Chapter 63

Chapter 63. Tea Time “I can show you instead,” Onyx said, and Riannon felt herself drifting off to sleep. “This is what the Goddess told me to do...”her wolf whispered.

She trusted Onyx with her life and knew that her better half would take good care of her.

But she did not expect what happened to her next as she found herself in the one place she never wanted to see ever again.

It was the day she died. But not the right time. It was hours before the tragedy happened.

She remembered that well and a dull throbbing pain seized in her chest. This was funny ... She thought she was already done with all that. Yet now, seeing how her pack was gathering once again for what Brayden told them was a blessing ceremony for his future heir, was painful for her.

“Onyx, can we fast forward to...” her voice broke. Did she really want to see herself being killed? Was it really that important?

She had her suspicions and at least she knew that it wasn’t Dean. It was good enough.

“No,” her wolf replied, “You need to see the whole picture.”

“I am not sure I want to,” Riannon confessed, slightly embarrassed of her momentarily weakness.

“Too late now,” Onyx chuckled in her mind, “But know that if you look carefully, you will find out more than you asked. And not only about yourself.”

This gave her strength. It wasn’t only about her. She wasn’t the only victim. If she could get an important piece of information from being here then she owed it to all the people she loved to try and endure.

She quickly realised that she wasn’t actually there. She could walk among the people and see what they were doing, but none of them saw her. Riannon was just a spirit observing them all and they could even walk through her, not affecting her at all.

This also helped her to calm down. She wasn’t actually reliving the day. She was just watching. A guest who was only there in spirit.

She noticed herself sitting in the summer house in the garden, right where they had the voting the other day. Riannon from the past did not look that well, with hollow cheeks and a pale complexion. She was also thinner than usual and it did not look good at all. The year of stress and pain took its toll on her.

She wanted to tell herself that it wasn’t worth it, that something bigger and better was waiting for her but noticed a friendship bracelet in her hands. Maya made it for her when they seeking the warmth and support that her friend used to give her and this little trinket was her anchor.

“Luna,” an omega appeared next to her with a tray in her hands, “I’ve brought some tea for you.”

“I didn’t ask for it,” Riannon from the past replied, but the girl still placed the tray on the bench next to her.

“The Alpha sent it to you. It’s cold and you’ve been sitting here for hours,” the omega smiled at her, “It’s herbal tea, one of your favourites.”

“Thank you,” she stared at the cup and Riannon from the present remembered how she felt a little glimpse of hope that maybe he was at least sorry for what he had been doing. She took the cup in her hands and slowly drank the tea, looking around at the busy pack. She was so broken inside by this point that she didn’t even feel the taste of her drink.

“Ria,” Ash appeared next to her, holding a huge pile of folders in his hands, “Are you okay?”

“I am great,” she took another sip without looking at him, “Don’t you see?”

The present Riannon noticed that he wanted to say something else but changed his mind at the last moment and walked away.

“Everything is for the best,” he muttered, “You will see.”

She knew his motivation now and knew why he made those wrong choices. But it didn’t make her feel any better. The past Riannon finished the tea and placed the cup back on the tray. Immediately, the same omega appeared and took it, rushing away.

Abad feeling rose in her chest. She remembered very well that she did not ask for tea. She didn’t eat or drink much these last few days. And since she knew that nothing important would happen to her before the ceremony, she decided to follow that omega instead.

The girl was clearly in a hurry even though she tried to pretend that she wasn’t. And that made Riannon even more suspicious.

But it was when she turned in the opposite direction from the kitchen and went all the way behind the mansion that she knew her hunch was correct.

She sped up and caught up with the girl right when she made a turn and almost bumped into Roxy.

It was a perfect hiding spot because it was close to practically everything but no one was Roxanne was wearing an expensive black silk maternity dress and caressed her belly every three seconds. But when she saw the maid she got a little plastic bag out of her pocket and opened it, gesturing for her to drop the cup inside.

“Did she drink all of it?” Roxy asked with a gentle smile on her face.

“Yes, Luna,” the girl nodded and Riannon cringed. Roxanne wasn’t a Luna yet. Not that it was the most important thing right now.

This little omega girl, someone who lived in her pack and was using her protection, without which no omega could survive in their cruel world, was the one who poisoned her with aconite. Now she had no doubts.

“Good,” Roxanne stretched her hand and squeezed her shoulder, “Do not worry. All is for the best. I just don’t want her to make a scene tonight. This will weaken her a bit and we will have a calm and fun night. And tomorrow you will be the personal helper of the new Luna.”

“Thank you!” the girl beamed, not bothering too much about the details of her promotion.

“Alice,” Roxy gave her a smile that looked so sincere that Ria would probably buy it too,“ We are almost at the finishing line. Just remember that she will need one more doze in an hour or so for it to go smoothly.”

“Everything will be done, Luna,” the omega bowed and Roxanne waved her off.

“Go now,” she said calmly, “People shouldn’t see us together yet. But in the evening, we will celebrate. Come to my room for a glass of champagne.”

