The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna (Avery and Gideon) novel Chapter 453

To be fair, Sebastian looked genuinely offended by that.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Gideon. I’m offering her this arrangement because I care about her and Bjorn. I love them both.”

“And yet,” I said, “the feeling isn’t mutual. Not in the way you want it to be, at least.” I took a small step forward. My chest bumped against Sebastian’s, but he didn’t take a step back. “Bjorn didn’t come to you that day in the forest. He came to me. Avery didn’t come to you, either.”

Sebastian’s jaw tightened. “I was there for her when she needed help,” he said.

“That doesn’t mean she has to love you.”

“Yes. Well.” Sebastian’s eyes flicked over me. “Spending a couple nights together doesn’t mean she has to love you, either.” He jerked his chin toward me. “Besides, all this talk of using Avery’s situation to my advantage, and you’re not considering your own hypocrisy—everyone can see how you’re using the mate bond to manipulate her into having sex with you. Because you know she wouldn’t want you in any other scenario.”

My wolf snarled at that. I pushed him down, forcing myself to remain calm. I was not going to give Sebastian the satisfaction of seeing me react to his lies, even if right now it seemed like it would feel awfully good to wrap my hands around his neck.

I took a deep breath. “I haven’t manipulated shit. Avery loves me, despite everything. Mate bond or no mate bond, she would always choose me.”

Sebastian tilted his head. “Then break your bond,” he said. “See how that theory holds up.”

His words made my face tighten, and I hated that they did. I knew they were designed solely to trip me up, but they worked, even if only for a split second.

Sebastian noticed, of course. Very little got past the man.

“I can see it in your eyes, Gideon. You know as well as I do that Avery would never choose you without the bond forcing you two together.” He paused, tongue briefly darting out to wet his lips. “She’s barely even choosing you now.”

I glanced at Sebastian’s hand, then back up at his face. This felt absurd, and we both knew it. But, dammit, I was shaking his hand before I could even think twice.

“Fine,” I said, gripping his fingers tightly. He gripped back just as hard. “May the best man win, then.”

Sebastian sneered and pulled his hand away. “May the best man win indeed.”

With that, we both turned on our heels and strode off in opposite directions.

I couldn’t believe what I had just agreed to, and yet, at the present moment, I couldn’t quite seem to feel guilty about it—even if I knew it would likely only end in disaster.