Riannon wanted to smack him.

She knew very well what kind of game her exwas playing right now.

And she knew that he was very good at it.

He knew justwhat to tell the other alphas to make them concerned and to make them doubt.After all, he was one of them.

And Gideon wasn’t.This was his chance to get back into the game and he wanted to use it.

However,what they were in now was bigger than him and his need to bounce back.

So,she couldn’t let him have his way this time.“To throw accusations like that, Alpha Brayden, you need hard proof” she saidfirmly, “I suppose you have something to confirm your words.

Otherwise, it’s justslander and you will lose the last bits of respect for you that still remain.”Their eyes met and Bray knew better than to continue.

It was different now thatshe wasn’t on his side anymore.

He used to count on her support in matters likethis, knowing that she would find the right words.

But not anymore.

Now she wasdefending another.

And it hurt.“Let’s not drag this.

I think we just got lucky today,” Ramina, the Alpha of thewerecats sighed, “And let’s be thankful for that.

Right now, we need to gather ourstrength and mournthe ones that we lost.”“But it doesn’t change the fact that it was probably just one part of the plan,”Gideon said calmly.

Surprisingly, he seemed absolutely unaffected by theaccusations of his mate’s ex,“ My guess would be that phase one was todecapitate packs by killing the alphas and, in case that did not work, makealphas weaker by killing their Lunas.

And that means that phase two is about tostart and we need to be ready.”“I agree,” Zack Morgan nodded, “We need to make sure our warriors are alwaysready to answer the call of our neighbours if there is such a need in the future.

We united for a reason and right now it is time to prove that our alliance is worthsomething.”“I will dispatch lycans to each pack that borders the foxes and the werebears justin case,” Gideon announced, “They will help you train and also help you defendyour territories in case of an attack.”“That would be greatly appreciated,” an Alpha of one of the packs in questionnodded and others agreed with him as well.“As for the deceased Alphas,” the king went on, “Right now their Betas will haveto step in as leaders unless they have heirs of an appropriate age.

New alphasshould be appointed within this week.

I am afraid it can’t take any longer.”“Then this is it for today,”Gideon announced.

Everyone was too tired by now aftereverything they went through.

“We’ll be in contact,” he said, and the leadersstarted to say theirgoodbyes.

Brayden was among the first ones to leave and Riannon was able tobreathe easily when he was gone from her sight.

She knew that his pride wouldalways stand in his way of accepting the new order of things.

And she didn’t havethe emotional strength to fight him today anymore.

She was too exhausted.Her mate was still talking to a few alphas and she decided to go and get some airwhile she waited for him to be done.

No one was asking for her opinion on thingsfor now, since her pack was still in the making.

Not that she wanted to share herthoughts before she discussed everything that was on her mind with Gideon.Outside, she saw her ex leading Roxy out of one of the ambulances.

The omegastumbled on the way and dropped right into her mate’s arms helplessly.Riannon rolled her eyes as she turned away from the sight and almost bumpedinto Ash’s chest.

For a few seconds, she and the Beta were just staring at eachother.“Is this true?” he asked, placing his palms into the pockets of his trousers.

“Depends on what you mean,” she couldn’t read his facial expression and thusdid not know what to expect from him.“You have a mate,” Ash said in a broken voice, “A real one this time.” “It’s thetruth,” she nodded.

There was no point in denying anything.

Neither did she want“The Lycan king, huh?” the Beta snorted.“Trust me, I was as surprised as everybody else,” she gave him a weak smile.“And you are not coming back...”“Oh, Ash,” she smirked, “I am definitely coming back for what is mine.

Just nottoday.” She noticed a faint smile on his lips as he gave her a nod.

“I’ll be waiting,”he said, and for a second there was silence between them.

“Ash, can I ask yousomething?” she decided to try her luck one more day today.“Of course,” the man seemed to be relieved for some reason.

