Ria was descending the stairs slowly and with grace, noticing how Brayden
turned to see what everybody else was looking at. He was shocked that it was
his own wife. And Riannon found this offensive. So, when he offered her his hand
to the displeasure of princess Peach... ghm, Roxy in her ugly peach dress, she
ignored that and went past them as if they did not know each other. The move
made another wave of whispers erupt. And in the werewolf world whispers were
nothing – everyone could hear what the conversation was about.
Ria went to greet a few couples that she knew, all of them stretched their best
smiles for her, not commenting on the awkward situation. She was done with that
quickly and since the party seemed to go on, she decided to go and get herself
some liquid courage. Goddess knew she needed some today.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed that the balcony on the other side of the
room, the one that was usually used by the owner of the house, Alpha Richards,
was covered with white curtains to hide what was going on inside. She could see
a few figures moving there but that was about it. She was curious what it was
about but not to the extent to actually go and check for herself as
“Luna Thorn,” a male voice appeared behind her back and she turned to face an
unfamiliar alpha. He was one of the new and younger ones as she didn’t know
him. In some packs, alphas were changing frequently due to power struggles.
She and Brayden managed to avoid those and were considered something like
elders even though she was 25 and he was 26.
“Hello,” she greeted him with a soft smile. After all, it was only polite.
“Alpha Zach Morgan,” the man introduced himself and he looked to be in his late
20s as well, “The Alpha of the Emerald Mountain pack.”
“Ah, I’ve heard,” Riannon was now interested. Everybody heard the rumours
about the alpha’s bastard child who challenged his elder brother (who was a
moron, by the way) and won his title, “Impressive!”“A compliment from someone like you is a compliment indeed,” he smirked and
gestured for the barmen to serve them drinks, “Champagne for the lady and
brandy for me.”
He didn’t even ask her. Alphas were like that.
“Riannon,” another Alpha appeared from her other side, “Looking gorgeous as
ever.”
His hand wrapped around her waist as if it belonged there, making Zach growl
quietly as a warning her. They both thought that she was back on the market.
How funny! But also useful. Because she was, after all, on the market. Even
though she had another
man’s mark on her neck. But that man was with someone else now, enjoying his
time. As far as Ria remembered from the previous life, the two of them had a
blast while she was forgotten. She hid in a corner in a modest dress and left
early. Alone. Her heart was broken and she couldn’t even talk to anyone,
although she did her best. As always.
Now the game was on. Her heart was not aching anymore.
Well, maybe a bit. But she could still think clearly now. And she could see the
hungry gazes everyone had on her. Every. Single. Male. And maybe it was petty,
but she loved the attention. She craved it after everything that happened. She
needed to feel like a woman again. And a beautiful at that.
Another loud growl emerged from somewhere and it had such power to it that
they all looked around. For a second Ria thought that it could be Brayden who
finally noticed her, but he was in the other corner of the room, introducing Roxy to
his Alpha pals. He gave her a glance when he felt her looking and an apologetic
smile to go with it. How annoying.
Then who was that growling?“Don’t mind it!” a third Alpha joined them, “It’s just Lycans going crazy. Riannon,
you are simply breath-taking today! What a dress! The colour suits you!”
“Lycans?” she flapped her lashes, thinking that she was probably hearing things,
“Here?”
“Yeah,” Zach snorted, “Everyone is shocked. They are invited every year but they
never attend, probably thinking that they are too good for us! And yesterday
Alpha Jones received a call that the Lycan King himself will be visiting but they
need a private VIP area. Can you imagine?”
“Snobs!” another werewolf next to her let out a laugh, “So, Ria, will you save me
a dance?
“I don’t see why...”
“No,” she heard a firm voice behind her back and turned to see her Beta, who
looked less than thrilled with the whole situation. What was his problem? “My
Luna promised to dance with me tonight,” he lied without blinking and this got her
annoyed. Was he doing that for Brayden? Not to let her talk to anyone?
“Don’t be ridiculous, Ash,” she giggled and then gave him her signature don’t-
you-dare look she used with her subordinates. “We talked only about one dance
in the car. And after that,” she glanced over the company of at least five single
Alphas around her, “I can dance with my old... friends. And the new ones as
well.”
Some of the men adjusted their collars at her words and it pleased her that she
had the desired effect on them. The dress was a good investment, after all.
