dy’s POV
I was standing in the presence of Gavin’s mother. Donna Landry.
She stared at me with such dismay that I stood there with unease bubbling in my belly. Daisy stood beside her with her arms folded across her chest and a smug smile on her lips. The last thing I wanted right now was to have this altercation with them, especially while I was out to dinner with my family, in celebration of my father coming home.
“So, you’re the hussy living in my son’s mansion,” she said bluntly, her eyes scanned me from head to toe and I felt my cheeks burning as I stared back at her.
The hussy living in her son’s mansion?
“I… I’m sorry?” I asked, hating that I stammered, but I was genuinely confused. I had never met this woman a day in my life. How could she call me a hussy without even knowing me?
My eyes flickered to Daisy who was now smirking as if she knew a dirty little secret.
“Are you the reason my Gavin refused to marry Daisy?” She asked, narrowing her eyes at me and drawing my attention back to her very displeased and stern face.
I opened my mouth to speak, but she spoke again, silencing me.
“Doesn’t matter,” she said, holding up her hand. “Soon enough, my son will come to his senses. You aren’t anything to him so there’s no need for me to worry. He tells me everything and he didn’t even bother to tell me about you, which leads me to believe that you are nobody important.”
My chest tightened at her words. I didn’t want to feel disappointed, but I did. Daisy could see it too and this only made her smirk grow more. Without another word, his mother pushed passed me and back to her table, Daisy stayed behind for a minute, her eyes never leaving mine.
“I’ve been a part of this family for a long time. I’ve been waiting for my chance with Gavin since he married my stupid sister. I’m not letting anyone…including you… stand in my way,” she hissed, and then she too pushed past me and back towards her table.
asma
In
I felt numb as made my way to the bathroom. As soon as I was in the closed compacity of the restroom tears spitted down my cheeks. L hated that I was showing this kind of weakness. I hated that I was hurt over the things someone I didn’t even know said. I knew I needed to speak to Gavin, but what was I supposed to tell him? That his mother cornered me in the restaurant, and she couldn’t stand me? That I stood no chance with him because I was nothing
compared to their family? That he’s supposed to be with Daisy and not with me?
Would he believe them?
Did it even matter? It’s not like we were in an actual relationship, and yet, it felt
like we were.
I hated the effect this was having on me. I had my own issues and my own life needed to focus my
attention on. I walked over to then et
mirro groaning when I saw my face. It was obvious that I’d been crying. I turned on the faucet and splashed some cold water onto my face. I needed to make it look like I was completely fine or else my parents would ask questions; questions that I didn’t want to answer. noveldrama
Once I was decent, I took a deep breath and rejoined my parents at the table. By the time I returned to the table, our food had already arrived My parents were the kind who wouldn’t eat unless everybody was seated and ready to eat. They both smiled at me with their hands
neatly on their laps as I took my seat.
“Sorry,” I said, giving them both a small smile. “Didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”noveldrama
“Is everything okay?” My mother asked, her eyes shining with concern.
I smiled, though it was forced.
“Yes,” I told her. “There was a long line for the bathroom.”
I hated lying to her, but I didn’t want her to know that I had an altercation with a Landry. My mother didn’t look as if she bought the lie though and studied me for a long while before she nodded and leaned back in her seat.
“We should eat before our food gets cold,” my father said, as he picked up his fork.
I nodded in agreement.
We ate in a comfortable silence, until a commotion took root on the other side of the restaurant, drawing in everyone’s attention.
Third Person POV
Nan had no idea what she was doing. If it weren’t for Judy convincing her all night, she probably would have told Chester no. But here she was preparing to go on her first official date with him.
She stood in her small apartment, staring at herself in the mirror, her heart in her throat. She wore a casual dress that hugged her frame perfectly and made her boobs look great. She ran her fingers through her short hair and looked into her blue eyes. She just finished giving herself a pep-talk when she heard a knock on her door.
It was a showtime.
