The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

Chapter 81.
Savannah watched Zack and his wolves fight the werecats from a safe distance when Naya got her a phone. Her heart was still
in pain, seeing her mate over there. What was he trying to do? To get her back or to just kill her before she could tell Gideon
what was going on? She wasn’t sure she wanted to know his true motives.
Someone wrapped a piece of fabric around her and something similar was given to Naya who immediately turned it into a stylish
wrap dress. The werecat seemed confident and maybe even slightly arrogant. She did not have any doubts about what was
going on. But Sawy did not care about anything at the moment as she dialled her brother’s number. It went to voicemail and she
called Reid instead.
“Pumpkin, it’s not the best time,” her uncle told her, but she had to stop him.
“I need to speak to Gideon! It’s urgent, Reid! Zack is the traitor you all were looking for!” she practically screamed into the phone.
“Are you all right?” was the first question that she heard, “Did he hurt you? Are you safe?”
“I got to the werecats territory and asked for asylum. They are fighting Zack now,” Savannah explained quickly, “Reid, I am
serious, I need to speak to my brother. Zack is the least of our problems now!
“Got you,” the Beta said firmly, “He doesn’t have his phone with him. But I will forward the call to one of the warriors by his side
who should have one with him at all times.”
“Good,” she breathed out, watching two pumas tear one of the wolves to pieces. Zack’s black wolf was fighting too, but she
caught him looking at her from time to time. It pained her that he was her mate. But it was even worse that he didn’t accept her
rejection now. She couldn’t be tied to a man like that. She had to set herself free from him. One way or another.
“Sav,” she heard a familiar voice on the phone and felt a little bit better that she got through to him on time.
“Gideon, listen to me very carefully,” the princess said, “Don’t say anything until I am done. Zack is the traitor. He has been
working with Castiel this whole time. There are others too...”
“Are you okay?” her brother seemed really worried, forgetting her instruction at once.
“Yes,” she didn’t let him ask more questions not to lose time. “It’s all irrelevant now, G. So, pay attention, please! This is a trap!
And not the kind that you anticipated while going to get Riannon back. Right at this very moment they are attacking our kingdom,

Gideon!”
She heard her royal sibling swearing on the other end of the line but he got over himself quickly.
“That’s fine, Sav. Kyle is there and so is the Gamma with most of our warriors. They will defend it,” he said firmly.
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” she bit her lip nervously, “They are bringing a whole army there! This is exactly what we’ve been worried
about this whole time.”
“But now we know that they will attack now. We knew that for a while,” Gideon’s confidence was giving her strength. “We were
warned so we are ready. I will get Riannon and we will be there soon to join the fight. Now, tell me quickly everything else that
you know.”
She started giving him names she learned one by one and every other little detail she could remember
“Savvy,” Gideon said when she was done.”I am so proud of you. I am sorry for...” Prove to everyone inat true mates still mean
something. I need to know this now more than ever.
She switched off the phone, not wishing to hear anything else. He needed to act, not to console his little sister
And she... she had things to do too. But the silence stopped her. She did not hear the sounds of battle anymore.
Savannah turned slowly on her feet and saw that the werecats were licking their minor wounds there, notorious for being able to
speed up their healing but she couldn’t see any wolves around.
“Cowards!” Naya snorted, folding her hands on her chest and looking at Savannah with interest.
“No,” the princess whispered. She had to find him. She needed to break their bond and she needed him to accept the rejection.
He couldn’t have run away without a trace!
“What are you going to do about your mate?” Naya sighed and Savvy clenched her lips, thinking of her next step.
“I need your help,” she said quickly. “The kingdom will be attacked soon. I need werecats to help us.”
“Oh, really?” The girl co.cked her snowy brow. “You went very quickly from begging for Asylum to demanding things...”
Sawy wanted to explain to her why it was so important and necessary when she heard an authoritative, firm voice.

