The Heartless Alpha's Beloved Luna Novel

---- Chapter 191 He looked back at the doorway, as though double-checking that we were alone, and then leaned closer conspiratorially. "T understand that there may be things that you may feel you cannot divulge to me. But we are friends, are we not?" His eyes searched my face earnestly, "Still, I will not ask you to tell me secrets that would compromise you. All I ask is that you nod if I say something that you know to be true. Can you do that?" I stared at him in bafflement, but slowly nodded. "T have heard stories, that is to say, there have long been rumors about your Alpha...

Rumors of a bloodline that is not strictly wolf, but rather something darker," His eyebrows drew together over his handsome face, "It's not as much a secret as some would like, and I understand their reasons why, but can you confirm that Gideon Nightwolf carries a taint in his blood that can cause him to behave not as a man, nor as a wolf, but as something even more deadly?" Astonishment washed over me. Was Reynaud talking about the curse on the Nightwolf bloodline? The reason why every third generation they were required to temper their lineage with Silvermoon pack brides?

The bloodline taint was what had caused Gideon to enter berserk mode when he was little more than a teenager, and take the lives of his best friend and his brother's mate. It was the source of his greatest shame and his fearsome reputation. ---- When someone carrying the blood-taint was exposed to certain triggers, their wolf rose to the forefront with devastating consequences. Uncontrollable rage, and a desire that could only be sated by blood, consumed the werewolf utterly. They would indiscriminately kill any and all in their path.

But that secret was kept tightly controlled by Nightwolf pack. It was a massive weakness that they had fought for generations to keep others from discovering. I had only learned of it after Jessica had tricked a young wolf named Madelyn into putting Angelica flowers near Gideon to try and get him to enter that killing frenzy and frame me for it. After that incident, Gideon had been forced to tell me about the curse. It was part of why the alliance between Nightwolf and Silvermoon packs, my home pack, was so important.

Children born from that union would still carry the berserker genes, but it would be repressed for two generations. I didn't know exactly how Reynaud had learned it, but it was obvious that he had heard something. Should I now confirm his suspicions? Beneath my fingertips I felt the smooth grooves of the scar tissue on my body. The wounds that my Alpha should have protected me from but hadn't. Slowly, I raised my eyes and met Reynaud's piercing gaze and nodded.

2 "Thank you," Reynaud breathed, he stepped closer and placed his hands on my shoulders, staring down at me as though I had ---- just given him a great gift, "I know it can't be easy to share information about the pack that took you in, but I assure you I only have your best interests at heart. After all, look what they have done to you..." His hands brushed down my arms and made the small hairs on my skin stand up. Despite the warmth of his touch, I shivered.

"Listen, Avery," Reynaud's demeanor grew serious, "If you're willing to help me, I have a proposal for you that might alleviate your situation. I can get you out of there." I shook my head, biting my lip, "I can't." Yes, you can!" Reynaud insisted, "You deserve better than this, surely you can see that?" I tilted my head to look up at his handsome, intense expression. "He knows where the Rogue King is keeping my mother," I confessed, Until I can rescue her, I have to do what he says." Reynaud's expression grew severe, "Your mother has been taken?" Tnodded.

"Oh Avery," Reynaud's eyes widened with sympathy, "That must be so hard for you." Icouldn't tell if he was being sincere, but just having someone express sympathy for my situation was so unexpected that I felt tears gathering in my eyes. ---- Reynaud's voice was gentle as he reached out to wipe a tear away as it ran down my cheek. "T am here to help. I just need one thing from you in exchange..."