The Heartless Alpha's Beloved Luna Novel

---- Chapter 368 Avery's POV As soon as Fiona and Gideon were gone, | released my grip on Sebastian's arm and slipped the ring off my finger. "I'm so sorry, Sebastian." My face was aflame from what | had just done. | handed him the ring. "I didn't mean to blindside you like that. | sort of panicked and did the first thing | could think of." Sebastian didn't take the ring. "It's okay. I'm glad you did it," he replied. | looked up at him. "You are?" He nodded, gently taking my fingers and curling them around the ring. "I made that offer last night because | wanted to help you.

You're welcome to take me up on it whenever you need or want." The tips of his ears reddened faintly. "Besides, the ring suits you. Keep it." | didn't know what to say to that, but | did appreciate his generosity. Sebastian had already done so much for me and Bjorn; he'd taken us in, let us live in his house rent-free, and had protected us from Gideon. It was so much more than | ever expected or deserved. ---- "Well," | said, finally finding my voice, "thank you, Sebastian. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad for us to keep up the charade. Just until Fiona and Gideon are married and mated.

Then |'ll get out of your hair." "If that's what you think is best," Sebastian said. Pausing, he then added, "By the way, how about we go out tonight? | know a good place." 1 "Oh, | don't know if that's-" "If we're seen there together, it'll make it more believable," he clarified. "Besides, | could really use a drink. | was planning on going anyway." | hesitated, considering his offer. Now that | thought of it, | had been awfully cooped up lately, always lamenting about some thing or another. Hell, I'd been stressed for ten straight years, and had more than a few gray hairs to show for it.

Finally, | nodded. "Okay. Let's go." Sebastian smiled. "Perfect. We'll head out at eight." With that, we parted ways. | spent the rest of the afternoon with Bjorn, and when it came time to get ready, | took a hot shower, then put on a sleek pair of trousers and a button-down. | pulled my hair back into a neat bun and threw on a pair of loafers, then headed out of my room. ---- "Where are you going dressed like that?" | turned at the sound of the female voice. A woman was walking my way; she wore a long, flowy skirt and a bandeau top.

Her hair was loose around her shoulders and she looked sunkissed, like she had spent all day outside. It took me a moment, but | realized that | recognized her from the night of the banquet. She was the woman | had talked to when Sebastian and Gideon were sparring "Sebastian and | are going out for a drink," | said. The woman stopped in front of me and looked me up and down. Her gaze was discerning but not cruel, although it made me shift a little on my feet. "Is he taking you to The Splendor?" she asked. "I'm... not sure." "That must be it.

He always goes there." She grabbed my hand, already pulling me down the hall. "You look great, but this outfit won't do for a place like that. It's the fanciest VIP lounge in the territories. No offense, but you'll stick out like a sore thumb." Well, some offense taken. But her smile was so kind that | couldn't really be mad about it. She led me down the corridor, then to a room I'd never noticed before. There were a lot of ---- those, actually. "You can borrow one of my old dresses," she said, opening the door to reveal a rather large, well-appointed suite.

It was clean, but it didn't seem like it had been used in a long time. "I don't use this stuff anymore." As the woman walked into the closet, rifling through the racks, | stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. It smelled faintly of old perfume and had all of the markings of a female resident. "Is this your room?" | asked. "Used to be," she replied. "Not anymore. | have a cottage now." She emerged from the closet holding a crimson mini dress on a hanger, which she held out to me. "Here. | think this would suit you really well." | stared at the dress for a moment.

It was revealing, far more so than what | usually wore. Ever since | had Bjorn, | had stopped dressing sexy and had pretty much only worn pantsuits in the human lands. | wasn't exactly known for being chic even there, but my clothes were always expensive and got plenty of compliments. This, on the other hand... The woman noticed my hesitation and laughed, the sound like tinkling bells. She then shoved the dress into my hands rather ---- unceremoniously and began pushing me toward the adjoined bathroom. "You'll look great," she said, already shutting the door behind me.

"Trust me." Once | was alone, | sighed and got to work. | stripped off my current outfit and slipped the dress on, zipping it up the side. Admittedly, it fit perfectly. And when | turned to look in the mirror, my breath caught. The dress hugged my curves like it was made for me, and the amount of thigh it showed was sexy yet classy at the same time. The plunging neckline showed off my chest in just the right way, and it was backless, which was always a plus. For a moment, | just stood there, admiring myself in the mirror.

| reached up and pulled the elastic out of my hair, letting it fall around my shoulders. 1 | looked... younger. Happier. Like the version of myself that had briefly existed before everything changed | had grown so used to my practical, expensive human clothes that I'd almost forgotten what it was like to wear something that werewolf women liked. I'd also forgotten why werewolf women liked these things, but I certainly remembered nov; it was feminine and empowering, like owning my sexuality in a way | hadn't in the past ten years.

---- It still felt like a bit much just for a drink or two, but for the first time in a long time, | truly felt like myself. 1 "You have good taste," | said, emerging from the bathroom. There was no response. The woman was gone, and | hadn't even gotten her name. | decided | would have to thank her another time. | also figured that she wouldn't mind if | raided her closet a little more, so | found a pair of heels and a clutch that matched the dress. Then, | was ready. | headed downstairs, where Sebastian was waiting for me by the door.

When he saw me, he pushed away from the wall where he'd been leaning, taking his hands out of his pockets. His eyes scanned me from head to toe, not lasciviously, but with an appreciation that made my heart stutter a little. + "You look..." His voice trailed off, as if he either couldn't find the words or was restraining himself. Instead, he held out his arm, and | took it, letting him lead me out to the car.