Ria was looking at herself in the mirror wondering if she went slightly overboardhere?She chose a white satin dress with a deep v-cut neckline and plunging free-fallback.

The garment also had a draped and knotted train, which was fastening inthe middle and splitting off into two.

It was very elegant and reminded her ofancient Greece.

However, she usually preferred more...

modest designs.

Yettoday she craved something else.She couldn’t forget the cold shower that Gideon gave her in the morning afterthey practically spent the night together.

What was up with that?Okay, they didn’t actually spend the night together.

But they kissed.

And the kisswas mind-blowing.

Even Onyx reacted to that.Speaking of which, she tried calling her wolf again and again.

But Onyx was notresponding to that.

As if she wasn’t there.

Only that now Ria was sure that shewas.“Listen,” she sighed, “I really need you.

I don’t know why you are hiding and nottalking to me.

But we were always a team.

And for me, nothing changed.

I knowthat Brayden hurt us and that dying wasn’t easy.

I understand that you mightneed more time.

Just know...

Onyx, just know that I am still waiting for you andI’ll wait as long as it takes.

Just come back...”She sat a bit more, but nothing changed.Her thoughts drifted to Gideon again and she clenched her lips, lifting her hair upand fixing it with a few pins, letting a few curly strands fall on her shoulders.She stood up, ready to leave for the event but at the last moment returned to thedressing table and got red lipstick, applying it to her lips before she changed hermind.He did not want to see her? He would see her now!

But then she noticed something else...

Her diamond ring was still shining in herfinger.

The one Brayden gave her at their engagement.

She kept on wearing it forsafety reasons now.

But today it seemed too heavy for her.

She took it off,enjoying the moment of her freedom.The house was already full of guests.

All of whom were also wearing white.Riannon hoped to stay invisible for as long as she could.

Her main aim was tofind Gideon and to ask him bluntly what happened.

Because she sure as hell hadno idea.But if there was something, she wanted to know.However, her brilliant plan of laying low was not working.

Wherever she went, alleyes was were at her at all times.

Most of those were friendly.

She recognisedsome of the warrior guys who were looking for protein shakes at the kitchen theother day.

But some were less than friendly.Not only does she dare to attend our party on a false pretence, but I heard she isalso after both Beta Reid AND king Gideon!”“Like she has a chance!” another one joined her, “How many of those werewolfsl.uts throw themselves at our men? They are never good enough!”“Who knows,” the third one chuckled, “Maybe they will give her a ride or two.

Butit will never be anything serious!”Riannon knew the she-wolves were aware that she was listening to them.Moreover, everyone was.

And now they all expected her reaction.In the years spent as a Luna of her pack, Ria learnt one thing.

You could onlymake the first impression once.

And she had no idea why it was so important forher to show thesepeople her true worth, but she knew that it was.

So, she gracefully turned on her heels and walked towards the three lycan girlswho stillhad smirks on their faces.“Ladies,” she gave them one of her most dazzling smiles, “It may come as ashock to you, but some women have more value than simply trying to land amale.

I understand that it’shard to comprehend for some and while I am your king’s personal guest, I camehere to workon women rights.

Something we all can benefit from.

That is if you have any kindof aspirations in life, of course.”The three women froze in front of her, not knowing how to proceed.

This wasn’twhatthey expected at all.“You say that and yet you are dressed like that,” one of them finally regained hervoice.“Like what?” Riannon decided to set a little trap.“Yes, like what?” princess Savanah appeared right next to them in a beautifulgown with a glass of champagne in her hand, “I should probably mention beforeyou say anything, that I personally picked Ria’s dress for tonight.

So, please,enlighten me, what does she look like init?”Now the gossip girls looked pale.“It’s a very beautiful dress,” one of them stuttered while the other two noddedvigorously.

“Amazing!” “Such a great taste!”

Riannon rolled her eyes, slightly disappointed with the princess arriving too early.Shewomen, and they escaped within seconds.“My, my!” Savvy giggled as she put her glass down and took Ria’s hand, “You arequite bloodthirsty, aren’t you?”“I don’t know what you are talking about,” a little smile curled the Luna’s lips,“Ijust like to tackle the problems at once.

And finish them off while I can.”“Don’t worry,” the girl gave her a warm smile, “Those three bark but they don’tbite.

I am happy with your dress choice, by the way.

It was one of my favouritestoo.

When my brothersees you in this...”The princess bit her lip and stopped talking as if she had told too much.Someone calledher name and she turned to look at the person nervously.

