Chapter 23 Explain Yourself

TRIGGER WARNING.

There may be some triggering events mentioned in this chapter (self-harm,

abuse, mental illness etc). Please, read at your own discretion.

She kept sitting in her place. This was the only thing that she could do now. They

all were looking at her, expecting some kind of reaction.

She gave them none, keeping composure at all times and thinking hectically in

her mind of what to do next.

“Alpha, she is bleeding so badly!” Dean knelt right next to the couple, “She needs

to be taken to hospital! She is an omega and can’t heal quickly.”

“I will be... fine,” Roxy sighed so heavily as if breathing was actually hard for her.

Brayden tried to drill a hole in his wife’s skull with his eyes.

“How could you do this?!” he gritted his teeth, his eyes shining red meaning that

his wolf was trying to get through. Did his wolf want to hurt her? Or were they

fighting for control because Bray was unreasonable now? Ria thought that she

always had a good relationship with his wolf. But she wasn’t so sure about it

anymore now that mates were in the game.

“What makes you assume that I did anything?” she raised her brow calmly,

holding her cup with fingers that were almost trembling. Almost. She still could

keep her cool even in a situation like that. She had to. Especially now that she

was about to be accused of snapping and harming her husband’s mistress.

“My mate covered in her own blood says that it’s you!” he hissed.

“And?” Ria shot her brow up, “Since when is she more credible than your wife

and Luna of six years. Besides, she did not say that I harmed her. She said that I

did not want to. And you know what, I did not want to harm her and I didn’t. I was

sitting here, drinking my morning coffee as I always do and minding my own

business when your sweet little mate started harming herself.”

“You are not serious right now!” Brayden looked at her in shock.

“Oh, but I am,” Riannon took a sip even though there was practically nothing left

in her cup. But she needed this little break to gather her strength. “You know her

for what, a few days? Weeks if you had been lying to me. That’s not that long to

get to know someone properly. She may be your mate but that doesn’t make her

a good person. Or a sare one. To be honest, I am as shocked as you are that she

did something like that. There was absolutely no reason for that. We were just

having a more or less friendly conversation. Dean was here just a few minutes

before. He can confirm.” being infatuated by Roxy.

“B-but the cook,” the omega pointed her trembling finger at the woman who was

also already here, “She heard how you treated me and I was apologising for...”

“She is not a cook,” Riannon rolled her eyes, “She is a chef. And what exactly did

you hear, Maggie?”

“I...”, the older lady was bothered with the situation, “Roxanne was apologising

and calling herself worthless trash...”

Brayden growled. “Did you hear me telling her anything?” Ria asked. “No, Luna,”

Maggie replied honestly. “And that’s only because I didn’t say anything of the

sort,” she shrugged her shoulders.

“I am telling you. She was fine one minute and then went absolutely nuts the

other. I believe there are a few mental conditions that could cause that.”

Everyone was silent and she was not sure if it was working or not.

“For Goddesses’ sake!” Maya appeared from the back door followed by worried

Ash,” You know our Luna for many years! It’s ridiculous that anyone even thinks

of accusing her! She is the most rational person ever! She is even calm during

rogue attacks!”

“It’s true,” someone muttered at the back, “Our Luna is better than this.” “Agreed,

even though she is in her right to beat the crap out of this omega, she wouldn’t

stoop this low!”

It suddenly became slightly easier for her to breathe, and she relaxed into the

back of her chair.

“And while we are at it,” she continued, “I am an Alpha by blood. If I threw her

through these windows, she would fly way further than she did. Not to mention

there is no way there is my scent on her. And I have none of hers on me. Do I

even need to continue?”

“Exactly!” Maya placed her hands on her hips and stood behind her friend, “And

look how her wounds healing way too fast. Is she even an omega herself? We

know way too little about this woman! An omega would be healing for days after

something like that!”

It was an incredibly good point and now Riannon found herself standing up and

walking to her husband and Roxanne. Feeling cornered, the girl started to cry

again.

“They are right,” she mumbled, “I hit my face myself over the table. And then

broke the swear.”

Riannon clenched her fists. She was at it again. Implying that it was her after all

even though all the evidence was against her. The audacity of this redhead devil

had no boundaries!

