He wanted to keep his cool and give her space.

He really did.

Only that hecouldn’t wait anymore.

He needed to see her.

He needed to breathe in herwonderful scent.So, he took a big pile of folders into the car with him to...

He did not know why hetook them.

Was it to pretend that he was busy and not crazy about her at all?Because it was perfectly normal to work in your car at 7 am in the morning on theway to another pack.Even his driver gave him an odd look.

Not to mention the look that Reid gavehim.“Documents?” he scoffed, “Are you trying to impress her or bore her to death?”“Shut up!” Gideon pushed through him, throwing the papers at the back seat,“Like you have a better idea.”“I do!” his friend chuckled, “Much better! Take condoms and tell her that you areher mate! Or wait, then you wouldn’t need condoms...”“Ha-ha, you are so funny and smart.

I am starting to question my decision tomake you my Beta,” the Lycan king was annoyed beyond belief.

Somereassurance would be nice.

But he and Reid weren’t doing that.“I know you don’t mean that,” Reid jabbed him with his elbow, “Anyway, go andbring our future queen here fast.

Your sister can’t wait to meet her.”A chill went down Gideon’s spine.“Don’t tell me that you already blabbed everything out to her!” Gideon growled.“How could I not? Savannah can get information out of anyone!” his Beta tried todefend himself.“Puppy eyes are not an attack of the supreme lord, you know that, right?” theking run rolled his eyes, “Man up!”

“You know I can’t refuse her anything ever since your parents died,” his friendreminded him and Gideon knew very well what he meant.

After the previous kingand queen were killed during a massive rogue attack, he had the hard task ofleading the Lycans when he was just nineteen.

It took all of his time to keep thekingdom in one piece.

At it had a price.His sister Savannah was only thirteen and Reid was responsible for herprotection.

So, they spent a lot of time together and the princess grew on him.She called him her brother too and every time she did – he melted.

Thus, shecould do, say or ask whatever the hell she wanted, knowing that he would bethere to make her every wish come true.“Nevermind,” Gideon grunted, “Just make sure she doesn’t spill the secret whenRia arrives.

If anyone tells her that we are mates, I want it to be me.”“A party? What freaking party?!” the king growled from inside of the car.“Got it!” his Beta chuckled, “Cancel the party.

Have a safe trip!” Gideon relaxedinto the leather seat, taking a deep breath.

He hoped that no one would screw itup for him.The ride was short this time as he made the driver overspeed most of the time.And they ended up being at the pack way too early.

However, he still chose not towait any longer.

It felt that if he didn’t see her now, he would die.The atmosphere in the pack seemed strange as he walked through the mainentrance of the huge mansion without asking for permission.“Of course, our Luna did not do that!” someone said at his right and he darted hisgaze where two omegas were cleaning the room with brooms in their hands.They both closed their mouths shut and stopped their work when they saw him,bowing their heads in respect.

They could feel the power that his whole body wasemitting on a physical level.

It was too much for most omegas as they were much

weaker even than an Alpha.

A lycan Alpha was crumpling their wolves by merepresence.“What happened to your Luna?” he asked them and they trembled, not beingable to respond.

He knew that he wouldn’t get any information out of them unlesshe was willing to consider torture.“You are here!” Maya walked out of the adjacent room and lit up when she sawhim,” Come quick.

I will tell you everything!”She filled him in briefly on what happened before his arrival and now he wantedto kill someone.

Preferably Brayden Thorn.

Some Alpha he was if he was fallingfor such tricks!“And now they are talking in his office,” she said with a worried face, “Riannonreally did not do it.”She looked at him with eyes begging to believe her story and Gideon realisedthat this girl really cared about his mate.“Of course, she didn’t,” he curved the corners of his lips a bit, “I believe you.

Now,lead me to that office.”They were already at the door and he hadn’t heard a thing, realizing that theroom was soundproof.

So, he did not hesitate to turn the handle and simply walkinside as if the whole place belonged to him there is no way in hell I am lettingmy beloved wife go to his kingdom alone for a whole week!”Riannon did not seem impressed by the threat.

Yet everything inside of him wasfilled with fury and the desire to kill Brayden Thorn here and now.“And why the hell not?” Gideon growled, making both of them flinch and look athim.

Ria had her soft pink lips parted in disbelief as she saw him standing in thedoorway.

For a second there he thought that she would run up to him, hug himand call him his mate.

That was the look she had on her face.

But no such thinghappened, and he tried to calm himself down desperately.

“King Gideon?” the Alpha seemed shocked, “What are you doing here? I thoughtyou were going to send a car for Riannon?”“That is not an answer to my question,” he changed the subject bluntly, “Why thehell don’t you want to send your wife to my territory? Are you perhaps implyingthat lycans would harm her in any way?”He walked inside, strolling past the many shelves and looking at the expensiveand ridiculous things stored on them.

