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.

you such a stupid thing!” she chuckled through tears, not believing that

over.

arrassn

he nodded. “Because I am never going

lips, tasting both – it and her. .”Did you just mark me for the second time?” he arched his brow at her and she grinned at him without any kind

looked like you needed to be reminded who you belong

I will never forget,” Gideon agreed with ease. “I wonder what will happen with my crescents now. Will they turn into diamonds or something? Since gold

on the chest

would it?” Ria snorted and that was when they heard hundreds of howls and roars

They were warriors from her pack. She heard Ash and Maya too, knowing that they

same time, Gideon recognised his people. “The battle is over,” he looked at the love of his

all,” she said. “Thanks to you. Your lycan really thinned the lines of bears

thanks to you,” he placed a little kiss onto her nose, “If you didn’t bring me back, our

this close for a

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

you too,” she breathed into his

me, Riannon,” he warned her. “I am barely controlling myself. I haven’t seen you

then?” she teased him, “We just won the biggest battle. We deserve a

as he kissed her as an internal growl escaped him. She

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 loved to think that it was because of their

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

his mouth, sucking and tugging it gently. Knowing

healing you here. Where does it hurt the most?” Asly smile formed on her face as one of her brows

her. But soon he realised that he couldn’t wait anymore, and she was urging him to climb back on top

smiled and she slid her palm up

not want it either. Instead, she locked her thighs around his waist and let him pound into her. She

immense pleasure that rippled through her body and made her eyes teary. Riannon cried out her release, biting on his shoulder and hearing a snarl tearing from

after time, sounds of approval rumbling through his chest every time he saw her finding her release until her body felt limp against his. :: Only then he found her lips and stilled, spilling his

bodies, Riannon frowned.

she saw. This wasn’t the happy ending that she desired so

much to talk about and to discuss. But most importantly, they had to talk to their

.

***

Gideon folded his hands on his chest as they were walking

her stubborn mate had to agree that they needed the alliance with the northern kingdom. Zack’s pack and others named by Savannah were 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 be safer for

knew that she would have to make them

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. “You have two minutes to tell me what you want.

her as they

time,” Riannon gave

even though

is a certain threat to all lycans and wolves and we want to make sure that it’s tackled with minimal losses to our kingdom.

through

time it was Kai who interrupted her. “It was very well-written and explanatory. But I

need some glasses then,” Gideon tried really hard not to snarl.

our kingdom down, they will come after yours next,”

them off

smirked, and the northern king arched his

be one of her main cards to play. “They are in this too. They have been in all this for a while. And bet that you understand that the white

you.”

silent, tapping his fingers slowly

them on my own. I need more

hell do you want this time?” Gideon asked him, clearly annoyed. “How about the

a very old story,” the western king was grim as

that I wanted for

know you are getting her over

seemed satisfied with his reaction. “Decide for yourself what it would be. Your sister

a contract on the desk

help himself, wishing for nothing more than to snap that man’s

his and he immediately calmed down, looking at her with

at the northerner.

stopped at the last minute and nodded at her. “It was nice to

him,” Ria pleaded. “What’s so

a success. They cannot cross our borders there unless we want them to. It’s essential for 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 he unites with our enemies instead. This is where

that he was right. But there had to be something else