Chapter 166
Chapter 166
Gideon’s POV
Dierdra crumpled on the floor at my feet, her doll-like figure tragic and despondent as her waifish form was wracked with silent sobs.
In front of me, Avery stood, pale and silent as a ghost. She was swaying slightly, as though shaken by an invisible breeze. My arms still felt the slight weight of her as I had carried her up the stairs.
Her body was consuming massive amounts of energy just trying to heal the substantial injuries she had suffered during the rogue incursion. She needed to be in bed, resting.
When she had arrived in my office she had already looked like she was on death’s doorstep. When she had told me she wanted a divorce, it had seemed to take the rest of her strength with it. Now, she looked on the verge of collapsing.
Being stuck between the two of them, the waif and the wraith, filled me with helplessness. No matter what I did, it was impossible to please both of them. They were each so headstrong, and determined to achieve what they wanted from me.
Had I not been clear with each about my limits? I had told Avery from the beginning that she could expect nothing more from me than the obligations of an Alpha.
Though, I admit, I had crossed the line when I had slept with her. The memory of that night still filled me with shame, and I had buried the feeling so deeply that a part of me had even come to believe what I had told Dierdra afterwards…
That I hadn’t slept with her. That she meant nothing for me in that way. That there was nothing between
Now, Dierdra’s demands and Avery’s look of helplessness as she stared into my eyes, begging me to do something, left me feeling frustrated and confused.
Avery had treated me with such intuitive gentleness when I had revealed the painful parts of my past to her. The truth of my Demonblood. The massacre of my childhood friends. 1
And then there was Dierdra who was an atrocious flirt, and whose companionship could border on demanding, but who adapted more naturally to the transactional nature of our relationship. With her, our roles were well-defined.
I could be the mate she wanted, the Alpha she wanted, if Avery was gone.
I frowned at the idea that Avery was possibly a gold-digger. It was true that she came from nothing. By all accounts, her life in Silvermoon before I had married her had been a life of hardship.
She tried to hide it, but I had seen the hovel where her mother had lived. I had met her sister, who was a real piece of work. Now she was a gold-digger if I’d ever seen one…
I didn’t envy Ryan his scheming Luna.
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Chapter 166
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No, Avery had never seemed to covet the material benefits I brought to our arrangement. She had always quietly accepted whatever I gave her, and rarely asked for more. The happiest I had ever seen her had been when I had given her access to my sanctuary garden and the pack’s kitchen garden plots.
Literally, I had given her dirt, and she had expressed gratitude.
With Dierdra, even the finest gifts felt like pouring water into a bucket with a hole in it. There was a hunger in her that would never be filled unless she had it all- unless she was worshipped by all. She had her sights set on the crown of being my Luna, and any limitation, including her own, was unacceptable to
her.
But, was that not also worthy of the wolf who was my mate? Dierdra was the other half of my soul, or at least, I believed the mark on her neck that told me she was.
There was that niggling doubt at the back of my mind that reminded me that Avery had told me she was a false mate on our wedding night. My wolf, too, had said that he felt no connection to hers. 1
The whole situation was baffling, upsetting, and while I was not usually one to shirk from responsibility, I had it up to here with these confounding females.
I needed to find a solution that would patch a bandage over this situation until I could come up with something more permanent.
I couldn’t afford to dissolve my marriage with Avery. Too much hinged on the important traditions that she fulfilled, and which lent legitimacy to my hierarchical leadership.
The Alpha of Nightwolf must marry a Luna from Silvermoon. That was that. It could not be changed.
My mate might not like it, but did she not have every other part of me? Did I not allow her into my bed every night? She claimed Avery was the aggressor, acting against her because she was formerly a rogue
Looking at Avery as she wavered, ashen and starting to bleed through her bandages once more, she didn’t wear the mantle of aggressor to me. (1)
It would take a while to get to the bottom of this. I needed an elegant solution that would buy time.
“What would you have me do?” I said finally. Avery started to open her mouth, but I wasn’t asking her. I held up a hand and looked down at Dierdra, whose face lit up with hope.
“Send her to live in the village,” Dierdra said at once, as though she’d had the idea in mind for some time, “Have your Beta keep an eye on her. I have no doubt that you will discover that she’s not as virtuous as she pretends,” she slid her eyes towards Avery accusingly.
I frowned. I didn’t love the idea of Avery being so far from the pack house, but she herself had said that she feared Dierdra’s retaliation. While I hadn’t seen any sign that those fears were founded, if Avery was more distant, perhaps both would feel less threatened.
“Very well,” I agreed, “Since Avery is injured, she will be able to recuperate more fully in the village p>
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Chapter 166
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“That’s not…” Avery started to protest, wobbling and clinging to the bedpost for support. She was still wearing that silky nightrobe, and for a moment I had a visceral memory of how the satin had felt over the curves of her while she had dressed and I had tied that sash.
“You are not fit to be Luna in this state,” I barked, concern making my voice come out more harshly than I intended. I saw Avery flinch, but it was the truth and I would not take it back.
“Dierdra will perform the duties of Luna while you recover. I will assign a lieutenant to see to your convalescence. I do not want to see you back in this house until you have devoted time and energy to strengthening your wolf and recovering your vitality.” 3
I stretched out a hand and helped Dierdra to her feet. She was beaming, and the tears that had streaked her cheeks had dried completely.
I felt a twinge of concern. Truly, I wasn’t sure that Dierdra had the skillset required to be a good Luna, but there was only one way to find out.
I escorted Dierdra towards the door while pointing back at Avery and the bed.
“Remain here until my Beta arrives to escort you to your new lodgings this evening.” 1
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