The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna

Chapter 163 Avery's POV "Tneed a divorce, Gideon." My words hung in the air between us, his face so immobile it could have been carved in ice. Despite the heaviness of my words, the rejection and abandonment I felt from him for leaving me to die when the Rogue King was trying to take me, he was still so breathtakingly handsome to look at. It hurt to stare at someone I cared for so much and to feel so utterly convinced that he felt nothing similar for me in return.

How many times had he given me some small sign, some small touch or gesture, or danced with me, only for it to dissolve away to nothing? Iwas exhausted of this dance between us. My heart was no longer just bruised and aching from the constant misunderstandings. Now it was badly wounded, bleeding out, and still he would not give me what I needed from him. "No," his words were final. He still refused to hear me. How could I make him understand that his words were tantamount to my death sentence?

I staggered where I stood, trying to remain upright as the heaviness of my reality came crashing down upon me. At every turn I had attempted to comply, to meet his expectations. I hadn't chosen to become his Luna, but I had tried my hardest to ---- rise to the requirements of the title. Iwas his wife, but there was no softness, no love between us that I could feel. This marriage was a sham, and I needed him to acknowledge that and to cease the charade before it killed me. My knees felt weak, and I sagged where I stood. Instantly, Gideon reached out to steady me, his hands warm and firm.

Why couldn't he be just as supportive of me in other ways? I tried to bring myself to thank him, but the words wouldn't come. My mind was racing, trying to figure out what to do next. "You need to lie down," Gideon ordered, "You should not have left your room." "My prison, you mean," I muttered. Gideon's eyes flashed, "This sort of childishness does not suit my wife." My head snapped up as he said that, my mouth opened to retort, but then the air left my lungs as Gideon swept me off my feet into his arms. "Back to bed with you," He snapped.

still need to talk!" I protested as he carried me out the door of his office and upstairs towards the bedrooms. "There is nothing to discuss," Gideon said firmly, "I determine what is best for this pack, and for everyone within it." His steps were still light and powerful as he quickly ascended the stairs with me in his arms. It was as though he didn't even register my ---- weight, nor did my feeble attempts at

from him to the bed and back again. Sudden memories of the night at the Alpha Ball rushed through my mind. The memory of my partner leaning above

bed, "Or I will help you." Still lost in the haze of memory, I slowly unbuttoned my daydress and turned to meet Gideon's eyes. I felt self-conscious and yet... If he was the same man who had slept with me twice, the wolf who had been able to trigger my mating heat that Full Moon so long ago... Shouldn't I be able to tell? So [held his gaze as I let my dress fall to the floor. This man was my

watched as he slowly blinked, then licked his lips as his gaze dropped to my mouth. Suddenly the space between us felt electric, the air stifling. I backed up towards the bed, and as I stepped backwards, he stepped forward. My trembling fingers found the silky material of the nightgown and I lifted it between us, held it

around," he growled. 1 obeyed, spinning in his arms, and felt him drape the nightgown across my shoulders, tying the belt at my waist. When he was done, he turned me back to face him. "Gideon..." I blurted out, needing to