The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

Chapter 8. The Alpha Ball
Ria was descending the stairs slowly and with grace, noticing how Brayden turned to see what everybody else was looking at.
He was shocked that it was his own wife. And Riannon found this offensive. So, when he offered her his hand to the displeasure
of princess Peach... ghm, Roxy in her ugly peach dress, she ignored that and went past them as if they did not know each other.
The move made another wave of whispers erupt. And in the werewolf world whispers were nothing – everyone could hear what
the conversation was about.
Ria went to greet a few couples that she knew, all of them stretched their best smiles for her, not commenting on the awkward
situation. She was done with that quickly and since the party seemed to go on, she decided to go and get herself some liquid
courage. Goddess knew she needed some today.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed that the balcony on the other side of the room, the one that was usually used by the
owner of the house, Alpha Richards, was covered with white curtains to hide what was going on inside. She could see a few
figures moving there but that was about it. She was curious what it was about but not to the extent to actually go and
check for herself.
as
“Luna Thorn,” a male voice appeared behind her back and she turned to face an unfamiliar alpha. He was one of the new and
younger ones as she didn’t know him. In some packs, alphas were changing frequently due to power struggles. She and
Brayden managed to avoid those and were considered something like elders even though she was 25 and he was 26.
“Hello,” she greeted him with a soft smile. After all, it was only polite.
“Alpha Zach Morgan,” the man introduced himself and he looked to be in his late 20s as well, “The Alpha of the Emerald
Mountain pack.”
“Ah, I’ve heard,” Riannon was now interested. Everybody heard the rumours about the alpha’s bastard child who challenged his
elder brother (who was a moron, by the way) and won his title, “Impressive!”
“A compliment from someone like you is a compliment indeed,” he smirked and gestured for the barmen to serve them drinks,
“Champagne for the lady and brandy for me.”
He didn’t even ask her. Alphas were like that.

“Riannon,” another Alpha appeared from her other side, “Looking gorgeous as ever.”
His hand wrapped around her waist as if it belonged there, making Zach growl quietly as a
warning
her. They both thought that she was back on the market.
How funny! But also useful. Because she was, after all, on the market. Even though she had another
man’s mark on her neck. But that man was with someone else now, enjoying his time. As far as Ria remembered from the
previous life, the two of them had a blast while she was forgotten. She hid in a corner in a modest dress and left early. Alone. Her
heart was broken and she couldn’t even talk to anyone, although she did her best. As always.
Now the game was on. Her heart was not aching anymore.
Well, maybe a bit. But she could still think clearly now. And she could see the hungry gazes everyone had on her. Every. Single.
Male. And maybe it was petty, but she loved the attention. She craved it after everything that happened. She needed to feel like
a woman again. And a beautiful at that.
Another loud growl emerged from somewhere and it had such power to it that they all looked around. For a second Ria thought
that it could be Brayden who finally noticed her, but he was in the other corner of the room, introducing Roxy to his Alpha pals.
He gave her a glance when he felt her looking and an apologetic smile to go with it. How annoying.
Then who was that growling?
“Don’t mind it!” a third Alpha joined them, “It’s just Lycans going crazy. Riannon, you are simply breath-taking today! What a
dress! The colour suits you!”
“Lycans?” she flapped her lashes, thinking that she was probably hearing things, “Here?”
“Yeah,” Zach snorted, “Everyone is shocked. They are invited every year but they never attend, probably thinking that they are
too good for us! And yesterday Alpha Jones received a call that the Lycan King himself will be visiting but they need a private
VIP area. Can you
imagine?”
“Snobs!” another werewolf next to her let out a laugh, “So, Ria, will you save me a dance?

