The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna (Avery and Gideon) novel Chapter 501

Sebastian’s POV

I wasn’t quite sure how long I had been sitting at my desk, doing nothing useful except for staring at the wall. All I knew was that the office was dark now, the sun having long since gone down, and I hadn’t bothered turning on the lights.

The house was alive with the sounds of dinner being prepared. I could hear voices in the hallway, cutlery scraping in the kitchen. Normal life continuing like nothing had changed.

But everything had changed.

Avery was gone. She’d left with Gideon and Bjorn, and she wasn’t coming back. She wouldn’t be here for dinner tonight. She wouldn’t be here at all.

I’d replayed that moment she had left over and over in my head, and all I felt was anger.

She was with him now. Back at Nightwolf. Back in the house they used to share. Back in his bed, probably.

My hands clenched into fists on the desk.

Gideon was getting everything he wanted. A Luna. An heir. A strengthened pack. And all because I’d lost control for one goddamn second during that fight.

A knock came at the door.

“What is it?” I called out curtly.

The door opened, and Colt stepped in. He was holding the envelope I’d sent him with, the one I’d written for Avery.

Still sealed.

“She refused to take it,” Colt said. He set the envelope down on my desk. “Said she doesn’t want to come back right now.”

I stared at the envelope. The wax seal was unbroken.

“Don’t lose hope,” Colt said carefully. “She said she just needs time, that’s all.”

“Time for what? To fall back in love with him?”

Colt sighed. “Bjorn is going to be Claimed this weekend. Gideon is hosting a ceremony and banquet. She said maybe she’ll consider talking to you after that.”

I looked away. After a Claiming Ceremony.

By then, what I wanted would already be out of my reach.

“Alpha?” Colt took a step forward.

“You didn’t think to talk some sense into her?” I hissed, snapping my gaze over to him. “I sent you over there and you came back with nothing.”

The Beta lifted his chin. “I tried, Alpha. I really did. But you can’t forget the fact that you scarred her face. You hit her hard enough to fracture her nose. You left a permanent mark on her. And you’re angry that she doesn’t want to see you two days later?”

“I didn’t mean to hit her. She jumped into the ring. That was her choice.”

“She was trying to protect Gideon before you—”

“Before I what? Almost killed him? Just like I almost killed that weak old Alpha when I took over Evergreen?”

Something flickered across Colt’s face. His eyes hardened, lips parting. But he closed them again and ducked his head.

“My apologies, Alpha,” he said quietly. “I should have tried harder to make her come back.”

With a huff, I turned away from him and walked to the window. “Leave the envelope. I’ll deal with it later.”

Colt nodded and left without another word.

The door clicked shut behind him.

I stood there, staring out at the forest beyond the grounds. I couldn’t stay in this house. Not right now.

I walked out of the office and down the stairs, ignoring the pack members who stepped out of my way as I passed. When I reached the back door, I shoved it open and stepped outside.

My jaw tightened. “That’s none of your business.”

“Perhaps not. But I can fix it.” She reached into her cloak and pulled out a small pendant. It was silver, shaped like a crescent moon, and it glinted in the fading light. “All you must do is have her wear this pendant. I will take care of the rest.”

I stared at the pendant. “What does it do?”

“It will bring her back to you,” the witch said. “And it will make her fall in love with you. Truly, deeply, irrevocably. She’ll never think of him again.”

I looked up at her. “Why would you help me?”

“Because I like to see people get what they deserve.” She held the pendant out. “Do you want it or not?”

I should have said no. Should have walked away.

But all I could think about was Avery. About the way she’d looked at Gideon. The way she’d chosen him over me.

And I wanted to win. I wanted to beat him. I wanted her to be mine.

I reached out and took the pendant.

The witch’s smile widened. “Smart choice.”

I closed my hand around the pendant, feeling the cool metal against my palm. “What do I owe you?”

“Nothing yet,” she said. “But don’t worry. I’ll collect when the time is right.”

I looked down at the pendant, then back up at her.

But she was gone.

The forest was empty again, like she had never been there at all.