“Can’t wait, Luna!” Alice giggled and ran away quickly.

Riannon decided not to follow her. She knew what the girl would be doing for the rest of the day. And she chose to stay face to face with her mortal enemy who was still a mystery to her. Roxanne caressed her bump. She wondered if it was even her ex’s child...

A dark figure appeared from the nearby bushes and Roxy didn’t even flinch when one of Brayden’s warriors, Marcus, leaned over the wall next to her lazily. She handed him the plastic bag and he took it, clearly knowing what was inside.

“Get rid of it,” the fox said coldly and nodded even though she stood with his back to him. The woman sighed and then added, “And after Alice is done, make sure to get rid of her too. I don’t want any traces. It’s not the time yet.”

“Will be done,” the man assured her, while Ria tried to remember what colour his wolf was. Was he the one who killed her? Or did Roxanne have more accomplices on their territory?

“Will you need me to accompany you in the evening?” Marcus asked before leaving.

no one disturbs us and everyone stays at the party.”

“Fine,” he grunted and walked away back to where he came from.

The fox stood, looking in the same direction and soon Riannon realised that she was watching the past her. Her lips curled into a smirk and eyes glowed red just for a second, but she took it under control fast.

Riannon followed her as the day unfolded, however, nothing was happening for a while other than Roxy being Roxy. By this time she already stopped pretending that she was a weak omega and positioned herself as the Luna of the people. She was throwing herself to help everyone she met but, of course, her huge belly prevented her from doing anything and won her the sympathy vote from everyone.

It was painful for Riannon to watch this. Yet she forced herself to. Since if she was to get useful information from anyone, it had to be Roxy.

Finally, the fox went to her room to change for the event but once she was inside, she just sat in a huge armchair with her phone in her hands. After a while, the phone rang and she immediately picked up so that Ria had no chance to check the caller ID.

“Cass,” her voice became sweet and Riannon sat closer to be able to listen to the phone call on both ends.

“Is everything ready for tonight?” the familiar voice sounded, making her cringe. Of course, he was the mastermind. Not Roxy.

“Yes,” his subordinate replied, “Brayden is ready. And his Luna will go tonight.”

“Good,” Castiel sounded indifferent. Like it wasn’t a big deal for him at all. And this made her furious. He was deciding their lives and didn’t even seem to care.

A smile formed on Roxanne’s face at the little piece of praise she got.

“Make sure there are no delays,” the man added, “I need this pack by the end of the week. A lot depends on it. It’s crucial for killing the western lycan king. He is our last obstacle on the way to victory. And he is this close to making a deal with the northern king. If that happens...”

Riannon’s world froze at the mention of her mate. Those bast.ards didn’t just want her pack. Gideon was their aim. While the pack was just a tool. And now that she thought about it, of course, he was. If they wanted to destroy the wolves, then the leader of the lycans would be their target number one.

“I know,” the pregnant girl sighed, stroking her round belly, “It will be done. Just tell me “End of the week,” Castiel said calmly, “And make sure there is no one to lead the pack. Luna, Beta and anyone else who may take Alpha’s place in case of an emergency. They all have to go.”

“Got it,” Roxy agreed easily as if they were discussing a grocery list. Riannon noticed that she was fidgeting with her hair and stood right in front of her trying to read her facial expression. “Castiel,” the woman changed her tone to a more seductive one, “I miss you...”

“Gross,” Ria muttered to herself. To her, it was already clear that the two foxes had something going on between them. Yet the man’s reply startled her.

“Just concentrate on the mission,” the fox king cut her off, “And don’t you dare to use your siren powers on me. Even over the phone.”

Roxanne’s facial expression dropped at once, while Riannon covered her lips with her palm as if she had to stay quiet.

A siren! Of course... That explained so much and yet it was hard to comprehend since she hadn’t heard about anyone seeing them for the past few decades. Not to mention that she knew for a fact that Roxy was a fox too. All this made her a hybrid. And very dangerous.

“I am sorry,” the glint in Roxanne’s eyes disappeared as if someone sucked the life out of her, “It’s hard to control myself now due to hormones.”

She wanted to say something else but then took the phone away from her ear and Ria realised that he had hung up on her.

The girl’s eyes filled with tears. A usual sight for her. Yet this time it seemed sincere.

“You really like him, don’t you?” Riannon chuckled to herself when the door opened and Brayden walked in. He was wearing grey trousers with a grey waistcoat and a white shirt, looking good.

“I thought you were going to change,” he looked his ‘mate’ up and down.

“I wanted to, but your heir is so strong. He keeps kicking me,” Roxy used that sweet tone again and stretched her hands to Alpha, “Here, help me to stand up.”

“Are you ready?” the man did as he was asked and she gave him a soft smile.

“I can’t wait!” she giggled, making Riannon want to throw up a bit.

The two of them walked out of the room and she followed them closely with a smirk.

Unknowingly, they gave her an idea of how to win that war. And the evening was only starting...