As if he didn’t knowhow to talk to her anymore and was happy for her to initiate the conversation.“Were you with Roxy during the explosions?” she asked and he furrowed hiseyebrows, getting at once why she was asking that.

literally everywhere.”“And what was she doing right before the explosion?” Riannon did not give up.“Shopping,” he replied honestly, “She...

liked that lingerie shop they had there.Then, when everything happened, she was right next to the glass window and itwas broken from the impact.

Roxy was thrown over the wall.

I spent most of thetime trying to bring her back to her consciousness right until Brayden camelooking for her.”“I see,” Riannon nodded.

This wasn’t much and didn’t help her in her suspicionsat all.

Then again, it was more important what Roxanne was doing prior to theSummit.

When no one even knew that she was there.“Come on, Ash!” Brayden growled through the open window of his car, “We needto get back to our pack.”

For a second there their eyes met and she knew that he was about to saysomething to her.

Probably something hurtful this time since he was obviouslyangry with how today went for him.

So, she turned away before he had a chanceto do so.

She did not owe him anything anymore.“See you around, Ash,” she said and walked away.

Gideon, Ria, Maya and Reiddrove home together.

The lycan king had his hands wrapped around his matewhile she rested her head on his chest.

They were supposed to have theirtriumphant return home but the recent events did not let them indulge in theirhappiness.

Toomany people died and they both felt guilty for the happiness that they felt.It also did not escape Ria’s gaze that her best friend and her mate were not eventouching each other.

Maya sat with one of her legs on top of another and herhands folded on her chest, looking everywhere but at Reid.

At the same time, thelycan Beta was throwing glances at her from time to time, obviously eager formore contact.

But he did not push her, giving her the space she needed.Riannon told them everything that happened today with Roxy, starting from thevery beginning and they all listened carefully to her.“I know it’s not much,” she said when she was done, “But I do feel that she is notthat simple.

Considering everything that she did in my previous life...”“Wow,” Reid suddenly straightened his back, “Previous life? Did I misssomething?”“Apparently a lot,” Maya snorted and again her friend wondered what was goingon between her and her mate, taking a mental note that she would have toaddress this later.her.

“It’s worth checking, my love,” he kissed her temple, “Luckily, the videofootage was saved in the cloud.

So, we will be able to check everything thathappened before the Summit.”

“Really?” Ria looked at her mate, “Then we will be able to find that Everett guy aswell!”Every muscle in Gideon’s body tensed.“What’s that supposed to mean?” he growled.“I saw him again today,” she confessed, “Just a glimpse, but I saw him.

Rightafter the explosions when we were getting people out.

I am sure that the two areconnected.

Now more than ever.”“Then it’s good that he appeared,” the Lycan king‘s grip on her became tighter,“It’s best to know our enemies in the face.”When they arrived back at the lycan kingdom, it was already dark.

Gideon andReid had a few matters to deal with, so the girls went to their rooms first.

Riannondecided not to bother Maya tonight since her friend already looked exhaustedenough after the long day they had.She was also tired, but after a long and relaxing shower her strength replenishedand she was disappointed not to find Gideon in her bedroom.

She was evenmore disappointed not to find him in his bedroom since it was the middle of thenight.However, she had a pretty good idea of where she could find him.She threw a black silk robe on top of the matching slip and went downstairs.

Allthe way to the lycan king’s office, where she found him staring at his laptop.Luckily, Reid was nowhere in sight.“Is this how it is going to be, Your Majesty?” she mocked him with a soft smile onher lips as she closed the door behind herself.

He lifted his eyes to look at herand his mouth parted slightly.

He could look at her forever and still be strickenwith her beauty every time.magic

“I am sorry,” he tilted his head to have a better look at her and liking what he saw,“I just wanted to make sure that the footage was checked as soon as possible.”“And?” she got closer to his desk and his eyes lingered on her slender frame.“Unfortunately, there is nothing to incriminate that omega,” he sighed, “And as forthat Everett guy, the cameras were not filming the side of the car park.

This isprobably why he was so bold and let you see him.

It’s another dead end.”“Disappointing,” she sighed and circled the desk, placing one hand on hisshoulder and another on the laptop, closing it, “But this also means that you maybe done for tonight.

