The Heartless Alpha's Beloved Luna Novel

---- It was the first dance we'd shared that wasn't interrupted by drama. I whirled across the floor wrapped in Gideon's strong arms, seeing other women, and men, stare at us with envy, and felt as though maybe, just maybe, I was finally doing something right in my life. As the music wound down, Gideon stepped back and looked down at me solemnly. "{need to talk to you." he said, and I felt my heart flutter nervously. What was there to talk about? Gideon took my hand and led me out into the gardens behind the Council Estate. As he pulled me along, I felt trepidation filling me.

I had been having a nice time, despite the intensity of the day, and now it felt like something was bound to come along and ruin it. So when Gideon paused beneath a bower laden with night- blooming jasmine, I felt my heart thudding in my ears as I looked up at him. "Thave been working on a plan," Gideon said, looking at me seriously, "to rescue your mother." Shock coursed through me as he went on to explain that he expected that the operation he had put in motion would soon be successful. I could barely focus on his words. The feelings boiling up within me were intense.

---- Gratitude that he was continuing to work on something that meant so much to me. Relief that perhaps this meant I didn't need to work on my own independent rescue after all. A great easing of the weight on my heart. "Oh my goodness," a heartfelt sob tore its way out of my throat. I couldn't help myself. I threw my arms around Gideon and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you," I cried, my face pressed tightly into his suitcoat, " You have no idea how much this means to me." "Well," Gideon said drily, looking down at me with mild amusement, "I suppose I have some idea now." Tlet out a laugh, choked by tears, and stumbled backwards, embarrassed at my own display of emotion. "Pm sorry, it's just... It's been a long day and you caught me off guard. I thought you were going to tell me something terrible and I... I just can't take any more bad news right now," I spoke haltingly, trying to get my waterworks under control.

Thankfully, Gideon handled my embarrassment gracefully. He held out his arm to me once more and said, "Shall we take a walk?" The last of my tears dried on my cheeks as we strolled down the garden paths. Night had fallen, and there was the croaking of frogs in the ornamental ponds, and the occasional bass hoot of a great horned owl deep in the nearby forest. It was peaceful, and I felt that peace settling into my bones. ---- Gideon, too, appeared to be in a more low-energy state as we wandered aimlessly, enjoying the gardens.

His arm beneath mine was sturdy, and he matched my pace as we walked. Finally, he broke our companionable silence, "Reynaud intentionally tried to strike at the things he knew would bother me the most," he said quietly, as though we were resuming an earlier conversation, "He knew enough about my past to know that losing control of my wolf would be upsetting to me..." I didn't say anything. It felt as though Gideon needed to get this off his chest, and I wanted to give him the space and silence to do so.

"He also knew that taking you away from me would hurt me as well." His words fell into the space between us and rippled outwards, sending shockwaves through me. Was it true? Not only that Reynaud would try and hurt Gideon in this way, but that it was even possible that my absence could have such an emotional impact? I stared at Gideon in shock. I didn't know what to say. "Well, I'm sure he knew that the loss of any Alpha's Luna would strike a nerve," I gave a low laugh, downplaying the admission. "{t's more than that," Gideon stopped walking and turned to face me.

His hand lingered under mine, and he stared down at me with a fervent and intense expression that made butterflies flutter in my stomach, "He knew what you meant... to me..." he ---- seemed to be having trouble finding the right words. Finally he lapsed into silence, though he continued to stare at me with an unguarded expression that kindled flames deep in my core. Suddenly, in the back of my mind, I felt the vivid presence of my wolf, staring back at Gideon through my eyes. I heard the passionate and fierce rumble of her voice in my mind. "He is our mate." 2