“I still insist on being first,” the Beta offered her his hand and she accepted it.
“I’ll be back,” she winked at the other guys and they all either nodded or smirked
at her.She wasn’t thinking of them seriously, of course. Although she knew very well
that some of them were serious about her. There was Alpha Maddox, Brayden’s
old rival. He stated more than once his desire to take her as his Luna back in the
day. And Alpha Grayson was showing her signs of admiration before too. She
always pretended not to notice before but she knew very well how they looked at
her. Females with pure Alpha blood were rare. Her wolf had an immaculate silver
coat, which was unique as well. On top of that, she was beautiful and smart. She
was the Perfect Luna that everyone wanted. And Brayden was lucky to have her.
Shame all that did not help her when he met his mate... Even in spite of them
wearing each other’s marks and having a bond of their own, it did not help...
“You shouldn’t give them hope, you know.” Ash told her all of a sudden and she
gave him a surprised look.
“You read too much into everything,” she looked in a different direction because
his gaze seemed to burn through her skull, “I am having fun.”
“You are the Luna...”
“And my Alpha is right there having the time of his life with his mate, Ash,” she
rolled her eyes, “What do you want me to do? Get in the far corner of the room
and cry my eyes out? He made his choice and...”
“And you are looking for a new Alpha already?” his grasp on her became tighter,
“Is there really a need for this?”
“And you think there isn’t?” she gave him an intrigued look.
“Of course, not!” his voice was firm, “Brayden will never divorce you. This girl is
just... for his wolf. You can find someone like that too. In our pack.”
“Or I can go and look for my mate too!” she snorted and ignored his frown, “I am
not intoHe clenched his lips but luckily the music came to its end and she left him
quickly, trying to go deep into the crowd.
“Did you see? How shameless of her!” some girl was talking at the distance, “No
wonderher husband did not reject his mate even though he already marked her!
Maybe there is more to that story considering how she hangs herself on every
Alpha she sees!”
Riannon grazed her eyes over the girl. It was just some bimbo one of the Alphas
brought.
Not even a Luna.
However, she realised that the rumours would be spreading. And not everyone
would be on her side even though she had no choice.
Oh, well.
She deliberately left Ash on a side of the hall opposite from where all the single
Alphas were waiting for her. Of course, she would work on them too. But
they were not too reliable. If they wanted from her something more than just
becoming allies, she couldn’t give them much. She did not want to marry for the
second time. At least, not now. All she wanted was to get her pack back. And she
needed help.
So, she started out by approaching her father’s old friends. The ones she knew
were supporting Brayden only thanks to her. A little hint here and there and one
by one they promised her their support. Four in total within half an hour. Not
much but it was a start.
“There you are!” Alpha Zach caught her when she was on her way to talk to one
of her ex-classmates, “Someone promised me a dance.”
His hazel eyes looked darker now and she knew that she couldn’t avoid it any
longer. She noticed Bray not far from her, with Roxy clinging to him. His eyes,however, were on his wife. And the look in them did not promise her anything
good.
“I did, didn’t I?” she smirked, enjoying this moment. She hoped it hurt him too.
Zach was about to take her back to the dance floor when a ridiculously tall man
with a playful grin crossed their path.
“Long time no see, Luna,” she addressed her as if they knew each other and she
tried to remember really hard who he was when it suddenly occurred to her.
“B-Beta Reid?” she gasped, recognising the lycan she met years ago. “In the
flesh!” he showed off her pearly whites, “It’s such a coincidence to run into you!”
“At the annual Alpha Ball that all Lunas attend every year?” she arched her brow,
“Not"
“Well,” he chuckled, “I am here for the first time, so... Anyway... My King is here
too and he wishes to see you.”
“I’ll make sure to deliver Luna Thorn as soon as our dance is over,” Alpha Zach
tried to
lead her away, but the Lycan stopped him.
“I am afraid, you will have to find another dance partner,” he looked friendly but
somehow sounded menacing. So menacing, that Alpha Zach stepped away,
giving them way.
The lycan led her to the balcony while pretty much everyone in the room,
including her husband, watched them and opened the white curtain before her,
motioning for her to enter.
Another loud growl sounded as soon as she walked in...
Marissa GilbertHaik... dator etart today I really hope I will be able to keep this up. Thank you to
everyone who reads this
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