“Naya! Manners!”
A gorgeous tall woman with sleek black hair was walking in their direction, wearing a red dress which looked like it was made out
of another long piece of fabric and just draped around her perfect athletic body. Savvy caught herself at the thought that this was
actually a genius idea. One swift movement of her hand and she could shift without ruining the garment. But she immediately felt
guilty about thinking of such trivial matters now. She knew instinctively that the woman was Alpha Ramina. And she was followed
by her beloved Luna Aisha and their top warrior, Alexander. The names she learned because she had to. And judging by the
snow-white colour of his hair, Sawy knew that the rumours about who was Naya and her sisters’ father were probably true. This
must have been an interesting relationship
“Alpha. Luna.” Savannah bowed to each of them respectfully. “I have to ask for your assistance. The enemy is about to attack
the Western kingdom’s capital and...”
“How is it our problem?” Naya snorted but one glare from her mother was enough for her to become serious.
“It is our problem, daughter,” Ramina gave her child that look that made her close her mouth again.” We are members of the
Union pack and if we want them to come to our help when we are attacked, we need to fulfil our part of the deal.”
“We can protect ourselves!” Naya gritted her teeth and this time her mother frowned.
“And this is why I would never be able to pass on my title to you, Naya,” the Alpha said harshly, “You never see the full picture!
We are the best warriors, yes. But our clan is not that big and there are bigger threats out there. We need this Union. And this
why we are going to help princess Savannah now.”
“Thank you, Alpha,” Savvy held back a smile, “We need to hurry then. Since Zack is gone, they are going to attack sooner.”
“Gather the warriors!” Ramina told the man behind her and then turned to kiss her Luna gently. The two women couldn’t take
their eyes off each other.
“Keep our home safe while we are gone and I will,” the Alpha brushed her palm over her mate’s cheek and Savanah felt a prick
of pain in her heart. She would never have that... Not anymore.
She was surprised by how quickly the warriors were gathering and she now stood in front of a little army. The best thing about
them was that they were hard to notice. Some men and women were jumping from tree to tree with grace, others were walking
out of the bushes and it seemed like they didn’t disturb a single brunch. Yes, there was something about those cats and their
abilities different from other shifters. out there.

“Lead the way,” Alpha Ramina told Sawy when they were ready. And the princess was happy to oblige.
Castiel had that smug smile on his already broken face and Gideon couldn’t wait to wipe it off once and for all. But he had to
make sure. The foxes weren’t the strongest of warriors compared to lycans but what made it really hard to deal with them were
their constant schemes. This was where they were definitely and undeniably the best. So, he had to be sure that he wasn’t
missing a piece of crucial information.
“Another trap?” he smirked, trying to agitate the enemy more. “Castiel, did you do anything else this past year other than think
about me? Seems a bit obsessive, don’t you agree?”
The fox king coughed blood but the grin on his face only grew wider. “You have no idea,” he hissed.
“About the attack on my kingdom that’s going on this very moment?” Gideon chuckled. “Don’t be naïve, Cass. Of course, I know.”
He could feel his mate’s shock through their bond and tried to send a wave of reassurance to her. He had this under control.
Gideon wished he could turn and grab her in his arms, but now he had to be a leader first.
He wasn’t breaking eye contact with Castiel, who was scanning his face to find out if this was the truth.
“You f***king sister!” the fox spat and the lycan nodded, enjoying the moment.
“Finally outfoxed,” Riannon joined him, fixing the red shawl on her that one of the female warriors that caught up with them
brought for her. It probably belonged to one of the red girls. The Luna did not hesitate to support her mate’s game. “And twice in
one day.”
“Shame you didn’t mention the bomb in your packhouse, Ria,” Castiel tried to give her an arrogant smile, but it came out as a
scowl.
“You are lying,” she looked at him with so much hate that his heart clenched. He never had a chance with her... He desperately
wanted to believe that he did, but her eyes were telling a different story. And he hated that story so much. Why was he never
getting what he really wanted? Why was it always like that? It was supposed to be his win, his triumph... But now his brother
would have to finish what he started and win this war instead. Him. Again.
He could bet that his brother would even find a way to make Riannon stay with him if he wanted her. That bastard... He looked at
her again and this time hate filled his heart. For his brother, for the lycan king before him, for the woman who did not fall for him,
for the life that was slipping away through his multiple wounds.

