Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Avery’s POV
I could feel the thunderstorm approaching at my back as I watched Ryan disappear down the path. I didn’t even need to turn around to know that Gideon was standing behind me, with his icy stare and his cold disapproval.
“I told you to stay away from him.” His growl made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
“Is that why you’re here?” I whirled to face him. “To police me? Aren’t you only here to hunt down your missing mate p>
The words flew out of my mouth before I could reel them back in.
I watched Gideon’s expression go flat, his mouth compressing into a thin line.
Admittedly, this probably was going to set back our trust-building exercises somewhat, but I was tired of tip- toeing around his inconvenient truths.
“I don’t understand you, Gideon.” I said, “You want me as Luna, but not as your mate. I’m supposed to be your secretary, and I hope, at least your friend. What happens to me when you find your real mate? Do I just get ushered out the door to live my life as a rogue? Packless p>
I marched closer to him, staring up at him and letting my tongue loose.
“You want us to learn how to trust each other, but my future is forever uncertain with you! I don’t see how I can marry someone who doesn’t see me as their mate. It’s all of me, or nothing p>
I crossed my arms and stared into his stormy eyes, “I want a real commitment, not a bunch of Alpha-jealousy bullshit! What security do you really offer me p>
He let my tirade continue until it slowed.
“Is security and commitment what you think Ryan will offer you?” His voice was glacial. “If so, you are more a fool than I thought possible p>
He didn’t answer any of my accusations, but he did step closer, looking down his nose at me. I could feel his powerful aura, like always, and smell the scent of him. Cedar and the ozone and smoke of a lightning strike.
Ryan definitely didn’t activate all my senses the way Gideon did.
I didn’t want Ryan.
With a sinking but triumphant realization, I knew in my heart that I only wanted Gideon. I wanted this infuriating, terrifying, frustrating man who made my blood boil and my body sing.
The last few days had highlighted how much just being in his presence made me feel happy and alive, even j doing mundane office paperwork.
I wanted him to notice me, to care about me.
But before any of that could happen, I just wanted Gideon to give me a straight answer about what we could be to each other. He owed me that, at least, if he expected me to stay.
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Finally he spoke, but not to say what I needed to hear.
“I have one last thing to wrap up here. Meet me at the car p>
Then he turned and walked up the path.
Insufferable Alpha asshole!
Gideon’s POV
It had been a mistake bringing her here. I guess all rats come back to the sewer occasionally.
I didn’t have a good reason to deny her the chance to see her mother, but clearly I had been too soft and lenient.
All of that would stop now.
If Avery wanted to visit, she would come with a full complement of body guards.
Silvermoon was a cesspool, and it was only getting worse. The rogue infestations that had popped up were well and truly entrenched now, and my attempts to talk to our ally pack about it were met with gross indifference.
They truly didn’t seem to care that the enemy was on their doorstep.
I had come to try and prevent this territory from being overrun, for my bride’s sake.
Now, after 3 seconds in the arms of her ex, she apparently didn’t want to be my bride any longer.
I stalked through the woods, Ryan’s scent weaving in front of me.
I was going to have a few choice words with Silvermoon’s alleged ‘Alpha p>
I came up behind him as he was stopping to take a piss in the woods. He seemed to have some issues opening his fly.
“That’s funny, I heard your issue is usually keeping your dick in your pants, not getting it out.” I drawled, leaning against a tree nearby.
Ryan swore and whirled around, half-shifted.
Oh good, give me a fucking reason and I would gut him on the spot.
I let my fangs emerge and gave a warning snarl, flying forward to slam him against the tree.
He struggled and tore at my shirt, but I was stronger than him, and by the smell of things he’d spent the l weeks drinking instead of managing his pack.
“You reek.” I snarled, my incisors snapping. “Your whole territory stinks, Ryan. Probably because you’re su shitty Alpha p>
“What do you want, Gideon?” He whined pathetically, “You can’t come into my territory just to threaten me. I’m still Silvermoon’s Alpha. You don’t want a war between our packs p>
“Don’t I?” I threw back, “Since you seem to be overrun with rogues now, it’s starting to feel inevitable. Maybe I should challenge for your title instead. Then at least the innocent people who live here would have a chance at
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surviving p>
“That’s not why you’re here.” Ryan pointed out, astutely, “So stop telling me how to run my business and get to the point p>
“Stay away from Avery.” I shoved him backwards for emphasis, causing him to stumble. “You’ve caused her enough pain. She doesn’t want you p>
“Are you sure about that?” Ryan gave a sickly smile, “Because it seems to me that you must be having doubts if you’re here to tell me to stay away. Why, not even a few minutes ago, she had her lips on mine. So, is the real issue that she doesn’t want you? How embarrassing p>
He made an obscene kissing sound that cut off as my fist crunched into his teeth. He went down like a sack of bricks, rolling and grabbing his face on the forest floor.
I said, squatting down next to him. “Since you seem to love the taste of Nightwolf in your mouth, let me remind you that it will always come with your blood along with it p>
I knelt forward and pinned him to the dirt with my fist around his neck. He looked like a cockroach, stuck on h
back.
“Get your house in order. Get rid of the filth that lives in your forests or the next time I come back it will be to claim this pack and your head along with it. You are a travesty to the legacy of Silvermoon, and your ancestors will thank me for removing your stain on their bloodline p>
Ryan’s eyes were rolling back in his head as he flailed with arms and legs, trying to dislodge my chokehold.
“Last warning.” I rose and wiped my hand on the nearest bush. It smelled like his fear and alcoholic sweat.
I gave him a swift kick to the stomach before turning and leaving. The man was more useful of late polishing my boots, it seemed.
“If you so much as speak to Avery again, I will kill you p>
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