MasukAvery’s POVAn all too familiar car was waiting in Aldric’s driveway when I arrived. Gideon was standing beside it, leaning against the door with his arms folded. The moment I saw him, a pang shot through my temples.Oh, no. I knew that pain all too well.For a moment, I considered turning around an
“Well, you have to think of something better.” My father thought for a moment, then suggested, “Maybe it would be easier to drive the woman away. She clearly has fewer ties to the packs, and wants nothing to do with Gideon. If she leaves for good, he won’t be able to chase her anymore.”That had cro
Avery’s POVThe sun rose high and hot the next morning, bringing with it the sound of cicadas buzzing in the grass and a warm steam rising from the dewy ground before eight o’clock even struck.I had just finished my coffee and was preparing my things to head to Aldric’s clinic. Our trial was beginn
Before she disappeared, I called out, “How do you know?” Melissa didn’t stop walking. She didn’t even turn. She just said over her shoulder, “The trees tell me things.” I blinked a few times, certain I had misheard. Before I could ask what she meant by that, she was gone, disappearing around the b
Avery’s POV “Go figure.” I stormed over to the gift bag and picked it up, glancing inside one last time. Shaking my head, I turned to the nurse who had been working with me before. “Is there a place I can donate this?” I asked, holding the bag up. “Maybe the kids in the clinic would like to play w
“I was just passing through.” He was holding something in his hands. A bag, I realized. From a kids’ store. I recognized the logo immediately.“What’s that?” I asked.He held the bag out. “See for yourself.”I didn’t take the bag right away. Colt took it instead, obviously to Gideon’s chagrin, who c
Avery’s POV The ride back to Nightwolf Village was tense in every imaginable sense of the word. We had all come in a single car, and Gideon did not call for another, but he directed Dierdra to sit up front with the driver and he sat in the back with me. “I trust you can survive the trip back wi
Avery’s POVFor the next few days I never left my mother’s side. Her stay in the Rogue King’s dungeon had left her weak, malnourished, and had aged in ways that were harrowing to see. I had faith in the pack’s healers, and my presence seemed to provide some measure of relief, whether from my healing
The rescue of my mother was at the top of my list. Gideon had said he had a plan, I needed to know that he would follow through with it before I willingly allowed our relationship to proceed further. Gideon’s POV I sensed Avery pulling away emotionally even before she raised her hands to halt me.
“It’s sad when one of our best Alphas succumbs to weakness,” Reynaud feigned tragedy, frowning as he stared at Gideon across the floor, “and I wish I could say that I hadn’t seen this coming, but sadly, the signs have been all too clear.” Now Reynaud spun to address the crowd who had begun to murmu







