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.

last ten minutes turned to dust. I thought about Avery and Gideon together, locked in an embrace, their mate bond-the bond that had

how, not once, had it ever occurred to me that maybe I had a mate out there somewhere. That maybe, just maybe, I could be like one of the guests at this banquet, dancing and laughing and hearing those words spoken to

I love you.

was 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

my father that the most important thing, far more important than love or a mate, was marrying the right person.

luring a ten year

But… did it?

down on my tongue, forcing back the tears that had

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

had

resorted to, Gideon would always love Avery. That much was clear She didn’t need the aphrodisiac he would have taken her as his wife any day,

a fool for thinking it

longer rushing through the corridors