Trying to Seduce Me

"Hello, Darling. How are you?"

I yawned widely. This damn sleepiness often gets me into trouble. But what could it be, this was the aftereffect of my werewolf mode switching back to human.

Being a werewolf isn't always fun. Especially when I can't control the change at will. It was really annoying because every full moon I had to hide and make up various excuses not to be suspected by humans.

"I miss Alaska." I said honestly.

Mom, who was grilling meat, just turned her head. She had a cute smile on her face.

"Well, Dad misses it too. But we agreed that this year will be mine..."

"And Mom gets to choose where we live." I yawned again and continued with the words I had memorized.

Mom laughed. She turned around while holding a nonstick skillet filled with seasoned roast meat.

Mom skillfully placed the food on my plate. I woke up late today. Dad left for work an hour ago. While I'm still lazing around because it's a school holiday.

"Beef?" I frowned.

"I'll take it. Our freezer is broken. Your favorite venison was ruined because it couldn't freeze properly."

Mom set down a sprig of rosemary. Its delicious aroma made me hungry. Well, there's nothing wrong with beef. After all, Mom served it in thick slices and delicious flavors.

"The neighbor at the back asked me where you were. Where have you been for the last two days?"

I paused. My hand reached for the fork, pretending not to care about Mom, although I was actually very curious about who was asking.

It must be Sol.

Who else in the backyard would recognize me? I didn't know Sol's parents. So obviously they should be eliminated from the list of people who might ask about my whereabouts.

"I just replied that you were going to a relative's house. Important business." Mom said triumphantly.

"I'm fine, right, Lei?"

I just nodded briefly. What's so great about being a liar?

I didn't know that being a werewolf would also improve our lying skills. It wasn't an achievement to be proud of.

"Hey, Darling. What's wrong with you? Why are you so quiet?"

I just shrugged. "I'm tired, Mom."

That was my only answer. I wasn't in the mood for a long explanation. I was in a very bad mood right now.

"Is something wrong?"

I looked at Mom. "Is Mom reading my mind?"

"Oh my God, no! That's your privacy, honey. We agreed not to violate it."

"I also miss Alaska a lot. There I can be free to be myself". I said honestly.

"Okay. We'll go back to Alaska after this year." Mom couldn't hide her disappointed tone.

I knew how much Mom loved her city life. Meeting people was her favorite part. Interacting and mingling with people from all walks of life, chatting for hours about various things. It was my mother's hobby.

Which, ironically, was the complete opposite of mine. I'm more like my dad when it comes to socializing. Being the center of attention is not my obsession.

"Mom can still get to New York or London from Alaska." I said reassuringly.

"Yes. On a commercial flight that takes dozens of hours." Mom grumbled.

"Well, how about Mom starts using our private jet? It cuts the travel time way down."

"But the pack will be upset that we're so prominent." Mom rolled her eyes. "The clan doesn't want the humans' attention on us."

"In that case, Mom can start working on a scenario to disguise herself as a rich family. The clan won't mind." I made a suggestion.

Fortunately, Mom welcomed my idea. Soon her chatter could be heard in the kitchen of our tiny house.

I only pretended to listen. My mind was really on Sol. The incident on the beach two nights ago was still fresh in my mind.

Of course, I didn't have the heart to bite Sol. She was too kind a person. So, in the last seconds of my fading consciousness, I decided to run away.

Unfortunately, the process of running away didn't go too smoothly. Sol tried to stop me and I accidentally clawed his chest. It wasn't a good wound. I hope my claws didn't give him an incurable poison.

"And Sergey is still missing, by the way."

My reverie was interrupted. When I heard Sergey's name, my concentration immediately returned.

"You mean, Mom? After Hummer died, Sergey still hasn't been found?"

Mom nodded. "Sergey hasn't returned to the group either. I don't know. Where is he now?"

"Is it possible that he was killed?"

Mom shook her head. "All the generals searched for Sergey's body and did not find it. There were no signs of wounds around the Hummer, either. The generals and elders believe that Sergey is alive and hiding."

