The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna (Avery and Gideon) novel Chapter 515

Avery’s POV

I called my mother that night, sitting in front of my vanity as I got ready for dinner. She picked up on the first ring.

“Were you sitting by the phone?” I teased.

“No,” she said. “I was just… It’s good to hear your voice, Avery.”

I smiled. “You too, Mom. Sorry I haven’t called in a bit.”

“That’s okay. How’s Bjorn?”

“Better. A lot better, actually.” I reached for my mascara and uncapped it. “He’s eating a lot. Sleeping heavy. And he already made friends in Nightwolf.”

My mother made a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a sob.

“Mom,” I muttered, blinking back my own tears.

“I’m fine,” she lied. “I’m just so relieved. I’ve been so worried about that boy.”

“I know. Me too.”

There was a rustling sound on her end, like she was moving around the kitchen, and I heard the familiar click of her kettle being switched on. As usual.

“And you?” she asked. “How are you really?”

I looked at the window. Outside, the grounds were going golden in the early evening light, the trees at the edge of the forest catching the last of the sun. “I’m good,” I said. “I think I’m going to stay here after all. Gideon and I…” My voice trailed off, and my eyes flicked up to meet Gideon’s in the mirror. He was sitting on my bed with a book in his lap, clearly eavesdropping but trying to pretend he wasn’t.

“You two are good?” my mother asked.

“Yeah,” I said, smiling a little wider. “We are.”

“Good. So that means I can move back in with you now?”

I laughed out loud. “Who said you could move back in with me?”

“It gets lonely here without you. And be nice to your old mother! I bet Bjorn misses his grandma.”

“I know, I know,” I giggled. “I was just kidding.” I looked at Gideon again, and he nodded, already knowing what I was about to ask him. “Yes,” I said. “You can move in.”

“Give me two days to pack,” she replied. “Three at most.”

“Okay.

Gideon mouthed something at me.

“Oh,” I added, “and Gideon’s Beta will come pick you up when you’re ready.”

There was a pause on the other end before she said, “What about the house?”

I bit my lip. It had been rattling around in my mind since the day I decided to permanently stay in the packs. The mansion was large and expensive, and I just didn’t see the point in keeping it if I wasn’t going to be there. If I visited the city on business, I could stay in a hotel. I didn’t need to be taking up a whole house that someone else could live in.

“I think I’m going to sell it,” I said.

He was right. If it was an allergy, then it was a bad one. I moved my hair aside, and Gideon gently unclasped it, his fingers cool against the back of my neck. My skin throbbed as I pulled the pendant away. I set the whole thing down on my vanity and stared at the mark.

“Want me to get you some ointment?” Gideon asked.

I shook my head. “It’s okay. I’ve got something.” I opened my drawer, rifling around for the small bottle of skin ointment I had made. I mostly used it when I got razor burn, but it had cooling properties that would do the trick. I dabbed a little onto the mark, feeling the skin cool a little already.

With that, Gideon leaned down and pressed his lips to the top of my head, then straightened.

“Dinner’s in twenty minutes,” he said, and left.

I looked at the pendant sitting on the vanity. The crescent caught the lamplight, perfectly still, the silver surface smooth and unmarked. Something that beautiful had no business leaving a mark like that. I felt awful, because I really did like it, and it was a kind gesture on Sebastian’s part. I hoped he would understand.

I turned away and went to get changed for dinner.

The dining room was fuller than usual that evening. Tegan was there, along with a couple of senior pack members Gideon had invited, and Bjorn was already in his seat when I arrived, working his way through a bread roll and telling Tegan something about the game he’d played in the street that afternoon. Tegan was pretending to listen, even though I could tell from the look on his face that he really wanted to eat in peace and quiet.

I took my seat beside Gideon. The food came out, roasted meat and vegetables and salad, and the conversation moved around the table easily.

I was listening to Bjorn retell the highlight reel of the pigtail girl’s refereeing for the third time that day when Gideon turned to me. His brows shot up as he looked at my neck.

“What is it?” I asked, fork hovering halfway to my mouth.

“I thought you were allergic,” he said, pointing.

I looked down to find that the pendant was back in its place, like I had never taken it off at all.