The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna

Chapter 429

“Gideon, I came as soon as I could,” I would say. “I saw Avery collecting aphrodisiac plants in the forest. I should have told you sooner – ”

“Avery. I love you.”

I froze.

Silence fell inside the room. My hand, which had been reaching for the doorknob, hovered midair.

“You don’t mean that,” Avery whispered.

“I do.” Gideon’s voice sounded more certain now. “I love you, Avery. I always have. And I’m sorry that I didn’t make it clear enough before. I’m sorry that I pushed you away because I was too much of a coward to say it out loud.”

My heart cracked. My hand fell back to my side, and I took a step back, shaking my head. Avery and Gideon’s voices faded, or maybe that was just the blood rushing through my ears and blocking it out.

He loved her. And the way he said it…

He meant it.

minutes turned to dust. I thought about Avery and Gideon together, locked in an embrace, their mate bond-the bond that had never gone away, not after ten years of pain and separation-bolstered by the light of

just maybe, I could be like one of the guests at this banquet, dancing and laughing

I love you.

eighteen years old with the whole world ahead of me, the typical age that most people found their mates and marked each other for life. For a woman like me, it should have been simple. A happily ever after to last

mate, was marrying the right person. That my one and

a ten year old

But… did it?

bit down on my tongue, forcing back the tears that had begun to prick at the backs of

nearly gotten a little boy killed, I was now associated with her. Scheming to

had

matter what dirty tactics I had resorted to, Gideon would always love Avery. That much was clear She didn’t need the aphrodisiac he would have taken her

fool for thinking

though, I had turned away from the room and left them there, no longer rushing through the corridors but staring at the tiles beneath my feet as all of these thoughts raced through