Brayden couldn’t sit still ever since he felt it.

He felt it way too many times in thepast 24 hours for it to be nothing.

The soul-shattering sharp pain that started inhis march and then was echoing through his whole body.

Unfortunately, he knewexactly what he was experiencing, and he hated the thought alone of his wifebeing taken by someone else.“Alpha,” Roxanne wrapped her arms around his neck leading from the back of hischair and brushed her fingers softly over the part of his chest that was exposedthrough his unbuttoned shirt, “You don’t look too well.

If anything, you look likeyou are in pain.

Maybe I can help you to get rid of it? A mate’s touch is healingfor another mate.

Let me help you.

Let me ease your pain.”He never thought that he would say it out loud but he had enough of bl.ow jobsand her suggestion wasn’t as appealing as she probably hoped.

It was amazingto have a mate and he loved every minute of it.

Someone ready for him any time,someone happy to receive just a speck of his attention,someone who was readyto drop to her knees at him simply implying it, someone who was ready to doeverything to please him.

She was HIS.

He did not have to conquer her, he didnot have to keep up with her.

With his mate everything was easy.

She felt hismood swings very well and knew when to back off.

She was working around him,eager to please, ready for everything.

Just the way it should be.Yet his mind kept coming back to his wife since his mark was hurting him.Riannon was with someone else and there was no denying it.

Moreover, he waspretty sure that it was that as.shole, the Lycan king.

The way he fought for her tocome to his kingdom was way too obvious.

And the worse thing was that therewas nothing he could do about it now.

It wasn’t like he could march into thelycans’ lair and demand his wife back.

They were more powerful.He couldn’t start a war with them.

His pack would be wiped out quickly and noother alphas would support him in such an affair.

They would probably even behappy to see his fall and try to claim his territories afterwards.

This wasn’t the way.“Damn, Ri, what are you doing?!” he groaned as he texted her for one thousand’stime, not even expecting to receive a reply anymore.It did not help that he knew that she was angry with him.

For not rejecting Roxy.Was she with the lycan king willingly now? Was it her little revenge on him?If it was, he knew he deserved it.

He handled it all wrong, hoping that she wouldjust do be a Luna, was trained to be one, this was all she was.

She knew how tomake the necessary sacrifices and he really hoped that she would take one forthe team this time too.The joke was on him as he overdid it.

He should have taken his mate to someremote forest cottage and kept her there with some guards, visiting her when theneed was arising.

But he wanted it all.Knowing how his wife was loyal to their pack and how they loved each other, hewas sure that she would get used to the idea.

After all, Roxy was neverthreatening her position as an omega.

No one would want her as their Luna.

AndBrayden never saw that as an option.

He just wanted her close to enjoy theirmate bond and all the extra sensations that came with it.Sometimes he was getting bold and imagined the three of them living together...But this was where it all went wrong.

For Riannon was an Alpha too and did notwant to share what was hers.An Alpha female...

He loved it about her and hated it about her at the same time.She was always a challenge, always on top of things.

Whenever he had an idea,she had a better one.

Whenever they had a problem, she was the one comingwith the best solution.He was a better warrior and there was that...

But sometimes he wished that hiswife was more submissive to him.

This was when Roxy fitted just perfectly.

For she was giving him what Riannoncouldn’t.

With her, he was superior in everything.

And he loved that.However, it wasn’t enough.

She lacked in many areas.

Starting from her low rankto her education.

Could someone like her even be compared to Riannon?So, now he was facing a really big problem.

What was he to do now with all thatmess?He wanted Riannon back.

She was his.

This was undeniable.

If he had to choosebetween his mate and his wife, he would pick the wife.

She was something thateveryone wanted, and Brayden wasn’t going to lose that.Besides that, he loved her.

Yes, they were not mates but she was his chosenmate.

They spent years together and never ever had he doubted his choice.

Shewas beautiful and smart.

A full package.

And she knew him better than anyoneelse.

Their union proved to be successful in many ways.

The only thing they werelacking was an heir.

And this was something they agreed to try for next year.But considering all the changes, maybe he had to push the date closer.

It wouldprobably be a good idea to do that now.

An heir would give Riannon security andpeace of mind in herYes, it was a good decision.There was only one problem – how was he to get her back into The Silver RiverPack? What if the king decided to leave her there permanently?“My love,” Roxanne, who was massaging his shoulders this whole time calledhim, “I can see that you are worried.”“Don’t concern your pretty head with things like this,” Brayden told her, sighingheavily and closing his eyes.“How can lignore this when you are not happy?” she purred into his ear, almostannoying him,)“I can see you texting her for the past few hours.

Is this about your

wife again?”He grabbed her hand forcefully and yanked her to her knees before him.

“Don’tspeak about my wife and your Luna!” he growled but then saw tears forming inher eyes and his wolf snarled at him in his mind for making their mate sad again,“She is off-limits for you.

Got it?”“I am sorry,” she said, sulking slightly, “I understand the vast difference betweenthe two of us.

I just want to help.”“How can an omega help an Alpha?” a cruel laugh escaped him.“I may be just an omega,” she placed her palms back on his knees, “But I am stilla woman and understand some things from a female’s perspective.”Now she got him interested and he tilted his head slightly, watching her andgiving her a reassuring nod to speak.“Your wife is hurt because of me and it probably made her do some wrongchoices,” the girl on the floor said, averting his gaze, “It’s very sad that shebetrayed you when you had your first difficulties.

But...

never mind.

You want herback here, right? But she wouldn’t come on her own if I assume everythingcorrectly.”“And?” he was growing impatient.“Then you need to make her want to come,” she glanced at him and there wassomething dangerous in that glance.

However, it was gone quickly, replaced byher usual eagerness to please.“I am afraid this time a diamond necklace isn’t going to cut it,” he scoffed.“Nothing nice will,” Roxy nodded her head, “But I would come anywhere ifsomething was to happen to you.”

“I understand,” she agreed with him again, “But I bet there is someone else inthat pack who she cares about.”He watched her for a few seconds before what she meant registered.It wasn’t what he liked to do.

But desperate times...“There is that best friend of hers,” Roxanne continued, “They are practically likesisters to each other...”Their eyes met and she held his gaze with her lips curled slightly.“If I touch Maya...” He started saying when she interrupted him.“You don’t have to do anything,” she smirked for the first time, “I can take care ofthat.

Just support me when the time comes.”“All right,” Brayden sneered and watched his mate jump back to her feet andleave the room.

:Maybe, just maybe, that omega mate of his was worth more than he thought...