AndHis eyes flashed golden as he took the laptop and threw it into one of thedrawers, immediately bringing her closer by her waist.“The things you do to me,” he smirked and pulled the belt of her silky robe.“Maybe it’s time for you to do things to me?” Riannon shrugged her shouldersand the robe fell all the way down to her feet, making her mate growl.

She bentdown to him, lacing her fingers in his hair and kissed him greedily.

Gideon’shands were roaming her thighs and as his fingers reached her most sensitivepart, a snarl of approval rumbled through his chest as he found out that she didn’thave any underwear on.With both his palms, he grasped her bottom and placed her on the desk beforehim, spreading her legs for him.

Riannon was watching his every movement ashe stood up, towering over her and started covering her body with kisses, makingher slip fall down to her waist.“I am definitely the Moon Goddess’ favourite,” Gideon chuckled, kneading herbreasts in his hands, “How else can one explain me having you as my mate.

Theperfect woman.”

“Gideon!” she arched her back, needing more action from him now than what hewas giving her and he happily obliged, sucking in one of her n***les and at thesame time inserting two digits into herA moan tore off her lips as the pleasure started to build inside of her.

In themeantime, the lycan’s lips were travelling lower and lower her body, until she felthis hot breath on her bundle of nerves and then his canines grazing over it softly.And as soon as he started working on her with his tongue, she lost it, digging hernails in his shoulders and moaning his name.

He curled his fingers insidemasterfully, bringing her over the edge quickly.She panted as he stood up again to watch her as if she was a work of art.

ButRiannon was not nearly done, so she tugged on his belt, unbuckling it clumsily,since she was still coming back to her senses after her rel**se.

His hardnesssprung out of his pants and she stroked him a few times, teasing and making hiseyes go darker.He grasped her thighs and yanked her closer towards him, pressing his head ather entrance and at the same time lifting her legs higher.“You are playing dangerous games, little mate,” he taunted, and a nervous laughescaped her lips.“I am feeling brave tonight,” Riannon smirked at him and Gideon lowered himselfto capture her lips, at the same time entering her in one rough move which sheenjoyed to the“I love you so much,” he breathed into her mouth as he thrust into her and shescratched his back, tearing off his shirt in the process.“I love you...

too,” she managed to confess in between his powerful thrusts,“So...

much!“Mine,” he growled out loud and lifted her up in the air, to which she immediatelyhugged his waist with her thighs tight.

He pumped into her again and again,

making her bounce on him while giving her back the support which she needed.Riannon screamed in pleasure as he was filling her perfectly, the tingles of theirmate bond spreading over her body more than ever before.

She felt Onyxhowling inside as she cl**max at the same time as him and bit his shoulder fromthe intensity of the sensations.Gideon was holding her tight, his most important treasure.

Slowly catching hisbreath, he sat back in his chair, placing her on top of him and pressing her to hischest.

She leaned into him as if she belonged there and it was the most naturalthing for them ever.

His fingers were brushing her hair softly and, for the first timeon this very hard and uneasy day, they both felt happy and at peace.Only to get none.

“Ria?” he caressed her cheek and realised that his mate haddozed off already.“Should have done it while she was moaning,” Mars grunted, not happy at all withhow the night turned out.“She is ours now,” Gideon smiled as he covered her naked frame and lifted herup in his hands to take her to the bedroom, “Day earlier, day later – it makes nodifference anymore.”Riannon woke up alone in their bed, but there was no disappointmentwhatsoever, as she knew very well that her workaholic mate was probablyalready performing his royal duties.

A white rose on his pillow and a sweet noteonly confirmed her thoughts.She did not want to waste any time either and after a quick clean up, dressed toimpress and went downstairs.However, she paused at the doors of the dining room when she saw Mayastanding there alone.

She was clearly eavesdropping and this was so not like herfriend.

Her Beta noticed her at once and motioned for her to stay quiet, signalling for herto start listening too...