Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Avery’s POV
“I won’t marry you!” My voice rang out and drew gasps from the crowd that had gathered to watch the scene.
1 shoved at Gideon.
It had about as much effect as if I’d shoved a brick wall. He didn’t move, but he did drop my arm roughly.
I stared at him with a defiant expression. For a brief second, the corner of his mouth twitched upwards. His eyes swept me up and down, as though he was re-appraising me.
Then he turned away.
Had he seemed… pleased? His reaction threw me off and drained away some of the venom and fear I had built up for him.
“Since you won’t marry me, it’s now your pack’s responsibility.” Gideon lifted one shoulder slightly, as though he couldn’t care less. Maybe he didn’t.
“I have other matters to attend to p>
He spun on his heel and began to walk down the path back towards where his pack’s entourage of cars were parked.
A pair of wiry hands grabbed my arm. I turned to find Alpha Leon staring at me with his pale, ancient gaze.
“Avery,” he rasped, “You must marry Gideon p>
Since when did he care what happened to me?
I couldn’t remember the last time the old Alpha had even bothered to look in my direction. Other than commanding my father take me in when I was a baby, he’d never been involved in my life.
Leon had been slightly more courteous when Ryan and I had become partners, but even then I had remained solidly beneath his
notice.
“Marry him and complete the wedding immediately.” Leon’s fingers were leaving red marks where they pinched my skin. “We need Nightwolf’s support p>
So now it was up to me to save this pack that had never cared whether I lived or died?
Once they discovered my wolf wasn’t emergent, they had treated me as though I barely existed. Like I was dirt.
“You want me to marry that? For you?” I nodded in Gideon’s direction, not caring if he was still able to hear me. “You may be my Alpha but I don’t owe you that p>
Around us, the crowd murmured loudly, stunned at my insolence. I thought I saw Lillian among them, the sole person nodding
approval.
Alpha Leon’s eyes turned steely and he lowered his voice, but that didn’t stop the menace I heard beneath his words.
“I think you will find you owe more than you think. When Ryan advocated for you these last few years, certain concessions were
made p>
“Concessions?” I scoffed, “Because my life was made so easy here p>
“Not for you, foolish lass,” Alpha Leon’s smile was cold as ice, “for your mother p>
I whipped my head up to find Ryan standing a few feet away. Had he really advocated for my mother while he and I had been together?
“Oh yes,” Leon followed my gaze, “and now that Zara is his mate, there is no reason for your mother’s treatment to continue to
1/2
be… uh… so unusually lenient for one of her low rank and station p>
My mother had long ago been relegated to the rank of omega servant for having conceived me with my father. I had been kept away from her since I was a child. My friend Lillian brought me news and occasional messages from her when she could.
I had no idea that Ryan had tried to make her life easier while he and I were together.
Now, Alpha Leon’s threat rang clear. If I didn’t marry Gideon, he would take it out on my mother.
Once I am married, I will find a safe place for my mother and bring her to Nightwolf to stop her from having to endure the threats of toothless old men like Leon. I made the promise to myself as angry tears welled in my eyes.
No matter what happened to me, I would not allow them to harm those I loved.
“Curse you.” I spat at Leon’s feet and ran down the path after Gideon.
The Nightwolf Alpha barely glanced at me as I fell in step with him.
When we got to the car, he opened the door and gestured for me to climb inside. He climbed in the other side and the driver slowly pulled the car away from the only home I’d ever known.
Gideon stared out the window, barely looking at me.
My head and heart were still reeling from Alpha Leon’s threats.
Olivia Harris
Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.