"Careful, just a few more steps and we are there,"Gideon chuckled as heattentively led Riannon to the big surprise he prepared for her.She had a blindfoldon but did not seem worried at all.Her lips were curled into a soft smile, and shewas walking with confidence, holding his hands and trusting him completely.The lycan king was looking at his beautiful wife and saying silent prayers to theMoon Goddess to thank her for such a gift.It still felt like a dream to himsometimes.He had the perfect woman who made his life perfect as well.Sometimes he was so happy that he felt guilty, considering that many of thepeople around him were still dealing with the consequences of the war they had.The war that was far from being over.Riannon tried not to grin.She was goingwherever he was taking her without any kind of questioning his motives.This was what trust was supposed to be.She felt a fresh breeze kissing hercheeks and smelled the scent of a familiar forest.She liked all this already.Gideon stopped and stood behind her, pulling her into his embrace from the backand kissing her neck gently, making waves of tingles ripple over her body.He then trailed the golden crescent on her marking spot with his lips and she letout a little moan, hoping "Ready?"he asked, his lips almost touching her ear."Yes," she replied playfully and he pulled her blindfold gently, taking it off.Riannon needed a few seconds to adjust to the light, but when she did, shegasped and covered her mouth with her hand."Gideon...that’s..."She breathed out, not able to finish the sentence as she was looking at their newhome.

A two-storey modern house on the top of a hill in the middle of the woods.The secret place right on the border of their two packs, where they decided tolive and raise their future children.It had stone and wood outer walls and huge glass windows with open balconiesoverlooking the Silver Lake, the place where they first met."Surprise!" he whispered and pecked her cheek."But how?"she was still astonished and turned to look at him."It wasn’t supposed to be ready for months and months!""I had to pull some strings," Gideon chuckled."Anything for my queen."They made the decision to create this place before their wedding.Since Riannon’s packhouse was destroyed, they needed a new one.And they also needed to integrate their people, lycans and werewolves, into onenew nation.More houses were planned to be built nearby as this was supposed to slowlybecome the center of the new future kingdom.This was the perfect location as Ria’s pack and the western kingdom’s mainpalace was at an equal and much shorter course, but this place... this placebelonged to them.Here, they did not have to play their usual political games and could live a muchsimpler life which they both craved, creating something new at the same time.A few mixed couples had already formed.

Lycans were finding their werewolf mates thanks to the many meetings arrangedby Riannon for the two species.They knew that it would take them decades for all the changes to settle, but theyboth also knew very well how to be patient."The view here is better than I remember!"Ria sighed and leaned with her back on her mate as his hands were wrappedaround her."It could be better," the Lycan king smirked and pointed at a big rock in front ofthe building."I was right there when I had the best view of my life of a beautiful womanswimming naked in that very lake.Now that was a view to remember!""Hmm," she turned around to face him and laced her fingers into his hair to makehim lower his head for a kiss, "who knows, if you behave, maybe I will swimnaked for you again.Maybe I will even let you join me this time."An internal growl left his chest, and she licked his lips gently, making them part todeepen the kiss.He grasped her tighter in his arms, devouring her greedily asalways.He could never get enough of her.No matter how much time they spenttogether, no matter how "You are here!" they heard a familiar voice and Gideon growled again.This time from the frustration of being interrupted."Pardon me for the intrusion.""Ash!"Ria smiled at her Gamma and was about to step away from her mate, but he didnot let her, only pulling her closely.

"This day is full of surprises indeed!""You said that you had an important conversation with me, and your husband toldme that you’ ll be here today, so I decided to grab that chance," Ash smiled.They did not see much of each other lately because he was mainly working withthe werewolves, while Riannon was physically mostly in the lycan kingdom,paying visits to her pack when she could.This was one of the reasons why this place was so important.It would make it easier to be both - a queen and an Alpha.Ash’s eyes grazed over her but he stretched a formal smile quickly."That’s actually not a bad idea," Riannon nodded at him, trying to struggleagainst Gideon, who had no intentions of letting her go.Next to Ash he was always getting overly possessive, noticing how the latter waslooking at his wife."So, Lam at your service, Alpha," Ash bowed jokingly and she rolled her eyes."I will cut straight to the chase," Riannon became serious in an instant."I need you to take over Brayden’s pack." finally released his mate from hisclutches, knowing that it was a strictly business meeting."But...you are the Alpha of The Silver River pack,"Ash mumbled, nervously placing his hands in his pockets.They discussed it a few times, but he always rejected the idea, knowing that if hebecame the Alpha, then they wouldn’t be seeing each other at all.He knew that she already belonged to another and that he had no chance, butjust being next to her was better than not being next to her at all.

