NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20: Don’t Go.
Riannon shifted slightly in her husband’s hands, trying to get out of his grasp but
he held her in place. Just like he did in their youth when someone looked at her
and he suddenly got in his possessive alpha mode. And she always was the
popular girl.
Before Ria was sure that he was like that because he loved her. Well, that
assumption was long dead now. It turned out to be as simple as him not wanting
to share his toys with anyone. And that realisation hurt her even now.
Besides, the look in Gideon’s eyes worried her. He looked as if he was ready to
kill now. And she did not get why would it have such an impression on him. Apart
from that “healing” episode, there was nothing between them. Was it possible
that he liked her?
However, in just under a second, everything became clear on that end too.
“Don’t you think you are a bit too disrespectful to behave like that during a
business meeting, Alpha...”, even though he knew his name very well, Gideon
still raised a brow implying that he had forgotten it again.
“Thorn. Just like my wife here. Brayden Thorn,” the werewolf tried not to show
how that insulted him. He had a bigger problem at hand. No one wanted to piss
off a lycan, even if they did not like them. But the Lycan King went without saying.
Even he, the strongest werewolf alpha, couldn’t afford to offend him. At least not
now.
So, no matter how much he did not like his wife next to that man, he had to act
politely at all times.
“My apologies...”He waited for the king to let him know how to call him.
“King Gideon,” the lycan smirked darkly and Brayden clenched Ria tighter in his
hands. Almost to the point of hurting her.
“My apologies, King Gideon,” he tried really hard not to grit his teeth, “It’s just that
I missed my wife so much that I couldn’t handle myself properly.”
“Hmm,” Gideon sneered this time, “And here I thought you were an Alpha.
Shouldn’t you be able to be more in control of your emotions? Besides, you were
just fine without your wife the other day as far as I remember.”
This jab Brayden had to swallow too. There was nothing to tell to that. And
Riannon used that moment to get out of his hands and step away, which made
Gideon relax at once. He felt as if a heavy boulder was lifted off his chest when
she appeared to be closer to him than to her own husband.
“Anyway,” she tried to sound businesslike, “The king and I were discussing the
new laws
“Of course,” he interrupted her as usual, not caring for her Luna duties as always.
This was a habit of his since he knew she would be handling everything
impeccably, so there was no point to take part in any of it. He had a lot of things
on his own mind and did not need to add to that. However, when they were
deciding on how to handle general pack matters, that was when he wanted her
opinion always. Because in most cases it was very helpful. To him.
“Take as much time as you need, my dear,” he wanted to touch her but she
crossed her hands on her chest demonstrating to him that he was better not to.
“That’s good that your husband is so helpful and agreeable,” Gideon suddenly
looked much happier than before, “We were just talking about how some of the
lycan laws may be helpful in our case. And that there is no way to discuss this
properly during a short meeting or over the phone. We need to actually work
Riannon almost choked on that but played her part, concealing all the emotions.
They hadn’t agreed on anything yet.
“A week?” Brayden’s mouth opened as he was processing what he just heard,
“This is...”
“Not enough?” Gideon chuckled, “Let’s make it two then.”
“No,” the Alpha growled and the king’s eyes glowed gold. Even Riannon got
tense watching the two of them.
“So, you do believe that your wife would be able to deal with everything in one
week?” the lycan was forcing him to give him an answer that he wanted to hear.
And the werewolf knew very well that in fact, he had no choice in the matter.
“She can even deal with all that faster,” he tried to play the game.
“Let’s not be cruel to the Luna,” Gideon smirked again, “We don’t want to
overwork her, do we?”
Riannon was perplexed about all that. They were discussing it as if she was not
there and she did not like it one bit.
But if she was honest, this was playing out nicely. Roxy was quiet in her first
weeks in the pack and did not do much except for the crying. And it could be
good to let Brayden concentrate his attention on her without the feeling of guilt
that he had at first. Not to mention that the help from the lycan king was
priceless.
But... herself... Could it be that his motives weren’t that great? And if she was
right about that, could she still use his help?
But then she remembered her people. And realised that for them she would have
to at least try. Gideon did not look like a man who would force her into anything.
