Chapter 274
Chapter 274
Gideon’s POV
A
I searched for Avery all day.
Her scent popped up in various locations in the forest. I followed it for the better portion of the day, traipsing through miles and miles of woods. But then, around midday, it went cold after crossing through another creek.
Still, I didn’t give up. Not if she was out there and in need of my help.
So I scoured the forest until I was nearly delirious. I didn’t rest, didn’t eat. I searched in every ravine, behind every tree, even squeezed my body into caves that were too narrow for any sane person to venture.
Nothing.
By the time the sun went down, I must have gone in several circles. The forest was turning into a blur. Every tree looked identical, and I think I passed the same boulder at least three times.
Eventually, I was too exhausted and hungry to go on, so I decided to make camp for the night. My wolf hunted down a couple of rabbits, which I ate in wolf form to avoid having to cook. I built a small fire that was really just coals, just enough to keep me warm without creating any smoke that could be tracked.
I was in rogue territory, after all, although I hadn’t come face-to-face with any yet.
That was, until I heard rustling in the underbrush, and a shrill voice call out, ” Gideon p>
I leapt to my feet, partially shifting in preparation for a fight. My heart raced for a moment as a woman’s frame jumped out of the shadows.
Avery?
My hopes fell when I saw that it was Deirdre She threw herself at me, kissing the ground by my feet.
“Gideon, thank the Goddess you’re here p>
I stared down at her in shock. Deirdre looked completely different than the last time I’d seen her; disheveled, dressed in dirty, torn rags, hair matted, skin cut and bruised, feet bare and caked with dirt. And she wore thick, heavy chains around her ankles that reeked of silver.
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Chapter 274
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“What
“Deirdre?” I didn’t help her up, nor did I retract my claws. She couldn’t be trusted, even if she looked like she’d been through hell. I’d learned that the hard way. happened to you p>
Deirdre sniffled and pushed herself up to her knees. She wiped her nose with her arm, smearing more dirt across her face. “Gideon, it was awful. The Rogue King took me as his slave p>
“What? Are you sure?” I scanned the nearby forest for signs of other rogues. I expected to see at least one other form in the trees, perhaps more, preparing for an ambush. But the forest was quiet and empty. She had come alone, or so it seemed.
“Yes.” She stood and trembled. “It was Avery’s doing p>
I blinked in confusion.
“You didn’t know?” Her eyes widened. “Gideon, she’s been working with the Rogue King this entire time p>
Avery-my Avery-was working with the Rague King.
I found that very hard to believe, but I remained quiet, curious to hear what she had to say next.
“As it turns out,” she went on, “she was sent by the Rogue King to seduce you ages ago. I guess I got in the way of that when you and I were…” Her voice trailed off, cheeks flushing faintly. “Anyway, she had me captured and taken as his slave as punishment. It’s been awful p>
Right… I looked at her current state. She did seem rather disheveled. But I still wasn’t sure if I believed her. Not entirely, at least. 1
“Do you know where she is now?” I asked.
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Deirdre shuddered again, replied, “Well, I’m not sure of her exact location. I was kept in a separate camp. But I know she’s with the Rogue King right now. She faked a kidnapping in the hopes you would try to rescue her. They have a whole setup planned. The moment I heard, I knew I had to help you. So I ran p>
She held out her foot, jingling the silver chains. “They kept me from shifting and from running, but I escaped anyway. Just for you p>
I kept staring at her. When she looked up at me, her eyes were shimmering with unshed tears. Her chin was quivering, and she kept dragging her lower lip through her teeth as she batted her eyelashes at me.
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She was lying.
“So she’s alive, then p>
Deirdre hesitated, but nodded. “Yes. She’s with him now. They’re planning on having a child together, from what I hear p>
My stomach dropped. A child. If that bastard touched her-
I took a deep breath. I needed to stay calm. Avery was alive. That was the most important thing.
Deirdre likely knew much more than she was letting on. Perhaps I could use this to my advantage. She had to know where Avery was being kept. If I could convince her to give me information, then I could rescue Avery before anything bad happened.
But I would have to think carefully. Deirdre was no fool, and if she had come this far like this, then she likely had a few tricks up her sleeve that could seriously fuck Avery over if I wasn’t cautious.
I decided to do the best thing I could think of at the moment. Deirdre’s one weakness that I knew of was me. If I could convince her that I was on her side, then maybe I could make her loosen up enough to tell me what I needed to know.
So, though it made my wolf bristle, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her.
“It’s okay,” I whispered, resting my chin on top of her head. “I’m here now p>
Deirdre stiffened as if she hadn’t been expecting me to embrace her. A moment later, she relaxed, melting into me, and draped her arms over my shoulders. “I was so frightened,” she murmured into my shirt “Everything Avery said about me… It was a lie, you know. You have to know that by now. Right p>
My jaw clenched, but I played along. “Of course.” I forced a smile and pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. “I wasn’t looking for Avery, Deirdre p>
“What…?” She stared at me.
I tightened my grip on her shoulders. “I was looking for you. Because I wanted to apologize and tell you that I’m sorry for ever listening to her p>
Her lashes fluttered. “Really? You mean that p>
“Yes. With all my heart, Deirdre. I…” My throat bobbed, and it pained me to say it, but I forced the words out anyway. “I love you, Deirdre. I want you back. I’m over Avery p>
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Chapter 274
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Deirdre stared at me for a long time. I held her gaze, refusing to let her see my true emotions. I couldn’t let her see how being this close to her, how saying those words, made my stomach turn watery and my wolf snarl with frustration. I couldn’t let her know that I was just using her to find my true mate.
For now, she seemed to buy it. Unless we were both playing each other like a fiddle. I hoped I could outplay her one last time.
“Oh, Gideon!” She threw her arms around my neck and sobbed into my chest.
I held her like a lover might, but all the while, my eyes were keenly scanning the forest around us.
Avery was close. And alive.
I had to find her before the Rogue King touched her.
But how long did I have?
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