Chapter 14: The Phone Call

was slowly coming to power, how he watched when Brayden stripped her of her

title... She knew very well that she couldn’t rely on him.

“That’s very sweet of you to say that,” she sighed, “But as you can see, you may

as well have a new Luna soon.”

Riannon walked past him and got inside the car. She was about to pull the train

of her dress in, when Ash kneeled next to her, doing it for her carefully. Their

eyes locked just for a second and his shone blue as he said, “Brayden may have

a mate or a new wife even. But I will only have one Luna.”

He closed the door for her before she could say anything and got to the driver’s

seat.

Just then the passenger door opened and Harper, Brayden’s sister tried to get in.

“Oh, good, Ash!” she giggled, “I want to go home early too!”

“You’d better find another car, Har,” the Beta said dryly. “But I...” the girl seemed

stunned and looked at Ria questioningly.

“She can ride with us,” Riannon sighed. She really did not want to. Harper was

almost never nice to her. And she did not want to make her even angrier than

usual.

“No,” Ash said dryly, “I have my orders to take Luna home alone. For safety

reasons. Find another car, Harp.”

“But...” she tried to object but a loud Beta growl made her leave the car in an

instant.

Ash rarely used his dominance but today he did.

The car doors locked, and he drove off. They spent most of the road in silence,

just exchanging a few phrases about the party.

“The lycan king...”, Ash muttered, “What is that about?”

“He is just trying to maintain the friendly relationship with our kind,” she shook her

shoulders and looked away.

“And yet he spoke and danced with you only,” the Beta noticed.

“Turns out he heard about my work,” she lied without blinking, “You sound so

surprised.

Is it so strange for him to pay me attention?”

“Of course, not,” Ash cleared his throat and grasped the steering wheel tighter, “If

anyone deserves recognition, it’s definitely you. I am just surprised he arrived at

all.”

It was true. Riannon was surprised as well. Back in her previous life, he never

arrived at the Alpha Ball. They never met. good thing as this was what she

needed – to change everything. But on the other hand, it was scary. Because if

the changes were drastic, she wouldn’t know where she could place a safe bet.

Everything was complicated.

They arrived back at the pack late at night and Ash offered her his hand to help

her out of the car. His fingers grasped hers and he did not let go when she was

already out. This was odd. He wasn’t like that before.

Ash was Brayden’s best friend since high school, but they never actually hit it off

as friends. He was quiet around her although he performed his duties just

perfectly. She used to rely on him and take it for what it was. Yet his betrayal still

came as a shock to her.

As a Beta, he gave her a vow when she became the Luna. And he didn’t keep it.

It was probably because his vow to the Alpha was more important. But it still hurt

her.

So, it was strange for her now to receive his affection. Not to mention that it was

very new even if the betrayal neber happened.

They walked inside the mansion and everything was already quiet.

“Thanks,” she mumbled, “I am going to get some sleep.”

“Of course,” he suddenly appeared way too close to her in this dark reception

area, “Luna No, Riannon... I think that Brayden is an idiot.”

She did not know what to respond to that. But decided to go with the first thing

that came to her mind.

“That makes two of us,” she let out a little laugh, “Shame he can’t help it.”

But then the silence between the two of them became awkward and she simply

turned and started walking up the stairs. When she turned to look at him, she

noticed how his eyes shone blue and gulped, saying nothing and just speeding

up.

Back in her bedroom, she locked the doors behind her.

“What’s up?” Maya looked worried sitting at her desk with a sketchbook. Ria was

relieved to see her best friend here and she gave her a relieved smile.

“Nothing. Just came back early.” She sighed, throwing off her heels. Maya put

her sketch away and Riannon noticed that it was a caricature of Roxanne this

time. And a very

good one. The girl was smiling way too wide while holding a knife behind her

back.

“That bad, huh?” she asked with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Gideon gave her, “You wouldn’t believe it but the Lycan King himself was there!”

“What?!” Maya gasped and jumped to her feet, “For real?! What did he say?

What did he do? Did you talk to him?”

The two girls talked until it was way too late. Riannon told her best friend

everything and then they were planning and strategizing for the next few days.

They had to be in perfect sync for everything to work.

Before sleep, Ria sighed, looking at the cell phone which she placed on top of

her bedside table. There weren’t any numbers in it, no instructions. It looked like

the phone was brand new.

Just why did the king give it to her? What was the point? He had her number

anyway, he could call anytime.

She caught herself on the thought that this man wasn’t leaving her mind. She

was

supposed to think about her husband and his betrayal, yet thoughts of king

Gideon prevailed. He was unusual. Even for a lycan. The way he spoke, the way

his lips curled into a smirk... It seemed like he knew something that she didn’t.

see

And that dance... It was short but it made an impression. And not only on the

guests. On her as well.

“I have my reasons for everything,” he said and she could only wonder what

those were in her case. He went really fast from ridiculing her to giving her the

chance of her life.

She was still thinking of him when the phone rang.

She hesitated before swiping her finger to start the conversation but did it

anyway.

“Hello?” she hated how her voice trembled.

“What are you wearing?” the lycan king’s voice was huskier than she

remembered.

What kind of question was that? She started to get worried that he was interested

in her for the wrong reasons.

“I am not answering that,” she said.

“Why not?” he asked as if this was not the first time they were doing it.

“Because it’s inappropriate!” she scolded him, “Who even asks a married woman

that?! What are you wearing, Gideon?!”

She couldn’t control her rage and used his first name, biting her lip at once.

“Easy,” he chuckled, clearly enjoying the conversation, “I am wearing nothing,

Ria.” tried to control herself.

“That was... I didn’t mean to...” She tried to explain herself, blushing. This was

not goingwell. an

“No offence taken,” he assured her, sounding amused, “And I bet you wear

something lacy and... cream. You look like the cream kind of girl.”

She looked down at herself, almost cursing under her breath. He was right. She

was wearing a cream slip with lace. Most of her nightgowns looked like that.

“I am not going to deny or confirm that,” she tried to sound professional, “And if

that’s the only reason for your call, then I have to hang up now...”

“That’s not the only reason,” he said without any kind of worry in his voice.

“So?” she felt like he was playing with her and she did not like it. Yet she couldn’t

bring herself to end this either.

“I will be visiting your pack tomorrow,” he said and she sat up on her bed. “You

will?” her throat suddenly went dry.

“I will,” he snorted, “But unofficially. Out of all your pack, I only want to see and

speak to you. We need to discuss a lot of things.”

“That we need,” she agreed with ease, feeling how her mood went up instantly.

“Then I’ll be seeing you tomorrow, Riannon,” he said and she just knew that he

was smiling.

“See you then, Gideon,” she grew bolder. But before he managed to say anything

else, she switched off the phone and fell back to her pillow.

What was she doing? And most importantly, what was he doing?!

***

In the morning, Riannon had her breakfast in her room, trying to figure out what

she could and couldn’t say to the Lycan king when he would arrive.

Brayden was out since early morning with Ash. They both trained the pack

warriors at that time.

That’s why Ria was surprised when she heard a commotion in one of the drawing

rooms of the packhouse.

She opened the doors and dozens of eyes met hers. The room was filled with

omegas having some kind of a tea party. A party that she wasn’t even aware of.

friends here! This... we...”

Fake tears started forming in her eyes again and Ria had enough...