“Riannon, I have to leave you for now,” she said apologetically, “But I will find youlater.Go this way, okay?”She motioned towards the stone starecase that led down to the main gardenwhere there were white tents, and more guests were scattered around thegrounds.

Beautiful music was playing and overall, the reception looked veryelegant.

Just to Ria’s taste.She stood at the top of the staircase, looking around.

She noticed Beta Reidtalking to two girls both of whom were sending some very clear signals to him,magic

while touching his chest and biceps.

He didn’t seem to mind that at all.

She kepton looking when her eyes finally locked with Gideon’s.He stood with a group ofmen who were discussing something loudly and looked at her.

And there was somuch in his gaze, hungry and filled with desire, that she wassure he would come up to her any minute now.But instead, the lycan king turned on his feet and walked in the oppositedirection.The familiar hurt pierced her heart.Just how stupid she was to think that his words about her were serious? Heobviously changed his mind already and she had to deal with it.

Thererelationship was strictly professional from now on.

She wouldn’t let anyone thinkanything other than that.

Not evenherself.Riannon straightened her back and picked up her dress, descending the stairswithgrace.

She couldn’t go back to her room and admit her defeat.

She couldn’t stalkthe king in hope to talk to him and clear things out.

She had to keep her face atall times.

And right now there was only one thing that she could do – mingle.Luckily, after the scene with the princess just a few minutes ago, a lot of peoplewerespeaking to, she was catching Gideon’s gazes on her.

Just what was hisproblem,? Why couldn’t he simply come up and talk to her?Soon Riannon found herself in the company of the pack warriors.

A.K.A.

theprotein shakes guys.

She found them the warmest crowd.

And the funniest.

Theywere all standing under one of the tents that was placed around a huge oak tree.

The sheer white fabric was flowing peacefully around them, blown by the playfulwind.She only mentioned the protein drinks as they all started talking about them as iftheirlives depended on this.“Look, Luna,” one of the guys rolled the sleeve of his shirt and flexed hismuscles, “Do you see the kind of effect it gives us? Try it!”He was offering for her to touch the huge bulge on his arm, and she had no ideahow toget out of this.“Jay, stop this!” the gamma of the pack, Cyrus, run his hand over his face whilehis mate Liam tried to hold back laughter.“What?” the guy in question rolled his eyes, “The Luna doesn’t mind, right”Now she was cornered.“Of course, I don’t,” she smiled politely and stretched her hand to feel his muscle.But before her fingers were able to reach his skin, a loud growl interrupted themall.They turned to the sound and saw their king storming their way with his eyesdarkened.However, if other guests started to walk away as soon as possible, the warriorsdid not even flinch.

Riannon already understood prior that this group was tightwith their leader.“Hey, Gideon, we are explaining Luna Thorn here...”

“Everybody out!” The lycan royalty growled and his men bowed politely, leavingthe two of them absolutely alone in the tent.“And may I ask,” Ria walked past him to the huge oak trunk, “Why did you just doit?”“To make sure you don’t do any silly mistakes,” he replied, still clearly trying toget his emotions under control.“And what mistake would it be?” she looked at him with interest, watching hischest go up and down.

He was wearing just pants and a shirt that wasunbuttoned at the top.“You know very well,” he stepped closer but she did not budge.“No, I really don’t,”she shook her head, “What kind of a mistake would that be to check“Ria, l...

I wasn’t ignoring you...” Gideon didn’t know what words to choose toexplain toher what was going on with him.

Back in her room at night, when she wassleeping peacefully,he realised that if he stayed in her presence, his wolf would go crazy and takeover the control sooner or later.

He couldn’t afford that.

So, he decided to takethe easy way out and to try and see less of her.

At least until the evening, sincehis sister invited this many people to theirhouse.“It’s all right,” Riannon said with a heavy sigh, “You don’t owe me an explanation.We owe each other nothing and I understand that last night probably meantnothing to you.”“Nothing?” he growled and grasped her arm, pulling her behind him all the way tothe oak tree, where he slammed her against the trunk.

“What are you...” Riannon started asking him when his hot lips crumpled hers inone beautiful and absolutely magical kiss.

This time he did not even try to begentle with her.

And she loved it.

This kiss was mad, raging, all-consuming.

Itseemed like the two of them had gone crazy as he pressed her against the tree,panting.“Just what is going on?” she demanded an explanation, “Why are you hot oneminute and cold another?”He opened his mouth to tell her everything.

Gideon wanted to let her know howprecious she was to him.

He did not think he could hold this secret to himself anylonger...But right when the words were ready to slip off his tongue, they both heard loudscreamsand snapped their head in their direction...