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“Averycan’tstand me, and therefore she must hate our unborn child too!” Dierdra continued, reaching out towards Gideon’s arm and clinging desperately to his shirt sleeve, “You must see that if she’s tried to harm me more than once, she would not pause to harm our child as well?” 61

The accusation stung at me, and righteous indignation bubbled up in my chest. I knew that I was already the lowestofthe low in Gideon’s estimation right now, and that I should really keep my mouth shut,but what Dierdra was saying was horrifying.

Gideon had to know that I would never harm a child! Not his, nor anyone elses!

“I would nev-,” I started to protest, but Gideon made a threatening step towards me and I snapped my

mouth shut.

“I do not want to hear a word you say,” he said, staring down at me coldly.

Behind his back, Dierdra’s expression grew triumphant, but when he turned back towards her, she reassumed her tragic mien.

“Gideon, I am your true mate,” she started over again, still trying to convince him to change his mind, “Ifyouwill not defend and protect your family, who can we depend on? Think of how this will look to the rest of the pack!”

“I have heard enough,” Gideon said, his body language still tense, though his voice remained calm, “The pack will accept whatever I say they must accept. I am their Alpha as much as I am yours. That does not change for my mate or my family.”

Dierdra opened her mouth but shut up when Gideon pointed at me.

“Avery Nightwolf,” he said, in that voice that made it sound like we were standing in front of the whole pack, not just the three of us and the doctor. His words had the timbre and resonance of a mighty bell,tollingoutmyfate.

I raised my eyesintrepidation, trying to quiet the trembling that was intermittently coursing through mybody.

“A feral wolf is a danger to the whole pack,” Gideon frowned at me, his handsomefacefull of disappointment and anger, “While you did not fully cross that line, youarerunning along its edge, and you must knowthatifyou fall, I will be waiting. My punishment will be swift, and deadly.” 1

Lookingintothose icy eyes,Ifully believed him. He was issuing a dire warning,thatIneeded to be morecareful,becausethenexttime he would havezerolenience. He would snap myneck, and feelcompletelyjustifiedfor doing so.

“Isthatit?”Dierdra snapped, “She almost kills meandourchildandshegetsaslaponthewrist?”Herbeautifulfaceonce more was splotchy with rage.Iwondered how shedaredtoraisehervoicetoGideoninsuch astate.Icouldnever.

“Shewill be punished,”Gideon saidgravely,“AttheLuna’sdiscretion,” here he nodded to Dierdra, “She

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will be given the unwanted chores and tasksthatusually fall to the lowest members of ourpack.”

Myheartsank. I was grateful not to be executed or exiled, but I had no doubt in my mind that Dierdra would try andusethis punishment as a way to make me even weaker. I still was recovering from my wounds, and this would make me fall even further behind in healing.

Dierdra sniffed, “Very well, you are Alpha and I will follow your words,” she said. I narrowed my eyes at her, she never backed down without a fight.

“But I have one more requirement,”she said, and I knew what was coming before she even finished her

sentence.

“She must wait on me as well, for the duration of my pregnancy.”

“Are you sure that’s wise?” Gideon asked, “You just said that you do not trust hernotto try and hurtyouagain.”

“All the more reason to keep her close, my love,” Dierdra glared at me, “I will make sure she regrets the day she tried to lay a hand on either of us.”

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