She kept on crying in Brayden’s arms but he motioned for Dean to take her and

the guy readily obliged. Ria knew that her husband still did not believe her. But at

least he doubted Roxy. She could tell by the perplexed look on his face.

“Alpha,” Ash stepped in, “I think we can solve this matter easily. There is a secret

camera installed here. I did it a month ago. I believe everything will be on tape.”

Riannon tensed, turning to look at the Beta. If there were cameras here, she

would have known and used this first-hand. But there were none.

What was he doing? Did he try to help her or bury her? Given their history in the

past life, she just couldn’t tell.

“Fine, let’s check the footage in my office,” Brayden said, his voice changed

instantly,”

Ash, place some guards at Roxy’s door in the hospital. I don’t want anyone to get

in... or out.”

This was interesting and Riannon did not know how to read this. Was he

protecting his mate or was this the first sign of his distrust?

“Riannon, dear,” he stretched his hand to his wife, “Follow me. I am sure all this

is just a big misunderstanding.”

People behind their backs were puzzled. But at least, she won that battle to

some extent. Ria decided against accepting her husband’s hand and turned

away, walking out of the kitchen first. The last thing that she noticed was how

worried Maya looked, seeing her brother holding Roxy gently in his arms while

she clung to him, sobbing. They would definitely have to speak of this later. .

The two of them were silent all the way to the Alpha’s office. And only when

Brayden closed the doors behind him, a loud growl escaped him.

“What the hell was that Riannon?” he looked at her as if he was accusing her

again and she knitted her brows.

“Clarify that one, please,” she sat in one of the chairs, “I am starting to have a

headache here.”

“Why didn’t you take my hand in front of everyone when I chose to protect you?”

he asked spitefully, “I didn’t know how to do it before but luckily Ash gave me a

good idea with

“But logic does exist, Brayden,” she threw her head back and closed her eyes. It

was morning and she was already tired, “If you wanted to protect me, you could

start with not accusing me in the first place. I did not touch your mate. She is

crazy. It is what it is.”

He exhaled through his nostrils.

“I am sorry, it just did not look credible at first!” he confessed, “But I would have

never punished you even if I... I mean... I understand where your aggression

could come from.”

“Only that there is no aggression,” she looked him straight in the eyes, “You and

your little mental miss can do whatever you want. I am not going to dirty my

hands by touching you.That’s your prerogative. But do me a favour, handle her

properly so that she doesn’t pull stunts like this anymore! I demand at least this

little respect!”

“Ri,” he knelt on one knee before her, “I am sorry about yesterday. My wolf...”

“Oh, my Goddess,” she snorted, “Please, not this again! I just can’t listen to this

anymore. Sleep with her as much as you want. Whatever. Just don’t feed me

those wolf stories.”

Brayden clenched his lips and stood up.

“You changed so much, Ri,” he said, distancing himself from her and not looking

at her anymore.

“That makes two of us,” she scoffed.

“You know, given recent events, I think you and I will need to spend some time

alone. We need to work on our marriage.” He went to the window with his hands

clasped behind his back. “We can even go for a vacation if you like.”

“There is no need,” she said, “You and I have too much work to take vacations.”

She hated the idea of staying alone with him now. And there was no marriage

there anymore to work on. Only that she couldn’t afford to say it out loud for now.

“That’s the problem,” he chuckled, “Too much work. I believe I need to unload

you. Maybe Maya could help you with the papers more.”

“She will,” Riannon decided to agree with him at least on something. Alphas

needed that.

“And speaking about work, I don’t think that you going away for a week to the

Lycan kingdom is such a good idea now.”

Now, this was bad for her. She needed to go there. She needed to see Gideon!

For work... purposes. Not because she couldn’t stop thinking of it.

“And how do you imagine refusing the Lycan king considering that we already

agreed on that phone call!”

“Fine!” Bray snapped, “I will make it! I will tell him that there is no way in hell I am

letting my beloved wife go to his kingdom alone for a whole week!”

“And why the hell not?” a metallic voice sounded right behind her back, creating

goosebumps. She couldn’t believe that he was here! He only said that he would

send a car for her.

But when she turned, her eyes met with the Lycan King’s.