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.
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.
But now, I was starting to suspect there was much more to that story.
He still scared the crap out of me, but not as some boogeyman character in urban legends. Now I worried what our connection would become, what future I had here with him… or not.
“I’m so sorry that my negligence led to you being harmed.” I knelt down next to his chair, my voice sincere. “I will be more mindful in the future.”
Silence stretched. I waited.
“I could have killed them all.” Gideon’s voice creaked with repressed emotion. He turned his head slowly to meet my eyes, “Do you realize that?”
My eyes widened, “No, I didn’t know that.”
“They call it Demonblood.” He continued on, his tone bleak, “No one knows why some Nightwolves have it, but it may be the origin of our Pack’s name. Some wolves in each generation have the mutation that makes them susceptible. When exposed to certain substances, like the aromatics released by angelica, our human half is repressed while our wolves are driven beserk.”
He stared down at his hands where they were gripping the arms of his chair so tightly that the leather creaked.
“You can see why that knowledge is kept confidential.”
I recoiled in horror, thinking about what the scene in the Gala could have turned into.
Gideon nodded grimly, watching my reaction.
“If I hadn’t gotten out of there… If you hadn’t led my wolf to the garden and helped him suppress the effects… there’s a very good chance that you would be planning fumerals instead of a wedding next.”
I drew in a hiss of breath. The image flashed in my mind.
A dance floor covered in blood.
Couples who had maybe just found their mate, now grieving.
“I thought this was an attack on me as the unwanted Luna.” I said softly, “But that’s not it, is it?”
Gideon laughed bitterly, “Finding that all is not well in Paradise? No, this was targeted at both of us. If I had injured anyone, it would be seen as a chance to overthrow me as Alpha.”
“Has…” I paused, not wanting to ask the question, and not knowing if I should. “Have you ever hurt or… killed… someone like that… before?”
Gideon didn’t answer. I stared into his eyes and found only grief.
“Oh.” I breathed softly. “Ohh…”
Gideon lunged forward and grabbed my hand in both of his.
“I don’t want your pity, Avery. I earned my reputation. But you do need to know that there are minefields here that you will need to be more careful about walking into.” His grip was merciless.
“But, there’s no way I could have known about this!” I cried out, “I am sorry it happened, but maybe if you didn’t keep so many secrets from me, then I would be in a better position to help!”
Gideon flung my hand away in disgust, “There it is. You want me to trust you, but since you arrived you have been nothing but wishy-washy, uncommitted, insincere.”
I chafed at that description and rose to my feet with a hmph.
“If you weren’t so busy all the time, I would have more chances to earn your trust and get to know you!” I fired back, “But you’re always off, hunting down some other woman who may or may not exist, and I’m just here to fill the gaps! How can I trust you in return?!”
Gideon rose to his full height in a fluid motion. I stepped back as he stalked towards me. My back bumped into the door.
“Do you think the duties of Alpha leave time for me to take long winding walks and talk about my feelings with you?” he laughed coldly, “I’m still not sure…”
He paused, staring into my face.
“Sure about what?” I reiterated.
Gideon sighed and rubbed his face, then swept his hand in a gesture that took in my fancy dress, “Not sure that you’re not just some dangerous decoy sent to distract me from my duties!”
I laughed out loud, but he only frowned harder.
“Sent by who??” I cackled, “No one in Silvermoon gave a crap about me! They were all to happy to sell me off to you and hope you killed me so they didn’t have to! I’m no one!”
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