into modernization. It was in his blood to do so.
Modernization, though, would require a changing of the guard, and with the centuries-old laws and expectations set in place amongst the pure-blooded families, Draco felt the battle would be hopeless. Not everyone wanted change in the way he did. The disastrous Battle of Hogwarts, and the failed agenda of the Dark Lord, had not helped matters, and purebloods were still distrusted by the wizarding world. It was only by the skin of his teeth - and Potter's testimony- that he had avoided Azkaban.
This opportunity to separate packs in a way that would not entirely sever the bond with his family, was his access to freedom. He could have his cake, and eat it too. As Merlin intended. But his plans for his new wolf den, so to speak, all rested on the Malfoy Estate staying intact. Well, he conceded, intact enough so there was no need to permanently move headquarters of the Wiltshire pack to his lakehouse.
Adjusting his jacket once more, Draco gracefully sauntered into the law firm to meet his father.
Instead, he was greeted by an impossibly forbidden smell that bombarded his heart and made his skin flush with the tantalizing heat of pleasure.
Warm cinnamon. Vanilla. All steeped in freshly broken pine.
We've found her.
Subconsciously his tongue grazed his lips and he trekked forward in pursuit of the smell, ignoring the decorum of sitting in the waiting area. His nose led him down the hallway, toward a small office near the back of the firm. Unwavering in his pursuit, Draco silently walked to the doorway, his instinct sharpened like goblin steel. Grey eyes widened when they landed upon the deliciously shapely backside of a woman with wild chestnut hair. Petite, and frozen. If her drumming heartbeat did not betray her emotions, the fluttering of hundreds of papers hitting the floor certainly did.
Her gasp of breath tightened the muscles below his navel, the twitching causing a hardening of his loins.
"So, you are real," Draco whispered deep and low, so primal he didn't recognize it. Another step through the threshold. "I was beginning to think I'd dreamt the whole thing. But your scent," he breathed deeply, eyes nearly rolling backwards, "and your hair…"
Finally, her body snapped to attention and she faced him with glowering copper eyes set upon a slender face. "What about my hair?" She seethed.
Feisty. Perfect.
Draco was drawn to her full pink lips, puckered upon her face in an alluring pout. Light freckles danced across the bridge of her delicate nose and high cheekbones. Though stunning, the average man would have certainly missed her true beauty, which was contained behind a reserved facade. But he was aware of the barely contained forest, the endless wild bubbling behind her features. He needed to release it. To bathe in her fiery spirit.
A deliciously sweet aroma of adrenaline and the tinges of arousal encased the tiny office. She likes what she sees! His wolf preened.
"It's positively wild," Draco purred with liquid lust, and the spark in his eye caught fire with each pass over her body. "You're just as small in human form as your wolf is," he observed, causing her to twitch with discomfort.
"Why is my size any of your concern?" She folded her arms, and her elongated nails dug into her flesh. Ready to tear, and slash. Unlike him, she was unamused. "Who the hell are you?"
There was no denying the fear in the rigidity of her spine, contrasting with the soft curve of her exposed neck. Despite her fear, her eyes never left his own, and there was no submission in her gaze.
The perfect match for an alpha. His tongue darted over his lips and he exhaled a low chuckle at the thought.
Aware of the tension in her body, he ever so cautiously stalked further into the office, drawn nearer to where her scent teased his nose.
"Stop," she released a panicked breath. "There are others around, they'll know if you hurt me-"
Draco cocked his head, and his eyes momentarily flashed ice blue. "What makes you think I want to hurt you?" He interjected defensively.
Wincing in response to his step closer, she uttered forcefully, "Because you keep hunting me."
Only then did Draco notice the forward posture of his body, instinctively cornering her in the office. He felt his face flush and he leaned back on his heels, holding up his hands.
Patience! He chastised his wolf, who burrowed into the confines of his consciousness. I'll handle this. We cannot lose her.
"My intention is not to hurt you," he snickered with a weak grin and tinged pink cheeks. The dangerous fire in his eyes subsided to a slow simmer of ashed coals. "I'm Draco Malfoy, son of Alpha Lucius of the Wiltshire pack. I'm here for an appointment to discuss a legal case."
