Chapter 66
Chapter 66
Avery’s POV
I felt bad rushing through my visit with my mother. She clearly had missed me, and wanted to sit and linger over
tea.
She looked tired, but assured me it was just being ‘a bit under the weather’. I could tell there was something she wasn’t telling me though.
“How are things going with your Alpha?” she asked finally.
I didn’t want to lie to her, but I hadn’t really received any further clarity. If anything, things had only gotten more confusing.
“He is a good Alpha.” I reiterated what I’d said before, “But, his work takes over his life. Finding time to spend together is hard p>
I didn’t mention that I was pretty sure he had another woman. That she was here somewhere, and that I wanted so badly to sneak away to try and catch him with her.
“I never thought the old traditions regarding pack inter-marriage made much sense.” My mother complained. “ There are so many things that we don’t even remember why they became important. Now everyone just follows tradition but the original purpose is lost p>
I hadn’t thought about that much. Why was it that Silvermoon and Nightwolf were supposed to marry every few generations anyways? I’d assumed it was just so that they would have less incentive to slaughter each other, but maybe there was more to it.
I’d need to try to do some research.
“Mom, you know I will try and get you out of here, right?” I asked.
“Oh honey, you don’t need to worry about me. You have a whole new pack to worry about. I’ve always survived p>
“Still, if you need me, please send me a message?” I pressed. My mother smiled and laid her hand over my own.
“I doubt it will come to that, my daughter p>
She refused to talk about how she was being treated. I could tell from what she didn’t say, that she was having some difficulty, but every time I pressed her about it, she changed the subject.
“Oh, the Alpha was looking for you.” She mentioned.
“Gideon?” I asked, confused. He’d basically booked it once we’d parked and I hadn’t seen him since.
“No, your old boyfriend. Ryan. He came by and asked me a bunch of questions about you. Strange ones too.
Ryan had been looking for me? That couldn’t be good.
“Just tell him to mind his own business, mother p>
She laughed. “I’ve never been able to stand up to Alphas, my dear. No smart wolf does p>
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Chapter 66
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Hierarchy had been so drilled into my mother, she could never imagine pushing back. Not even when my father had taken me. She had just suffered silently.
I had a different perspective on Alphas now. They were just as flawed as the rest of us.
Finally I made my goodbyes and slipped out of the forest hut.
I wanted to find Gideon, but I didn’t want him to see me.
I struck off through the forest in the direction he had headed when we’d disembarked. He hadn’t shared with me what his mission was, so I was suspicious that he was here looking for the mate he’d lost.
I didn’t know what I’d do if I found them together. I just… needed to know.
Jealousy made my bile rise, and I swallowed it down.
There was a masculine shape on the path up ahead. Was it Gideon? I slowed my steps and tried to move quietly, but the man turned.
“Avery?” Ryan’s voice came through the trees. “I’ve been looking for you p>
I grimaced and tried to slink away through the trees. I didn’t want to see him.
“Wait!” Ryan commanded. Despite myself, the Alpha command stopped me in my tracks. He was getting better at that.
He jogged over to me, staring at me intently.
“I was thinking about you.” He said softly, “We’re not far from where we took that camping trip together p>
I closed my eyes against the memory. He and I had taken camping gear and hiked to a small lake near here. It had been a nice time, cooking meals together and swimming in the lake in the summer sun.
Then it had rained for two days. Despite being a bit soggy, we’d cuddled in the tent and listened to the rain. It had been so nice and cozy.
“What do you want, Ryan?” I asked.
“I miss you.” He said plaintively. “Our last chat was, uh, interrupted p>
Yeah. Interrupted by Gideon’s boot.
“Speaking of which, don’t you need to get back to your mate?” I asked pointedly.
“Zara is…” Ryan frowned, “not who I want to see p>
“She’s your mate!” I felt like I was the crazy person for needing to point that out. “You thought she was important enough to fuck on the Mating Moon p>
Ryan winced, “I know. She just… I don’t like her as much as I liked you p>
“Oh come off it.” I scoffed, “You just always think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence p>
“Just give me another chance!” Ryan pleaded. He reached out and touched my cheek with one finger, and I
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turned my face away.
“Don’t you have someone else to torment?” I accused.
“Oh, like who? Your mother?” Ryan’s voice turned nasty. “You don’t want to know all the things Zara has been making her do p>
“What?!” My voice was ice cold.
“Come be with me instead. You can make her life better.” Ryan weaseled.
“You are a terrible Alpha!” I swore, “You should be trying to make life better for everyone in your pack! But all you can think about is what you don’t have, and who you want to stick your dick into p>
“I want to be with you, Avery.” Ryan groaned. He reached out and grabbed my hand, and pushed it against the front of his pants. “You make me so hard. I need you p>
Ew!
I yanked my hand away like I’d been burned. He wasn’t lying though, the man was hard as a rock.
“Ryan!” I protested. “I don’t want this. I don’t want you! Go find your wife! Go get her to touch your dick p>
“Please, Avery…” Ryan crowded closer, trying to catch my hands again. I slapped at him futilely as he backed me into a tree, “You smell so good. I want to fuck you. I want to have children with you p>
“What the fuck are you doing?” My back was scratched by rough tree bark, and he was pressing into me now.
“Just… let me…” Ryan grabbed my face in both hands and pressed his lips to mine. I put my hands on his chest and shoved, but he was much bigger than I was and barely moved.
“Get away from me!” I twisted my head to the side.
With a groan, Ryan pushed himself away reluctantly. I was glad to see that he wasn’t going to take things further, because he was starting to frighten me.
“You never let me have you, Avery.” He whined. “Always playing hard to get p>
He backed away, eyes burning.
“You can pretend not to want me all you like, but I remember how you used to want to give yourself to me. You wanted me once, Avery. You will want me again p>
He turned to go, but gave one last parting shot.
“I’ll always remember the taste of you p>
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