Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Avery’s POV
+25 Bonus
“Gideon, we need to talk.” I rapped on the door to his office, hearing the shuffling of papers inside. I opened the door slowly and breathed a sigh of relief as I saw that the Nightwolf Alpha was finally alone.
I had been trying to find a time to have our serious discussion for the last two days.
Our wedding was tomorrow, but every time I had hunted Gideon down he had been helping the recent survivors from the Rogue King’s raids, or visiting with the girl who claimed to be his fated mate.
I hated her.
I hated that I hated her.
She was a victim who had done nothing wrong, yet every time she was in the room my hackles rose and I felt the urge to snap at her. I had been trying to avoid her ever since she’d arrived.
It made me feel like a monster. This young woman had been subjected to the same abuse I had been when I was kidnapped, and she didn’t have the benefit of Gideon showing up to save her. Silvermoon pack had been the ones who had cleared out the rogue infestation and discovered these kidnapped women.
She had been the rogues’ prisoner for weeks, it sounded like, and she was still recovering. I knew I should respect that and give her grace, but the truth was the timing was horrendous. Gideon and I were due to be married within 24 hours, and now it felt like everything was in the air once again.
“Come in.” Gideon gestured, busily writing something in a ledger.
I closed the door behind me and hovered, standing.
“Sit down, Avery.” Gideon said, finally looking at me. His gaze was sharp and focused, and I hated that a par me breathed a sigh of relief at having his full attention at last.
Every time his mate was in the room his eyes had been glued to her. It made me feel invisible.
Despite spending so much of my life trying to be invisible, it was jarring to feel myself returning to it. I guess I had become used to this new version of me – the new Luna who was trying her best to grow.
Now it felt very stupid that I had ever thought I would be something more than that outcast girl. I had let my dreams, and my ego, inflate.
“Are the preparations for the wedding almost done?” Gideon asked.
I paused, not expecting that question.
“Are… you still intending on marrying me?” I asked, confused.
“Of course.” Gideon said with a frown. “Why wouldn’t I p>
“Well… your mate…” I stammered.
Gideon raised a hand dismissively, “Deirdra is still recovering. Besides, she doesn’t have the Silvermoon bloodline. She was taken from another pack so our pact still stands p>
1/2
Chapter 100
+25 Bonus
Deirdra. She had a name. She had a former pack. She was a person. A person who had gone through a traumatic event that separated her from her true mate.
I squeezed my eyes shut and kept telling myself that hating her wasn’t fair. It wasn’t her fault.
When I opened my eyes, Gideon had gone back to his papers.
“Was that all you came to ask?” He asked, moving files around.
I wanted to scream at him to look at me. I had so many questions and no clarity.
“I thought…” I trailed off, not able to say what I wanted to ask.
“You thought she would become my Luna?” Gideon raised his eyebrows, “I don’t know that she’d have the aptitude for it. She is very young and she needs to heal first p>
“Besides,” he glanced at me, “I told you that this was a marriage of convenience to fulfill the old alliance only. I already have a mate. This doesn’t change anything p>
“Right.” I said faintly, sagging against the door. I just needed to hear one thing from his lips, “So…. your feelings for me… haven’t changed p>
Gideon frowned, “Changed? In what way p>
I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes and lowered my head so he couldn’t see. This was not the conversation I had hoped to have.
I had thought that something more had been growing between us, but apparently I had been completely
mistaken.
Gideon didn’t see me that way.
I was staring down the barrel of a loveless marriage performing the role of his Luna while his real mate enjoyed his affections and I was completely alone.
I needed out of this room before I burst into tears.
I turned and opened the door, ready to flee, but it closed suddenly. Gideon’s hand had shoved it closed.
“Avery.” he was right behind me, leaning around me to close the door. I looked up into that handsome face as he prevented me from leaving.
“Y-y-yes?” I tried to look away, to not let him see the despair in my eyes.
BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you
P
Comments
Support
Share
get it
2/2
Editorial Board
Editorial Board Our editorial team works behind the scenes to refine each chapter, maintain consistency, and deliver the best reading experience.