Chapter 52: Back To The Palace

Riannon wanted to smack him. She knew very well what kind of game her ex

was playing right now. And she knew that he was very good at it. He knew just

what to tell the other alphas to make them concerned and to make them doubt.

After all, he was one of them. And Gideon wasn’t.

This was his chance to get back into the game and he wanted to use it. However,

what they were in now was bigger than him and his need to bounce back. So,

she couldn’t let him have his way this time.

“To throw accusations like that, Alpha Brayden, you need hard proof” she said

firmly, “I suppose you have something to confirm your words. Otherwise, it’s just

slander and you will lose the last bits of respect for you that still remain.”

Their eyes met and Bray knew better than to continue. It was different now that

she wasn’t on his side anymore. He used to count on her support in matters like

this, knowing that she would find the right words. But not anymore. Now she was

defending another. And it hurt.

“Let’s not drag this. I think we just got lucky today,” Ramina, the Alpha of the

werecats sighed, “And let’s be thankful for that. Right now, we need to gather our

strength and mourn

the ones that we lost.”

“But it doesn’t change the fact that it was probably just one part of the plan,”

Gideon said calmly. Surprisingly, he seemed absolutely unaffected by the

accusations of his mate’s ex,“ My guess would be that phase one was to

decapitate packs by killing the alphas and, in case that did not work, make

alphas weaker by killing their Lunas. And that means that phase two is about to

start and we need to be ready.”

“I agree,” Zack Morgan nodded, “We need to make sure our warriors are always

ready to answer the call of our neighbours if there is such a need in the future.

We united for a reason and right now it is time to prove that our alliance is worth

something.”

“I will dispatch lycans to each pack that borders the foxes and the werebears just

in case,” Gideon announced, “They will help you train and also help you defend

your territories in case of an attack.”

“That would be greatly appreciated,” an Alpha of one of the packs in question

nodded and others agreed with him as well.

“As for the deceased Alphas,” the king went on, “Right now their Betas will have

to step in as leaders unless they have heirs of an appropriate age. New alphas

should be appointed within this week. I am afraid it can’t take any longer.”

“Then this is it for today,”Gideon announced. Everyone was too tired by now after

everything they went through. “We’ll be in contact,” he said, and the leaders

started to say their

goodbyes. Brayden was among the first ones to leave and Riannon was able to

breathe easily when he was gone from her sight. She knew that his pride would

always stand in his way of accepting the new order of things. And she didn’t have

the emotional strength to fight him today anymore. She was too exhausted.

Her mate was still talking to a few alphas and she decided to go and get some air

while she waited for him to be done. No one was asking for her opinion on things

for now, since her pack was still in the making. Not that she wanted to share her

thoughts before she discussed everything that was on her mind with Gideon.

Outside, she saw her ex leading Roxy out of one of the ambulances. The omega

stumbled on the way and dropped right into her mate’s arms helplessly.

Riannon rolled her eyes as she turned away from the sight and almost bumped

into Ash’s chest. For a few seconds, she and the Beta were just staring at each

other.

“Is this true?” he asked, placing his palms into the pockets of his trousers.

“Depends on what you mean,” she couldn’t read his facial expression and thus

did not know what to expect from him.

“You have a mate,” Ash said in a broken voice, “A real one this time.” “It’s the

truth,” she nodded. There was no point in denying anything. Neither did she want

“The Lycan king, huh?” the Beta snorted.

“Trust me, I was as surprised as everybody else,” she gave him a weak smile.

“And you are not coming back...”

“Oh, Ash,” she smirked, “I am definitely coming back for what is mine. Just not

today.” She noticed a faint smile on his lips as he gave her a nod. “I’ll be waiting,”

he said, and for a second there was silence between them. “Ash, can I ask you

something?” she decided to try her luck one more day today.

“Of course,” the man seemed to be relieved for some reason. As if he didn’t know

how to talk to her anymore and was happy for her to initiate the conversation.