She made her way through her living room and pulled the door open, her breath hitching when she saw Chester standing in front of her. He looked so handsome in his suit and his hair neatly done. He gave her a warm smile when he saw her and it made her heart melt on the spot.
“Wow…” Chester said, looking at her appreciatively. “You look beautiful.”
Nan blushed at the compliment and stared at the ground.
“Thanks.”
He nodded, his eyes scanning her body momentarily before he lifted his eyes to hers.
“Are you ready? I made a reservation at this new restaurant in the city.”
Nan nodded and grabbed her purse before leaving her apartment. She felt awkward, but during the car ride, neither of them spoke for a long while.
Once they got to the restaurant, things didn’t seem to get much better. Nan still felt a bit awkward, unsure of what to say to him.
The Whimsical Whisk was a
restaurant owned by Carter, Gavin’s Delta, right down the street from Carter’s resort, where Nan worked for years as a waitress. Her goal is to one day be a chef, ironically like her mate. She isn’t even sure if Chester knows that fact about her, and yet, she still can’t come up with something to say to him without it sounding lame.
“Thank you for agreeing to this date,” Chester said, his tone filled with sincerity, and maybe a hint of something else.
Nan nodded.
“I’ve been wanting to try this place out for some time now,” she admitted, taking a sip of the wine that the waiter had just placed in front of her.
Chester nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, me too,” he said softly. He found it hard to look away from Nan, whereas Nan had difficulties looking at Chester, both for similar reasons. Their mate bond was pulling one another in, and it scared them both.
Chester had never committed to anyone in his life and Nan was having trust issues when it came to him. She didn’t want to put her entire heart and soul into something that would ultimately fall apart. She tried to keep her walls up, and though Chester was afraid of the commitment, he wanted to tear her walls down. He wanted to get to know his mate… really get to know her.
Not before long the waiter was returning to take their orders; Chester let Nan order first and he sat back, listening to her detailed explanation of how she’d like her stuffed porkchop cooked and prepared.
By the time she finished, the waiter had filled out his entire notepad and was red in the face. He flipped to a new page and said with gritted teeth, “And what may I get for you?”
Chester grinned and pretty much did the same exact thing, only with a different dish.
The waiter pretty much grumbled as he walked away, majorly annoyed by them. Chester let out a hearty laugh as he looked at Nan, awe written all over his face.
“That was impressive,” he told her, still laughing. “Not many know exactly how they want their food prepared like that.”
Nan shrugged, biting back a smile herself, her cheeks feeling oddly warm.
“Habit, I guess,” she said softly, staring down at her wine glass. “Thanks for backing me up. I was worried he would hate me for the rest of the evening, but now it seems he’ll hate us both.”
Chester laughed again and Nan found herself liking the sound.
“What do you do for work?” Chester suddenly asked.
Nan’s face reddened even more; she was in her 20s and she felt like she hadn’t gotten all that far in life. She wasn’t a well-known chef like Chester… she felt little in comparison.
“I’m a waitress at the Carter resort,” she told him softly, taking another isp of her wine.
“No, shit?” Chester asked, raising his brows. “That explains why you know how you want your food prepared. That’s a pretty elegant place. Patrick Carter keeps a tight ship.”
Nan nodded as she thought about her boss; Delta Carter was a hard ass, but a fair man. He gave Nan the raises she’d asked for over the years and even complimented her skills. He travels a lot and always trusts Nan to keep charge of things while he’s gone.
“Patrick is actually a friend of mine,” Chester said, his eyes studying Nan. “So, if he ever gives you problems, let me know. I’ll kick his ass.”
Nan bit back another smile.
“He’s actually a pretty good boss,” she admitted.
He nodded thoughtfully.
“I’m glad to hear that. How long have you worked for him?”
“5 years,” she admitted sheepishly.
He looked surprised.
“Wow, he doesn’t usually keep employees that long…” he said, tilting his head at her. “You must be really special.” There was a twinge of jealousy behind his words that
Nan noticed, and it made heccheeks
burn.
