The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna (Avery and Gideon) novel Chapter 573

Avery’s POV

It was slow moving with Melissa limping between us and Bjorn’s smaller frame struggling under her weight.

“Just leave me,” she said multiple times, like either of us would actually consider doing such a thing. “I’ll find my own way home.”

I refused, of course, each time. No woman left behind. Not even when it took half the day to get anywhere useful and we kept having to stop to let Melissa rest, her foot completely swollen now, her skin having broken out in a fever at some point around midmorning.

We weren’t leaving her.

It was Melissa, strung up in that web, who snapped me out of my daze and made me act. It was knowing that there was someone else who needed me that made me stop wallowing and do something.

So I wasn’t leaving her. Not now. Not ever.

The sun turned hot for a while, then cooled as it began its descent toward the horizon. Eventually, the forest became a little more familiar, the old growth shifting into narrow, well-worn paths winding through the trees. We passed by a creek, and I knew we were close.

It was around that point that we heard the sound of twigs snapping.

I froze, holding my hand out—Melissa had resorted to leaning on a large stick we’d found as a walking stick, Bjorn still supporting her weight as much as he could on her other side. They both stopped moving, Melissa panting a little, all three of us craning our heads to listen.

Snap.

Rogues.

I could scent one on the air, strong and musky. One rogue, perhaps two.

At least, that was what I thought.

I lowered my stance, preparing for a fight. Bjorn snarled behind me in that puppylike way that was supposed to be frightening, but was more adorable than anything.

But then two figures emerged from the shadows, and we all fell silent.

Sebastian pulled back from Melissa just enough to look at me. He continued to hold her, her hands lightly pressing against his chest as if she wanted to push away but knew she wouldn’t be able to support herself if she did.

“It’s you,” he whispered, eyes moving over me. “It’s really you, not…”

“I found her,” Bjorn said, planting his hands on his hips. “No thanks to you.”

Sebastian’s eyes darted to my son. “I’m sorry I didn’t come.” He shot Colt a look. “I was a little held up.” He swallowed, throat bobbing with the motion. “Look, we don’t have much time. The wedding could be starting already.”

My stomach knotted. “It’s tonight?”

Colt nodded. “Rumor has it they pushed it forward. We were planning to stop it in the hopes of saving you two.” He gestured to us. “I guess that part’s done, but Nightwolf is still at risk.”

They didn’t need to tell me twice. It seemed we were all on the same page—that witch was masquerading as me, trying to mark my mate, and if she accomplished that, it could spell doom for Nightwolf and potentially all the other packs.