XLI. Female Version of Leon

Raine’s POV:

“What do you mean you won’t go?” Miguel looks like he’s about to flip the large table.

I grab the plate just in case he does.

Right now, we’re having a dinner slash meeting with Miguel and Harvey about the Pre-Alpha meeting which is held at Black Forest. It’s the second-largest pack in America after Full Moon.

Leon wipes the edge of his lips with the white napkin before he puts it back on his lap. I admit, he has class for someone who turtles himself inside his room. “I’m not going,” he said. He grabs the knife and fork then resumes his meal. It’s been a while since I saw Leon that I nearly forgot I had a mate.

I almost forgot I’m not here under my own will.

They weren’t kidding when they said Leon spends most days locked up in his bedroom.

Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I would hear footsteps. I assume it’s Leon since no one else stays on the third floor. The third floor is exclusive to the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Miguel and Harvey found their mates and left the Pack House a while back. They’re much older than Leon.

Once in a while, someone would come here to clean or deliver food, but that’s it.

Miguel tugs his hair. If Miguel ever lost his hair, it’s probably due to Leon and not his kids. “Why not?”

“I’m the Alpha and I choose to not attend.” Leon sticks another piece of meat inside his mouth.

“It’s the Pre-Alpha meeting!” Miguel screams. “Someone had to go and represent Crescent Moon! We aren’t just any pack. We’re the fifth strongest pack in America!”

“Then, you go and represent us.”

Miguel left eye twitches and before I knew it. The table was flipped. Physically. Miguel exhales a sharp breath. “No.” His voice sounded a mixture of strength and stress.

Leon didn’t even flinch when his dish flew across the room. Instead, he wipes his mouth and stands up. Silently he places the knife and fork at the counter. “No?” I can feel it, the aura of an Alpha overpowering the Beta.

I sat there and stared at them with the plate on my lap. I want to pat myself on the back for predicting this may happen.

Miguel ground his molar and took a step forward. “I’m not attending the Pre-Alpha meeting as a substitute for you.”

“Then, Crescent Moon won’t attend at all. Check the no box. Problem solve.”

“Problem solved?” Miguel’s voice somehow grew louder. “How is that problem solved?!”

“Pre-Alpha meeting is a gathering of Alphas to measure their dicks. It’s meaningless. There are no benefits. End of discussion.” Leon heads out of the door, leaving the mess behind.

Harvey exhales sharp and his head drops. Meanwhile, Miguel pounds his head against the wall. After I finished my last piece, I set the plate on the ground, cleaned my mouth, and silently escaped the room.

“Luna Raine,” Miguel calls for me.

There’s only three of us in the room.

And Harvey is blocking the exit I was going to go through. The other exit is on Miguel side.

“Yes?” I responded hesitantly.

Miguel grabbed my arm. “You need to convince Leon to go.”

“Wh-”

He drops to his knees.

I was too speechless to respond.

This is the first time a man - werewolf - got on his knees for me. I had a dream that one day a man would do this, but not like this. And I don’t expect the man to look this desperate.

“Please, we’re desperate. We’re at our ends with Leon and if we could, we would drag him to the meeting but we can’t. He never leaves the room so I can’t drug-” he stops talking and clears his throat. “I mean, have enough time to convince him. Our pack reputation is on the line.”

“It’s just reputation.” I attempted to shrug him off but he refused to release me. “If Crescent Moon is strong then you’re strong. No need to convince anyone, anything.”

Miguel blinked a few times before he got on his feet. He scatters back, “You’re just like him. You’re a female version of Leon.”

“What?”

“You’re a female Leon!” He screams and rushes out of the dining room. “Why me? Why Crescent Moon?”

I look at Harvey who exhales sharply. His eyes met mine and his exhalation deepened. He shook his head and walked out.

I thought I was done with the pre-Alpha situation until I received an unsightly call.

Someone knocked on the door and I rolled off of the bed. I released a deep breath and my stomach expanded. I hate to admit it, but staying in Crescent Moon has made me comfortable. I’ve been getting plump.

I scratch my butt and open the door.

“Hi.”

