Chapter 72

Chapter 72. Underestimated Riannon tried not to display her emotions in front of the fox king, as his men dragged Harper into the room. Not that she experienced a lot of emotions. For a second there, she was afraid that it could be Maya. But seeing her ex’s sister actually made her feel relieved. That was the sacrifice she was willing to make if she absolutely had to.

Harper looked even worse than the last time she saw her. It had probably been hours since she switched off in the woods. And Ria guessed that Castiel didn’t have a luxurious room “What is this?” she co.cked her brow and stared at the fox king, absolutely unimpressed. “Riannon!” Harper whimpered, but she ignored that. The less attention she paid to her, the better. She couldn’t show Castiel that she cared even one bit. That would seal the girl’s “You know exactly what this is,” the man in front of her sneered, brushing his head over his medium-length hair.

“What does Brayden’s sister have to do with me?” she shrugged her shoulders.

“You came to save her, remember?” he reminded her and she let out a little laugh.

“Seriously? That’s your leverage?” she scoffed. “You know very well why I came there.

Not for her.”

“You b*tch!” Harper screeched and Riannon rolled her eyes. “I knew you were like this!

You worthless...”

“Then if she is this insignificant and has no use for you, I don’t think I have use for her as well anymore. She played her part.”

Castiel clicked his fingers and one of the warriors hit the back of Harper’s knees, making her fall down. The other grew his claws and grabbed the girl’s hair with a free hand, digging them into her flesh almost to the point of bleeding.

Ria pursed her lips. She did not owe anything to Harper. Especially not after what she saw in her past.

But she wasn’t a murderer. And Harper hadn’t done anything yet. Maybe... just maybe there was still a way to save her.

However, letting Castiel think that Harper meant something to her would be a mistake.

He would then use the girl against her again and again. And she didn’t even know yet what he wanted from her in the first place.

Everything was a game to him. The smirk on his face was the proof of that. So, she decided to try and play with him as well.

indifferently. “But I am surprised you think that she played her part already.”

Her opponent chuckled and she locked eyes with her ex-sister-in-law just for a second. The girl clearly wanted to say something but clenched her lips as the claws dug a bit deeper into her neck.

“Elaborate on that, please,” Castiel encouraged her.

“Just because she doesn’t mean much to me, doesn’t mean she has no use for you.” She was choosing every word carefully.

“She is still Brayden’s sister. And Brayden is still the Alpha of The Silver River pack.”

“Which is bankrupt now. How long is it until his own people turn on him or other Alphas come to claim his land?” the fox king smirked, looking at her with amusement.

“My Beta or Gamma will give him the money due after our divorce,” Ria lied calmly. She was thinking of it but did not give such an order yet. But those were insignificant details now.“ His pack would be thriving in no time. And no one would start a war, knowing that we have another one looming over us.”

He watched her as she spoke and she did not like his gaze on her. She did not like his interest. She did not want it.

“Take her back to her cell,” Castiel commanded, and his men obeyed, yanking Harper back to her feet. She had tears rolling down her cheeks that ruined the remnants of her mascara. But at least, she wasn’t shouting any insults anymore. And the last look she exchanged with Ria was perplexed and lost.

The door behind them closed and only now had Riannon released that the two of them had been alone in this strange room.

“Onyx, are you there?” she called her wolf even though she felt her inside. But she needed to hear her voice inside her mind, she needed the confirmation that what happened last time wasn’t happening again.

“Present,” Onyx replied immediately. “Do not worry, I am never leaving you again.”

“How are you feeling? Are we...”

capable of taking care of ourselves.”

It was good and she let out a sigh of relief, which Castiel took differently.

“S0,” he taunted her with a vague smile on his lips. His eyes were travelling around her However, she did no such thing and only straightened her back instead. “What do you want from me?” she narrowed her eyes at the arrogant man next to her.

“Isn’t it obvious?” a sneer formed on his handsome face. Even now she couldn’t deny that he was ridiculously good looking.

“Nothing is obvious until you say it out loud,” Ria rolled her eyes and watched how the fox king stood up and started pacing around the room slowly. He wasn’t nervous though. It was another game for him. So, when he turned sharply to face her and his stormy grey eyes almost pierced her, she gulped, feeling uneasy.

