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.

placed his hand on my shoulder. “Avery, I think

him. “Bjorn is out here somewhere.

asked. His voice was gentle, but there was an underlying edge to it that spoke volumes. He wasn’t going

then, and his expression

warm, but her words were clearly designed to make me feel like shit.

honestly, it might be best if you headed home,” she said, checking her nails then looking back at me with a smile. “This terrain isn’t exactly suited to someone who has spent the last decade in the city. The forest gets rougher the further north

turning slowly to look at her, “you think I

human city for so long, so you probably

said curtly. “I lived here for years before I ever set foot in a human city.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “And Fiona, I’ve navigated terrain a lot worse than this

terrified, I wanted to add, but

snapped shut at that. She was smart enough, at least, to know when to shut the hell

his throat. “Avery, I’m going to have to

“But-”

Gideon stepped forward. “We can

determination, and I knew that look in his eyes all too well. I had seen it many times before, ten years ago, back when he still thought

neither of us realizing that it was me, and that I was

was still the same. Only

that, but not a painful one. It was surprisingly warm and tender,

my son to such a degree. Aside from my mother, of course. But I’d never dreamed that Bjorn could have a father figure in his life who genuinely cared like this, and for a moment,

could wrap around me. There were still many reasons why I had to keep Bjorn

to walk on this ankle. If anything, I was just holding

said, staring at

sick, Avery. He’s probably just holed up somewhere to wait out the storm. He’s a smart kid. He wouldn’t

down, I supposed I knew he was. But right now, with tensions so high and the pain in my ankle worsening by the moment, I

to her. “Can you take Avery back