He had seconds to make the decision... And he made it. He couldn’t go down like the loser king who got outsmarted by a
woman and didn’t take all the creait for nis work, ne would know tnat tnis achievement was nis!
He opened the link with his last spy in Riannon’s pack, the one she didn’t figure out. Their eyes met and for a second he felt as if
she understood what he was about to do. Her lips parted slightly while he said the code worked via the link.
“Blaze.” His man did not respond. He knew that once that word was said, he had work to do.
“What did you...” Riannon looked terrified now and he enjoyed that. Maybe that was what he had to do to her from the very
beginning, not play nice to her as he did with the others.
“It’s done,” he laughed, coughing up more blood, “Right now... Your packhouse is gone. And you
...”
Gideon did not let him finish, realising what had just happened. One firm masterful movement of his leg and the fox’s neck was
broken, ending the life of the controversial king. He couldn’t let him give any more orders to his spies. Even the intel that he
could give was not worth it. Castiel was too dangerous to for them alive.
He then to look at his mate who was already calculating what to do next. Her eyebrows furrowed and
Finally, she noticed him and their eyes met. Goddess, how much he missed her! He would give everything to hug her, kiss her,
take her... But he knew very well that he couldn’t. Everything was far from over.
He knew that Kyle and his Gamma would be able to fight off the ones who attacked the kingdom, but he had to be there to make
sure everything went smoothly. He also knew that there was a disaster happening in Ria’s pack if Castiel did not lie about the
bomb.
“Who is missing?” Riannon asked all of a sudden and he did not understand at once what she meant.
“What are you...”
“Who is missing out of our people you brought with you here!” she was next to him in no time, her nails digging in his flesh.
“Gideon! He gave someone an order via the mind link! It means that this person was within the range! It’s another spy in my
pack! Or yours... But probably mine.”

She was muttering word after word but he knew where she was going with it. The house probably wasn’t exploded yet. There
was still a chance to save people and even the building.
“I need a phone!” Riannon screamed and a young lycan appeared next to her at once, handing her what she asked. Her fingers
pressed the familiar order of digits one by one and soon she heard her best friend’s voice.
“Yes?” Maya did not seem surprised. She was waiting for the news.
“Get back to the pack. Order to evacuate the packhouse! Now!” Ria screamed, “And every nearby building too. There might be
an explosion, so make sure people are at a safe distance. No one should be left inside. And place people around the perimeter.
See who comes back first from the ones you sent and catch them if you can. I’ll be back soon too.”
“Sure you will,” her Beta said and, before hanging up added, “I will do everything.” Ria gave the phone back to the warrior and
fixed the shawl on her shoulders.
They couldn’t even spare a second, but when their eyes met again, Gideon grasped her hand and pulled her into his chest. He
kissed her hungrily, greedily. As if she was air and he was drowning. As if his life depended on that one kiss. As if it was the last
time...
“No, Ria, come with me,” he muttered, not willing to let her go again. First he had to wait for her to feel their bond. Then she was
taken from him. And now he couldn’t face parting with her yet again.
She was his. His woman, his love, his Luna, his Queen, his equal. She was his everything.
“I need to get back to my pack,” she swallowed, glancing at him through her lashes. “I am the Alpha. This is what Alphas do. If
the explosion happens, I need to make sure I am there working with everyone. If it’s prevented, I will bring my people to fight on
your side as per the agreement of the Union.”
“Riannon,” he wanted to object, he was even considering forcing her for the first time ever. But seeing the inferno of
determination in her eyes, he knew that it would be useless. He loved an Alpha, not just a Luna. He had to respect that. She had
to go and save her people just the way he had to go and save her.
“Gide...” she started saying, but he covered her lips with his again. This time roughly and briefly, but with the same immense
desire as before.
“This is the last time we are ever apart,” the lycan king told his mate and she nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly.

