THE PERFECT LUNA

Ria was descending the stairs slowly and with grace, noticing how Brayden

turned to see what everybody else was looking at. He was shocked that it was

his own wife. And Riannon found this offensive. So, when he offered her his hand

to the displeasure of princess Peach... ghm, Roxy in her ugly peach dress, she

ignored that and went past them as if they did not know each other. The move

made another wave of whispers erupt. And in the werewolf world whispers were

nothing – everyone could hear what the conversation was about.

Ria went to greet a few couples that she knew, all of them stretched their best

smiles for her, not commenting on the awkward situation. She was done with that

quickly and since the party seemed to go on, she decided to go and get herself

some liquid courage. Goddess knew she needed some today.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed that the balcony on the other side of the

room, the one that was usually used by the owner of the house, Alpha Richards,

was covered with white curtains to hide what was going on inside. She could see

a few figures moving there but that was about it. She was curious what it was

about but not to the extent to actually go and check for herself as

“Luna Thorn,” a male voice appeared behind her back and she turned to face an

unfamiliar alpha. He was one of the new and younger ones as she didn’t know

him. In some packs, alphas were changing frequently due to power struggles.

She and Brayden managed to avoid those and were considered something like

elders even though she was 25 and he was 26.

“Hello,” she greeted him with a soft smile. After all, it was only polite.

“Alpha Zach Morgan,” the man introduced himself and he looked to be in his late

20s as well, “The Alpha of the Emerald Mountain pack.”

“Ah, I’ve heard,” Riannon was now interested. Everybody heard the rumours

about the alpha’s bastard child who challenged his elder brother (who was a

moron, by the way) and won his title, “Impressive!”

“A compliment from someone like you is a compliment indeed,” he smirked and

gestured for the barmen to serve them drinks, “Champagne for the lady and

brandy for me.”

He didn’t even ask her. Alphas were like that.

“Riannon,” another Alpha appeared from her other side, “Looking gorgeous as

ever.”

His hand wrapped around her waist as if it belonged there, making Zach growl

quietly as a warning her. They both thought that she was back on the market.

How funny! But also useful. Because she was, after all, on the market. Even

though she had another

man’s mark on her neck. But that man was with someone else now, enjoying his

time. As far as Ria remembered from the previous life, the two of them had a

blast while she was forgotten. She hid in a corner in a modest dress and left

early. Alone. Her heart was broken and she couldn’t even talk to anyone,

although she did her best. As always.

Now the game was on. Her heart was not aching anymore.

Well, maybe a bit. But she could still think clearly now. And she could see the

hungry gazes everyone had on her. Every. Single. Male. And maybe it was petty,

but she loved the attention. She craved it after everything that happened. She

needed to feel like a woman again. And a beautiful at that.

Another loud growl emerged from somewhere and it had such power to it that

they all looked around. For a second Ria thought that it could be Brayden who

finally noticed her, but he was in the other corner of the room, introducing Roxy to

his Alpha pals. He gave her a glance when he felt her looking and an apologetic

smile to go with it. How annoying.

Then who was that growling?

“Don’t mind it!” a third Alpha joined them, “It’s just Lycans going crazy. Riannon,

you are simply breath-taking today! What a dress! The colour suits you!”

“Lycans?” she flapped her lashes, thinking that she was probably hearing things,

“Here?”

“Yeah,” Zach snorted, “Everyone is shocked. They are invited every year but they

never attend, probably thinking that they are too good for us! And yesterday

Alpha Jones received a call that the Lycan King himself will be visiting but they

need a private VIP area. Can you imagine?”

“Snobs!” another werewolf next to her let out a laugh, “So, Ria, will you save me

a dance?

“I don’t see why...”

“No,” she heard a firm voice behind her back and turned to see her Beta, who

looked less than thrilled with the whole situation. What was his problem? “My

Luna promised to dance with me tonight,” he lied without blinking and this got her

annoyed. Was he doing that for Brayden? Not to let her talk to anyone?

“Don’t be ridiculous, Ash,” she giggled and then gave him her signature don’t-

you-dare look she used with her subordinates. “We talked only about one dance

in the car. And after that,” she glanced over the company of at least five single

Alphas around her, “I can dance with my old... friends. And the new ones as

well.”

Some of the men adjusted their collars at her words and it pleased her that she

had the desired effect on them. The dress was a good investment, after all.

