The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

Chapter 43. Guilt

Maya was crying quietly all the way down until the Lycan kingdom and Reid didn’t know what to do. She did not show it to him and neither did she sob or weep, but her eyes were red and puffy and she was wiping them with her palms every few seconds as she turned away to

stare at the window.

He never wanted a mate in the first place, never looked for one. And when he saw how

finding a mate changed his best friend Gideon, he decided to stay away from wolf mingling events and stick to the she-wolves he already knew, considering them safe options. Luckily,

there were quite a few who were always ready to keep him company.

It was supposed to be for the best. He wasn’t a family man anyway. Maybe a funny uncle

material. But this was it. He was a Beta and needed his focus on his work at all times.

Yet when he first sensed this amazing scent of almonds and something floral that evoked everything feral and primal inside of him within seconds, all his rules and self-taught mantras went to hell. He struggled for a few minutes in his car, trying to talk himself out of

going there and finding his mate. But gave in rather quickly under the pressure from his wolf, Nox, who was eager to meet their mate.

He had to see her too; had to know who she was.

And when he saw her with another man who tried to hurt her, all his instincts flared up. It was a done deal. That woman was his and he wouldn’t let anyone touch her, let alone hurt her.

He disobeyed his king’s orders for the first time ever and left Riannon behind without any

support. Before that, they planned for him to stick around with her as a representative of the Lycans on the pretence of helping her with their new law project. That would allow him to be there to protect her if needed as it was required from their positions. She was already his Luna regardless of being marked and married to some annoying werewolf Alpha.

And now his Luna was on her own.

It was her silent order, of course, to take her best friend out of this place. For some reason, she considered that more important than their initial plan and he decided to trust her instincts as Maya’s safety suddenly became of prime importance to him too.

But he knew that he would pay for this. Because Gideon trusted him what he treasured the most and he failed his Alpha and his king.

to be okay,” he decided to try and break the ice

and glared at him with the intention to kill.

Which he wasn’t.

her snarky attitude to hide how worried she had been inside. And he could understand that. He liked Riannon a lot, but she was new in his life. If he had to leave Gideon

“Reid,” he stated calmly.

of friends. A lot of sh*t happened, some dead parents, dead siblings, boyfriends being as*holes, terrible life choices, but the three of them stuck together. Then one of them died too, living the other two. And they swore to stay by each

Ria,” he answered plainly, allowing her to let out the steam

praised him,”I… I left her there! You have no idea what is going on there

“Just like you promised. It was her choice, not yours or mine. You were in a far worse situation there according to her. And I had to take her lead. Knowing Riannon, she can take care of herself. And

bit her lip almost to the point of bleeding and turned

in her eyes again. She had to do something about this stupid liquid secretion. She knew that he was right. Riannon did what she would have done if she could. It did not make her feel better

palace. However, Maya wasn’t in the mood to admire it. And all Reid wanted was to get her inside of his room as soon as possible.

king’s voice sounded behind him and he turned to face his Alpha. Gideon stared at him in disbelief and then slowly shifted his eyes to Maya. He balled

was already angry when he found out from Savvy that Riannon left the pack and the kingdom. But he got calmer knowing that his Beta was with her. And now there he was. With some girl

bad.

is Riannon?”

to hide the truth, “There has been a situation

care what new wh*re you picked up and where,” the lycan king was

with his rage.

my MATE!” Reid snarled at him, his protective instincts taking over, “I had to get her out

didn’t help Gideon calm down at

closer, “It was her decision and in the

covering his face with one hand, trying to stop the blood until regeneration kicked in and knowing

trust he broke today.

is leaving my woman behind was the right decision?!” Gideon tried to hold back his fury. If he didn’t, he didn’t know how this would end

first time since she got here he looked at her

Goddess works in mysterious ways,”

met. He noticed her red cried out eyes and her

did not look like