The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

The End Is The New Beginning

Riannon couldn’t believe her own eyes. The beast stood over her, breathing heavily. Blood was dripping from his claws and his snout. And for the first time ever she was afraid of her mate.

“Gideon!” she repeated his name, but there was no response.

A fox charged at him, but he hit it so hard in its jump that the red-furred creature flew far away and did not move anymore from the moment it landed on the ground. He probably broke his neck just like that.

“Gideon, it’s me!” Ria tried to explain to him again, but he took a step toward her, growling.

Two bears attacked them simultaneously and she wasn’t ready for this, distracted by the whole situation. But she didn’t need to do anything, because the lycan killed them both in an instant. She took a quick look around, seeing that the advantage was now on their army’s side. She did not see wolves fighting wolves, meaning that the traitors did not attack them. Which did not make them any less traitorous, but it was good enough for now. It would be easier to win this battle without trying to understand who was a friend and who was a foe.

She also still did not see any leader in the army that attacked them. But she knew that someone had to command all those beasts.

“Mine!” the lycan growled so loudly that the ground underneath them shook. Then he took another step towards her. A small smile formed on her lips.

“You do remember me!” she whispered in relief. If anyone could bring him back, it would be her. And she intended to do just that.

In an instant, Riannon shifted into her wolf, angering the Lycan in front of her. He did not like the game that she was playing. But she sprinted away from him as fast as possible.

She deliberately went through the biggest fighting crowd, knowing that he was following her and that he would destroy every bear and fox on his way. Even in his state, he knew who his enemies were.

She was throwing herself inside of the bear clusters, usually going for their feet. The bears were slower than her and she was getting out of their grasp right before Gideon’s Lycan was finding them. Smelling her scent on them, he was going feral, ripping his potential rivals apart one by one.

She just hoped that it wasn’t taking too long. She knew she needed him away from all that, where no one would disturb them.

: From the corner of her eye, Riannon noticed Reid and Savvy’s wolves running next to her and felt them knocking into her mind. They never used mind link together before, but technically she was already a member of their pack and could do it since the moment Gideon left two golden crescents on her neck. So, she let them in

“I hope you have a plan!” Savvanah was the first to speak, her white wolf with black ear tips looked fierce as he destroyed one of the foxes in her way.

“We need to get him out of this as fast as possible,” Reid informed her, “The longer he uses this form, the harder it will be for him to get back.”

“I am on it!” she replied with confidence that brought relief to them both, “Will you be able to finish up here alone?”

“Yes!” they replied in unison, and she knew that they meant it. “Gideon has already shredded half of their army to pieces. Just get him to shift back and we are

“Good!” Ria took up speed and headed for the woods, away from the clearing. “Then don’t look for us! At least not for the next few hours! Reid, you lead the army. Savvy…”

“I know,” the white wolf replied, “Don’t worry, we were all trained for this. Do what you have to do!

Riannon did not say anything else and changed her course. The hugelycan beast followed her as if his life depended on it. Her silver fur was glowing again, and it was hard to miss her on the battlefield.

Savanah followed them with her gaze, knowing that her brother was in good hands. She also knew that even in his feral form, he would never hurt his mate. They loved each other too much for that. They were how mates were supposed to be. Perfect. Pure. Sincere. Consumed by each other’s existence, Irrevocably in love.

So not like her and Zack…

Sawy was fighting, targeting bears mostly. As a lycan it was her duty to remove the strongest . enemies so that their allies could fight the foxes. But she was looking for the wolves. Or better say one wolf in particular. The traitor. Her mate.

However, Zack wasn’t there. She was looking everywhere for him, trying to find that intoxicating scent of his. She needed to kill him. She needed to kill her mate and free herself. Free herself from all those feelings that were overwhelming her and from that damn pull that could lead her to her demise.

She refused to be a mate to this man. And since he rejected her rejection… she had no choice anymore. She would do it even if she would have to scratch her own heart out.

Riannon was sprinting as fast as she could, knowing that the Lycan followed her. She knew that he could already get her, but the predator in him loved to play with his prey. Which at the moment was her.

She stopped when they were far enough from the battle, choosing the clean grass-covered clearing. He leapt out of the shadows and knocked her off her feet, towering over her with his eyes glowing. He tucked his nose into her neck, and she heard a distinctive “MINE” snarl.

Struggling under him, Ria shifted into her human form, and he growled in approval, not taking his glowing eyes off her.

“Shift!” she told him firmly, but he only inhaled her scent again and then howled loudly into the air, ignoring her words.

“Shift!” Riannon ordered, and this time she brought his attention back to herself. He was snarling at her and baring his teeth. Which was a bad sign. But she wasn’t afraid. Whether it was his third form or one hundredth, he would never deliberately hurt his mate. Gideon loved her too much. And she trusted him even now.

