The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna

Chapter 129 Avery's POV "Apologize?" my voice rose at the end of the question. | couldn't help it. The very idea of apologizing to Dierdra was insulting. Not when | knew what she really was. Gideon was watching me over his steepled fingers. His calculating gaze taking in my reaction. There was no mercy in that stare. Still, | had to try. He had seemed to hold affection for me once, maybe a scrap of that still remained in him, beneath that intimidating Alpha exterior.

"| will swear by any oath you choose," | begged, falling to my knees in front of his desk, "| swear to you that what | have said is the truth. | will not, cannot, apologize to that bitch for the scenario she has manufactured to trick you!" Gideon rose from his chair so quickly it turned over and fell behind him with a crash. | quivered as he rounded the desk to grab my upraised hands and twist them painfully.

"You speak to me of oaths?!" he snarled in my ear, "What do you know of promises made and kept?" "| know what we said to each other!" | sobbed, furious, "When we ---- stood in front of the pack and swore by tooth and claw and wolf to bind ourselves to each other! That meant something, Gideon!" He released me as though burned and shoved me away, eyes burning coals within his face. He grimaced as though | had struck him. "Yes," he spat the words, "Il remember." | scrambled backwards until my back bumped into the chair behind me, my heels scrabbling on the carpet as | stared up at him defiantly.

"| didn't promise to stand by and watch as a false mate tries to separate me from my duty to you and to this pack!" | shouted, frustrated and terrified that I was only digging myself deeper, " You must reject her, Gideon! You must tell the pack that she's not your mate!" "You do not make demands of your Alpha!" Gideon rose to his full height, looking down at me at his feet with disdain, "I will not listen any longer to your unreasonable delusions.

He would not listen to me. Dierdra had hardened his heart against me and turned this man who I had respected into my enemy. ---- What could | do now? If he voided our contract, then my mother would forever be in Zara's clutches, and who knew what the Rogue King would do with her? He would still be trying to control me, and | would

"Good." Gideon snarled, "The first wise choice you've made ina long time, Luna." He reached down and grabbed my arm, hauling me to my feet. His jacket fell from my shoulders and | shivered in the cold room, my teeth chattering from adrenaline and chill. "Upstairs," he prodded, and dragged me from his office and marched me up the flight

at our entrance she sat upright with excited interest. Her gaze rested on me with poorly- disguised delight. "The Luna has come to apologize." Gideon snarled, shoving me ---- forward. | could not find words to say. My tongue felt like it was glued to the roof of my mouth. "Has

chest. | felt like | was going to throw up. "yes?" | raised my eyes to find Dierdra staring down her upturned nose at me, eyes cold and victorious, "Did you have something to say to me?" | needed to focus. | needed to remember what was at stake. My mother. | needed to not tear Dierdra's throat out, even though

look up and behind at Gideon. Would he truly make me repeat myself? "Again," his eyes were cold. "| told you | will not forgive you," | whispered, to him, and to myself, "Remember this." His jaw clenched, but his hand shot out to twist in my hair and turn my face back to Dierdra. "She must sound as though