“Were you with Roxy during the explosions?” she asked and he furrowed his

eyebrows, getting at once why she was asking that. literally everywhere.”

“And what was she doing right before the explosion?” Riannon did not give up.

“Shopping,” he replied honestly, “She... liked that lingerie shop they had there.

Then, when everything happened, she was right next to the glass window and it

was broken from the impact. Roxy was thrown over the wall. I spent most of the

time trying to bring her back to her consciousness right until Brayden came

looking for her.”

“I see,” Riannon nodded. This wasn’t much and didn’t help her in her suspicions

at all. Then again, it was more important what Roxanne was doing prior to the

Summit. When no one even knew that she was there.

“Come on, Ash!” Brayden growled through the open window of his car, “We need

to get back to our pack.”

For a second there their eyes met and she knew that he was about to say

something to her. Probably something hurtful this time since he was obviously

angry with how today went for him. So, she turned away before he had a chance

to do so. She did not owe him anything anymore.

“See you around, Ash,” she said and walked away. Gideon, Ria, Maya and Reid

drove home together. The lycan king had his hands wrapped around his mate

while she rested her head on his chest. They were supposed to have their

triumphant return home but the recent events did not let them indulge in their

happiness. Too

many people died and they both felt guilty for the happiness that they felt.

It also did not escape Ria’s gaze that her best friend and her mate were not even

touching each other. Maya sat with one of her legs on top of another and her

hands folded on her chest, looking everywhere but at Reid. At the same time, the

lycan Beta was throwing glances at her from time to time, obviously eager for

more contact. But he did not push her, giving her the space she needed.

Riannon told them everything that happened today with Roxy, starting from the

very beginning and they all listened carefully to her.

“I know it’s not much,” she said when she was done, “But I do feel that she is not

that simple. Considering everything that she did in my previous life...”

“Wow,” Reid suddenly straightened his back, “Previous life? Did I miss

something?”

“Apparently a lot,” Maya snorted and again her friend wondered what was going

on between her and her mate, taking a mental note that she would have to

address this later.

her. “It’s worth checking, my love,” he kissed her temple, “Luckily, the video

footage was saved in the cloud. So, we will be able to check everything that

happened before the Summit.”

“Really?” Ria looked at her mate, “Then we will be able to find that Everett guy as

well!”

Every muscle in Gideon’s body tensed.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he growled.

“I saw him again today,” she confessed, “Just a glimpse, but I saw him. Right

after the explosions when we were getting people out. I am sure that the two are

connected. Now more than ever.”

“Then it’s good that he appeared,” the Lycan king‘s grip on her became tighter,

“It’s best to know our enemies in the face.”

When they arrived back at the lycan kingdom, it was already dark. Gideon and

Reid had a few matters to deal with, so the girls went to their rooms first. Riannon

decided not to bother Maya tonight since her friend already looked exhausted

enough after the long day they had.

She was also tired, but after a long and relaxing shower her strength replenished

and she was disappointed not to find Gideon in her bedroom. She was even

more disappointed not to find him in his bedroom since it was the middle of the

night.

However, she had a pretty good idea of where she could find him.

She threw a black silk robe on top of the matching slip and went downstairs. All

the way to the lycan king’s office, where she found him staring at his laptop.

Luckily, Reid was nowhere in sight.

“Is this how it is going to be, Your Majesty?” she mocked him with a soft smile on

her lips as she closed the door behind herself. He lifted his eyes to look at her

and his mouth parted slightly. He could look at her forever and still be stricken

with her beauty every time.

“I am sorry,” he tilted his head to have a better look at her and liking what he saw,

“I just wanted to make sure that the footage was checked as soon as possible.”

“And?” she got closer to his desk and his eyes lingered on her slender frame.

“Unfortunately, there is nothing to incriminate that omega,” he sighed, “And as for

that Everett guy, the cameras were not filming the side of the car park. This is

probably why he was so bold and let you see him. It’s another dead end.”

