Filed to story: The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert
His eyes darted to the mark that was visible on her neck. Was that it? Was this the reason why she couldn’t feel their connection? He wanted to sink his canines into her and try to erase that, try to fix that… But of course, he couldn’t. Not without freaking her out and causing a political scandal, which he couldn’t afford now.
“So, you are divorcing your husband,” he said, trying to focus on the positive here. Soon she would be free and he could make his claim then.
“Uhm, yes,” she replied after a little pause and he did not like it. Was she hesitating now?
Her husband was literally with another woman in front of everyone at this very moment.
“Is it decided?” he sounded more menacing than he hoped and she shuddered a bit.
“It is,” Riannon replied calmly and he let out the breath he did not know he was holding,” But he is not aware of it yet.”
“Oh?” the Lycan king arched his brow, watching the woman in front of him in amusement. What kind of game was she playing? “How so?”
“For now he thinks that he could have it all,” her lips curled into a smirk and the beast inside of him was howling at her sassiness, “His wife, his mate and his pack.”
“But you have other plans in mind?” he asked, trying not to sound too hopeful and noticing how Reid who was still also in the room gave him a puzzled look.
“You know that very well, Your… Gideon,” she corrected herself and he smiled.
She was other promises to stay loyal, I took that seriously. If I met my mate, I
would reject him on the same day.”
He swallowed at the thought.
“And what if he was way better than your husband?” the words left his mouth before he could control himself, “What if he really loved you and was, say… a noble Lycan?”
“It did not matter back then,” she snorted, “He could be the only son of the Moon
Goddess! I… I used to love Brayden. I would have kept my promise to him and honoured our marks. But since he didn’t do the same for me…”
“Wasn’t it just a few days?” Reid interjected, “He could still reject his mate for you anytime.”
“But he wouldn’t,” the girl replied way too coldly, “And it doesn’t matter anymore. You can only break someone’s trust once.”
“Very well!” Gideon decided to agree fast until his i***t of a Beta offered her a solution on how to fix the relationship with her husband, “Divorce it is then.”
They both looked at him in shock and he cleared his throat. “But what was it about the pack?” he decided to change the subject quickly.
Riannon explained to him very patiently how they merged the two packs when they were getting married and why she wants to take it back. She had good reasoning when she spoke and he found himself agreeing to everything way too fast. Was this the power of their mate bond? She also mentioned a few times how much she and her husband used to be in love in and he found himself frowning at that every time.
“So,” she asked him, arching her brow and he realised that he had been quiet way too long, staring at her and thinking of something else.
This was the time for him to answer and he could tell that she did not expect much. If anything, she seemed eager to return back to the party, where all those alphas were all over them and he was sure at least half of them was going to offer her their support in hopes of getting her for themselves. He knew how they looked at her. As if they all were hungry for her.
He also came to the conclusion that he made the worst first impression on his mate if she couldn’t wait to leave him. And he needed to fix that fast.
“I will support you,” he said and her lips parted. He could tell that she did not expect that.
He had a lot of work before him.
“Yes,” a vague smile appeared on his face, “There will be some conditions, of course.”
“Like what?” the Luna crossed her hands on her chest in a defence motion. She was expecting the worse from him and he only had himself to blame.
“Cooperation,” he said the first thing that came to his mind. The only condition that he really wanted to name was for her to become his but he could sense that it wouldn’t work well. Not now. She didn’t feel the bond and he did not know why.
He needed time. Desperately. And he needed to find a way to be close to her still.
“What kind?” she asked.
“The usual,” he cleared his throat, “If I am on your side, you are on mine. I also need you not to marry or date anyone until I give you permission.”
“Why?” she mumbled, slightly shocked by the bizarre conversation that they were having.
“I have my reasons. Take it or leave it.” It was a gamble and Gideon knew it. But something told him that she was going to take it. His wolf calmed down too now.
He clearly enjoyed her company.
“Unless,” she looked him in the eye with some kind of determination and he got scared that she would decline his offer, “Unless I find my mate.”
He tried to hold back the huge grin that was about to spread over his face but was failing miserable, noticing how Reid was watching the pair with his brows knitted.
“I can accept that,” he smirked, “If you find your mate, you are free to embrace your bond.
“Then it’s a deal,” Riannon stood up and stretched her hand to him for a handshake, which he used to pull her closer, startling her.
“Good,” he wrapped his hand around his waist to the shock of his Beta and led her to the exit, “Shall we go then?”
“Where?” the Luna looked at him with her rosy lips parted.
“We have a show to give…”
Reid opened the curtain for them and Riannon tried to hold her head straight since she knew that all eyes would be on them now. In all her years as Luna, and even before that, she saw lycans just a few times. They usually weren’t mingling with the werewolves and it was considered an honour to just meet one of them, regardless of their rank. Back in the day, when Ria got acquainted with a Beta, it was the talk of the surrounding packs for months. And all he did was tell her that he owed her one and handed her a card in front of a few witnesses.
Still, Brayden was proud and was telling everyone that a lycan owed their family.
It sounded impressive.
Well, now Brayden did not look that proud anymore when his wife was descending the stairs holding the mighty lycan king’s hand. Although this was supposed to be an honour beyond any
Yet she could feel how her husband was gritting his teeth and saw how he wasn’t even reacting to the words of his precious redhead mate. Roxy didn’t look excited to be at a ball anymore either. It was a disaster. For her.
Unlike in the previous life, where she was the star of the event, the little innocent omega who overcame many hardships and stole the heart of a powerful Alpha, now she was second-hand news. Now everybody was questioning what got into Brayden
Thorn’s head that he abandoned his wife of six years like that. The wife who clearly was the centre of attention today and for all the right reasons.
Not only wasn’t she embarrassed by her situation, she embraced it, attracted every single male wolf in the room to the power that she was emitting. Alphas loved strong women. It was a given. That was why often mates were chosen.
Because not everyone could become a suitable Luna, not everyone could bear the burden of responsibilities and pressure. And today Riannon proved that she was one of the very few who could do all that flawlessly.
So that even the most powerful man in the room got interested in her. So that all the gossips in the hall had to shut up. So that on the day when she was supposed to be humiliated,she came out on top.
“Smile, Riannon, smile,” the king’s lips curled into a smirk, “You don’t want to disappoint everyone who is watching.”
“Sorry,” she mumbled as he led her to the very centre of the dance floor and gestured for the musicians to start playing again. The sounds of a slow melody filled the room and they started moving. And when Gideon pulled her closer, so that their bodies were touching each
It was a display of great favour. And everybody in the room knew it.
She wanted to think of what she would be doing next, to strategize… But the proximity of the man in front of her was clouding her mind. His scent was overwhelming, and he was emitting dominance and power. More than anyone she had ever met.
“I can tell what you are thinking about,” Gideon chuckled softly.
“That’s not surprising,” she replied calmly, “I bet everyone here is thinking of the same thing now.”
“And that would be?” he looked at her with amusement.
“Why are you doing this?” she lowered her voice so that only he could hear her.
And he lowered slightly so that it was easier for them to talk, resulting in his hot breath burning her cheek and earlobe.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?