“I don’t see why...”
“No,” she heard a firm voice behind her back and turned to see her Beta, who looked less
than thrilled with the whole situation. What was his problem? “My Luna promised to dance
with me tonight,” he lied without blinking and this got her annoyed. Was he doing that for Brayden? Not to let her talk to anyone?
“Don’t be ridiculous, Ash,” she giggled and then gave him her signature don’t-you-dare look she used with her subordinates. “We
talked only about one dance in the car. And after that,” she glanced over the company of at least five single Alphas around her, “I
can dance with my old... friends. And the new ones as well.”
Some of the men adjusted their collars at her words and it pleased her that she had the
desired effect on them. The dress was a good investment, after all.
“I still insist on being first,” the Beta offered her his hand and she accepted it.
“I’ll be back,” she winked at the other guys and they all either nodded or smirked at her.
She wasn’t thinking of them seriously, of course. Although she knew very well that some of them were serious about her. There
was Alpha Maddox, Brayden’s old rival. He stated more than once his desire to take her as his Luna back in the day. And Alpha
Grayson was showing her signs of admiration before too. She always pretended not to notice before but she knew very well how
they looked at her. Females with pure Alpha blood were rare. Her wolf had an immaculate silver coat, which was unique as well.
On top of that, she was beautiful and smart. She was the Perfect Luna that everyone wanted. And Brayden was lucky to have
her.
Shame all that did not help her when he met his mate... Even in spite of them wearing
each other’s marks and having a bond of their own, it did not help...
“You shouldn’t give them hope, you know.” Ash told her all of a sudden and she gave him a surprised look.
“You read too much into everything,” she looked in a different direction because his gaze seemed to burn through her skull, “I am
having fun.”
“You are the Luna...”

“And my Alpha is right there having the time of his life with his mate, Ash,” she rolled her eyes, “What do you want me to do? Get
in the far corner of the room and cry my eyes out? He made his choice and...”
“And you are looking for a new Alpha already?” his grasp on her became tighter, “Is there really a need for this?”
“And you think there isn’t?” she gave him an intrigued look.
“Of course, not!” his voice was firm, “Brayden will never divorce you. This girl is just... for his wolf. You can find someone like that
too. In our pack.”
“Or I can go and look for my mate too!” she snorted and ignored his frown, “I am not into
He clenched his lips but luckily the music came to its end and she left him quickly, trying to go deep into the crowd.
“Did you see? How shameless of her!” some girl was talking at the distance, “No wonder
her husband did not reject his mate even though he already marked her! Maybe there is more
to that story considering how she hangs herself on every Alpha she sees!”
Riannon grazed her eyes over the girl. It was just some bimbo one of the Alphas brought.
Not even a Luna.
However, she realised that the rumours would be spreading. And not everyone would be
on her side even though she had no choice.
Oh, well.
She deliberately left Ash on a side of the hall opposite from where all the single Alphas were waiting for her. Of course, she
would work on them too. But they were not too reliable. If they wanted from her something more than just becoming allies, she
couldn’t give them much. She did not want to marry for the second time. At least, not now. All she wanted was to get her pack
back. And she needed help.
So, she started out by approaching her father’s old friends. The ones she knew were supporting Brayden only thanks to her. A
little hint here and there and one by one they promised her their support. Four in total within half an hour. Not much but it was a

start.
“There you are!” Alpha Zach caught her when she was on her way to talk to one of her ex-classmates, “Someone promised me a
dance.”
His hazel eyes looked darker now and she knew that she couldn’t avoid it any longer. She
noticed Bray not far from her, with Roxy clinging to him. His eyes, however, were on his wife. And the look in them did not
promise her anything good.
“I did, didn’t I?” she smirked, enjoying this moment. She hoped it hurt him too.
Zach was about to take her back to the dance floor when a ridiculously tall man with a playful grin crossed their path.
“Long time no see, Luna,” she addressed her as if they knew each other and she tried to remember really hard who he was
when it suddenly occurred to her.
“B-Beta Reid?” she gasped, recognising the lycan she met years ago. “In the flesh!” he showed off her pearly whites, “It’s such a
coincidence to run into you!” “At the annual Alpha Ball that all Lunas attend every year?” she arched her brow, “Not
“Well,” he chuckled, “I am here for the first time, so... Anyway... My King is here too and
he wishes to see you.”
“I’ll make sure to deliver Luna Thorn as soon as our dance is over,” Alpha Zach tried to
lead her away, but the Lycan stopped him.
“I am afraid, you will have to find another dance partner,” he looked friendly but somehow sounded menacing. So menacing, that
Alpha Zach stepped away, giving them way.
The lycan led her to the balcony while pretty much everyone in the room, including her husband, watched them and opened the
white curtain before her, motioning for her to enter.
Another loud growl sounded as soon as she walked in...
Marissa Gilbert

Haik... dator etart today I really hope I will be able to keep this up. Thank you to everyone who reads this