Chapter 42

Chapter 42. The Mystery Guest It took a few good seconds for Riannon to realise who that person was. And it took her a few more to gather herself and not give in to panic.

She tried to think calmly. She knew very well that it was best not to scream. No one would be here fast enough to save her. And she wouldn’t have a chance in a fight with a professional warrior now. Not without her wolf at full force.

To her disappointment, Onyx still wasn’t showing up. So, she had to think in a completely different direction.

Axel/Everett or whoever this guy’s name was never showed up in her previous life. He escaped without a trace. It would be easier for him to kill her quietly and do just that while she was washing in the bathroom. But it looked like he was waiting for her, meaning that her life wasn’t what he was after.

At least not now.

It was surprisingly convenient how his story helped out Roxy. And Riannon did not believe in the coincidences like that.

“Impressive, Everett” she smirked and praised him as she stepped closer, folding her hands on her chest to cover herself at least a bit. She used that name on purpose to let him know that he didn’t mishear her the first time.

“Right back at you, Luna,” the man-made a step forward as well. He had a few cuts and bruises here and there and was topless, wearing just a pair of jeans. Not his, because they were sitting too tight on him.

“Did you lose your shirt on the way here?” she co.cked her brow up at him.

“Do I really need one?” he flexed his muscles playfully while his lips curled into a sly smile, “I find clothes restricting when I kill people.”

Riannon’s chest tightened at his words. Those were her people. Moreover, she asked Ash to make sure only the best ones guarded him. And his best warriors were the strongest among the werewolves... If he took them down, then...

She prohibited herself to think about that now. Now wasn’t the time.

“So, I guess, I have to thank you for fetching some trousers on then,” Ria slowly walked to one of her armchairs and gestured for him to sit on the opposite one.

“I have to admit,” ‘Everett said, “You surprised me. And that doesn’t happen often.”

“My pleasure,” she shrugged her shoulders, “So, what brings you here... Excuse me, I still don’t know your real name, Everett.

Or Axel. What is it again?”

his lips. He was incredibly good looking. But she did not like the vibes that he was giving her. He was dangerous. She always knew it. In this life and in her previous one.

However, now it was different. Something about him definitely changed right now even compared to a few hours ago when she saw him last. Her lips parted as he let her feel it more.

“You are an Alpha,” she whispered, not being able to hide her surprise. She suspected him to be a Beta or a Gamma at least.

But not an Alpha. Alphas were rare. They weren’t disposable like that. No pack would send an Alpha to a dangerous mission alone because they were valuable even if they weren’t the actual alphas of their packs. And Everett was risking a lot. She could have ordered to kill him earlier and the warriors would obey after some persuasion. Yet he still did it.

Even now, he was risking a lot. This kind of confidence was frightening.

“And you are a Luna,” the man in front of her smiled and his left eye gleamed in the darkness with the red colour, making Riannon swallow. Although she made sure to keep herself in control even now. “And a very unusual one at that,” he added, “I’ve heard about you a lot. But I thought that all the praises were baseless rumours. Just a woman who is not bad at what she is supposed to do anyway. That was what I thought about you, Riannon.”

“Again, it’s not polite to call me by my name without introducing yourself properly first,” she tried to trap him but he did not buy it.

His grin, however, grew wider.

“But you surprised me,” he continued, ignoring her words. “I can’t say that a lot of things surprises me lately. I usually hate surprises.”

She clenched the armrest of her chair a bit tighter, and this did not escape his gaze.

“Don’t worry,” ‘Everett’ added quickly, “This one was a pleasant one. I thought this mission would be boring and painful. But I needed to see with my own eyes what I am dealing with. But you completely changed the game for me.”

“How so?” she now rested her head on her fist lazily.

“This also something I will reveal to you at different circumstances,” he avoided answering her question.

“Why bother coming here in the first place if you aren’t even planning to speak?” she sighed, pretending to be annoyed.

“I just wanted to make sure you would remember me,” he chuckled and the sound echoed through her empty room, “Selfish, I know. But also, I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t wrong about you. And it looks like I wasn’t.”

“That means that the most precious thing in your pack is not the power that comes with it,” he averted what he was asked again.

She knew that he wouldn’t crack, so decided that it was pointless to ask him directly.

“So, you confirmed what you came here to confirm. Seems like it’s about the time to leave for you,” she gestured at the balcony door he came from.

“What, you aren’t even going to try and scream?” he looked properly amused, “What if the warriors manage to catch me while saving their Luna.”

“Considering the kind of guards that you just escaped, I highly doubt it!” she snorted and he stood up. He was right next to her in less than a second, cupping her chin and making her look at him.

“This was entertaining,” he admitted simply and then let go of her. He went in the direction of the balcony as if he wasn’t in a hurry at all.

“All right,” she stood up quickly, “How about you ask me one question and I ask you one in return. And we both tell each other the truth.”

He turned to look at her slowly with his lips curled.

“Since you offer it yourself,” he leaned over the doorframe. “Shoot.”

“Why did you really come here?” Riannon asked the question that bothered her the most.

“To make sure that you remember me, to make you think about me until we meet again next time.” He sneered, “I already told you that. But you just wasted your question. Now it’s my turn.”

She really thought that there was something else. Maybe he was not honest with her. Or maybe he was this crazy and she got his attention.

“How did you know that I was supposed to call myself Everett here?” his face suddenly got very serious. He really did not expect anyone to know a thing about him here.

Riannon contemplated for a second whether to lie to him or not. But then decided that there was no point. She could use the same trick she just used.

“You told me yourself,” she tilted her head, smiling viciously with her hands crossed at her front.

At this exact moment, someone started banging at the door. “Luna,” Ash screamed from the other side, “Please, open the door! I need to ensure your safety according to the protocol. If you don’t open I would have to knock this door out in thirty Ria turned to look at her guest again, but he was already gone.

Sighing, she went to open the door. It was clear that Ash wouldn’t be joking. And she had enough of her furniture destroyed for one day.

“Are you okay?” he looked at her and grasped her arms without seeking any kind of permission, “The scent in your room...”

“Shhh,” she pulled him inside and closed the door behind him. Although her husband wasn’t probably even there. They had to alert him about the intruder first. And he was probably checking on his mate’s safety now. How pathetic was that? Not that she cared anymore.

“He...” Ash looked at her with a desire to kill in his eyes, “Did he do anything to you?”

“Nothing,” she replied calmly, “But if you consider yourself my friend or at least my Beta, you would stay quiet about it.”

He looked at her with a perplexed expression on his face, clearly not knowing what to do.

“I have to tell him according to protocol,” he said finally and she decided not to hide her disappointment. She noticed that he hesitated and when he went back to the door, she decided to stop him.

“Ash,” Riannon called his name and made his turn, “I want to speak to you. Stay.”

She never did this in her past life and she always regretted it. The way he chose Brayden time, after time, after time... It was painful because she was sure that they had a good relationship prior.

However, this time, in this lifetime he seemed different. Just a bit. But she wanted to check.

If he chose Brayden again, it wouldn’t change anything for her. But she wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. So that at least she knew that she tried everything.

“Ash,” she stepped closer to him and at that time the lights started working again so that they were able to have a good look at each other. His eyes lingered around her body in the thin gown quickly returning to her face. “I am not sure how long my marriage to Brayden would last,” she said calmly and he didn’t even flinch as if he was expecting it. “When it happens, you can only be with him or with me. Not with the two of us. And after we split it will be too late to make that decision. I always thought that we were friends...”

“And we are,” he interrupted her speech, “We are more than friends.” “Then why didn’t you tell me about Roxy?” she looked him in the eye and he licked