“Ri,” Brayden’s head popped out of the door of Riannon’s office right when shewas finishing discussing the pack’s primary school budget with the headmistress,“Do you have asec?”“Yes, we are done here,” Ria handed the papers to the woman in front of her andthe lattergave her a sympathetic smile.

The Luna remembered very well that she was theone who stood by her by the very end.

That was one of the reasons shemanaged to squeeze in a little extra cash for the school.“Luna, Alpha,” the headmistress bowed her head and left, leaving the husbandand the wife alone for the first time in a while.

For the last few days, Riannontried to avoid Brayden at all costs.

She remembered too well that their everymeeting in the past life was ending badly during those days.

Back then she triedto keep her dignity and not approach him first.

They had meals together withpack members as always.

And work meetings with Beta, Gamma and so on.

Butother than that, every time Bray wanted to talk to her, Riannon was finding aperfect excuse to escape.

There was no point in talking to him since nothingcould be changed.

She debated telling him the truth about her rebirth but sweptthat idea under the rug.

He could decide that she was crazy and use that duringtheir divorce when she planned to get her pack back.The silence was getting awkward.“Long time no see,” he came closer and she remained behind her desk to make itharder for him to approach her.“Yeah, it’s been a while,” Ria threw herself back in her chair, “Is it about the AlphaBall?”“Did you get my flowers?” he asked.

The flowers kept coming.

He was probablystill feeling guilty.

“Yes, they are lovely,” she forced a smile, “Thank you.

So, did you come to speakabout the Alpha Ball?”They already had this conversation.

He caught her in her office and broke herheart.“Yes,” Brayed pulled the collar of his shirt to make it easier to breathe while Riawatched him with an indifferent expression that was clearly making himuncomfortable.“It’s about Roxy...

I mean Roxanne.”“What about her?” she pretended not to know what it was about.“Listen,” he sighed and averted her gaze, “I kind of promised her that I wouldtake her to the ball as my partner.”“It’s...

a long story,” he cleared his throat, “Please, understand.

My wolf is dyingwhen she is unhappy.

And she has never been to a ball like that.”“Oh, my,” Ria gasped and shook her head, “Should I maybe take Enzo with me?He hasn’t seen an event like that either.

And neither did Cole.”She mentioned the hottest single warriors of the pack on purpose.

And heard agrowlemerge from her husband’s chest.

That served him right.“What is it with you lately, Ri?” he looked at her in disbelief, “My Luna will not begoing with someone else!”“But it’s okay if my Alpha goes with someone else? How is that fair?” she shother brow up, challenging him.

And Brayden hated challenge.“Maybe you should sit this one out then!” he snarled at her and for the first time,she started to get worried here.

She needed that ball.

She needed it badly.

“No, thanks,” the Luna crossed her hands on her chest, “I got my own personalinvitation.

Besides, it’s important to mingle with other Lunas for the sake of ourpack.

We still need to organise student and warrior exchanges and a couple ofmating events for over 18s.

Or do you expect Roxy to be able to deal with itinstead of enjoying her first big ball? What kind of Cinderella she would be then ifshe would have to work again?!”He exhaled through his nostrils and she knew that she managed to win.“Fine,” he grunted standing up, “But you will go with Ash then.

He is goinganyway since he is the pack’s Beta.”“Now you are sucking the fun out of his life too?” Ria chuckled, “I am sure he hada girl to take there and impress.”“He already agreed to be you plus one,” Brayden informed her, “He’ll protect youthere too.”“How thoughtful,” she decided just to go with it.

Getting rid of Ash would be easyanyway.

He would see some Alpha’s daughter and off he would go.Brayden prepared to leave but stopped at the door and turned to look at heragain“Ri,” he looked her in the eye, “It’s just a transition period.

We will get through thisand everything will be fine.”Lies.“I will never take another Luna except for you.”“I still love you, it’s just that she had such a hard life and I am not a monster.

Sheis just a sweet girl, she will never take your place.”Lies, lies, lies.

“Thank you for telling me that,” she nodded, “I needed to hear that, Bray.” Sheeven forced a smile.“Look, when the ball is over, let’s take a day off.

Just you and me.

What do youthink?” he suggested all of a sudden and now she looked at him in surprise.

Thiswas new.

It didn’t happen in the past.“We’ll have to see our schedules for that,” she stretched her lips further, “But it’sa nice idea.”“Then I’ll see you around?” he suddenly looked relieved as if he got rid of somekind of trouble here.“I am your wife, am I not?” she chuckled and his smile faded.He left and Ria’s phone buzzed with a notification that the dresses should havealready arrived.She paused just for a second.

It worried her that he offered that day off thing.Was it a good sign or a bad? She wanted to change the events that caused somany disasters but this exact one wasn’t in her plans.In the end, she was late for the fitting and entered the room full of the mostimportant females of the pack.

Maya was there along with their friends Tatianaand Aria.

They greeted her in their usual friendly way.

On the other side of theroom sat Harper and her minions.Harper was Brayden’s sister.

And for some reason, she never liked Riannon toomuch since they were younger.

She was one of the first to openly support Roxy.She was the one who opened the door for others who didn’t know what to do andactually promoted the evil redhead monster.“Bring in the dresses,” Ria commanded firmly.

She wanted to be done here quick.It was a tradition of their pack that outfits for the ladies invited to the Alpha ballwere chosen together and paid for by the pack.