It was enough.He settled for this."Most people in Brayden’s pack resent me after our loud divorce and some evenblame me for his death," the Alpha Queen was honest."Improving their financial situation helped, but not a lot.I could earn their trust andlove if I lived there non-stop, but that’s impossible at the moment.""I can be your substitute," Ash proposed with hope."No, I need you to be my subject Alpha," Riannon shook her head."I can’t do it and it’s not worth it now.If not me, the other two obvious choices areyou and Harper.And trust me, Ash, no pack will survive with Harper as theirleader."He knew that it was the truth and tried to think hectically of a reason to leavethings the way they were.But when he felt her touch on his hand, he shivered and looked at her."Nothing is over yet, Ash,"Ria was looking him straight into the everyone is doing their part.No one is safe.Right now, Princess Savannah is planning her wedding in the North kingdom withthe man she doesn’t even like, sacrificing herself for a bigger cause.We have to do some adjustments too.It’s not only about the pack.It’s bigger than that.Zack and his allies left the Union officially and we couldn’t do anything aboutit.We had no proof other than Savvy’s words of their betrayal.They didn’t turn up

to the battle and now they say that it was Savvy’s fault.They also say that Zack isdead and imply that we killed him.But we all know that it’s not the truth and thebastard is alive somewhere and just hiding.But now, because of all that, themembers of the Union are unsettled.And Ash, I need an extra vote at the nextAlpha Summit.You can be that vote if you become an Alpha.We all really needyou to do this.I need you."Ash was aware that being an Alpha of this pack would be challenging.Yes, they knew him all his life, but some of them were angry at him too forchoosing Riannon over Brayden.And if Harper had to become an Alpha...well, it would be a disaster.She was not cut out for this.She changed a bit after she was abducted by Castieland spent a few days in his dungeons.But the worst part for her was that they had all forgotten about her.It seemed to be a wake-up call for Harper, who always considered herself thecentre of attention.She decided to try and be useful in the pack now that her brother was dead.But...she wasn’t good at anything.Riannon was right as always.It had to be him game was lost before it started."I do it,"he gave her a curt nod."As you know it’s not going to be easy," Queen went straight to business as shealways did."Beware of the current Beta, make him a Gamma and take someone trustworthyas your second in command.We suspect that the Beta made the order to blow up

my packhouse.Or at least was connected to the foxes.But there is no proof.Theman who was caught on the day killed himself, but before that, he confessed towho he was taking orders from.And it was Jacob.""Why don’t we just kill him then?" Ash arched his brow."One confession during torture doesn’t mean anything," this time Gideon joinedtheir conversation."We couldn’t confirm this information. But it is a possibility, and you should beaware of this.""I see," the werewolf tensed.Was he even ready for this if he had to do this alone? "Ash, we will support you at all times," Riannon said as if she read his mind.She always did that.Always guessed the exact thing he was thinking about."Did you already choose your new Gamma?" he decided to change the subject.He didn’t want the lycan king to see his desperation and longing for his wife.Itwasn’t appropriate."Yes," the queen smiled, "I chose one of the red girls that decided to stay with meand proved their loyalty." by his side at Castiel’s house."No," Ria shook her head."Bridgit decided to go back home to her family and give them anotherchance.She hopes to find her mate and feels that it might be a bear.""Good for her," Ash nodded curtly.

"I have to go now.If we are going to do this, I need to prepare some things beforethe announcements.""Are you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner?" the queen asked, and Gideongrowled possessively behind her back."Nah, I need to go.Maybe another time.""All right," she smiled and squeezed his hand in a friendly manner."See you, Alpha Jones," the lycan king said, wrapping his hand around his wife’swaist and leading her away from him.Ash saw Maya and Reid walking out of the house and Riannon giggled happily,running towards them.She forgot about him already, only looking at her husband to see if he waskeeping up with her.And this was the moment when Ash knew that he had to move on too...Hecouldn’t go on like that."Maya! Reid! You are here as well!"Ria rushed to their friends and stretched her hands towards baby Danielle."She is getting bigger and bigger! Come to your godmother, my sweet Dany!""There you go!"Maya handed her the baby and then brushed her, always reminding her of theone who killed her brother.But when she looked into Danielle’s eyes, she saw Dean and felt relief.Her belly was already big, and their second child was going to be born in just afew months.

Reid was so happy when she told him.They were walking to the house and watching their friends happy with their kid."If you are ready for this, then so am I," Gideon winked at her, taking her hand inhis."We talked about this," she sighed, "it’s too risky now.First, we need to weed outall the traitors and win that war once and for all.""I know," he chuckled, "but don’t blame a man for trying.""AS soon as we are ready, I will give you as many pups as you like, " Riannongrinned at him."Boys, girls, strong, beautiful and smart like them...""Mummy," he interjected before she had a chance to say anything."No, worries, Ria, you only motivate me to deal with our enemies faster.So that Icould have you all to myself.""I want this too," she stopped, and he pulled her into a warm hug, kissing the tipof her head."I don’t like how they turned everything upside down with Zack’s absence.Theysay that we had something to do with it.And something tells me that when we findZack, we find the culprit as well.The one who was commanding the rival armyduring the last battle." she nodded."We'll get them all, Ria.I swear to you.""I am worried for Bridgit as well," she confessed all of a sudden."when she left, we were in contact.But she doesn’t reply to my messagesanymore.I don’t know where she is and if she is okay."