"But why is he hiding?" I frowned, confused by his uncharacteristic plan.

"Sergey is not a coward. He's not afraid of the hunters. Why would he hide, Mom?"

"Darling, don't ask me. I don't understand either." Mom shook her head.

"There's a big problem in the Clan right now. The clan can't have a leader for long. So, ...."

I widened my eyes in horror, not believing Mom's words.

"Don't tell me there's an election for a new clan leader right now." I widened my eyes in shock.

Mom patted the back of my hand. "Unfortunately, Lei. The clan needs to be pacified from the hunters who might target all of us. Hummer was one of the strongest warriors and he was killed. That's not a good example for the clan."

I stirred the beef I had cut into small pieces. I didn't know if I should be happy or sad to hear this.

I'm not an Alpha Luna. Obviously, my existence would not be considered as a potential new leader.

Sergey's death would automatically make me safe from the clan members' pursuit. They will slowly forget about my position, which must be respected. I will just be an ordinary clan member, free to choose my own path in life.

That's when my nose smelled a very strong scent. A scent that became familiar in my memory. My hair stood on end.

Even at a distance of tens of meters, I could feel his presence. He had a different smell than the people I had met. His scent enveloped me so tightly, wrapping me in an overwhelming longing.

I shivered. It shouldn't be like this. I shouldn't be able to smell his scent like this.

This is wrong.

"Lei, what's wrong with you?" Mom touched my shoulder lightly.

I gasped in shock. My eyes were dazed. My brain hadn't fully connected with my surroundings, including my mother.

"Lei, what's wrong?"

There was a soft knock on my kitchen door. I jumped in shock while Mom looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"Let me open it."

Without waiting for Mom to actually open the door, I already knew who was coming. And that made me uneasy. This was completely out of my predictions.

This was how I should have reacted to Sergey. Technically, he was my fiancé. Even though it wasn't official yet, Sergey had already implicitly announced that I was his lover, which of course was a mate for Sergey.

"Hello, ma'am. Is Lei home yet?"

Sol's voice came from where I was sitting. My hair stood on end. My heart beat faster. Even my skin crawled.

While Mom answered Sol's question and engaged him in conversation with a slightly exaggerated friendliness, I felt Mom's meaningful look at me.

And I decided to focus all my attention on Mom's barbecued beef. It was safer.

"Hi, Lei."

I turned my head lazily. Meanwhile, my hair stood on end even more because of my mom's glare.

"I missed you."

Spontaneously, I quickly chewed my beef. Thank you, Moon Goddess, for giving me good reflexes. I didn't have to choke on Sol's words.

"Where's Gwen?" I asked curtly.

"Sorry, I'm not her nanny. I don't know where Gwen is." Sol replied cheerfully.

I snorted loudly. "I don't want any trouble with her boyfriend. She's brutal when she's jealous."

"And you? Are you jealous of Gwen?"

I growled in annoyance. How could Sol look so relaxed when my own emotions were about to blow the roof off the house?

"Why are you here?" I decided to change the subject.

"Because I missed you."

I rolled my eyes. "Come on, Sol. Don't be a seducer. It suits you, but I'm in no mood to be your next victim."

"You mean I've been a victim before?"

I nodded. "No need to be stupid. Almost every girl at school idolizes you. Maybe some of them even put your picture on the altar of worship and worship you blindly."

Sol laughed. He turned to my mother, who was making a glass of sweet iced tea.

"Ma'am, your daughter is so sweet."

"Lei is being sarcastic, Sol. Please understand. Her mature soul is not perfect yet."

"Can you not talk about me right now?" I grumbled.

I turned my eyes to Sol. Still in an irritated voice, I asked him again.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to discuss the mission for our group. I've organized your part, but we don't have much time. Can we work together on the presentation slides?"

"Okay, I'll--"

"I have to work on it with you now, Lei. It's a holiday and you don't seem to have anything going on. So let's go to my house. There's no one there."

I turned my head to Mom. My voice was deliberately artificial.

"Mom, did you hear Sol trying to seduce me?"