The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna

Chapter 280 I watched as she scrambled to her feet and took off, presumably in the direction of a bathroom. How had it taken so long for me to realize just how bad of an actor she was? I sighed, scrubbing my hands over my face. Time was of the essence, but I would have to be more careful if I was going to get information out of her. Maybe tonight, over dinner, I could get her drunk. Maybe wine would loosen her tongue. "Gideon?" I looked up at the sound of Avery's mother's voice. She was limping across the lawn, leaning on her cane. There was a piece of paper in her hands.

"This just came, she said, holding it up. She looked perturbed. "It was addressed to me. From... Avery." I shot to my feet. "Can I see it?" She nodded and handed it to me, and I scanned the contents. "Dear Mother," the letter read, "It's me. Avery. I know you've been worried about me, but I want you to know that I'm okay. I'm living with my true mate now. He says I'm a princess, and that he'll make me his queen. Once we're married, I'll have lots of little pups, and I'll be all his. Body, mind, and soul. But I do miss you. Please come stay with me.

window facing out to the east. I won't see it otherwise. Love, Avery." My heart cracked. I stared at the letter, then at Avery's mother. It was Avery's handwriting. I would recognize it anywhere. Did she really think

here." She scratched

"No..." The slave looked at the jar again, then down at her feet. "She did look sort of ... resigned, I supposed. Like she had made a decision she had been holding off on. But she didn't say anything to me before she turned and left." I paused, considering the slave's words. The tale about Deirdre and Gideon should have driven Avery into my arms, but then she had gone and tried to send that letter to her mother. Maybe she did still have plans to escape. But it