Chapter 51
Avery’s POV
As Gideon stalked out of the ceremony hall, the pack surged around me. It seemed like everyone had something to say, but I heard none of their words. All I could hear was the echo of Gideon saying, “You will pay the price.”
I had shackled myself to Madelyn, and now we would find out if I made the right choice.
Jessica, predictably, had to get her words in. She marched right over to me in the crowd and said, “What a shame you had to vouch for poor little Madelyn. It feels like she’s always getting in trouble. Would be a real pity if you got taken down with her.” and then she gave me the biggest feral-cat grin ever and slunk away.
“Did you lose in a cat fight?” I called after her, “You’ve still got scratches on your cheek!”
I felt a surge of satisfaction as I saw her back stiffen, but she kept walking.
I walked over to where Madelyn was still sitting on the floor, wiping her tears away.
“Are you ok?” I asked, offering her a hand up. She took it, gratefully.
“I’ve been better.” She said, with a wan smile, “But thank you, for standing up for me.”
“One of these days you’ll have to tell me what she has on you.” I said, with a touch of aspersion.
Madelyn winced, but shrugged ruefully. “Maybe one day.”
She turned to look me in the eye, “Do you know what my punishment will be? I don’t care if it’s harsh, I did intentionally mislead you, but I hate dreading finding out.”
I paused, thinking. Honestly, I was hurt that she’d deceived me, even if I knew that she had been coerced into it by Jessica.
“You are hereby sentenced to work in my garden each day for the next 90 days.” I said though I did drop my voice to add, “Don’t worry, I will work with you. And Anna can bring us iced tea.”
Madelyn smiled briefly, then dropped into a surprising curtsy.
“Thank you, Luna. That is fair. I will see you there tomorrow.” She turned and walked away.
I breathed a big sigh. It wouldn’t be easy work, but maybe it would get Madelyn away from her toxic friends for long enough to
start over.
Now I needed to go find my moody Alpha.
I stepped out into the night, past the place where Gideon’s wolf had knocked me to the ground less than an hour ago. Where would he have gone now? I needed to find him, and apologize privately.
I saw the light in his office flicker on across the field.
Of course.
I climbed the stairs and knocked on the door softly. There was no answer.
After a moment, I put the key in the lock and entered Gideon’s office.
He was sitting in his chair, silently staring out the window at the moon.
“Gideon?” I said quietly, “I need to apologize to you.”
He didn’t move, didn’t look at me.
I closed the door behind me and stepped around his desk to stand next to him.
1/3
A few weeks ago, being alone with him like this would have terrified me. His reputation, the way I had heard it, had been horrendous and bloodthirsty.
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