The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

Chapter 61 

Savannah’s lips curled into a smile, but the man who was staring at her from the main square of the castle did not return it. She wondered for a second if he did not remember her, but then she noticed that he was surrounded by several white bear guards, and it occurred to her that he was probably just playing his part. She knew that Riannon trusted this man, and it was unlikely it was a coincidence that he was the one who came to rescue Petra. 

Although, who knows… So many things had changed lately. Maybe he came to the North to negotiate peace with Bjorn on behalf of the Western Kingdom. It was a possibility. 

Or worse… Maybe he was a traitor. 

Memories of Zack flashed before her eyes, but Savannah blinked them away. 

“That’s not important,” Athena said in her mind. “We weren’t counting on anyone helping us anyway, but if he’s on our side, that’s an unexpected pleasant advantage we did not anticipate.” 

The maids returned in about an hour, and one of them asked Savannah meekly what she wanted to do next. The Princess realised they have already received their orders from Bjorn not to push her too far. Surprisingly, he was serious about the promises he made to her. Not that she was interested in any of them. However, maybe, just maybe, she was the one who could push him now to make a mistake? 

“Leave me,” Savannah snapped at them, and the omegas disappeared. She did not need their help to prepare for tonight, and also, she wanted it to be a surprise. And an unforgettable one at that. 

Ash and his delegation were not greeted by the White Bear King in person, but he did not expect a warm welcome in the first place. It was a miracle that they were allowed inside this castle at all and with such great timing. Instead, they were searched time after time, after time, by new guards, warriors and high-ranking bears of the North. Each of them already felt superior to wolves, and each of them tried to let them know. 

It was a new reality, and Ash swore to himself that he would be one of those who ensured this new world order would not last. He had strict orders about what to do from Riannon and was ready to play his part, not wishing to disappoint her. His main task was to bring his Queen information about the hostages and leave a little surprise at the main gate. He’d already done that before they started searching them. Getting Princess Savannah out was his next priority if the opportunity presented itself. Freeing the Gamma of the North and the heiress of the Blue Forest pack was the last on his priority list, but he would keep his eyes open for any opportunities. Although, he had to be realistic about it, and it was enough to know where they were being kept for when the Lycan allies started their attack. 

“We are taking these,” one of the warriors pointed at the box where the werewolves had to put all of their devices – phones, smartwatches, even earphones. 

– 

“I need to stay in contact with my pack,” Ash groaned, but only received a diminishing gaze back. He didn’t count on receiving anything back, though. It was best to play like he really needed his phone, and they made the right decision by taking it away. He wanted them to feel they were in complete control. 

“You need to stay alive while you are here. That’s what you need!” The huge bear with a bald head and a long red beard chuckled. “ And if we see any of you using a phone, you will be executed.” 

Ash looked at his men and nodded at them, letting them know that they had to obey and stay quiet. Grim silence was his answer. No one was happy about them being here, but he knew they would fight for him if it came to it. 

“Stay here until we come for you,” the Red Beard told them when he and the other warriors were at the doors of the dark, stuffy room they were brought into. 

“Can we at least see the girl and make sure she is fine?” the Alpha asked calmly. He wasn’t giving them the satisfaction of seeing him nervous and tried to behave as if it was a completely normal situation. 

“You will see her at the marking ceremony,” the Red Beard scoffed. 

“The marking ceremony?” Ash furrowed his brows, his whole body went tense. They were watching the news and searching for every bit of information about what was going on inside of this castle, and it was implied several times that the marking ceremony of Bjorn and Savannah would take place soon, but they had no idea that the date was set for today. 

bear scratched his beard. “Some say it was canceled, some say it is still on. I guess we’ll find out when we

whole situation reminded him of something from his past. He knew that Riannon had faith in the Princess, and now he could understand why. It appeared that she was messing with the white

to one of the chairs, taking a seat and lazily crossing his legs, placing his ankle on the top of his knee, trying to demonstrate

and found her mate, but Ash had been in love

were on edge, knowing that if it came to battle, it was possible that not all

no denying that they needed his sister if they wanted to win this war. Not to mention that Riannon told him that Savannah

and lazily offered them to follow him down the dark corridors of the castle. Looking around, Ash noticed that they tried to make this place look festive. There were flowers in vases that seemed out of place and some strange wooden bear ornaments here and there, but overall, it was clear that the castle wasn’t built for entertaining guests. Even the tinted windows or the main halls looked like they were cleaned for the first time

Ash was happy to discover that their places were in the first row. Some of the high-ranking bears glared at them as they sat, probably thinking that

Wolves often felt what their humans couldn’t but rarely bothered

at the centre of the long table that stood on a platform at the top of the stairs, above everyone else. His most loyal men were by

present. The Northern TV presenter twins, however, were in attendance, working in front of the camera, as usual. The Alpha frowned as he watched them, knowing how easily they betrayed their previous King Now they clearly had a new one and served him happily as if they did not witness the m******e he committed. Just the thought that Riannon might not have been so lucky at that time and could have diedasplanned made him furious. She may have been with another man, but he still cared about her deeply. In all honesty, he still loved her and didn’t know if he could ever stop. He wished

was looking at that person. Looking and

family!” Bjorn suddenly acknowledged the werewolves presence as he gulped a large glass of what looked like whiskey.” You’re here finally! it means we can start the

a message to Savannah and then leave salely with the information he managed to gather while in

pink one shoulder dress of sheer fabric that was so revealing that she

He couldn’t do anything about it or suppress it because he now knew who that girl was. It wasn’t just the fact that she was Petra Biernat, daughter of the Alpha of the

was his mate.

second chance

early that they were barely beyond being pups. The love of his life, Riannon, married his best friend and then met her own mate and became a Queen. Ash had been through so much pain that he didn’t even want to try anymore. He chose to stay by Riannon’s side even if it was from the shadows. He had another woman

Until now. 

to change the status quo.

what he had already figured out. Her eyes were as blue as forget-me-nots, and this was ironic because Ash knew

as if she’d barely reached the age of eighteen. Ash almost instantly knew that she was wrong for him. This second chance was probably a

Petra’s eyes well up, but she didn’t cry.heir pares locked again,

White Bear King, mastured to Claude and Chloe to stop recording, and their cameraman pointed the lens at

brought both Ash and Petra back to reality. Ash was glad that Petra had the sense not to scream that he was her mate. Something told him that this

tonight, and this made him so angry that

you/” huis Delia hissed when he noticed what was poing on, and Ash managed to get himsell under

loudly, “Consider that the auction has started! The king is willing to listen to

“The White Claw Clan offers thirty thousand

of them took this offer seriously. New offers followed. Bigger offers. Better ones. The bears were offering money, fealty, lands, their own daughters or sisters in

could help her protect herself. This was when he knew that he wouldn’t be leaving her behind. He would get her out whatever it cost him. The realisation was sudden

offer was the most important either way. His delegation was invited