Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Avery’s POV
The Old Alpha and Luna had a surprisingly expansive collection of fine china in their dining room. I opened the china cabinet reverently and pulled out the simplest set.
Two plates. Two saucers. Two glasses.
The small table I had chosen wasn’t in the dining room proper. That table was huge and long to accommodate all the pack hierarchy if needed for formal events.
Instead, I had found a small sitting room on the front side of the pack house with a round table and two worn but comfy armed dining chairs. There was a victorian-style fainting chaise under the other window, and an overstuffed sofa near the fireplace.
The room had a pair of heavy wooden doors with glass knobs that slid into pockets in the walls when you the room open, and closed to create a cozy den when more privacy was required.
wanted
I had found someone’s ancient crocheted lace tablecloth and spread it over the table. A vase of hyacinths and lilacs filled the air with sweet scents of spring.
The dinner I had prepared was simple. A cottage loaf of bread. Shepherd’s pie with creamy mashed potatoes and hearty stew overtop. A side of carrots braised in butter and honey.
Nothing elaborate. Everything could sit for a few hours near the fire I’d built in the fireplace.
Which was good because I wasn’t sure Gideon was going to show up.
I’d sent a note asking to confirm our dinner plans. I told him where I’d be, and when.
There had been no reply. Either he was incommunicado, or he didn’t have a reply for me.
Well, if he didn’t want his apology dinner, then that was on him. Good luck getting me to cook again!
I humphed myself over to the fainting chaise and flopped dramatically. Now this was a piece of furniture meant for melodrama. All I needed was a high-necked full-skirted dress and a touch of consumption.
Too theatrical for my current mood, I thought, staring at the ceiling. A little too close to being a woman on her widow’s walk, waiting to see if her seafaring husband would return home.
Despite my absent and uncertain dinner guest, I had enjoyed preparing this meal with Gideon in mind.
I had picked sage and thyme for the stew, put rosemary in the bread. Poured out some wine.
It made it feel like I had a real family. Someone to come back to.
Someone who had missed me.
I rolled to my side and stared out the window from where I lay, as dusk fell over the forest. The streetlamps were coming to life down the main street of the village, but few people were out walking.
With most of the warriors off on… whatever it was… there were few people left. Those that remained were hunkered down in their homes, praying for their loved ones to return.
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Chapter 58
+25 Bonus
I couldn’t believe they couldn’t leave me a radio, or something, to know what was going on. Shouldn’t I have some clue, as Luna?
You’re not really the Luna yet, my internal thoughts said.
I hated that they were right.
How was I supposed to earn Gideon’s trust? My mother had urged me to marry him as quickly as possible, but I still found myself balking at the idea. There was just so much I didn’t know still.
My instincts told me that Gideon was still looking for that mate of his. For all I knew, he had found her on this mission and they were already proclaiming their love for each other.
My stomach twisted with nausea at the thought of Gideon in the arms of another woman.
Whatever it was that was growing between us was fragile enough without outside threat.
We were supposed to be working on trusting each other, but how could I trust that anything was true so long as he might leave for this other person at any time? It was an impossible ask that disregarded any real feelings I might have for him.
Not that I had any. Feelings for him.
Don’t be silly.
I rose off the chaise with a frown and paced to the window. I hated this waiting so much.
I squinted into the twilight darkness and my heart skipped a beat.
There was a man walking up the path!
Could it be Gideon?
I pulled open the doors and rushed into the foyer and out into the night.
The man was walking slowly, head down.
Was he injured?
Fear shot through me at the idea of Gideon arriving on my doorstep bleeding and injured. I vowed to study those medicinal books harder, so I could help him if I needed to.
“Gideon!” I yelled, and then skidded to a halt as the man lifted his head.
It wasn’t him.
It was Ian, the warrior who had helped me in the garden and who Gideon had punished for touching me.
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