FAZER LOGINShe was right. I sat. She handed me a small basket of green beans and I got to work snapping the stems off, perhaps a little more violently than I should have. To her credit, she didn’t ask anything, and didn’t seem to mind when I shoved a couple of the beans into my mouth as I worked.Finally, abou
Avery’s POVSebastian's office was peaceful, the window open, letting in the breeze. It did little to calm the racing thoughts in my head.“Coffee?” he asked, reaching for the carafe on the side table.“Um. Sure.” I sat, running my hands over my face as he poured it. A moment later, a steaming cup w
Avery’s POVThe drive to Aldric’s pack was quiet, I had to give Sebastian that. He didn’t press me for an answer just yet regarding his proposal. I didn’t want to give him one.When we arrived, I was unsurprised to see Gideon’s car sitting in the driveway. Sebastian’s fingers tightened a little arou
Avery’s POV“Avery…”Gideon’s hands came down to cup my face. His lips were soft and sweet when he kissed me, and my name was so low I almost couldn’t hear it. But he said it again and again, like a mantra, and each time he said it, it sounded even sweeter to my ears.“Avery… I love you.”I smiled,
“I had Claire,” I said, smiling faintly. “She was the exception. But outside of her and Bjorn and my mother, I never really…” I trailed off. “It got a little lonely.”Gideon was watching me closely, and I just now realized that my face was still hot.“Did Bjorn like it there?” he asked.“Not really.
Avery’s POVAfterwards, I laid on my back, staring at the ceiling while my pulse slowly came back down to something somewhat close to normal. The fire had burned low again. The room was warm and dim and smelled like sex and wine, and my muscles were loose and my wolf was content for the time being.
These people would never question the Luna’s commands in a public forum, but they would air their doubts privately to neighbors or friends. Gossip spread quickly in a tight-knit pack, and their silent glances and whispered judgements were palpable if you knew what to look for.The grocer had complet
Avery’s POVAnd then he was gone. The one person I thought might be able to intervene, who might have been able to throw me a lifeline, instead turned and walked out my bedroom door. He held all the cards, and instead of playing the hand that could have saved me, he had done the equivalent of polit
Avery’s POVAfter Jessica’s unpleasant visit, I felt as though even my long-shot hope had been decimated. I had written the letter as she requested, though it pained me to have to write my false testament to her character. It wasn’t all lies. I had no doubt that ruthlessness, pride, tenacity, and a
“You know I’ll work you until you die,” she said, in a low voice that wouldn’t reach the warriors posted as guards, “I’m carrying Gideon’s child, and once I give birth he won’t care at all what happens to you.”I did my best to ignore her as I pulled myself to my feet with the help of the railing. I