“I wouldn’t say that,” she said quickly.
Not before long their food was served. The waiter gave them both dismissive looks as he asked them if
there was anything more they needed. They asked for more wine and the waiter went off to grab them for them.
Chester laughed as he grabbed his fork.noveldrama
“He’s going to be bitching about us all night,” he said with a grin.
Nan snorted without meaning to; her cheeks burned from the sound. It made Chester grin even more; he found that to be the cutest sound he’d ever heard.
The waiter soon returned with their wine and then left without another word, making them both suppress laughter as they started to eat their food.
Nan took small bites, noting each of the seasonings she could taste. She was impressed with the use of Tyme, paired with other seasonings that typically wouldn’t work together, but in this case, it did.
She had a bad habit of noting the different seasonings in dishes she ate without realizing she was doing it. She didn’t even know she was doing out loud until she noticed Chester staring at her with wide eyes.
Before he could say anything, he noted someone approaching them behind Nan
and his eyes darkened.
“What the fuck…” he whispered.
Judy’s POV
“Well, isn’t this cozy,” Harper said loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear. My eyes immediately went in that direction, as did everyone else’s. My eyes grew large when I saw Nan tensing at the table with Chester seated in front of her.
My heart hammered in my chest.
I knew Nan and Chester were going on a date tonight; I was part of the reason why Nan agreed to go out with him so easily. I didn’t know they would be at this restaurant though and I certainly wasn’t thinking Harper would show up and ruin everything for them.
“Harper, what are you doing here?” Chester asked, his tone was low and dangerous. I had never heard Chester sounding quite so pissed off before. He was typically a happy and carefree guy, but in this case, he sounded royally furious.
“What am I doing here? What the fuck are you doing here? I barely see you in the last 2 weeks and now I find out on a date with another woman??” Harper growled; her arms folded across her chest.
I raised my brows at her words; she knew that Chester had found his mate and Chester made it clear to Harper that they were not together. Chester had made it clear to her that they were not together. So, I wasn’t sure what she was talking about. I could see the horror on Nan’s face all the way from the other side of the restaurant and my heart shattered for her.
“I ended things with you weeks ago,” Chester reminded her. “Who I am going out with isn’t your concern. It never has been… you were just a warm body to fuck, that was it.”
His tone was cruel, and it was meant to make Nan feel better about his past relationship with Harper. Even I knew he was trying to make it sound like his relationship with Harper was nothing more than sex. But it had the opposite effect on Nan; I watched her face redden and she was trying hard to keep the tears from pouring out of her eyes, though it was obvious she wanted to cry. Chester didn’t seem to notice though because he was too busy telling Harper off.
“We’ve broken up before and we always get back together. Chester, I love you. I choose you as my mate, when are you finally going to open your eyes and choose me too?” Harper asked desperation in her tone.
My eyes never left Nan’s reddening face; she flinched at Harper’s words and many around them gasped.
“I will never choose you as my mate, Harper,” Chester growled, his was at his white end and I could tell he was pissed and desperate to get her away. “When will you get that through your head??”
“It isn’t fair,” Harper cried. “Why her? I know she’s your mate, but I have been with you for years. I stood by you when your mother died…I was there when you graduated culinary school. I helped you get the job at the Landry Mansion. I stood by you with every woman you brought home and fucked, and I barely even batted an eye because I knew at the end of the day, it was me you always returned to. Even after you met your mate, and went on a date with another woman, you still fucked me that night.”
Nan was flinching with each word spoken, but Chester was too wrapped up in his argument to notice how much pain she was in. She was desperate to find an escape out.
“Is that Nan?” My mother asked, finally noticing the girl at the table with Chester. “Yeah,” I whisper. “She found her mate.”
“Oh, that poor girl,” my mother whispered. “Finding her mate and then having this happen.”
I nodded in agreement as I turned my attention back to the scene Harper was causing.