The client? Hermione furrowed her brow and caught her lower lip between her teeth, debating on how to respond to the imposing - though entirely too fetching- man before her... the man who was here for her 10 o'clock appointment. Her first real case. "I'm… Granger. Hermione. Hermione Granger, that is," she stammered in time with her pounding heart. "I'm one of the lawyers with this firm."
"I was under the impression that this place was for muggles," Draco barked a laugh, trying to quell his wolf's howling desire in his head, while putting her at ease. "Though, I'm surprised I've never heard your name before." His eyes traveled across her face, searching yet failing to find marks of familiarity. Fear wafted through his nose, and he paused to consider her tense shoulders and wide eyes. Cautiously, he lifted his hands in a show of surrender. "Allow me to help you," Draco whispered. With a flick of the wand he had hidden in his sleeve, the papers she dropped earlier stacked themselves neatly on the desk.
Her eyes glued to his and her jaw went slack.
"Mug-Muggles?" Hermione stuttered, doe eyes blinking rapidly to process the stacked papers. "How did... I mean what's…" she shook her head in the direction of his wand and gasped in tension-filled air. Her freckles became pronounced as the colour drained from her skin.
His jaw tightened and his piercing grey eyes became barely visible through narrowed slits that bore into her. "What do you mean you don't kn-"
Before Draco had a moment to dive deeper into conversation, he smelled the familiar scent of his father and another human rounding the corner into the office.
A single pointer finger appeared in front of Hermione's eyes. "Not a word about this!" Draco harshly commanded.
Authoritative. Short. She wouldn't dare defy his word, his wolf knew. But her fear was a storm; he heard it thrumming in her chest, and his heart painfully seized.
"Ah, there you are, Hermione!" A cheerful man's voice flooded the office. "And you must be Mr. Malfoy's son, Draco."
Draco's beast attempted a growl at the sound of her name on another man's tongue, of which he hid low in his chest by clearing his throat.
"Draco," Lucius bit out through a taut smile. "I see you're already acquainted with Mr. Granger's daughter."
Draco's inner wolf heeled in response, satisfied that he was not being challenged. But this man was… human? Stealing a glance at the young female lawyer, he noticed her skin had turned ashen and her eyes were dazed.
False smiles were Draco's speciality, and his lips charmingly extended despite his discomfort. "Indeed."
"Shall we move to the conference room?" Mr. Granger said with a small clap, oblivious of the constricting air in the room, and that his daughter looked seconds from bolting out the door, screaming in terror.
"Of course."
Unnerving as it was, Draco allowed himself to follow Mr. Granger at the expense of exiting the room behind Hermione. Nothing appealed more to him than staring at the tight fabric stretched over her lovely behind as she walked, but his goal was to put her at ease, not bury her in more fear. As it was, Draco was quite certain she was close to fainting.
A werewolf born of muggles? Unaware of magic? Living amongst humans as though she wasn't the most powerful being in the room. Nothing made sense.
The conference room was large, though warm in its decor, and not in the least bit clinical. Draco made certain to let Hermione sit before he did, to ensure he was seated directly across from her.
"Let's get right to it then," Mr. Granger's kind voice was laced with a calming note of authoritative expertise. "I have reviewed your case, and there is something here that interests me. However, we need more information before I know if we have a solid foundation to form our case. Though I do warn you, regardless of what you have, eminent domain laws make this difficult to fight. Hermione, can you brief the Malfoy's on what you've found thus far?"
She nervously cleared her throat. "Yes, right. To review, the government has found crude oil near your property which they believe to be cost-effective to extract, but in order to make it worthwhile, they need to build a pipeline to transport it as efficiently as possible to the refineries. There are some private corporations and investors involved, along with the government."
Draco watched as she thoughtfully paused to collect herself. "Now, you can refuse sale of your property to private corporations, however, you cannot refuse the sale of your property if the government requests. Which, as you are aware, it has. The proposal they have sent you gives you four months to respond to their request and negotiate payment."
