Gideon's POV
I raised Avery's chin. She was streaked with mud and dirt, and she smelled of fresh air and growing things.
I stared at the line where the graceful curve of her neck met her shoulder. It was beautiful… but disappointingly unmarked.
I inhaled slowly, and chose my words carefully, the way one would with a disobedient pup.
"In the Pack, hierarchy is what keeps us alive. There are always wolves watching and listening."
The image of her holding Ian's hand at the end of the garden row kept swimming to the front of my mind and I bit my words off more sharply than I intended.
"Stop. Speaking. Back. I won't always let you get away with it."
Avery stared at me with eyes that flashed like coins. Her jaw was clenched tight, and I could tell she wanted to argue. Her stubborn expr