Not to mention that there was a great risk that he wouldn’t even have to. The
thought alone of their closeness brought colour to her cheeks and she touched
them to cool down, which did not escape the lycan king’s attention.
He had a very hard time controlling his wolf inside as it was. Mars wanted to get
out, kill Brayden and everyone else who would dare to object to him claiming his
mate. And then he wanted to place a big fat mark on her right on top of her old
one. The worst thing was that it was this last part that bothered him the most. He
did not want Mars to go on a rampage and hurt his beautiful mate.
So, he had to restraint him extra harder this time, which caused him physical
pain. And
Riannon’s blushing cheeks were not helping him with all that. He knew he had to
get out of there as fast as he could, even though he hated the idea of leaving her
alone in this place.
He had to constantly remind himself that Ria wanted to go through with her
divorce. And Goddess would sure help him to make it a speedy one. Then the
minute she would be free, he would state his claim and go from there. But for
now, his main task was not to scare her off. And this had to do. He had to believe
in her.
“Of course, we don’t want that,” Brayden seemed displeased.
“So, it’s a done deal then,” Gideon prepared to leave, itching to touch her again,
“I will send a car tomorrow.”
“That fast?” the alpha next to him frowned.
“I have no time to lose,” Lycan king was not even looking at him. He looked at
Riannon and he was talking to her, “The faster we start, the sooner we will be
done.”
She gave him a faint smile, getting his hint and his lips curled at that a bit too.
goodbyes. He was sure that if he asked Riannon to see him off, the husband
would tag along. And he couldn’t see him anymore without slashing his claws
over his neck... He had to leave this place.Ria sighed as she watched Gideon
through the windows going to his car. He looked as if he was in a rush. But right
before he got in, he turned and looked right where she was standing.
He couldn’t see her through the white curtains but it still felt as if he knew she
was there. at the realisation that it was Onyx.
Onyx was alive!
“Onyx!” she called her, “Are you there? Are you okay?”
Riannon wanted to ask her so many questions but her wolf was not responding
anymore.
And she still couldn’t feel her.
However, this was good. This was hope.
“I really don’t like him!” only now the Luna noticed that her husband was standing
with her the whole time with his hands crossed. He watched the lycan leave and
only then did he let out a deep sigh. “Ri, you need to be careful with him. I don’t
trust this guy!”
She looked at him in amusement. Was he serious? Did he think that now they
would go have a drink like they used to and discuss everything?
“It’s just business, Brayden, relax,” she tried to sound casual and stepped
away from the window, “Besides, a link with the lycans is a good thing for our
pack.”
“I think that he is the kind of man who would give you empty promises and
nothing in the end,” the Alpha stated with a frown.
Ria looked at him. The audacity. Wasn’t he the one with empty promises in her
life?
“Still,” she tried to gather herself, “Other packs wouldn’t know. All they would
know is that our Luna is working with the lycans. Imagine the fear that would feel
before us.”
“They are already afraid of me enough,” Bray grunted and she almost snorted.
“Can’t deny that,” she decided that she would get rid of him faster if she simply
agreed with everything, “By the way, do you need my help with something? It’s
unusual to see you here at this hour.”
“I...” He did not know how to phrase her. He knew this woman for so long and
she was an important part of his life. With her he shared everything. And yet now
it seemed harder than ever. “Throw away the gifts,” he coughed, clearing his
throat, “I’ll buy you whatever you need or want. Better than what they sent you.”
“I have no doubt,” she tilted her head watching him in amusement, “But it’s not
the point, is it? We can’t be rude. And we already talked about this. However, I
was serious that Roxy can take whatever she likes. I think in her case everyone
would understand.”
The silence between them quickly became awkward. Not for her. For him. “You
take it better than I thought,” he said finally, and she wanted to laugh, getting
back
“It’s not like you left me any choice, is it?” she looked at him through her lashes
and he sighed, coming closer to her.
“Let’s talk about all that, okay?” he sat on the verge of her desk, “I don’t want you
to feel threatened by Roxy.”
“How kind of you,” she scoffed, “Bray, let’s not do this now. I am not ready to
discuss this.”
“Fine,” he smirked and scooped her in his arms in less than a second, placing
her on top of the desk to her horror, “Then let’s not talk. Let me prove my feelings
to you!”