“I want you,” Castiel said plainly, but in such a tone that there could be no misunderstanding between them.

“Don’t be ridi...” She started saying, but he was the one to interrupt her.

“You asked me and now you will listen,” he stepped closer, and she wanted to leave that chair to be able to walk away from him.

Yet the fox king bent lower, towering over her and pinned his hands at both sides of her. “I have been looking for a worthy woman for quite some time. You see, I need a Luna myself. Someone who I can admire and rely on. A partner.”

“Then it’s definitely not me!” she snorted, but instead of backing off, he grabbed her chin to make her look at him.

“But you could be.” His eyes lingered over her lips as his thumb brushed over the lower one, parting them. She yanked her head away and to her surprise, he didn’t insist, returning to the armchair next to her, only a sigh of disappointment leaving him as proof that he cared.

“Hardly,” she turned away from him.

“I was watching you and I have to say that you surprised me more than once.” He said while rubbing his chin. “I’ve never met anyone so... captivating.”

“Is this why you cancelled your order to get rid of me?” Ria taunted him but he didn’t “Yes,” he replied honestly. “I saw you as an obstruction before. But after I actually met you, I changed my mind. I am rarely this interested in anyone. And the more I find out about you, the more I want you by my side.”

“Too bad that I have a mate,” she interrupted him. She did not need any confessions from the enemy. Although she suspected that he had been interested in her for a while already.

would lose their advantage and influence. The era of wolves will be over.”

“Charming!” she dug her nails into the fabric of her chair, almost ripping it.

“But for you, I am willing to make an exception,” he stretched his hands towards hers, but she jerked it back. He took it well, not pushing further. “Become my Luna and I will make sure that your pack survives. Your little feisty friend and even your Gamma too. They will all keep their lives if you are next to me. Just imagine what the two of us could do together!”

“How tempting!” she didn’t even try to hide the poison in her words.

“I will make it more tempting when you are more accustomed to me,” he smirked, and that smirk sent a chill down her spine.

“If you so much as...” she started speaking, but Castiel interrupted her.

“I am not going to force you to do anything. I don’t need that,” the fox king chuckled lightly. “I will find a key to your heart now that you are here. And we...”

“In your dreams!” she wanted to let Onyx out now simply to shut him up, but managed to stop in time. Attacking him could ruin everything!

“It’s enough for now,” Castiel stood up again and walked to the door, placing his palm on the doorknob and ready to leave. But at the last moment, he turned to look at her again, “I will give you as much time as you need to accept me. I am not in a hurry.”

She wanted to slap him, kick him... rip his throat out.

“This will never happen!” she told him firmly.

“Never say never,” Castiel laughed openly, “I take it as a challenge and only want you more. I still remember how you touched me for the first time and called me handsome. And I sure as hell remember you in that little silky thing in your bedroom. Don’t get me wrong, but do not provoke me. It’s already hard to stay away from you. And I detest forcing women into anything.”

“Then don’t!” Riannon stood up as well. “Let me go.”

His gaze traced her from head to her feet and a lazy smile danced on his lips, “No.You will stay here until you are ready. I am not in a rush. I want quality.”

“Are you seriously going to keep me locked in that room?!” she scowled.

“Of course, not,” he gave her a sly grin, “You are welcome to roam freely around this house. Meet its residents. I am sure some of them will help you speed up your decision.”

This was exactly what she needed, so she did not object this time. “You are also free to weapons, of course. But other than that – no limits.”

To that Riannon nodded quietly. She definitely could use that too.

“In the evening I would want us to have dinner together. We have a lot to talk about,” Castiel informed her, “Change into one of the dresses I got for you. You will look lovely...”

“And if I don’t?” she raised a brow but it only widened his grin.

“Then Harper’s stay here will be way less comfortable.” That was a pure threat and he left the room before she managed to form a snarky reply. So much for not trying to force her...

Gideon was wiping out his bloody knuckles after yet another unsuccessful interrogation when he saw the pack’s doctor.

“My king,” the doctor bowed politely, “The pregnant girl is properly healed now. The baby is in no danger and she is feeling better. You can talk to her if you like...”