The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna (Avery and Gideon) novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Avery’s POV

Gideon’s fingers twisted in my hair, pulling me upright. My head tipped back, exposing my throat.

“Now,” Gideon leaned closer. I could feel his breath on my cheek, “Let’s talk about punishment.”

I didn’t like where this was going. I tried to look him in the face, the whites of my eyes showing, but he pulled harder and I couldn’t look at him properly from this angle.

“What is the role of violence in a pack?” He asked.

I struggled to think of an answer. Violence had always been something that came to me by virtue of who I was, not what I’d done.

My father had reached for violence the way others reached for a cigarette. He craved it, and it soothed him.

My violence had always been a defense mechanism. Something I used when all my other options were gone.

Did Gideon want me to fight him? I struggled feebly and his hands tightened until I stopped.

“A tool, Avery.” He continued, in the same patient voice. “A poor tool in the hands of a fool, but a deadly one regardless. You’re not a fool, are you?”

“I try not to be.” I ground out through gritted teeth. My scalp was starting to ache and I had to stand on tiptoe to try and relieve the pressure.

“Good. Because I won’t marry a fool.”

“Jessica will be disappointed.”

He laughed and released me.

“Yes, I expect she will be.”

I rubbed my head ruefully and watched him as he circled back around his desk. He began rummaging through drawers.

“So…you’re not punishing me?”

He looked up with a small smirk, “Do you want me to?”

“N-n-nooo?” I had surprising difficulty finding that answer.

“No. I’m not going to punish you.” Gideon said finally.

“…why not? I hurt a subordinate in your territory.”

He sighed and didn’t answer for a long moment. When he did, he didn’t answer directly, but instead told me a story.

“When I was learning to be Alpha, I made a lot of mistakes. The Old Alpha was patient with me, but direct. He would tell me what I had done wrong, and then he would expect me to re-do it. He said, the act of doing it right would be a better lesson than if he’d punished me severely. He was right.”

Gideon held something out to me, I reached out my hand and he dropped something heavy and cold into my palm.

It was a key.

“This is a spare key to my office.” He said, “Do not lose it.”

“Why are you giving this to me?” I asked, confused.

“You need a better, safer place to work until we get you your own office.” Gideon said. “Use here, until then.”

1/2

Stunned, I could only nod.

“And, Avery? No one gets to threaten my pack.” Gideon’s glower was thunderous, “That includes you as Luna. I expect you to tell me if something like that happens again.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify