The ride to her father’s estate was brisk, Liana’s thoughts churning with frustration. Despite the lavish ceremony and her new title as Luna, she couldn’t shake the sting of Kaelan’s indifference. He had refused to consummate their bond, to mark her as his true mate. Without that bond, her position felt precarious, her control over him slipping further each day.
When she arrived, her father greeted her in his study, a glass of wine in hand and a calculating smile on his face.
“To what do I owe this visit from a newly hailed Luna?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.
Liana hesitated, hating the vulnerability that came with admitting her failure. “Kaelan… he’s distant,” she began, her voice tight. “He won’t mark me. He barely looks at me.”
Her father raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “You’re Luna now. That should be enough to keep him close.”
“It’s not,” Liana snapped, her frustration boiling over. “I need him to desire me, to feel the bond. Without it, everything we’ve worked for is at risk.”
Her father studied her for a long moment before setting his glass down. “There is a way,” he said finally. “But it comes with risks.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” Liana replied without hesitation.
He rose and walked to a locked cabinet, pulling out a small vial filled with golden oil. The liquid shimmered faintly in the light, its scent rich and intoxicating even from a distance.
“This is a rare aphrodisiac,” her father explained. “Apply it to your skin, and the one who touches you will feel an uncontrollable attraction. It will intensify the bond between you and Kaelan.”
Liana reached for the vial eagerly, but her father held it back.
“Use it wisely,” he warned. “It’s powerful, and the effects are unpredictable. If Kaelan learns of this, it could ruin everything.”
“I understand,” Liana said, taking the vial carefully.
She returned to the pack house with renewed determination, the vial hidden in her pocket. But when she arrived, Kaelan was nowhere to be found. The servants informed her that he had gone to the eastern border to confront the rogue attack.
Liana waited in her chambers, the hours stretching endlessly as the oil’s faint scent teased her senses. Night fell, and still, there was no sign of Kaelan. Frustration gnawed at her. She needed this to work.
When she stepped into the hall, she saw the Beta Simon, his tall frame leaning against the wall as he spoke to a guard. She approached him, her expression composed but her mind racing.
“Where is Kaelan?” she asked, her voice calm.
The Beta glanced at her, his face unreadable. “He’s still at the border. The rogues are relentless. He likely won’t return until tomorrow.”
Liana’s heart sank, her plans unraveling. But as her gaze lingered on the Beta, an idea formed. His loyalty to Kaelan was unwavering, but he was still a man.
“The oil,” she thought, her hand brushing the vial in her pocket.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice soft. “It’s been a long day. Would you mind walking me to my chambers?”
Simon hesitated before nodding. “Of course, Luna.”
Once inside her room, Liana locked the door and moved to the vanity, her movements deliberate. She uncorked the vial, the scent filling the room as she applied the oil to her neck and shoulders. The Beta watched her curiously, his brow furrowing.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
“I’ve been feeling… lonely,” Liana replied, her tone laced with vulnerability. She turned to him, her eyes soft and inviting. “It’s difficult, being here without Kaelan.”
The Beta shifted uncomfortably. “I understand. But he’ll return soon.”
Liana stepped closer, the scent of the oil wrapping around them like a veil. “Sometimes, it’s hard to wait,” she murmured, her fingers brushing his arm.
The Beta’s resolve wavered, his gaze flickering with uncertainty before it softened. The oil’s effects were immediate, clouding his judgment and heightening his attraction.
“Liana…” he began, but his voice trailed off as she closed the distance between them.