Chapter 8: The Alpha Ball
Ria was descending the stairs slowly and with grace, noticing how Brayden turned to see what
everybody else was looking at. He was shocked that it was his own wife. And Riannon found this
offensive. So, when he offered her his hand to the displeasure of princess Peach… ghm, Roxy in her
ugly peach dress, she ignored that and went past them as if they did not know each other. The move
made another wave of whispers erupt. And in the werewolf world whispers were nothing – everyone
could hear what the conversation was about.
Ria went to greet a few couples that she knew, all of them stretched their best smiles for her, not
commenting on the awkward situation. She was done with that quickly and since the party seemed to
go on, she decided to go and get herself some liquid courage. Goddess knew she needed some today.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed that the balcony on the other side of the room, the one that
was usually used by the owner of the house, Alpha Richards, was covered with white curtains to hide
what was going on inside. She could see a few figures moving there but that was about it. She was
curious what it was about but not to the extent to actually go and check for herself as
“Luna Thorn,” a male voice appeared behind her back and she turned to face an unfamiliar alpha. He
was one of the new and younger ones as she didn’t know him. In some packs, alphas were changing
frequently due to power struggles. She and Brayden managed to avoid those and were considered
something like elders even though she was 25 and he was 26.
“Hello,” she greeted him with a soft smile. After all, it was only polite.
“Alpha Zach Morgan,” the man introduced himself and he looked to be in histe 20s as well, “The
Alpha of the Emerald Mountain pack.”
“Ah, I’ve heard,” Riannon was now interested. Everybody heard the rumours about the alpha’s bastard
child who challenged his elder brother (who was a moron, by the way) and won his title, “Impressive!”
“Apliment from someone like you is apliment indeed,” he smirked and gestured for the
barmen to serve them drinks, “Champagne for thedy and brandy for me.”
He didn’t even ask her. Alphas were like that.
“Riannon,” another Alpha appeared from her other side, “Looking gorgeous as ever.”
His hand wrapped around her waist as if it belonged there, making Zach growl quietly as a warning her.
They both thought that she was back on the market.
How funny! But also useful. Because she was, after all, on the market. Even though she had another
man’s mark on her neck. But that man was with someone else now, enjoying his time. As far as Ria
remembered from the previous life, the two of them had a st while she was forgotten. She hid in a
corner in a modest dress and left early. Alone. Her heart was broken and she couldn’t even talk to
anyone, although she did her best. As always.
Now the game was on. Her heart was not aching anymore.
Well, maybe a bit. But she could still think clearly now. And she could see the hungry gazes everyone
had on her. Every. Single. Male. And maybe it was petty, but she loved the attention. She craved it after
everything that happened. She needed to feel like a woman again. And a beautiful at that.
Another loud growl emerged from somewhere and it had such power to it that they all looked around.
For a second Ria thought that it could be Brayden who finally noticed her, but he was in the other
corner of the room, introducing Roxy to his Alpha pals. He gave her a nce when he felt her looking
and an apologetic smile to go with it. How annoying.
Then who was that growling?
“Don’t mind it!” a third Alpha joined them, “It’s just Lycans going crazy. Riannon, you are simply breath-
taking today! What a dress! The colour suits you!”
“Lycans?” she pped hershes, thinking that she was probably hearing things, “Here?”
“Yeah,” Zach snorted, “Everyone is shocked. They are invited every year but they never attend,
probably thinking that they are too good for us! And yesterday Alpha Jones received a call that the
Lycan King himself will be visiting but they need a private VIP area. Can you imagine?”
“Snobs!” another werewolf next to her let out augh, “So, Ria, will you save me a dance?
“I don’t see why…”
“No,” she heard a firm voice behind her back and turned to see her Beta, who looked less than thrilled
with the whole situation. What was his problem? “My Luna promised to dance with me tonight,” he lied
without blinking and this got her annoyed. Was he doing that for Brayden? Not to let her talk to
anyone?
“Don’t be ridiculous, Ash,” she giggled and then gave him her signature don’t-you-dare look she used
with her subordinates. “We talked only about one dance in the car. And after that,” she nced over
thepany of at least five single Alphas around her, “I can dance with my old… friends. And the new
ones as well.”
Some of the men adjusted their cors at her words and it pleased her that she had the desired effect
on them. The dress was a good investment, after all.
