ULTIMATUM (Rising Moon Book 3) by MJ Riley

Author:MJ Riley [Riley, MJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-05-25T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Ava didn’t think she’d ever seen Caleb this shaken. Despite the fact that Gabriel was locked up in a cell – that he could do no further harm – the fact that he’d told Elliot Perrioche every private detail of Caleb’s past had a profound effect upon the man.

He became distant – spoke substantially less to his advisors and the entirety of his pack – and where Ava had felt before that she shouldn’t spend too much time with him in fear of offending Jackson’s memory, she now realized that she’d made a grave error.

She’d been frightened that being with Caleb meant that she hadn’t loved Jackson – that being with the Alpha somehow defamed the relationship she’d had with the auburn-haired wolf. Upon further contemplation, Ava realized that wasn’t the case.

She had always loved Jackson – in her own way. He’d been her friend and confidante, attempting to do the best he possibly could for her while he’d been alive. She had memories of him that she would always treasure…and when she thought about it, she realized that while he had been alone, she had been with him.

She and the café had been some semblance of family for Jackson while he was living.

It was all right to mourn, but to worry that he could be affronted? Ultimately, if he was alive, Ava knew that if she chose Caleb, Jackson would have come to terms with it. Things between them would have been awkward – strained for months, perhaps even years. But just as they had softened with the discovery of his true nature, time would have healed those wounds as well.

Caleb needed her no less than he had before – in fact, he needed her more – and Ava’s emotional state had led her to neglect him when he needed her most. He’d been sitting with Gabriel day after day, pouring out his past with no one there to support him – and now, this. What Caleb would consider to be the ultimate betrayal.

His shame laid bare before a man he had not the slightest amount of respect for – a man who could have prevented it, but didn’t. A man who called the slaughter of almost a hundred people in cold blood simply “a loss”.

She couldn’t even fathom what he must feel.

Ava had always loved Jackson. His memory would always be alive within her.

She didn’t think Jackson would approve of her allowing Caleb to lose himself to shame and grief that had almost consumed him upon a number of occasions. He wasn’t that heartless – whatever rivalry had been between him and Caleb aside.

And so, Ava stayed by Caleb’s side.

For the first twenty-four hours after Gabriel had been taken away from her, he didn’t speak. He merely sat in his quarters, staring at the wall, like a column of solemn rock. His expression was like stone, and only when he shifted did Ava notice how much he trembled.

She sat next to him on the bed, ultimately wrapping her arms around him for comfort, and still, he was stiff in her embrace.

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