The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

“I know, Alpha,” she agreed and heard him growl slightly, “That’s not the part that I need your help with.

You see, we are chosen mates. And when we got married, we merged our packs. What I really want from

you is to help me to get my people and my territory back. You are the Alpha King and when I raise this

dispute, your word will be the last at the Alpha Council. They wouldn’t be able to decline.”

“Hmm,” he sounded amused, “And you think that the case would go that far? You do know that the

Alpha council consists of male alphas. What makes you think at least anyone will support you?”

“They will if they know that you are on my side,” Riannon felt braver now, “But also I have proven myself

as a leader and warrior. This shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Then maybe everything is awesome and you don’t need my help at all?” He chucked.

“I do, your majesty,” she assured him, “I really do. And I would really appreciate it.”

“This is a complex matter,” he said after a short pause, “Not something I would decide over the phone.

And to be honest, it doesn’t sound serious enough to bother.”

Ria felt rage boiling her blood. Was he serious?! Was that it?!

“But…”

“There is nothing to talk about. You got married and gave your pack to your husband. You didn’t think this

through and it was your mistake only. Now it’s too late,” the Alpha King seemed bored, “He will still owe

you generous alimony according to our laws. You will keep your luxurious lifestyle if that’s what bothers

you…”

“It’s not about that!” She gritted her teeth, “I can’t leave my people with them!”

“Them?” The king scoffed, “So, this is the problem. He found another and you are bitter about it?”

This was useless. Ria hit her desk with her fist, almost breaking it. This kind of mocking was not new to

her. By now she heard it all. Even from the people who were considered her friends.

“I am not bitter!” She spat, “I am furious. Because only now do I see how many flaws our system has!

How unfairly and unequally women are treated when a male doesn’t stand by her side anymore! How

few chances we are given to prove ourselves. Sure, you will make a woman a warrior and speak about

equality but when it comes to higher positions, you will make a woman work three times harder than a

man to even consider her for the job! I was doing an Alpha’s job for years by my husband’s side and I’ve

done it flawlessly. But all you see is a wounded woman who can’t get over her husband’s betrayal. And

you know what, it hurts like hell but here I am, not whaling in pain but trying to figure out my next move.

You don’t even know what is going on but you already judged me. What a disappointing introduction to

my king!”

She threw her phone away with force, looking at how it smashed over the wall into several pieces.

What a joke!

Gideon sat in his huge leather chair behind his desk staring at his Beta’s phone. What the hell was that

now? Did she scold him and then hang up?

“O-kay,” Reid carefully took his cell back, “I see that went well.”

“Remind me again who was it?” Gideon looked at his friend furrowing his thick brows.

“What?” Reid let out a nervous laugh, “Before I tell you… Are you going to kill her or…”

“REID!” Gideon growled so loudly that probably all members of his pack heard him well.

“Fine!” the Beta fell into the chair opposite of him, “She is the Luna of the Silver River pack.”

Silver River… not far from Silver Lake.

“What else?” the king tapped his fingers over the top of his desk impatiently.

“Her name is Riannon Thorn, if my memory does not fail me, she has been a Luna for five or six years.

Seven maybe.”

“You said that you owed her,” Gideon was piercing Reid with his gaze, “How so? Is she one of your many

whores?”

“Of course not!” the Beta sounded offended, “She… she saved Kyle seven years ago. The rogues

attacked his boarding school and she was visiting some event there. She wasn’t a Luna back then, by

the way. But she was preparing for the role.”

“She saved him?” Gideon rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“Yes, she killed a few rogues and protected him. He was just 12 back then. If she didn’t come on time…”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” the king groaned.

“There was no time!” Reid shook his shoulders, “And how could I know that you would be such a d*ck to

her?!”

“Is there a good time to be a d*ck?” the Beta chuckled, just annoying him more.

“Find out where I can meet her,” Gideon cut him off, “I am intrigued. She does seem… feisty.”

“Just the way you hate them,” Reid stood up but when he noticed his Alpha’s glare, he wiped the smile

off his face, “I’ll go… get to work.”

Gideon threw his back over his chair. He had a lot on his mind already and this woman… she got to him

on some level. A smile curled onto his lips. It had been a while since someone dared to speak to him like

that. Luna Riannon was amusing indeed.

And since she saved Kyle, he owed it to her to at least have a look at her case.

So be it.

Riannon prepared herself for the breakfast. She put on a simple yet elegant dress and brushed her hair

so that it fell down her shoulders in soft waves. She didn’t use any makeup today because she knew

very well what she was going to face once she went downstairs.

But she almost bumped into Maya at the door.

“Ria,” her friend tried to smile carelessly but she could tell that the latter was nervous, “How about we eat

here and chat. Just the two of us?”

Riannon smiled. She knew that Maya tried to protect her from the new harsh reality. But luckily, she was

ready for everything.

“Maybe another time,” she said, taking Maya’s hand and still not believing that she was alive, “Right now

I need to do something. Just be by my side, okay?”

“Always,” Maya’s eyes glistened with tears.

The dining room was buzzing, but as soon as she stepped foot into it, everyone got quiet. On her first

day in the pack, Roxy already sat at the table with the highest-ranked wolves and was clearly in the

centre of the attention.

“Luna!” she jumped to her feet after she let Ria watch her succeed, “P-please, forgive my rudeness! I

know my place!”

Here we go again…