The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna (Avery and Gideon) novel Chapter 485

Bjorn was mine.

My son.

And Avery had kept him from me.

The anger came fast and hot, flooding through my chest. My hands curled into fists at my sides.

Sebastian noticed my expression, and his lips curled just a little. “It makes you angry, doesn’t it?” he asked. “Almost makes you want to take him away out of spite?”

I blinked. Some of the anger faded. I glanced at Bjorn again, watching as his chest slowly rose and fell under the blankets. The chair I’d found Avery sitting in earlier that day was still next to the bed, empty save for the cardigan she left draped over the back.

She had looked so worried. She had stayed up all night, even after rogues almost killed her, just to protect him.

Of course I didn’t want to take him away from her.

I just wanted to understand why she would hide him from me. Why she would lie about this when I had done everything in my power to prove to her that I only wanted to help.

Sebastian followed my gaze. His hand came to rest on my shoulder, and I flinched, stepping back.

“What do you want?” I asked.

His eyes flickered in the dim light. “I want to make you a deal.”

I turned to face him fully. “What kind of deal?”

“I’ll help you get custody of Bjorn,” he said. “I’ll testify that Avery’s been keeping him from you. I’ll back you up in court. Whatever you need, I’ll do it, and I’ll make sure you receive full custody.”

My jaw tightened. I knew there were strings attached to this, and I didn’t even bother asking what they were. I already had a feeling before Sebastian uttered the words.

“In exchange,” he whispered, “I want you to stop pursuing Avery.”

There it was.

I didn’t want to hurt her like that. I didn’t want to be like him.

“No deal,” I said.

Sebastian’s smile faded just a little. “You’d really give up on your son, your only heir, just for her?”

“I’m not giving up on either of them,” I said, straightening. “I’ve made mistakes, but I love them both too much to keep making them—that’s where you and I differ.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out the tissue. I crumpled it in my palm and threw it on the floor. “I love them both too much to hurt them. I love them both too much to let you hurt them.”

His jaw clenched.

I took a step forward. “You and I tied once before. In combat. Remember?”

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. “Of course I remember.”

“Good.” I rolled my shoulders back. “Then let’s have a rematch. Settle the score once and for all.”