So, she took a deep breath and punched the Lycan into his snout as hard as she could. Since the Moon Goddess blessed her and Onyx, strength wasn’t an issue anymore. So, her punch did have an impact and she even heard something cracking.

The lycan growled louder, pressing her harder into the ground in an attempt to submit her. But she wasn’t giving in to him.

“Shift!” she roared together with her wolf, their voice deeper and scarier than ever before as it echoed through the woods. The lycan’s claws dug into her skin, drawing blood. Angry, she reciprocated, leaning closer to his neck and baring her canines. Not thinking twice, she dug them into his flesh right where her mark was supposed to be on him. She closed her eyes, knowing that it was the last thing that she could .

1. All she felt was his weight on her as his blood dripped down her chin. without you! i can’t lose you… Ever! you promised to always stay with me, remember!”

“I do,” he replied, and she froze. For a moment, she was afraid to even move. His hands wrapped tighter around her and she realised that they weren’t covered in thick fur anymore.

“I will never leave you,” Gideon said out loud and she retracted her canines and looked at him finally. He was lying on top of her, naked. And there was this soft knowing smile curling his lips. “Even if you ask is me, I will never leave you,” he added, and she felt salty liquid burning her eyes.

thing!” she chuckled through

over.

arrassn

I

her lips, tasting both – it and her. .”Did you just mark me for the second time?” he arched his brow at

to be reminded

happen with my crescents now. Will they

pushed him on the

just wouldn’t be practical, would it?” Ria snorted and that was when they heard hundreds of

from her pack. She heard Ash and Maya too,

people. “The battle is over,” he looked at the love

after all,” she said. “Thanks to you. Your lycan

kiss onto her nose, “If you

been this close

missed you so much,” Gideon brushed the hair off her face,

missed you too,” she breathed into his lips, making them part

Riannon,” he warned her. “I am

you waiting for then?” she teased him, “We just won

that he needed as he kissed her as an internal growl escaped him. She was with him again. His at

neck to reach these areas and lick them thoroughly, most of them healing instantly now that they were properly mated. Well, maybe partially it was due to her being blessed by the Moon Goddess. But he

her to even touch her this way. But those days were long gone. That wonderful woman who was now moaning

mouth, sucking and tugging it gently. Knowing that

“Shh,” he teased her, “I am healing you here. Where does it hurt the

as he started to devour every inch of her. But soon he realised that he couldn’t wait anymore, and she was urging him to climb back on top of her too. So, he hooked one of

love you,” he smiled and she slid her

Riannon lifted her head to kiss him and that was when he inserted his whole length into her roughly, filling her to the brim. This time he wasn’t gentle with her, but she did not want

immense pleasure that rippled through her body and made

he saw her finding her release until her body felt limp against his. :: Only then he found her lips and stilled, spilling his seed inside of her womb, claiming her once again as his with

walked out of the woods and back to the clearing strewn with bodies, Riannon frowned. Maya and Reid

walked down the field, she tried to take in and remember everything that she saw. This wasn’t the happy ending that she desired so much. And their work

so much to talk about and to discuss. But most importantly, they had to talk to their people, comfort them and give them hope. This

.

***

folded his hands on his chest as they were walking to the tent that was placed

now officially out of the union. Foxes and bears retreated for the time being, but they could hardly assume that the war with them was over. It would

knew that she would have to make them

no see!” a handsome man in his late twenties was waiting for them inside and he stood up as they walked in. He seemed friendly and, for a second, she thought that maybe her mate was overthinking it.

they took their seats in front

precious time,” Riannon gave the man a dazzling smile. “My name

nodded even though they were not

know why you are here,” she continued, “There is a certain threat to all lycans and wolves and

is through

“It was very well-written and explanatory. But I still don’t see what I am gaining

then,” Gideon tried really hard not to snarl. “Maybe you need some

manage to bring our kingdom down, they will come after yours next,” Riannon decided to

bring you down and then I wipe them off the face of the Earth while they are still weak after

and the

in this too. They have been in all this for a while. And bet that you understand that

you.”

slowly over the surface of the

own. I need more from this alliance,” he

him, clearly annoyed. “How about the land that historically belongs to the North?” Kai

old story,” the western king was grim

thing that I wanted for quite some time. But you and I both know that

you are getting her over my dead body!”

reaction. “Decide for yourself what it would be. Your sister

threw them a folder with a contract on the desk and stood up. “Your two minutes are

help himself, wishing for nothing more than to

of his and he immediately calmed down, looking at her

she smiled at the northerner. “When

“It was nice to meet you, Alpha Riannon.”  discussed it for most of

need him,” Ria pleaded. “What’s so special

our safety from them. This is why he wants it. And don’t forget that everything can change any minute. We give him a the lands and

her lips, knowing that he was right. But there had to be something