"That one is harder" her mate brushed circles with his hand over her back to tryand reassure her."Bridgit is a werebear and none of them is currently on our side.""I know," Riannon agreed, "but I can’t help but worry.""We will figure something out," he assured her and pulled her hand so that shefollowed him into their new home."One day all our friends and family will meet here, and we will have a feast.""Sounds promising," she let out a little laugh when he lifted her in his arms rightbefore the doors."That is a promise," the lycan king chuckled."Everyone who is dear to us will be here.Savvy too.I will even tolerate her futurehusband.""Just behave at their wedding," Riannon snorted, knowing that this subject wasstill painful for her mate.He missed his little sister a lot, even despite her calling him almost every day."l am sure that we will get the invitation really soon.""I am surprised it’s not here already,"Gideon rolled his eyes."He wanted to marry her for so long.""You wanted to marry me too, but it still took us some time to prepare for thewedding and the coronation." Remembered very well how they were only alloweda little private ceremony with their friends and family before the big coronation

and a huge reception, where they were talking and shaking hands for most of theday.But Gideon knew that he would never forget how beautiful his bride looked backthen in her elegant sparkling champagne dress.How her eyes sparkled and how the wind was blowing strands of her hair.He would never forget what he told her before the priestess of the MoonGoddess on that day, when they were standing in the inner garden of his palace,holding hands and surrounded only by their beloved, who were their witnesses.*** "Riannon, I swear to love you and to protect you with my life as the most preciousthing that was given to me by the higher beings.But I also swear to treat you asmy equal, never less.Because The Moon Goddess knows it, you deserve thisand so much more.You are my heartbeat, you are every breath I take, you arethe blood in my veins and the essence of my existence.And I can’t imagine mylife now without you.I tried it and I am never getting back to that.Today I take youas my wife, my Luna, my Queen and my equal partner, ready to spend all my lifewith you.Will you accept me?""Yes," she smiled with tears glistening in her eyes."Gideon, I swear to love you and stay with you until the day I die.And possiblyeven after that."She gave him a little smile at these words, and he everything that you do.I havenever loved anyone the way / love you and no one ever gave me what you giveto me every day.Now I know that this is how it should be.I promise you my love,my devotion, my loyalty, my respect.I promise to hold your hand even if the wholeworld is against us.I love you so much...and I take you as my husband, my King,my equal partner and the love of my life.Will you accept me?"magic

"Yes," he nodded and even before the priestess could announce it, he pulled herinto his arms and covered her lips with his.*** They explored the new house together, paying special attention to the traininggrounds, where Gideon planned to train his wife.Her abilities were still not known to them.She was getting faster and stronger every day and could match any lycan that heknew.Even himself.But something was telling him that this wasn’t the limit.Riannon knew that too.Too often Onyx was disappearing again, and she was aware that her wolf wasspending time with none other than the Moon Goddess herself.When she was asking her about what was going on there, Onyx was giving herthe most vague answers, saying that she would tell her everything when the timecame.However, her dreams were getting more and more realistic.Disturbing even.For in her dreams she saw a battle.A battle that hadn’t happened yet...loved every room that she planned personallywith their architect.But she appreciated the bedroom the most.Riannon was exhausted but she never wanted it to stop.

Gideon was trailing his tongue over her inner thigh again, which made hisintentions about what he was about to do next very clear.He wanted more.More of her, more of their life as husband and wife, as king and queen, more ofthe happiness that they felt when they were together.Ria felt how her strength was replenished with every kiss he left on her body,every touch, every tease.They were two halves of the same whole and, as mates, they were giving eachother strength.She laced her fingers into his hair to give him a push in the right direction when asudden urge to empty her stomach overwhelmed everything else that she felt."Wait!" she muttered and pushed her confused husband away to run to thebathroom."Ria, what’s wrong?" he was worried now, and he was even more worried whenhe heard her throwing up.His phone ranged and he recognised Savvy’s personal ringtone."I am fine!"Riannon let out an apologetic sound and stood up to clean herself.She had noidea what had just happened.She had a stomach of steel and never...A sudden thought occurred to her, and she started to try and remember whenwas the last time she had her period.She was so her hand instinctively rubbing her belly."He did what to my sister?!"Gideon growled loudly and Riannon sighed.

Apparently, nothing was going according to their plans...