I admit, I was morbidly curious what he had gotten up to after we’d parted in the woods, but I highly dou he’d tell me. So we rode in silence.
“Avery.” His voice rumbled over the sound of the tires on the road.
I glanced up at him.
“Come here.” He patted the seat next to him.
I hesitated. In his current mood, I didn’t want to be any closer to Gideon than I had to be.
“Come here.”
I blinked and I was sitting on the seat next to him. Woah.
I had heard Gideon’s command voice before, but he hadn’t just commanded me, he had overridden every rational thought between me and doing what he wanted.
I gaped at him.
“Well. Here I am.” It came out in a squeak instead of the sassy tone I intended.
My thigh was pressed against Gideon’s, and I became increasingly aware of the heat of him on this side of the vehicle. If before he had smelled like a thunderstorm, now he felt like a wildfire.
What was going on with me? I hadn’t felt nearly this overwhelmed when in his presence before.
“Whatever you’re doing, can you tone it down a bit?” I gasped, “I’m burning up.”
He gave me a strange look.
“What does Ryan have on you that makes you so interested?” He questioned me.
“Nothing! He’s a piece of shit!” I said indignantly.
Gideon took a slow breath, as though he was willing himself into patience.
“Then what else is it?” He demanded, “Every time I turn around you’re running back to him.”
“I’m not running back to him!” I glared, “He’s coming after me! Aren’t you being a bit hypocritical?” I trailed off.
I hadn’t meant to say that much. Was Gideon using his alpha powers to lower my shields?
I hissed and scooted away, putting a few inches of space between us. The intense heat diminished somewhat, but I still felt flushed and warm.
“What do you mean?” Gideon interrogated.
“Nevermind.” I turned and looked out the window. I felt the seat dip between us. When I turned back, I nearly screamed.
Gideon was right next to me again, his handsome face inches from mine, and he didn’t look happy.
“Explain.” he grated out between clenched teeth.
“Uh…” I stammered. Why did he have to be all up in my space? “Ok. Why did you want to come to Silvermoon today?”
Gideon exhaled slowly, but indulged the question “Because there are rogue cells embedded in the forest around your pack’s territory that they are refusing to do anything about.”
“…oh.” I said, voice small. “So it wasn’t about finding your missing mate?”
Gideon was silent again.
So it was partially about that! Aha!
I stared up at him from under my lashes coolly. His eyebrows were drawn tight over his glare.
“You are mine.” he snapped finally. “It’s not negotiable.”
I was startled at the words, and more so at the passion underneath them. Since when did Gideon care so much about what happened to me?
“Why?” I asked, astonished. “Why me?”
“As Alpha, I must fulfill tradition.” I watched the muscles in Gideon’s jaw clench and unclench as he ground the words out.
His words reminded me of what my mother had said during my visit.
“Not all traditions still have purpose.” I said, gently. “Maybe it’s time for this one to end.”
“That,” Gideon grated, “is not an option.”
“Why not?” I said loudly, “What purpose does it serve anymore?”
To my knowledge, the bond between Silvermoon and Nightwolf had only been exacerbated by their contact. If the tradition stopped, that friction might stop as well.
Gideon didn’t answer. I tried another angle.
Gently I placed my hand on his where it rested on his leg.
He froze.
Under my fingertips, I could feel the pulse in his wrist beating strongly.
“Gideon, I know that you are a good Alpha. That won’t change, no matter how many traditions are broken.” pleaded truthfully. “Anyone who judges you for that is missing the point.”
He shook his head slowly.
“I’ll do some research!” I continued, ignoring his disapproval “There’s got to be another way to fulfill tradition that doesn’t end in both of us being miserable together.”
“Is that what I make you? Miserable?” Gideon asked coldly.
“N-n-no… That’s not what I meant.” I floundered, “But what future do we really have together as Luna and Alpha if we aren’t mates?….not that I’m saying I want to be your mate, just…” Fuck.
My lame protestations fell off into nothing.
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