Leon examined my body, “You got fatter.”

I slam the door shut and lock it.

I don’t need anyone to insult me this late in the afternoon during the weekend.

Leon knocks on the door again, but I ignore it. I flop down on the bed and cover my fat body with the covers.

The door inside the closet opens.

There’s no real privacy in this house.

“What?” I push my face into the mattress.

“Pack up. We’re going to the Pre-Alpha Meeting.”

I peek outside of the blanket. “What?”

Leon sat beside me. His butt beside my face. “We are going to the Pre-Alpha Meeting.”

“I thought you said it was a useless meeting where Alphas measure their ping-pong.”

He lifts a brow, “Balls?”

“Penis.”

“Did you just say penis?”

I stared at him, “Yes. That is the anatomical term.”

“What are you saying?”

“I have no idea. I’ve been on this bed for too long. I’ve forgotten how to communicate with humans.”

“I’m a werewolf.”

“In what form are you in?”

“Human.”

I grin, “There you go.”

He grabs a handful of my cheek, “You’re cheeky. Has anyone told you that?”

I stared at him.

Steadily, he releases my cheek. “Sorry.”

I rub my cheek and sit upward. “It’s okay.”

“So, pack your luggage.”

“What’s with the change?”

Leon looks away from me. “I just changed my mind. That’s all.” There’s a discomfort drifting inside the room. It must be Preston who forced him to go.

“What if I tried to run away?”

He chuckles, “Isn’t that part of your job description?”

I smile, a much wider one than I wanted. “So, Mr.Tayson-” Leon looked at me and lifted a brow. “When am I getting paid?” I mean, I am an employee.

He lifts a brow, “Pay?” He questioned. “You want to get pay?”

I nod.

“You eat and live here for free.”

“I also didn’t willingly stay here.”

Leon releases a deep breath. He got up and headed towards the closet door. Fifteen seconds later, he came back and placed a black card in front of me. With both hands, I grab it. It was the heaviest card I had ever held. “Understand your limitation.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

I felt the surface of the card. “So, this is what wealth feels like...a heavy piece of plastic.” I bend the card. Then, out of nowhere, a phone hit my knee. I scan the shiny rectangular item before I look at Leon.

“Your phone is a dinosaur.”

I held the phone in the air, before pressing it between my boobs. I can feel it. The warmth from the cold material. “Shouldn’t you treat me badly? I mean, I should be miserable right?”

This luxurious item definitely does not scream: I’m treating her horribly!

His lips pinch, “You’re right.” Quickly, he went for the phone but I threw my arm back. “Give it to me.”

Steadily, I inch the phone closer to him. “Okay.”

He reaches for it.

I swing my arm back.

“What are you doing?” Leon asks.

“I don’t know.” My body doesn’t seem to listen to me.

“I may have put a tracking device on it so give it back.”

“You did?” I stared at the brand new device in my hand.

“Yeah. So, give it back.” He reaches for it once more.

My hand swung back.

Leon inch closer to me, but I only went further back. The action repeats itself until my legs tangled on the sheets. With a single jerk, my body fell off of the bed. Leon reached for me, but it was much too late. Instead, he wrapped his hand behind my head and swung our bodies around.

I landed on top of him.

We got into an inappropriate position.

I laid there on top of the hot body. His raging heartbeat pierces through my cheek. I know I should open my eyes and get off of him. But, my body refused to listen. I can feel his fingers scrunching the back of my shirt. He swallows.

“Get off.” His voice sounds strainy.

I got off of him. My eyes were firmly rested on the ground.

Then, I heard it.

A door closes.

I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until he left the room.

I held my cheeks, “No. You better not be red.”

My eyes drift towards the ground. The phone and the black card are still here. I held both of them close to my heart. “It’s hot in here.” I wave a hand at my face. “Maybe, I should go out.” I nod sternly. “Go somewhere that’s not here. Yeah. Yeah.” I grabbed the purse and made my way out of the bedroom. Stairs. Living room. And finally, the front yard. It was much easier to escape than I thought.

“Where are you heading to?” Miguel asks.

Spoke too soon.