“I was the one that’s always been
there for you, Chester. You told me I
was the only one who truly
understood you,” Harper was crying, and Nan was desperate to keep herself from crying. I could practically feel her heart breaking and I hated that it was happening to her. “You told me that you could see yourself with me long term.”
“I was drunk when I said that—”
“It doesn’t matter!” Harper snapped. “Drunk words are sober thoughts spoken out loud. You meant what you said, I could see it in your eyes. You love me, Chester.”
“I don’t!” Chester snapped; his wolf was ready to take charge. “You have no idea what you are talking about!”noveldrama
“The fuck I don’t!” Harper shouted. “I know you better than anyone. Especially better than this hussy!”
Before I could grasp anything, Harper grabbed Nan’s wine glass and splashed it at Nan’s dress, making everyone gasp.
Nan shot to her feet, her eyes red with unshed tears and her face flushed with embarrassment. Even my parents gasped; my mother let out a sad sigh as she saw Nan’s distraught and broken expression.
“She doesn’t deserve you. She doesn’t know you. She could never love you the way I love you,” Harper continued, pointing her red fingernail manicure at Nan’s face. I couldn’t exactly see Chester’s face because his back was turned towards me, but I knew he was looking at Nan, he was now seeing how upset she truly was and the fact that her dress was now stained, didn’t help matters.
Nan was standing to her feet, her body trembling. I knew she was about to make a run for it.
My mother tapped the table, getting my attention.
“Go to her,” she said softly.
I glanced between her and my father.
“Are you sure? I feel bad bailing on dinner,” I told her; this was an important
celebration, and family had always come first to me.
As if reading my thoughts, my father nodded his head.
“Nan is family too,” he told me. “You should make sure she’s okay.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice; I stood up quickly and started towards their table while Nan was having an internal battle.
“You’ve crossed a line, Harper,” Chester said, his tone low and deadly; their
voices got louder as I got nearer. I could see some of the security and management making their way through the restaurant as well, wondering what the commotion was all about and ready to de-escalate the situation.
“You can’t honestly say you don’t have feelings for me, Chester. I have always been there for you… I have always loved you. You can’t deny that we have history together.”
For a moment, Chester didn’t say anything. That was a huge mistake because that was the moment Nan’s face fell, and the tears sprang free from her eyes. I was there before Chester even noticed the expression on her face.
I wrapped my arm around her, startling her. I turned her way from Chester so he wouldn’t see her face.
“Bathroom,” I told her softly. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Chester’s eyes met mine and I could
see the real reason why he hadn’t said anything; he was fighting his wolf. His wolf wanted to spring free and tear Harper apart and he was trying desperately to keep that from happening. I felt relieved knowing that was the real, but I don’t think Nan understood that as well as I did. She took his silence as him accepting Harper’s words and
agreeing with her.
That was also the reason he didn’t notice Nan’s sunken and hurt expression because he was too focused on keeping his wolf under control. Chester had an Alpha wolf, which meant they were harder to control.
“Deal with this,” I told Chester, hoping to get through to the man and not the wolf. “Or you’ll lose you forever.”
Chester’s true eyes flashed for a
moment when he finally noticed Nan and how her shoulders were
shaking She was silently crying netnoveldrama
trying to keep it so he didn’t hear, but now he could see it. A panicked look flashed through his eyes and soon, his wolf was returning, and I could see the hatred and anger he felt towards Harper.
As we passed her, I couldn’t help but whisper, “If I were you… I’d start running.”
With those words left in the air, I guided Nan away and towards the bathrooms. I ignored the screaming as I slammed the bathroom door
shut and locked it. At that ent
Nan completely fell apart. She started to sob loudly as she fell to the ground, her entire body quivering as she let out all the surpassed
feelings she’d had that evening.
I sat with her on the ground, my eyes burning with unshed tears as I watched my best friend fall apart. I hated that this was happening; I hated that Harper was making this happen. I wanted to be friends with Harper for a long time, but now… now I couldn’t seem to look at her without feeling resentment and hatred.