"If what you are saying is true, that eminent domain laws apply here, how would we go about fighting this?" Draco questioned. Truthfully, he did not care what she said, he just wanted to hear her speak again.
"In order to refuse the government the sale of your land, we must prove that there exists a detrimental impact on the environment - a tough sell, even when oil money is not the primary motivator. There are environmental agencies we can partner with on this case, but none have been successful in the past. There are currently five operating pipelines in the United Kingdom - this new pipeline would be the largest, and the closest to the national parks." Her poised intellect was almost erotic to Draco; the even tone of her voice, and the confidence he had not yet witnessed spurred him to lean in toward her. She could not hide the tinge of unfiltered passion in her voice, and Draco shook thoughts of her taking charge in other areas of his life. He shifted slightly in his seat.
"How likely are we to retain our land, Mr. Granger?" Lucius questioned in an almost bored manner, shaking Draco from his fleeting daydream.
"It's difficult to say. There is oil involved, and financial motivation on the part of officials to see that it happens. Governments have a lot of firepower to fight these sorts of cases."
"So do I," Lucius drawled with an arrogant laugh. "What will you need from us?" Lucius demanded.
"Land trusts, deeds- any paperwork you have regarding the history of your land and any proof of family ownership. Historical landmarks, endangered species, and claims of any sort will help in our fight to maintain your property. We must create a compelling argument as to why the government cannot possibly request the sale of your land."
"Very well. Draco will assist you in collecting the necessary documents," Lucius declared. "He is excellent in the art of researching."
Mr. Granger smiled. "Then he will be wonderfully matched with Hermione's skill set. She will work with Draco on building your case. I'll overview the progress, of course," he exclaimed quickly in response to the thin blonde brow raising higher on Lucius's forehead.
Draco met Hermione's eyes and held them for a moment; the bravado she displayed only moments before had melted into a tired weariness. His wolf wined- she clearly did not want to work with him.
"Before we begin work on this case," Mr. Granger pondered, "may I ask a question?"
"So, you will take our case?" Lucius assessed, tapping a pale finger against his bony cheek.
Mr. Granger held up his hands. "We need to see any and all information about your property first. Then, I will decide," he huffed. "This is an absorbent amount of money the government is offering you, and you would not lose everything. It seems you'd maintain control of your house and the immediate grounds. It's certainly much smaller than what you have now, but it's something. What exactly is your interest in fighting this?"
Lucius frowned, and the action caused the skin around his eyes to pull downward as well. "I will not tolerate the noise and attention it brings to have a pipeline practically running through my yard. Nor do I want helicopters patrolling the lines weekly for spills, as I've read they do. It's ours. The Malfoy family has lived on that land in relative peace since the dark ages, and I am certainly not a man who shares well, Mr. Granger."
If Draco had to place the emotion on Hermione's expressive face, it would be offended, he thought. She was obviously taken aback by his father's abrupt and brutal honesty. But, most importantly, she looked confused, as though she were trying to assess whether this wolf was as cruel as he portrayed himself to be. As he suspected she imagined other wolves to be - hence her fear of him. Had she never met an alpha? Draco wondered.
Draco caught her simmering copper orbs, and spoke low, passionately, like they were the only two in the room. "This is our land, and it has been for centuries. We respect and honor what the land has given us, and we do not want to see it defiled and dirtied. The privacy it has provided has been invaluable. It's the only place we have been able to exist peacefully. Having an oil pipeline running through the center of it would be disastrous."
Mr. Granger furrowed his brow, lost at the peculiar words both father and son had chosen in their arguments. However, Draco, taking one look at the sparkle that gleamed in the corner of the small wolf's eye, knew. He had gotten through to her. She understood their real plight.
"Do you have any further questions?" Mr. Granger asked.
"None," Lucius drawled.
"Excellent. Then I will have Hermione schedule an appointment with Draco to review the paperwork and learn more about the Malfoy Estate. Once that is finished, we will reconvene to discuss our options. Mr. Malfoy, please do not hesitate to contact my secretary should any additional questions arise."
Lucius was first to stand from the table, followed quickly by Mr. Granger. The two departed the conference room in haste, leaving Draco and Hermione in a tense silence that seemed to swallow the lone wolf.
