Chapter 69

Chapter 69. Goodbye.

She went into the room timidly, carrying a tray with... well, tea. Riannon wanted to laugh out loud, taking a mental note to not drink it. It was unlikely that the omega would try to poison her now, but just the thought of consuming anything that her hands touched repulsed the Alpha.

There was a possibility, of course, that in this lifetime Alice wouldn’t be working for the foxes yet. She wasn’t a part of the main team even back in her previous life. But now Riannon kind of hoped that she had been recruited already. It would be really helpful to them.

The chances were high. Alice was pouring the tea into one of the cups when Ria took a quick glance at her. Ever since she saw the past, she had been wondering what made the omega serve Roxy? Their pack was one of the best and life inside of it was comfortable for everyone. On top of that, omegas were guaranteed protection at all times and it was truly priceless in their cruel world. Maybe she had bigger ambitions than just serving tea to the higher-ranking wolves? Or maybe she needed money for some reason.

Either way, they promised her something that corrupted her loyalty to the pack. And it couldn‘t be a coincidence that right now both her and Marcus had chosen her pack and not Brayden’s. Ria also remembered that Alice had a chosen mate who was just slightly higher in ranking than an omega and wondered if he was taking part in it. But she doubted that, considering what she witnessed the girl doing with Marcus in the woods right before her death. Another proof that true mates ruled over chosen ones.

They did their best to ignore her. Everybody took omegas for granted and, although Riannon hated to admit that and tried to know everyone in her pack, at times like this, she was one of them. This was what the fox king counted on. And right now she had to play along. And so did Gideon. Daily new chapters in www.noveljar.com “Ria, you are crazy if you think that I am letting you go with just six warriors,” the lycan king growled dominantly, and she caught herself thinking that it sounded hot.

“We can’t take too many. If they see them, then Harper would be dead.” Riannon explained calmly as Alice was placing a cup in front of her. “Don‘t worry, they are strategic places. If we hide them there, no one will know. It’s next to impossible to see them from the ground, so unless they come in a plane...”

“This is not what I am worried about, and you know it,” he sighed, tapping his fingers on the map. Ria was impressed by his acting skills. Gideon really did not give out any drama school kid vibes. But on the other hand, he was a politician just like her.

They had to act more “We already talked about it,” Riannon tried to sound firm and annoyed as Alice placed a cup of tea in front of her, grazing her eyes over the map. “Thank you,” she did not look at her as she said that.

“There is only one problem,” her mate chuckled, “I don‘t give a damn about Harper. I haven’t even seen her.. But you are my whole world. I am not risking my queen.”

“Of course you are not,” she fidgeted with the cup in her hands, “That’s why we are working on this plan.”

“And it needs more warriors. Lycan warriors.” They stared at each other and it was the worst part because she wanted to laugh since it reminded her of a children’s game. But he didn’t even flinch and that gave her strength to go on as well.

“Fine,” she groaned, “Bring your lycans, but I am bringing my warriors too. So, we‘ll bring six people each. I need to think of new places to position them.”

“Whatever,” Gideon smirked, “Lycans are the fastest shifters. You can position them far away to avoid them being noticed and they will still be in place on time at the first signal.”

“Good to know,” she put the cup with tea away, pretending to look at the map. “Then I will place half of them here. And the other half... I need to think about it some more.”

They let Alice hear enough, not wanting it to be too unnatural. One thing was for sure, Castiel wasn’t an i***t. He would realise that something was off if he received full information about their plan. That would be very lucky even for the sly fox.

Gideon refused the tea and Alice was stumbling with her tray.

Daily new chapters in www.noveljar.com “That would be all. Thank you.” Riannon smiled at the girl charmingly and the latter even blushed a bit. Who could have thought that this little creature would be able to add aconite to people’s drinks?

“Do you think she bought it?” Ria almost jumped when she heard Gideon’s voice in her head. But when the realisation settled, she smiled at him. It was the first time they used mind–linking, which was now possible due to their mating process being completed. It was convenient too, since no one would hear them now.

“I hope so,” Riannon took another look at the map, “If she remembered at least a few of these places, then we’ll be able to take out their warriors one by one.”