“I still insist on being first,” the Beta offered her his hand and she accepted it.

“I’ll be back,” she winked at the other guys and they all either nodded or smirked

at her.

She wasn’t thinking of them seriously, of course. Although she knew very well

that some of them were serious about her. There was Alpha Maddox, Brayden’s

old rival. He stated more than once his desire to take her as his Luna back in the

day. And Alpha Grayson was showing her signs of admiration before too. She

always pretended not to notice before but she knew very well how they looked at

her. Females with pure Alpha blood were rare. Her wolf had an immaculate silver

coat, which was unique as well. On top of that, she was beautiful and smart. She

was the Perfect Luna that everyone wanted. And Brayden was lucky to have her.

Shame all that did not help her when he met his mate... Even in spite of them

wearing each other’s marks and having a bond of their own, it did not help...

“You shouldn’t give them hope, you know.” Ash told her all of a sudden and she

gave him a surprised look.

“You read too much into everything,” she looked in a different direction because

his gaze seemed to burn through her skull, “I am having fun.”

“You are the Luna...”

“And my Alpha is right there having the time of his life with his mate, Ash,” she

rolled her eyes, “What do you want me to do? Get in the far corner of the room

and cry my eyes out? He made his choice and...”

“And you are looking for a new Alpha already?” his grasp on her became tighter,

“Is there really a need for this?”

“And you think there isn’t?” she gave him an intrigued look.

“Of course, not!” his voice was firm, “Brayden will never divorce you. This girl is

just... for his wolf. You can find someone like that too. In our pack.”

“Or I can go and look for my mate too!” she snorted and ignored his frown, “I am

not into

He clenched his lips but luckily the music came to its end and she left him

quickly, trying to go deep into the crowd.

“Did you see? How shameless of her!” some girl was talking at the distance, “No

wonderher husband did not reject his mate even though he already marked her!

Maybe there is more to that story considering how she hangs herself on every

Alpha she sees!”

Riannon grazed her eyes over the girl. It was just some bimbo one of the Alphas

brought.

Not even a Luna.

However, she realised that the rumours would be spreading. And not everyone

would be on her side even though she had no choice.

Oh, well.

She deliberately left Ash on a side of the hall opposite from where all the single

Alphas were waiting for her. Of course, she would work on them too. But

they were not too reliable. If they wanted from her something more than just

becoming allies, she couldn’t give them much. She did not want to marry for the

second time. At least, not now. All she wanted was to get her pack back. And she

needed help.

So, she started out by approaching her father’s old friends. The ones she knew

were supporting Brayden only thanks to her. A little hint here and there and one

by one they promised her their support. Four in total within half an hour. Not

much but it was a start.

“There you are!” Alpha Zach caught her when she was on her way to talk to one

of her ex-classmates, “Someone promised me a dance.”

His hazel eyes looked darker now and she knew that she couldn’t avoid it any

longer. She noticed Bray not far from her, with Roxy clinging to him. His eyes,

however, were on his wife. And the look in them did not promise her anything

good.

“I did, didn’t I?” she smirked, enjoying this moment. She hoped it hurt him too.

Zach was about to take her back to the dance floor when a ridiculously tall man

with a playful grin crossed their path.

“Long time no see, Luna,” she addressed her as if they knew each other and she

tried to remember really hard who he was when it suddenly occurred to her.

“B-Beta Reid?” she gasped, recognising the lycan she met years ago. “In the

flesh!” he showed off her pearly whites, “It’s such a coincidence to run into you!”

“At the annual Alpha Ball that all Lunas attend every year?” she arched her brow,

“Not"

“Well,” he chuckled, “I am here for the first time, so... Anyway... My King is here

too and he wishes to see you.”

“I’ll make sure to deliver Luna Thorn as soon as our dance is over,” Alpha Zach

tried to

lead her away, but the Lycan stopped him.

“I am afraid, you will have to find another dance partner,” he looked friendly but

somehow sounded menacing. So menacing, that Alpha Zach stepped away,

giving them way.

The lycan led her to the balcony while pretty much everyone in the room,

including her husband, watched them and opened the white curtain before her,

motioning for her to enter.

Another loud growl sounded as soon as she walked in...

Marissa Gilbert

Haik... dator etart today I really hope I will be able to keep this up. Thank you to

everyone who reads this