“I still insist on being first,” the Beta offered her his hand and she epted it.
“I’ll be back,” she winked at the other guys and they all either nodded or smirked at her.
She wasn’t thinking of them seriously, of course. Although she knew very well that some of them were
serious about her. There was Alpha Maddox, Brayden’s old rival. He stated more than once his desire
to take her as his Luna back in the day. And Alpha Grayson was showing her signs of admiration
before too. She always pretended not to notice before but she knew very well how they looked at her.
Females with pure Alpha blood were rare. Her wolf had an immacte silver coat, which was unique
as well. On top of that, she was beautiful and smart. She was the Perfect Luna that everyone wanted.
And Brayden was lucky to have her.
Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
Shame all that did not help her when he met his mate… Even in spite of them wearing each other’s
marks and having a bond of their own, it did not help…
“You shouldn’t give them hope, you know.” Ash told her all of a sudden and she gave him a surprised
look.
“You read too much into everything,” she looked in a different direction because his gaze seemed to
burn through her skull, “I am having fun.”
“You are the Luna…”
“And my Alpha is right there having the time of his life with his mate, Ash,” she rolled her eyes, “What
do you want me to do? Get in the far corner of the room and cry my eyes out? He made his choice
and…”
“And you are looking for a new Alpha already?” his grasp on her became tighter, “Is there really a need
for this?”
“And you think there isn’t?” she gave him an intrigued look.
“Of course, not!” his voice was firm, “Brayden will never divorce you. This girl is just… for his wolf. You
can find someone like that too. In our pack.”
“Or I can go and look for my mate too!” she snorted and ignored his frown, “I am not into
He clenched his lips but luckily the music came to its end and she left him quickly, trying to go deep into
the crowd.
“Did you see? How shameless of her!” some girl was talking at the distance, “No wonderher husband
did not reject his mate even though he already marked her! Maybe there is more to that story
considering how she hangs herself on every Alpha she sees!”
Riannon grazed her eyes over the girl. It was just some bimbo one of the Alphas brought.
Not even a Luna.
However, she realised that the rumours would be spreading. And not everyone would be on her side
even though she had no choice.
Oh, well.
She deliberately left Ash on a side of the hall opposite from where all the single Alphas were waiting for
her. Of course, she would work on them too. But they were not too reliable. If they wanted from her
something more than just bing allies, she couldn’t give them much. She did not want to marry for
the second time. At least, not now. All she wanted was to get her pack back. And she needed help.
So, she started out by approaching her father’s old friends. The ones she knew were supporting
Brayden only thanks to her. A little hint here and there and one by one they promised her their support.
Four in total within half an hour. Not much but it was a start.
“There you are!” Alpha Zach caught her when she was on her way to talk to one of her ex-ssmates,
“Someone promised me a dance.”
His hazel eyes looked darker now and she knew that she couldn’t avoid it any longer. She noticed Bray
not far from her, with Roxy clinging to him. His eyes, however, were on his wife. And the look in them
did not promise her anything good.
“I did, didn’t I?” she smirked, enjoying this moment. She hoped it hurt him too.
Zach was about to take her back to the dance floor when a ridiculously tall man with a yful grin
crossed their path.
“Long time no see, Luna,” she addressed her as if they knew each other and she tried to remember
really hard who he was when it suddenly urred to her.
“B-Beta Reid?” she gasped, recognising the lycan she met years ago. “In the flesh!” he showed off her
pearly whites, “It’s such a coincidence to run into you!” “At the annual Alpha Ball that all Lunas attend
every year?” she arched her brow, “Not"
“Well,” he chuckled, “I am here for the first time, so… Anyway… My King is here too and he wishes to
see you.”
“I’ll make sure to deliver Luna Thorn as soon as our dance is over,” Alpha Zach tried to
lead her away, but the Lycan stopped him.
“I am afraid, you will have to find another dance partner,” he looked friendly but somehow sounded
menacing. So menacing, that Alpha Zach stepped away, giving them way.
The lycan led her to the balcony while pretty much everyone in the room, including her husband,
watched them and opened the white curtain before her, motioning for her to enter.
Another loud growl sounded as soon as she walked in…
Marissa Gilbert
Haik… dator etart today I really hope I will be able to keep this up. Thank you to everyone who reads
this