“Speaking of warriors,” the lycan looked at his watch and sighed, “We are almost late for another show.”

they heard the sounds of approaching steps as Ash made the team run, Riannon prepared for a fight. It was lucky that both of them had enhanced hearing now. The lycan as a royal and Ria as a blessed wolf. She didn’t even have a chance yet to test what she could do, but Onyx assured her that they were capable of many things. However, this wasn’t the time to show off.

Gideon was holding kick pads and she was hitting them with enthusiasm. But not with her full force.

“I just can’t do this anymore!” she groaned loudly, knowing that werewolf hearing would be able to pick up on that.

“Of course you can,” her mate said calmly, playing his part. “You just need time. I think this glowing thing exhausted you. You need time to restore properly.”

“But we don’t have time!” she almost screamed, turning away from him in fake desperation. “I need to be able to shift now and I can’t anymore! This is happening all over again!”

“Heard you,” Ash’s voice sounded in Riannon’s mind, “And I am sure that everyone who was with me did too. What’s next?”

“Take them away so that they think that you don’t want them to keep overhearing us,” The Alpha’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Then give them some free time so that our mole can deliver the information.”

“Will do.” Ash didn‘t ask any questions and in less than a second they could hear his command given to the other wolves.

The seeds were planted and now all they had to do was wait and hope that they would grow.

When it got dark, the time came to say goodbye. Maya did not cry anymore. She did not cry when her brother’s body was brought to the centre of the clearing in the woods, where all the funerals of their packs were held. She did not cry when they placed him on the pedestal made of wood and stuffed with dry twigs.. It was a tradition to burn the bodies of werewolves and it was considered that only after burning the wolf’s spirit is free and can start a new life in a new body, while the human goes to spend eternity next to the Moon Goddess.

Dean was wrapped in white fabric soaked in inflammable liquid. It was hard for Maya that she couldn’t see his face. Maybe if she saw him, she would be able to shed another tear. But she couldn’t. It was as if she used the limit of her lifetime in just two days.

Reid was hugging her from her back, hands locked protectively around his mate. He felt brother almost broke her. And now all that she was thinking about was her revenge.

The lycan Beta was worried sick about her and he could feel her body going rigid when a few higher-ranking warriors brought out the torches.

“Moon Goddess, accept his soul,” Maya whispered and Reid together with everyone else present repeated the words right before the men touched the white fabric with the torches. The fire ignited momentarily, almost reaching the skies.

Nobody was saying anything. Werewolves did not like to talk. Instead, they heard a howl from one of the guards in the woods in his wolf form that was far away from them now. And then another howl from the other side joined him. Everyone who was guarding the pack that night was howling now. And it wasn’t a battle cry or a signal. It was a song of pain and loss that the pack shared tonight.

Maya was watching her brother’s body burning when Riannon got closer to her and took her hand, entwining their fingers. She gave them a light squeeze of support and her friend’s eyes glistened again. Yet not a single tear rolled down her cheek. Daily new chapters in www.noveljar.com Ash joined them on the other side and placed his hand on his Beta’s shoulder but took it away quickly as Reid growled at him.

Gideon pulled Ria closer, whispering into her ear that everything was going to be okay. And while they watched the wild fire dancing before their eyes, she decided to believe him.

Finally, the flames were so high that it seemed like it was illuminating the whole forest. And then it formed into the shape of a beautiful wolf’s head that let out its last roar, joined by other members of the pack. The wolf dissipated into myriads of tiny sparks and this was when everyone knew that it was officially over. Dean’s wolf was going to be reborn. And Dean was probably already enjoying the company of the Moon Goddess, which was an honour on its own.

“Sometimes I think that you traded my life for his,” Maya confessed when only the five of them were left standing in front of the fire.

“No,” Ria looked at her team, “trust me, I didn’t. I don’t think that anyone could survive the war that I have seen in the past.”

“What do you mean?” Ash knitted his brows, clearly confused.

“I am going to explain everything now,” Riannon sighed. It was the best place as the sounds of crackling flames could cover for them.

The Alpha female was very carefully choosing her words as she told her story from the very beginning, shocking Ash, who was the last person to find out about everything.. However, “This actually explains a lot.” The Gamma tried to stay rational,. “You were so chill about everything and you seemed to know things... How did you...?”

“We‘ll talk about it another time,” Ria stopped him, “And right now I need you to know what we are going to do tomorrow. It’s of the utmost significance now and everyone should know what they have to do.”

