The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna

Chapter 156 Avery's POV "avery is just my Luna. I do not love her." Gideon's words followed me down the hallway as I fled. I couldn't stand to be in that ballroom any longer! For a while I focused only on putting distance between myself and Gideon. His words had cut me to the quick. If he was who had shared my bed last night... then truly it seemed to mean nothing to him. How could he?? And for her??? Dierdra was despicable. She had burst into my rooms this morning to try and humiliate me, and had only managed to humiliate herself.

She may have secured Gideon's intentions for now, but she had also made a fool of herself in front of the other Alphas and Lunas. Her actions as a whole had made Gideon appear weak, and I wondered if he realized that. If he did, I wondered why he allowed it. How was it that he refused to put Dierdra in her place, while I was constantly being put down? Hurt and fury flooded through me. My ego was so bruised it was bleeding everywhere. I felt like I was spilling my emotions ---- behind me as I ran. That anyone could follow the trail of heartache to find me at the end of it.

I found a small bench at the end of a remote hallway and curled myself up on it pathetically. Out here in the passageways that ran through the rest of the buildings, the halls were empty. [had seen only servants as I fled. Tears spilled from my eyes and I wiped them on my skirt. Gideon's rejection stung on the heels of tangling in the sheets with the person I had thought was my mate. Were my memories real? I once again hadn't managed to see clearly the person who had loved me so expertly, but Gideon was the one who'd emerged from the bathroom.

It had felt, for a second, like there had been a spark of recognition in his eyes when I had pleaded with him... Now I wondered why he had given me that trapped look before going to Dierdra. What hold did she have over him? I wouldn't have thought that the Gideon I knew would behave in this way. Maybe I truly didn't know him at all... Which put me back at square one. My mate was a mystery to me. Isat there for a long time, watching the light bleed out of the sky beyond the glass windows that ran down this hallway. It grew cold. I needed to head back before someone else found me here.

werewolves to the ballroom like moths to a flame. Or more accurately, like sharks smelling blood in the water. Eventually those predatory ---- Alphas would seek me out. They had seen Gideon's renunciation, and would interpret it as open season on me as a result. Again. I was in danger. My neck was beginning to prickly with the sensation of being prey. I needed to get back to my quarters and try and hide until it was time to leave. Reluctantly, I

open. "Oh, there you are," Dierdra stood on the other side, face smug. " Off licking your wounds? Or were you busy finding another stranger to fuck?" My cheeks grew red, but I pushed past her into our rooms. "He wasn't a

to face her, feeling my desire to fight flare up, despite the dead, barren landscape of my inner feelings. I fanned the small, burning spark into a flame.

that aren't true, Avery." Dierdra examined her nails, her voice a catty croon, "Besides," she arched a brow at me, "Even if that's what you believe, Gideon will never believe you." Thated that it felt like she was right. Gideon refused to see reason, so far. I had

are, and I will expose your true nature one day." Dierdra stepped closer to me, her smirk wide on her painted lips. "He's never going to value your word above mine, especially now ..." she trailed off with a gloating smile, "Don't think you can outplay me, bitch. You' re not dedicated to