“Last time,” they entwined their fingers together and both their breathing became ragged.
“Go,” he told her, “Go before I decide to abandon both my kingdom and your pack and just run away with you. Just you and me,
no crowns, no exes, no psychos, no obligations...”
“The dream,” she smiled and added right before turning into her wolf, “But we would get bored fast, don’t you think?”
She sprinted away, followed by her people, and Gideon made a few orders to the people he was leaving in this house, before
getting into the car and driving all the way back to the Western Kingdom for the final battle.
***
Riannon was so close to her pack when she smelled the burnt scent. She howled to let her people know that she was near, she
was with them.
It was painful to see the house she loved so much in flames. But she knew that she still wasn’t allowed to be weak even for a
moment. Maya was talking to one of the warriors, giving him orders on how to put down the fire. She lowered her head at the
sight of her alpha and gestured for one of the omegas to bring her clothes.
“I am sorry, Alpha,” she said, “We were in the middle of the evacuation when the detonator worked. It is my failure and I will
understand if...”
“Don’t say nonsense,” Riannon quickly threw on a simple pair of jeans and a white t-shirt with short sleeves that someone
handed to her and started putting on shoes as well. “Did you manage to get the people out?”
“Almost everyone...” the Beta responded, “I suspect that there might have been a few omegas in the storage room. We couldn’t
find them after the explosion and were about to go and search for them. Plus the prisoners in the dungeons. I didn’t get to
them... But I think we got the traitor you were looking for. Ash caught one of the warriors in the woods. He had a device that
looked like a remote control with a radio transmitter, and we suspect that he used it to trigger the bomb that was pre-installed in
the building earlier. Do you want to see him now?”
“No,” Riannon shook her head, standing up, “There will be time for that. People’s lives should come first. I will go inside to look
for survivors too.”
“Maybe it’s not the best idea,” Maya did not feel comfortable endangering her Alpha. But looking

“I’ll go with you,” Brayden appeared in dirty clothes and with smudges of cinder all over his face. It looked like he was helping to
clear the ruins. And they could use all the help now,
Riannon did not care about the looks that Maya was giving her ex. An extra pair of hands was what they needed now.
She was walking for a few minutes inside what was her house once. The marble floors were cracked now and some of the
columns were broken too. The staircase survived by some miracle but she did not go upstairs. She wanted to look for survivors.
It was weird to have Bray by her side at a moment like this. And she would have given up a lot for it to be Gideon instead.
“Would you look at that?” she went up to a huge mantiepiece that was also broken now. There used to be a silver-plated spear
placed about that, a replica of what the Moon Goddess used, according to the legends. It was gone now. Like most of her
belongings... “I wasn’t such a great Alpha after all. Just a few days and the packhouse is down.”
Brayden stopped walking over pieces of glass that were crunching under his feet and stared at her.
“You must be kidding me right now, Riannon,” he said simply, and she turned to face him. “The damage would have been so
much bigger without you. Ash already got the main suspect and Maya managed to evacuate people. You can always rebuild the
house. But the lives are priceless.”
“Look at who is back to his senses,” she gave him a vague smile and went to the next room. Brayden followed her, not saying
anything else. She reached the door that led to the dungeon’s staircase when he placed her hand on hers.
“I feel like I am back to my senses,” he said, standing right behind her. “Everything became so clear to me and, Ri, the way I
treated you...”
“It’s water under the bridge now,” she brushed him off. This was neither the time nor the place for that conversation. However, it
did not stop Brayden.
“Whatever you think of me, I deserve it,” he insisted, clenching his fists. “You were not just my wife and the love of my life. You
were my friend and partner before everything and i betrayed your trust... I paid the price and I keep paying it every day now. You
found your mate and the Moon Goddess knows – you deserve it. It’s hard to be happy for you... really hard. But I will be trying.
Because, Ri, you deserve all the best things in life. You deserve a man who will make you happy. If I could turn back time...” His
voice sounded distant and broken so much that she felt sorry for him.
“Everything is how it is supposed to be now,” Ria pushed the door and slowly went down the destroyed stairs to the cellars. It did
not look good down there. The floors were flooded and water was splashing from several pipes. She saw sparks of electricity in

the distance and was happy that she was wearing sneakers with rubber soles.
“What I am trying to say,” Brayden cleared his throat. “I hope that I can at least be your friend now. Losing you to another man is
one thing. But losing you forever is another. Ri... I am so sorry for everything. I truly am.”
There they were. The words she wanted to hear so much in her past life and never did. She thought that she would feel some
kind of satisfaction at that moment. But right now all she felt was empty. It did not make her happy or unhappy. Bray’s regrets did
not impact her at all. She knew that now.
She was finally ready to move on from those horrible memories. What Brayden said or did was irrelevant to her now.
“I know that you will probably hate me forever,” the man added as he knelt to check one of the many bodies in front of them to
confirm his death.
“I don’t hate you,” she stopped and rubbed her forehead, “Brayden, I.”
Riannon felt someone else’s presence and quickly turned to see a splash of red locks in the distance. Something shiny was
thrown at her. And the last thing she managed to think was – she found the spear...