She told them the plan and their roles in it and everyone seemed fine with it to her relief. Only Gideon wasn’t saying a word, but she already knew that she had his full support.

Daily new chapters in www.noveljar.com “Anyway,” Maya decided to be the first to leave. She did not want to see how omegas would be gathering Dean’s ashes to hand them to her. She had enough of conversations, “I think we all need a good night’s rest before tomorrow.”

On the next day, Riannon was preparing for her first operation as an Alpha. It was both exciting and stressful. But she knew that she was going to do this surrounded by the best team ever.

She was wearing a tight-fitting black leather jacket with notched lapels and zipped cuffs, pairing it with black jeans and patent leather boots.

“How do you manage to look like a general who is about to lead an army into a battle and the most elegant woman I have ever seen?” Gideon’s gaze travelled all over his mate.

“I will take that as a compliment,” his Queen looked at him with pride in her eyes and accepted the hand that he offered, “Shall we?”

Brayden was already there, when they walked out of the mansion and seeing his ex-wife, he caught his breath. Was she always like that? So dazzling, beautiful and... refined? He knew that she was a perfect Luna, but right now just the sight of her made his heart clench.

He had her by his side for years. And when the crazy teen love turned into an adult partnership, he started to take her for granted. He was always flattered when people were complimenting his choice of wife. He loved listening to how everyone praised them as a perfect couple. He loved the fact that he could rely on her. And he loved her as well... But he thought that she would always be there. And when Roxy appeared in his life, he thought that she would forgive him this little guilty pleasure because, in the long run, it wouldn’t change anything between them. Daily new chapters in www.noveljar.com But now he was thinking more about Roxanne was gone...

He spent the last day in agony trying to analyse everything that happened to him. He knew that he had ruined his marriage and he still regretted it even now. But before that he was gone and... he didn’t feel like the world was ending. He wanted her back for many reasons, but he wasn’t dying the way a true mate should. And this made questions pop in his head one by one.

Was Riannon right about her? And if she was, did he ruin his perfect marriage with his perfect Luna for nothing?

They were holding hands and he hated that. He hated the lycan king’s guts. And when he saw how his Ri was looking at that man, it was breaking his heart.

“Brayden,” Ria gave him a soft smile which did not mislead him. He knew her too well and was aware that this was her business smile. Not the one that came from her heart. “You are early.”

“I am sorry.” It still felt very strange to talk to her and know that she did not belong to him anymore. “I didn’t want to waste any time.”

“It’s admirable how you want to save your fake mate,”Gideon chuckled, and the Alpha wolf inside Brayden wanted to get out. He used his whole strength not to reply to that.

“It’s actually good that you are here,” Ria brough the attention back to herself, seeing how the two men glared at each other. “You do remember our deal, right? Today you do everything as I say.”

“I am ready,” he nodded, “A deal is a deal.”

“And do you remember that you owe me one?” his ex-wife tilted her head a bit.

“Of course. I gave you my word.” He said and heard her snort to that. She definitely wasn’t his biggest fan anymore.

“Great,” Riannon forced another polite smile, “I will brief you on the plan in the car. You are going with us.” Daily new chapters in www.noveljar.com “But my people,” he tried to protest.

“They are not going with us,” she smirked and his jaw twitched nervously, “But, don’t worry, Brayden, you will be safe with us. I give you my word now. Trust me, it’s worth more.”

He had to swallow the hint and follow her and her new mate, hating every moment of it. It helped a bit that during the car ride, Ria was telling him the details of her plan. He knew at once that she kept some things away from her, but he couldn‘t blame her.

By the time the car stopped, he had enough of watching how happy his ex was next to the lycan king. They weren’t provoking him or doing anything inappropriate, but just the way they was deeply in love with that man. And he couldn‘t like it or accept it no matter how hard he tried.

They all got out of the car and went to the designated area. It was just a little clearing in the woods. Nothing special. Riannon was still holding the lycan’s hand and he couldn’t deal with that anymore.

“It’s time for you to go,” Brayden tried to remind him, but at the next moment he found a huge palm squeezing his neck and his legs not being able to touch the ground as the lycan king growled loudly.

NOTE: Sorry, the chapter came out long and I couldn’t break it into smaller parts. And yet again, I will ask you to name the chapter for me. I will also be posting Riannon’s black jacket to Marissa Gilbert’s Reading Circle group today. Don’t miss it.