Chapter 10: Behind The Curtain

He was standing there and watching his mate with his mouth opened.

No, it couldn’t be! It was some kind of a joke!

Yet that was her... a Luna that belonged to another Alpha... At first, Gideon felt

as if his heart was broken. She did not wait for him. His mate, the one and only

woman chosen for him by the Moon goddess, did not wait for him...

She got married, became someone else in Luna and even let this man put a

mark on her neck.

He had many flings, but he never even considered marking a woman other than

his mate. He was ready to never meet her, but he always knew one thing – if he

would ever place his mark on someone, it would be his mate.

Pain washed over him quickly and although Reid next to him was constantly

telling him something, all his attention was on Riannon Thorn.

He repeated her name and it brought him to his senses. He remembered their

phone conversation. She wanted to divorce her husband. Their marriage was

over.

This brought a little smile to his lips, yet it wasn’t making him particularly happy.

“Gideon,” his Beta had to smack his arm to get him out of his daze, “What the

hell, man?”

“What?” the lycan king didn’t even spare his friend a glance.

“Should I call the Luna? You came here to speak to her, right?” Reid looked at

him with his eyebrows knitted.

“I want to watch her a bit first,” Gideon couldn’t take his eyes off his beautiful

mate. But he did not like what he saw. She was surrounded by men, men with

hungry lustful eyes. And he could sense that each of them wanted to claim her

now that they had a chance again. Everybody knew that her marriage was in

ruins. And no one wanted to miss that chance.

“Who is her husband?” a spark of interest appeared inside his mind against his

will.

“That guy over there,” Reid did not have any problem locating the jerk whose

mark his

mate was wearing, meaning that he did his own research already. That guy never

showed that he cared but Gideon knew that he never forgot the ‘favour’ Riannon

did for him. He wanted to pay her back properly in one way or the other.

The guy he pointed at was good looking. And Gideon did not like to admit it. The

prick looked like a true Alpha, tall and handsome. When he was saying

something, people around him were laughing or nodding at once. Meaning that

he had some weight.

But a tiny redhead was glued to his hand. She leaned towards him all the time

and he so-called mate. The one he brought into Riannon’s house.

It was good and bad. Good, because he was doing Gideon a favour. And bad,

because he was hurting the Luna.

He looked back where he left her, but his mate was not there. It didn’t take him

long to

find her though as all the men that were surrounding her before looked in one

direction – the dancefloor. The girl was dancing with another handsome guy who

had his hands on her and was pressing her way too close for Gideon’s liking.

He didn’t even notice how another feral growl escaped him.

“What is wrong with you today?” Reid looked at his Alpha in shock.

“Bring her in,” the lycan king commanded, “Now!”

His Beta left and suddenly he felt uncomfortable. His wolf was howling inside and

he tried to shut him up as fast as he could because he needed to think straight.

He sat in the chair that was provided for him. But immediately felt stupid and

stood up. He felt her getting closer and closer and in the end decided to have

another drink, walking to the table with beverages. But then it occurred to him

that it might not look good in her eyes and he discarded the idea.

“My king,” Reid cleared his throat and he turned to face him and the woman who

was haunting his dreams for the past few days. She was beautiful, there was no

denying it. Her piercing blue eyes were studying him with interest. And she had

good taste, looking regal in her wine red dress. There was a huge diamond ring

on her finger. But the worst thing of all was the mark that was poking out right

next to the expensive diamond necklace.

What was he to do now?

Riannon tried really hard to control herself. She was still shocked that lycans

arrived and still couldn’t believe that the arrogant Lycan King summoned her.

Suddenly she was regretting the things she said when they spoke last. What if he

wanted to punish her? Make an example out of her?

“My king,” she forced a smile, bowing politely.

“Luna Thorn,” he acknowledged her, realising one very important thing. She was

still giving him no reaction. While all he wanted to do was to grab her in his arms

and growl “MINE”, letting everyone here know who she belonged to. How the hell

did that happen? Why didn’t he feel it? Was it the mark on her neck? But her

husband didn’t have any trouble sensing his mate.

So why couldn’t Riannon do the same? What happened?

“Please, take a seat,” he motioned for her to choose any and she walked to one

of the chairs with her back straight and head held high. He loved the way she

moved.

Ria was sitting elegantly under the heavy gaze of the king and felt... awkward.

His heavy gaze was at her at all times, and she felt as if he expected something

from her. Was it an apology for shouting at him over the phone? Her cheeks

flushed slightly at the memory, but she was not going to say sorry. She meant

every word she said and she was too tired to look for excuses.

“I am not going to apologise,” she warned him at once and his lips parted in

shock. Maybe it was the wrong move after all.

“I am not asking you to,” he said after a pause and now she was the one gaping.

“Then to what do lowe the pleasure?” she tried to sound as formal as possible,

her hands on her knees.

For a second there Gideon contemplated simply telling her everything and

getting to the bottom of things. She was his and he needed her to know that.

Then again, he did not want her scared. She was already in a horrible situation,

and he did not want to cause her any distress. But he desperately needed to get

closer to her, to get some answers.

“Your fiery speech made an impression on me,” he smirked, making her swallow

nervously, “I have to say that some of the things you said were correct.”

After these words, he received a curious gaze from her. Now wary, not scared,

not pretend. This was something.

“Just some?” she arched her brow and he chuckled at that. She was also funny.

“Let’s not get carried away,” he walked to the armchair opposite of her and sat

down, “This is your chance to change everything, Riannon. Tell me everything

from the very beginning...”