Chapter 69
Chapter 69
Gideon was right next to me again, his handsome face inches from mine, and he didn’t look happy.
“Explain.” he grated out between clenched teeth.
“Uh…” I stammered. Why did he have to be all up in my space? “Ok. Why did you want to come to Silvermoon today p>
Gideon exhaled slowly, but indulged the question “Because there are rogue cells embedded in the forest around your pack’s territory that they are refusing to do anything about p>
“…oh.” I said, voice small. “So it wasn’t about finding your missing mate p>
Gideon was silent again.
So it was partially about that! Aha!
I stared up at him from under my lashes coolly. His eyebrows were drawn tight over his glare.
“You are mine.” he snapped finally. “It’s not negotiable p>
I was startled at the words, and more so at the passion underneath them. Since when did Gideon care so much about what happened to me?
“Why?” I asked, astonished. “Why me p>
“As Alpha, I must fulfill tradition.” I watched the muscles in Gideon’s jaw clench and unclench as he ground the words out.
His words reminded me of what my mother had said during my visit.
“Not all traditions still have purpose.” I said, gently. “Maybe it’s time for this one to end p>
“That,” Gideon grated, “is not an option p>
“Why not?” I said loudly, “What purpose does it serve anymore p>
To my knowledge, the bond between Silvermoon and Nightwolf had only been exacerbated by their contact. If the tradition stopped, that friction might stop as well.
Gideon didn’t answer. I tried another angle.
Gently I placed my hand on his where it rested on his leg.
He froze.
Under my fingertips, I could feel the pulse in his wrist beating strongly.
“Gideon, I know that you are a good Alpha. That won’t change, no matter how many traditions are broken.” pleaded truthfully. “Anyone who judges you for that is missing the point p>
He shook his head slowly.
“I’ll do some research!” I continued, ignoring his disapproval “There’s got to be another way to fulfill tradition
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Chapter 69
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that doesn’t end in both of us being miserable together p>
“Is that what I make you? Miserable?” Gideon asked coldly.
“N-n-no… That’s not what I meant.” I floundered, “But what future do we really have together as Luna and Alpha if we aren’t mates?….not that I’m saying I want to be your mate, just…” Fuck.
My lame protestations fell off into nothing.
“The future is just a….very long time.” I said after a minute. “If you’ve already got someone, then I want to find my someone as well. That’s all p>
“No p>
His flat response struck like a whipcrack.
“…No p>
“No.” He nodded curtly, “You are not leaving. You are marrying me as Luna. There is no other future that is acceptable in this scenario p>
“Doesn’t that strike you as unfa p>
“Avery.” There was that commanding voice again. It clicked my mouth shut and made me sit up and listen.
“Do not go near Ryan again.” Gideon commanded.
I tried to speak back but my body wouldn’t respond. I should have felt angry that he was commanding me like this, but the same instincts that kept me from talking back also reassured me that somehow what he was asking was correct and good.
I hated that he had that Alpha power over me. While I managed to stand up to Ryan just fine, Gideon had this way of getting behind my shields. Was it because I was in his pack now? I was becoming more Nightwolf than Silvermoon?
I could only nod.
The car rolled to a stop on Nightwolf property and Gideon opened the door to get out. As he left, he gave me one final look before stepping out of the car.
“We will be married at the next Dark Moon.” Then he disappeared into the night.
Two weeks away.
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