I grabbed my phone and brought up my text thread with Gavin.
I sent a single text, hoping it didn’t sound like he owed me anything, but I needed
this to be done.
Me: I need a favor.
Third Person POVnoveldrama
Chester stood from the chair the moment Nan was out of sight. He grabbed Harper’s hand, his nails digging into her flesh. He wasn’t one to hurt women, but when said woman hurt his mate, all logic and rules went out the window. Harper screamed as the nails of his wolf dug into the soft flesh of her wrists.
Before the security team and management could reach their table and kick them out, Chester dragged Harper out of the restaurant by force, only releasing her once they were outside and even then, he swung her so hard that she nearly fell to the ground from the force. He was growling and trying desperately to keep his Alpha wolf under control, but it was hard when his wolf was so furious. Harper went from cocky and thinking she knew everything to fearful. Her eyes were large, never having seen Chester like this before.
“Chester-”
“Don’t you FUCKING speak my name,” he growled, his human mind nowhere to be found. He was pretty much all wolf in a human body. “You hurt my mate for the LAST TIME.”
“I was only trying to get you to see reason… I wanted to snap you out of whatever -“she tried to say, but Chester had her throat in his hands within seconds and slammed her against the building, making her howl in pain.
“DON’T YOU EVER SPEAK ABOUT MY MATE LIKE THAT AGAIN,” he growled, shaking the ground around them. “If you ever come near her again, I will
FUCKING kill you.”
Her entire body was shaking now; tears spilled out of her eyes.
“I thought-” her voice was small as she tried to speak, all her resolve fading. Chester didn’t give her a chance to finish that sentence before his grip around her throat tightened.
“DON’T FUCKING TEST ME, HARPER. COME NEAR HER AND SEE WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENS.”
Her face was going red from the lack of oxygen, she fought against his hold, but it didn’t seem his wolf wanted to release her just yet; he wanted her to suffer. No, he wanted her dead.
The realization started to snap Chester back to reality and released her neck with force, making her cough and gag as she fell to the ground. She rubbed her aching neck, her entire body trembling.
“If you even look at her the wrong way, I won’t stop my wolf from killing you” he warned and with that, he turned and stormed back towards the restaurant doors.
When he entered, the management team and the security were there already, like they were waiting for him.
The management was about to kick him out, that much was clear, but a familiar presence stopped them.
“What was that all about, Chester?” Patrick Carter asked, his brows raised. He wore a suit like he typically did, and his hair was neatly combed out of his face. “Causing a scene at my new restaurant?”
“Sorry, Patrick,” Chester said, running his fingers through his hair. “That wasn’t meant to happen. I promise she won’t be an issue anymore… nor will I. But I need to see my mate. I have to make sure she’s okay.”
The security team looked as if they were about to grab him and force him outside, but Delta Carter raised his hand to stop them and then he nodded at Chester.
“Just make sure no more scenes in my businesses,” he murmured. He then turned to his men. “Make sure that girl doesn’t come back.”
They all nodded.
“Yes, Delta,” they said before retreating from the building.
Patrick nodded at the management team.
“It’s been handled. Return to work,” he ordered.
“Yes, Delta,” the said as well, giving Chester wary looks before leaving.
Patrick sighed and looked at Chester, his expression softening.
“I’m only going to say this because you are my friend but get your head out of your ass. Should have seen the look on that poor girl’s face. She’s devastated. She’s my
need her at work tomorrow night broken. I think she’s in the bathroom with Judy Montague. Fix this.”
employee at the resort and net
Chester nodded and went straight towards the bathroom, aware that every eye in the place was on him. He grabbed the handle for the girls’ room but noticed it was locked, so he knocked.
“Come back later,” he heard Judy saying on the other end.
