The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna

Chapter 169 Avery's POV I walked all over the village that day. 1 couldn't say why, for sure. My body needed to do something to keep me from staring at the wall and waiting for the worst to happen. I was still too weak to actively train on the training grounds, my injuries too severe to use the weights or the exercise equipment. Now that I was removed from the role of Luna, I had more time than I knew what to do with. I walked to the gardens, looked at the growing things, but there was little for me to do there.

I walked to the kitchens and lingered until the cook told me I was in the way and drove me out. At least, I thought, the walking was some form of exercise. Somehow, though, I doubted it would be enough to transform my wolf and save me from the culling. Dierdra's visit had lodged in my brain like a splinter. Even when I wanted to forget about it, my mind kept poking at it. 1 hated that she'd managed to get under my skin, that she had been correct in some way. I tried to just focus on putting one foot in front of the other.

I walked up and down both sides of the main street in the village, until I started getting odd looks. Then I decided to walk up to the ---- pack house. That was a bad idea. Approaching the door brought back so many memories. Of the first time I had entered this house with Gideon. Of the time he had burst in, thinking that I had been meeting with someone in secret. Of the appearance of the rogue captives, and the arrival of Dierdra... Most of the memories were painful. So why did I miss him so much?

If Dierdra's words were a splinter in my mind, then Gideon was a whole-ass tree, growing out of my brain. I couldn't ignore it, I could only work around it. Darkness was falling. I turned away from the Pack House door and began my dreary trudge back into town. No one spoke to me, though a few pack members nodded in greeting as I passed. To them, I was the downfallen Luna, and they feared getting too close lest I drag them down with me. Their fears were well founded, since Dierdra had a vindictive streak a mile wide. Theard steps behind me on the sidewalk, but I didn't bother to turn.

my elbow and spun me around. I jumped, and then winced, as the movement tugged on my healing arm. ---- The person who had grabbed me hastily dropped my arm, as though they had just remembered that I was wounded. Iraised my eyes. It was Gideon. He stared at me with eyes dark as stormclouds. "Did you take the pack car to Silvermoon to see Ryan?" he demanded. No 'hello'. No 'how are you healing

home, and put a drink and food in front of him

did not." Gideon frowned, "I need to know that you are still loyal to me, and not thinking about going back to him. Someone said that you ---- had gone back there while I was gone." 'someone' being Dierdra, I assumed. Of course. "aren't you having me followed?" I raised an eyebrow, sliding into the chair across the table from the moody, possessive Alpha, "Besides, I can't drive

I raised my fingers and counted off as I listed the ways Gideon had treated me, "You have removed me from my home, you have forced me into marriage, you have slept with someone who isn't your wife, you have used me, and given me no love or comfort in exchange, Gideon." He grew angry, tossing his fork onto his plate. ? "Ryan is weak," Gideon said, offended, "Our relationship was never intended to become personal, as I believe I warned you at

I had a mate. That this was strictly to honor tradition." "You think I don't realize that?" My eyes flashed at him, "My feelings have always been the furthest from your mind, as lam painfully aware. You don't care in the slightest about my well- being, physically or emotionally. You only care about what I can do for you!" I realized my voice had rose over the course of my tirade. That I ---- had risen to my feet and was staring down at Gideon as I spoke. Oops. His handsome face stared