Chapter 338
“I think I have to, Sebastian.”
Sebastian was quiet for a moment. He sat back in his chair and looked at the fire.
“Well,” he said after a pause, “for what it’s worth, I don’t think you have as much to worry about as you think. Whatever Gideon was ten years ago, he’s not that anymore. He’s not well, Avery. He hasn’t been for a long time. Half his pack has given up on him. He’s a man who can’t hold himself together and therefore can’t pose much of a threat to anyone. Not even you.”
Sebastian’s words were probably meant to set me at ease, but they only sent a pang through my chest that I didn’t expect. To think that Gideon had been searching for me all this time, running himself ragged, risking his pack, all because he refused to believe that I was truly dead…
It was a sweet sentiment.
But it didn’t change the fact that I knew he was just searching for me so he could get his heir.
“I can’t stay.” I looked at him. “I’m sorry.”
Sebastian held my gaze for a moment. Then he nodded once, accepting it, although I could tell that he wasn’t particularly thrilled about it. He stood and extended his hand to me. I took it, letting him pull me to my feet.
“At least stay the night,” he said, glancing at his watch. “It’s late. You’ll be safe here, and I’ll have one of my men follow you back to the human border tomorrow, so you won’t be unprotected.”
“Thank you,” I said. I really was tired; so it was probably best to get some sleep before I made the hours-long drive.
With that, Sebastian crossed toward the door, then paused with his hand on the frame and looked back. “If you change your mind,” he said, “just know that my offer won’t ever expire.”
I smiled despite everything. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
He left, pulling the door softly shut behind him.
I sat there for a while after he was gone, just staring at the fire. My hands throbbed under the bandages. The house had gone quiet around me, the last of the event sounds having faded out. Through the window, the grounds were dark and still.
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Chapter 336
+25 Bonus
Returning to the packs would have been good for Bjorn. I knew that. I had known it sitting in my kitchen the night I finally agreed to come here, and I knew it now. Sebastian’s pack was warm and well-run, and his wolves were healthy and looked after each other, and the life Bjorn wanted so badly was all right here.
But Gideon was right here too, as it turned out. Or close enough.
I stood and went to bed.
Back in my room, I turned on the shower and pulled my phone out of my purse while I was waiting for the water to heat up. My brows shot up when I saw that my mother had called me several times during the party, and had left a voicemail.
My pulse spiked. I quickly tapped on the voicemail and held the phone to my ear, biting my lip as I listened to her voice.
“Avery, it’s Mom. Call me back as soon as you get this. Something happened with Bjorn. He- I don’t know how to explain it. He shifted out of nowhere. He was completely out of control, and I tried to calm him down but he-”
There was a shaky breath on the line.
“He bit me,” she said. Her voice trembled like she was holding back tears. “And then he bolted out the back door and I can’t find him anywhere. He’s gone, Avery. He’s
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