After all, they all were

representing the Silver River pack and it was important to let others see how wellthey were doing.A few omegas rolled in clothing racks with the most beautiful evening dressesfrom the top designers.

Luna always was the first one to choose and then theywent according to theirRiannon knew very well which dress she was going to pick but still pretended tolook at them all to avoid suspicion.“How about that emerald one?” Harper suggested the colour that would neversuitRiannon blonde hair and blue eyes.“Do you like it?” she got the hanger and placed it to her chest with a smile, “It’sZac Posen.”“Beautiful!” her sister-in-law sneered.“Then I will leave it for you,” Ria returned the facial expression and kept going.Soon she reached it.

She remembered that dress well.

Peach and shiny, withloads of rhinestones on the top.She was choosing long enough and she took that one, moving to the mirror.

Anysecond now...The door opened and Roxy barged in, gasping, “Oh, my goddess! Luna! I am sosorry! I’ll just go away not to ruin your mood.”She was already doing it.

Implying that just a sight of her was affecting Riannon.And it was.

But it was mean to bring this up.“Stay,” Ria smiled gently and noticed how everyone was watching the two ofthem, “You are going to the ball too and you need an outfit.”magic

“I already got one,” Roxanne mumbled, “From all the money that you gave me.

Igot it in H&M.”One of Harper’s minions snorted.“This will not do,” Riannon turned and sighed, “You need a dress good enoughfor your new status.”“And what is that?” Harper couldn’t help but ask the provocative question.“Member of the Silver River pack,” Ria replied without any hesitation, “Lookaround.

What do you like?”A little sob emerged.

And then a sniffle.

Everybody turned to see the crying Roxy.“This is so sweet!” she whined, “You are such a great Luna to take care ofsomeone likeI never had such a beautiful dress in my life!”She pointed to the one that Riannon was holding.

“I thought I’d never...have...an opportunity.”“You can have it,” she stretched her hands with the garment towards the omegaand pretty much everybody in the room was in shock“But Luna!” Aria gasped, “You need to be the first.”“That’s fine,” Riannon shook her shoulders, “I saw a red one that I like too backthere.

Roxy can have that one since it’s the one that made you cry like that.”Roxanne seemed a bit startled and Luna came closer, pushing the tastelesspeach dress that was good enough for a middle school prom in some village.“No, really,” Ria smirked, “I want you to have it.”Their eyes met and Roxy gaped, realising that she had just been tricked.“Now go to your room and try it on.

It will look beautiful on you.” Orhideous.

Assoon as Roxy left, Ria quickly went back to the rack and grabbed the first red

dress she saw.“I like this one,” she went out of the room as quickly as she could, followed byMaya,“ Choose what you like, ladies.”They came straight to Maya’s bedroom and as soon as they closed the door,they started laughing hysterically.“Oh, my goddess!” Maya chuckled, “This was fun!”“Indeed,” the Luna agreed, throwing away the red piece of fabric she had.Because the real dress that she was going to wear to the ball was right here.

Itwas the most beautiful dress she had laid her eyes on.

It was a stunning wine redoff-shoulder gown made of silk chiffon, draped beautifully around the breast anddown to the waist, creating a geometrical pattern and, but flowing freely to theground.It was a gown fit for a queen.

And in the past life, Ria didn’t even order it forviewing as it was way out of her budget.

But this time around she saw it againand thought to herself – just why the hell not?!The last time she went to the Alpha Ball, it was the most awful experience for her.Roxanne was wearing a beautiful white dress and looking like the little innocentomega she loved to pretend, gaining everybody’s sympathy.At the same time, Riannon gained pity from the Alphas and was mocked bysome of the Lunas who never liked her.

It was humiliating as it was to come asthe third wheel for her husband and his mate.

But on top of that, Brayden spentthe whole evening by Roxy’s side.

RiaThis time, she knew what to expect and was ready.

This time, she was goingthere to work.“Do I look nice?” Maya grinned as she stepped out of the bathroom in a royalblue tight gown.

“You took one too, I see,” Riannon giggled as her friend twirled in front of her.Today was a success thanks to Maya.

She was the one who received all thedresses before the pack omegas got them and brought the one Ria wanted toher room without anyone seeing it.“Of course,” she placed her hands onto her hips, “We are leaving this pack, so Iam not going to save them money.”“Just don’t shout about it around the mansion, okay?” Ria rolled her eyes, “It’s asecret after all.

But you do look nice.”“Thanks!” Maya seemed to agree, “Shame I am not going with you.

But there isalways next time, right?”“When I am the Alpha and you are my Beta, you will attend it every year,” Lunawinked at her.* * *In the evening, Ria finished her makeup and hair and walked out to the main partof her bedroom to find a blue box on the little table together with a new bouquet.She opened it and saw a luxurious and probably crazy expensive diamondnecklace together with a simple card with one word only on it.

Sorry.“Huh,” she bit her lip, remembering that last time Brayden gave it to Roxy.

And hegot her some ruby earrings which she never wore.

That changed too.However, now wasn’t the time to think about all that.

She put the necklace onsince it was finishing her look just perfect and left for the ball.She was walking down the stairs, the skirt of her dress flowing beautifully as shelooked at it.

Most of her hair was up, with a few curly locks falling down her bareshoulders.“You look beautiful tonight,” a male voice made her flinch.