Chapter 10: Behind The Curtain

He was standing there and watching his mate with his mouth opened.

No, it couldn’t be! It was some kind of a joke!

Yet that was her… a Luna that belonged to another Alpha… At first, Gideon felt as if his heart was
broken. She did not wait for him. His mate, the one and only woman chosen for him by the Moon
goddess, did not wait for him…

She got married, became someone else in Luna and even let this man put a mark on her neck.

He had many flings, but he never even considered marking a woman other than his mate. He was
ready to never meet her, but he always knew one thing – if he would ever place his mark on someone,
it would be his mate.

Pain washed over him quickly and although Reid next to him was constantly telling him something, all
his attention was on Riannon Thorn.

He repeated her name and it brought him to his senses. He remembered their phone conversation.
She wanted to divorce her husband. Their marriage was over.

This brought a little smile to his lips, yet it wasn’t making him particularly happy.

“Gideon,” his Beta had to smack his arm to get him out of his daze, “What the hell, man?”

“What?” the lycan king didn’t even spare his friend a glance.

“Should I call the Luna? You came here to speak to her, right?” Reid looked at him with his eyebrows
knitted.



“I want to watch her a bit first,” Gideon couldn’t take his eyes off his beautiful mate. But he did not like
what he saw. She was surrounded by men, men with hungry lustful eyes. And he could sense that each
of them wanted to claim her now that they had a chance again. Everybody knew that her marriage was
in ruins. And no one wanted to miss that chance.

“Who is her husband?” a spark of interest appeared inside his mind against his will.

“That guy over there,” Reid did not have any problem locating the jerk whose mark his

mate was wearing, meaning that he did his own research already. That guy never showed that he
cared but Gideon knew that he never forgot the ‘favour’ Riannon did for him. He wanted to pay her
back properly in one way or the other.

The guy he pointed at was good looking. And Gideon did not like to admit it. The prick looked like a true
Alpha, tall and handsome. When he was saying something, people around him were laughing or
nodding at once. Meaning that he had some weight.

But a tiny redhead was glued to his hand. She leaned towards him all the time and he so-called mate.
The one he brought into Riannon’s house.

It was good and bad. Good, because he was doing Gideon a favour. And bad, because he was hurting
the Luna.

He looked back where he left her, but his mate was not there. It didn’t take him long to

find her though as all the men that were surrounding her before looked in one direction – the
dancefloor. The girl was dancing with another handsome guy who had his hands on her and was
pressing her way too close for Gideon’s liking.

He didn’t even notice how another feral growl escaped him.



“What is wrong with you today?” Reid looked at his Alpha in shock.

“Bring her in,” the lycan king commanded, “Now!”

His Beta left and suddenly he felt uncomfortable. His wolf was howling inside and he tried to shut him
up as fast as he could because he needed to think straight.

He sat in the chair that was provided for him. But immediately felt stupid and stood up. He felt her
getting closer and closer and in the end decided to have another drink, walking to the table with
beverages. But then it occurred to him that it might not look good in her eyes and he discarded the
idea.

“My king,” Reid cleared his throat and he turned to face him and the woman who was haunting his
dreams for the past few days. She was beautiful, there was no denying it. Her piercing blue eyes were
studying him with interest. And she had good taste, looking regal in her wine red dress. There was a
huge diamond ring on her finger. But the worst thing of all was the mark that was poking out right next
to the expensive diamond necklace.

What was he to do now?

Riannon tried really hard to control herself. She was still shocked that lycans arrived and still couldn’t
believe that the arrogant Lycan King summoned her. Suddenly she was regretting the things she said
when they spoke last. What if he wanted to punish her? Make an example out of her?

“My king,” she forced a smile, bowing politely.

“Luna Thorn,” he acknowledged her, realising one very important thing. She was still giving him no
reaction. While all he wanted to do was to grab her in his arms and growl “MINE”, letting everyone here
know who she belonged to. How the hell did that happen? Why didn’t he feel it? Was it the mark on her
neck? But her husband didn’t have any trouble sensing his mate.



So why couldn’t Riannon do the same? What happened?

“Please, take a seat,” he motioned for her to choose any and she walked to one of the chairs with her
back straight and head held high. He loved the way she moved.

Ria was sitting elegantly under the heavy gaze of the king and felt… awkward. His heavy gaze was at
her at all times, and she felt as if he expected something from her. Was it an apology for shouting at
him over the phone? Her cheeks flushed slightly at the memory, but she was not going to say sorry.
She meant every word she said and she was too tired to look for excuses.

“I am not going to apologise,” she warned him at once and his lips parted in shock. Maybe it was the
wrong move after all.

“I am not asking you to,” he said after a pause and now she was the one gaping.

“Then to what do lowe the pleasure?” she tried to sound as formal as possible, her hands on her
knees.

For a second there Gideon contemplated simply telling her everything and getting to the bottom of
things. She was his and he needed her to know that.

Then again, he did not want her scared. She was already in a horrible situation, and he did not want to
cause her any distress. But he desperately needed to get closer to her, to get some answers.

“Your fiery speech made an impression on me,” he smirked, making her swallow nervously, “I have to
say that some of the things you said were correct.”

After these words, he received a curious gaze from her. Now wary, not scared, not pretend. This was
something.

“Just some?” she arched her brow and he chuckled at that. She was also funny.



“Let’s not get carried away,” he walked to the armchair opposite of her and sat down, “This is your
chance to change everything, Riannon. Tell me everything from the very beginning…”


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