His gaze stopped at a photo frame and hetook it without asking permission, letting Brayden know that whether he was anAlpha or not, the lycan king still could do as he pleased.

He never used his powerand title like that but there was a first time for everything.

He needed that prick ofan Alpha to know his place.

Especially after today.

He had his beautiful mate ashis wife but treated her badly.

If the laws weren’t tying his hands, Gideon wouldalready be tearing his head off and taking Ria away.

But unfortunately, with awerewolf uprising on his doorstep and Riannon’s own aspirations, he couldn’tafford that.

He had to suppress his urges and do everything quietly.

Legally.

Withher own approval.“Of course not,” Brayden cleared his throat, “It has nothing to do with lycans.It’s...

personal.

My wife and I are going through something right now and...”“Oh, yeah,” he couldn’t help himself, “You found your mate and did not reject her.I remember.”He regretted saying it the moment the words left his mouth as he noticedRiannon balling her fists tight.

She did not like being reminded of that and hehated that she cared.

It was a vicious circle.“Yet I don’t see how this personal drama of yours is more important than the workthat Luna and I are doing together,” Gideon looked at the photo in his hands.

Brayden had his hands wrapped around Riannon and they both seemed veryhappy as the wind blew her beautifulHe hated this photo and made sure to put it face down when he was placing itback.“It’s just...

not the best time,” the Alpha tried to explain himself, still not realizingthat this battle was already lost.“There is never a great time,” the lycan chuckled, “This project is important andunless you have a real reason to decline, I have to insist.

And as for you, you canuse that time to think about everything, get to know your mate and so on.

In themeantime, your Luna will be doing something important and earning credit foryour pack.”The silence in the room was heavy.

But this time it was Riannon who broke it.“It’s just one week,” she snorted, “And a very good cause.

I am sorry, Brayden,but whether you want it or not, I am...”“You can go,” her husband said quietly.Riannon never doubted that it would end like this.

He was at the stage where hewanted his time with Roxy.

Back in her past life once he claimed his mate, hebecame addicted to spending time with her.

She was surprised that he wasmaking such a big deal about her leaving now.

That seemed very out of hischaracter.“Great,” Gideon grinned and offered her his hand, “Shall we?” She decided not towaste any time and followed him.

They were already at the car when she heardher friend’s voice.“Wait!” Maya shouted as she ran with a rose golden luggage bag behind them,“Your things!”

“Oh, right!” Ria couldn’t believe she was just about to leave her pack withoutanything.Why on Earth did she forget? This was so unlike her.She stretched her hand to take it, but Gideon grabbed the handle first and got itinto the car while her eyes met Maya’s and her friend winked at her.“Have fun!” she practically sang and Riannon pulled her into a tight hug.“Watch Dean and watch out for Roxy,” the Luna mind-linked her future Beta,feeling how tense she became at her words.“Do you want me to make her disappear?” Maya offered with her brow shot up.“No way,” Ria smirked, “Keep her safe and sound.

We need her to get out ofhere.”They said quick goodbyes and Riannon joined the king.

The car drove off quicklyas if someone was rushing the driver to leave the Silver River Pack.Once again, he felt how stupid his idea was but he had to go with it.“Yeah, I don’t like to lose time so work wherever I can,” he said instantlyregretting the words.“I see,” she smiled politely, “Well, don’t mind me.

I will be as quiet as a mouse.”And then she looked at him expectantly with one of her legs on top of the otherand her hands resting on top.

He had no choice but to grab one of the foldersand start reading.“So stupid!” Mars growled.Riannon tried to think of practically anything but what happened the last time theywere alone.

The driver was behind a soundproof wall and it made her think aboutthings she shouldn’t have.

She watched how handsome the king of lycans was with his straight facialfeatures and dark hair falling carelessly down his face.

His shirt was unbuttonedat the top and she imagined that underneath it he probably had the most perfectbody too.She blushed and turned away to pretend to look outside of the window.

Whatwas she even thinking? And why?In the meantime, Gideon couldn’t do this anymore.

Her sweet scent of lavenderand honey filled the space around them, and it felt intoxicating.

He needed totouch her at least somehow.“Make a sharp turn!” he found himself ordering to the driver, who was alreadyshocked with the orders he received today.“But...

my king,” the unlucky man mumbled.

“Make a super sharp turn.

Now.” Herepeated darkly, “Don’t make me say that again.”The next moment the car shook and all the folders flew into the air.

And at thesame time, Riannon found herself thrown straight into the hands of the Lycanking...magic