The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna

Chapter 395

Avery’s POV

My ankle was rapidly starting to swell and darken in spots. It was definitely twisted at the very least, and perhaps even fractured slightly. I definitely wasn’t going to be able to put very much weight on it.

But I wasn’t about to give up searching for my son over a sprained ankle. I’d been through far worse than this for far less.

Gritting my teeth, I grabbed the thin trunk of a nearby young tree for support and hauled myself up.

“Avery-” Gideon reached for my elbow, but I swatted him away.

“I’m fine,” I said. “Perfectly fine.”

Gideon and Sebastian exchanged a look that said neither of them believed me, although I pretended not to notice it. Fiona was standing a little ways away, watching the whole exchange with wide eyes. I thought about her elbow digging into my spine and wondered if she had done that on purpose, but right now wasn’t the time to bring that up.

Taking a deep breath, I tested my ankle. Unfortunately, the moment I put weight on my foot, the pain shot straight up through my leg. I had to clench my teeth so tightly I thought they might crack just to keep myself from crying out.

“See?” I choked out. “I’m fine!”

Gideon planted his hands on his hips and shot me a look.

“I can walk it off,” I said, a little weaker now.

“You can’t,” Sebastian said flatly.

I ignored them both and took one step forward, keeping my hand on the tree. Then another. The third one made my vision swim and I stopped, breathing through my nose, waiting for it to pass.

It didn’t pass.

to me and placed his hand on my

“Bjorn is out here somewhere. I’m

even walk?” he asked. His voice was gentle, but there was an underlying edge

at Gideon then, and his expression said the same

were clearly designed to make me feel like shit. She seemed to

isn’t exactly suited to someone who has spent the last decade in the city. The forest gets rougher the further north you go, and with that ankle, you’ll

sorry,” I said, turning slowly to look at her, “you think I was

wavered slightly, but it didn’t disappear. “Well, yes! I mean, you’ve lived in the human city for so long, so you probably don’t even

before I ever set foot in a human city.” I narrowed

wanted to add, but I kept

mouth snapped shut at that. She was smart enough, at least, to know when to shut the hell up. I had to give

going to

“But-”

Avery.” Gideon stepped forward. “We

up at Gideon. His expression brooked no argument. His jaw was set hard with determination, and I knew that look in his eyes all too well. I had seen it many times before, ten years

when he insisted on finding her, neither of us realizing that it was

same. Only

pang shot through me at that, but not a painful one. It was surprisingly warm and tender,

mother, of course. But I’d never dreamed that Bjorn could have a

squashed that feeling before it could wrap around me. There were still many reasons why I had to keep Bjorn and Gideon separate, and one

walk on this ankle. If anything,

said, staring at the ground.

to worry yourself sick, Avery. He’s probably just holed up somewhere to wait out

knew he was. But right now, with tensions so high

Gideon turned to her. “Can you take Avery back to