The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna (Avery and Gideon) novel Chapter 497

Avery’s POV

My arms were sore from carrying stacks of plates from the kitchen into the banquet hall. I walked over to one of the tables and set the pile down next to the others, wiping my brow with the back of my hand and stopping to look around.

The staff had set up the long tables, draping them with fine linens that matched the banners hanging from the rafters. The dais was being prepared with wreaths and carpets for the ceremony, and a stage for the musical performers had been set up in the corner.

It really was going to be quite the celebration. I knew Bjorn would love it.

Gideon had told me I didn’t need to help with the banquet preparations, but I’d insisted. It felt good to be doing something around people. I’d tried working in the greenhouse that morning, but it was too quiet in there, too isolated. Too easy for my mind to go places I didn’t want it to go right now.

I was arranging silverware when three women approached me. I recognized their faces from ten years ago, though I couldn’t remember their names. One was tall with dark hair, another shorter with graying streaks, and the third had a round face and sharp eyes.

“Avery,” the tall one said by way of greeting. She didn’t sound warm or welcoming like so many others had been since my arrival. She was looking at me like I’d personally offended her.

I straightened, wiping my hands on my jeans, and forced out my best business voice. “Hello. What can I do for you?”

“We heard you were back,” the shorter woman said. “It’s been a long time.”

“It has,” I admitted.

The three of them exchanged looks before the round-faced woman stepped forward.

“We were hoping to talk to you. About your disappearance.”

My stomach knotted. I had a feeling this was going to go there from the moment I saw them. Many people had been wondering about that. I’d received more questions about it since my return than I had in ten years. None of them I wanted to answer.

“I didn’t know,” I said.

“Of course you didn’t,” the tall woman said. “You weren’t here.”

The shorter woman leaned in. “We’re not trying to be cruel. But you need to understand that what you did had consequences. Not just for the Alpha, but for all of us. We relied on having a strong Alpha and Luna, and you ran away.”

I looked down at my hands, my fingers tightening around the fork I was still holding in one hand while the other hung loosely at my side.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t think about what it would do to the pack. I was only thinking about myself.”

The women were quiet for a moment. The round-faced woman sighed.