“Disappointing,” she sighed and circled the desk, placing one hand on his

shoulder and another on the laptop, closing it, “But this also means that you may

be done for tonight. And

His eyes flashed golden as he took the laptop and threw it into one of the

drawers, immediately bringing her closer by her waist.

“The things you do to me,” he smirked and pulled the belt of her silky robe.

“Maybe it’s time for you to do things to me?” Riannon shrugged her shoulders

and the robe fell all the way down to her feet, making her mate growl. She bent

down to him, lacing her fingers in his hair and kissed him greedily. Gideon’s

hands were roaming her thighs and as his fingers reached her most sensitive

part, a snarl of approval rumbled through his chest as he found out that she didn’t

have any underwear on.

With both his palms, he grasped her bottom and placed her on the desk before

him, spreading her legs for him. Riannon was watching his every movement as

he stood up, towering over her and started covering her body with kisses, making

her slip fall down to her waist.

“I am definitely the Moon Goddess’ favourite,” Gideon chuckled, kneading her

breasts in his hands, “How else can one explain me having you as my mate. The

perfect woman.”

“Gideon!” she arched her back, needing more action from him now than what he

was giving her and he happily obliged, sucking in one of her n***les and at the

same time inserting two digits into her

A moan tore off her lips as the pleasure started to build inside of her. In the

meantime, the lycan’s lips were travelling lower and lower her body, until she felt

his hot breath on her bundle of nerves and then his canines grazing over it softly.

And as soon as he started working on her with his tongue, she lost it, digging her

nails in his shoulders and moaning his name. He curled his fingers inside

masterfully, bringing her over the edge quickly.

She panted as he stood up again to watch her as if she was a work of art. But

Riannon was not nearly done, so she tugged on his belt, unbuckling it clumsily,

since she was still coming back to her senses after her rel**se. His hardness

sprung out of his pants and she stroked him a few times, teasing and making his

eyes go darker.

He grasped her thighs and yanked her closer towards him, pressing his head at

her entrance and at the same time lifting her legs higher.

“You are playing dangerous games, little mate,” he taunted, and a nervous laugh

escaped her lips.

“I am feeling brave tonight,” Riannon smirked at him and Gideon lowered himself

to capture her lips, at the same time entering her in one rough move which she

enjoyed to the

“I love you so much,” he breathed into her mouth as he thrust into her and she

scratched his back, tearing off his shirt in the process.

“I love you... too,” she managed to confess in between his powerful thrusts,

“So... much!

“Mine,” he growled out loud and lifted her up in the air, to which she immediately

hugged his waist with her thighs tight. He pumped into her again and again,

making her bounce on him while giving her back the support which she needed.

Riannon screamed in pleasure as he was filling her perfectly, the tingles of their

mate bond spreading over her body more than ever before. She felt Onyx

howling inside as she cl**max at the same time as him and bit his shoulder from

the intensity of the sensations.

Gideon was holding her tight, his most important treasure. Slowly catching his

breath, he sat back in his chair, placing her on top of him and pressing her to his

chest. She leaned into him as if she belonged there and it was the most natural

thing for them ever. His fingers were brushing her hair softly and, for the first time

on this very hard and uneasy day, they both felt happy and at peace.

Only to get none. “Ria?” he caressed her cheek and realised that his mate had

dozed off already.

“Should have done it while she was moaning,” Mars grunted, not happy at all with

how the night turned out.

“She is ours now,” Gideon smiled as he covered her naked frame and lifted her

up in his hands to take her to the bedroom, “Day earlier, day later – it makes no

difference anymore.”

Riannon woke up alone in their bed, but there was no disappointment

whatsoever, as she knew very well that her workaholic mate was probably

already performing his royal duties. A white rose on his pillow and a sweet note

only confirmed her thoughts.

She did not want to waste any time either and after a quick clean up, dressed to

impress and went downstairs.

However, she paused at the doors of the dining room when she saw Maya

standing there alone. She was clearly eavesdropping and this was so not like her

friend.

Her Beta noticed her at once and motioned for her to stay quiet, signalling for her

to start listening too...