"Do you have availability tonight to meet with me, Ms. Granger? Perhaps over dinner?" Draco murmured once he knew her father was out of earshot. "There is much I need to discuss with you."
Hermione shuffled the papers in front of her, avoiding his intense gaze. "You can schedule a meeting with our assistant on your way out." Cold, a forest cloaked in snow and fear. "I believe there is availability tomorrow and Thursday." With none of the grace he'd seen in the woods, she stood stiffly and adjusted her skirt, purposely keeping her eyes fixated anywhere but his face. Without the others in the room, she looked faint again.
Look at us! The alpha in him demanded, but he quelled his authoritative nature by running a hand tightly through his hair.
"Right then," Draco stood slowly, still trying to avoid frightening her more. "Just be sure to keep this-"
"Keep all this to myself?" Hermione bit out a sharp laugh, coated with sarcasm. "You don't have to worry about your secret, Mr. Malfoy. I've lived this far without a soul knowing anything about me. I've no intention to stop now. It's you and your tongue that concerns me."
She will learn to trust us, give her time, he reasoned, though his wolf wanted to show her now; touch her and reassure her inner beast that he was the answer to all her mysteries, he could be the keeper of her secrets, if only she would let him in.
Draco followed Hermione to the door and paused, boldly extending his hand toward her. A silent truce. Her lips parted, exhaling a shocked breath.
Hesitantly, ever so gently, she grasped his hand, finally meeting his eye.
Under her soft skin, Draco felt the electric current of life, her pulse, her raw power. Her magic. "Your secret is safe with me," he murmured, staring down at her with what he hoped was the weight of the truth he felt.
As quickly as her heat had slipped under his skin, it was snatched away. Without further word, she stormed down the hall, wild curls bouncing against her slender shoulders. He peaked at her behind one last time.
Ours, a voice filled his ears before he trudged toward the elderly assistant. One charming smile later, and tomorrow's appointment was his- not because he'd have all the paperwork ready, but because his wolf demanded he not go long without seeing her.
"You were on your best behavior, Father," Draco dryly stated as he exited the firm onto the street. "Your distaste of muggles was only mostly on display."
Stern silver eyes bore into his skull, and Draco fought against the urge to look down. "Draco, what the fuck was that? This was supposed to be a muggle firm. Who is the girl?"
"I don't know," Draco answered honestly, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Though, in my defense, I don't think she does either. She appears to have no knowledge of magic, though I believe she possesses it. She was quite shocked when I-"
"You used magic in front of her?" Lucius hissed, stopping abruptly to grab Draco's collar.
"Father, you're going to draw unnecessary attention to us." He peeled the other man's hands off his clothes and straightened his tie. "We have to add Hermione to the Manor wards so that she and I can-"
Lucius growled. "Do you think this is a game? I will not have some rogue werewolf distracting you from the task at hand. You will keep your cock in your trousers during the duration of this trial-"
"Excuse me?" Draco growled. Tiny blonde hairs on the back of his neck prickled awake.
"I smelled what was going on. Your arousal was practically dripping off you," Lucius sneered in disgust. "You will stay away from her unless it is related to the case. There is likely a reason she's alone. A squib, perhaps. Or worse...a mudblood turned werewolf."
Draco scoffed. "I'm simply curious, Father. You must admit she's intelligent-"
"She's obviously of poor breeding," Lucius countered venomously. "Should you want the option to keep your lakehouse," he stepped in closed, his voice a cool whisp against Draco's face, "I recommend you keep this relationship entirely professional. Do I make myself clear?"
His wolf heeled at the command. Draco might possess the blood of an alpha, but he was not yet strong enough to challenge his position within the Wiltshire pack.
Resisting the urge to growl, Draco simply turned his back and walked toward the apparition point in silence, cursing the sweet smell that lingered in his consciousness.
AN: I can't promise I will ever update as quickly again (24-hour turnarounds are not feasible!), but I was too excited about this chapter to wait. I am trying to keep the characters fresh, but still IN character... if that makes sense. How am I doing?
Again, thank you all for the lovely encouragement :)