“It’s me,” he said, his tone low as he pressed his forehead to the door. His wolf had finally simmered down now that Harper was out of the picture and now Chester felt nothing but remorse and worry that he fucked everything up with his mate. “Please, let me in… Judy. There was desperation in his tone as he spoke, and he hated how weak and defeated he felt at that moment.
There was a long pause and then he heard the door unlatching. It opened slightly revealing Judy’s pissed off face. She stared around his face for a moment and then her eyes softened after she saw the look in his eyes.
“Welcome back,” she murmured. “You have a lot to talk about. Go easy on her…”
Judy disappeared in the bathroom for a moment longer, probably telling Nan she was leaving. Chester was too far into despair and fear to hear what was being said. But then a moment later Judy stepped out of her arms folded across
the
her chest.
“I’ll be out here in case anything happens,” she said definitely. “Don’t break her
again.”
Chester nodded, swallowing a lump in his throat as he stepped into the bathroom.
Nan was seated on the couch in the far side of the room and Chester’s eyes widened.
“Ladies have a couch in their bathroom?” Chester asked, amazed. He shut the door behind him and locked it so they wouldn’t be disturbed.
Nan didn’t bother retorting; she stared at her hands thankful that the tears finally stopped flowing so Chester didn’t see how broken she was over this whole thing. Little did she know, he could feel it.
He stepped closer to her, wanting to give her space and yet wanting to close the distance between them with a desperation he didn’t understand.
“Nan…” he finally said, his tone soft and filled with compassion. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for any of that to happen. She won’t be a problem for you anymore, you have my word.”
Nan glanced up at him and his heart broke when he saw that her eyes were red with unshed tears.
“She knew so much about you, Chester. You love her—”
“NO,” he said quickly as he stepped closer to her. “I’ve known her for a long time, that’s why she knows so much. But I don’t, nor have I ever, loved her. She was saying what she believed to be true, but it wasn’t how I felt.”noveldrama
“She’s never going to leave you alone…” Nan whispered, tears starting to spill down her cheeks.
He sat down on the couch beside her and took her face in his hands, wiping away the tears with his thumbs.
“You have my word, Nan. She won’t be a problem anymore. I’m so sorry our first date was ruined. I’m sorry this happened. But I promise you, it won’t happen again. Please, don’t hate me…”
There was desperation in his voice, and she found herself drawn to his sincerity. She closed her eyes, letting more tears fall and he wiped them each with his thumbs.
“Why does this have to be so hard?” She whispered. “I thought it’d be easy once I found my mate…”
He let out a soft chuckle.
“Yeah, I don’t think there’s anything easy about mating,” he murmured. “But I want to give this a chance… a real chance. Please, don’t close the door on us just yet.”
She sniffled and nodded her head once.
“Okay,” she whispered. “I won’t close the door.”
Relief flooded him as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. She was surprised by the gesture, but the moment her head touched his chest, she melted into him, feeling at ease for once in her life. He felt himself melting as well, loving the feel of her in his arms.
“Can we go somewhere else?” He asked. “Maybe a walk. I’m done with this place.”
She nodded, though she wanted to remain in his arms like this for a while. He wanted to keep holding her. So, they remained like that for a bit longer. Holding one another as if their lives depended on it.
Soon, he was releasing her, though he immediately grabbed her hand.
When he opened the bathroom door, Judy was on the other side of it with her arms folded across her chest.
She glanced up at Chester and then at Nan, her eyes narrowed as if asking Nan if she was okay to leave with him.
Nan nodded, answering the unspoken question and Judy’s expression softened as she stepped aside.
Chester took Nan out of the restaurant, ignoring the onlooking eyes of literally everyone in the place.
They walked around the city, holding hands and talking; really talking. Chester opened up about his family and how his mother passed away a few years ago. He talked about his Alpha father and how Chester didn’t want to take over the pack and pretty much allowed his brother to train for the position instead so Chester could pursue his dreams as a chef, which his father never approved of. He spoke about how Gavin opened up his pack to Chester and allowed him to pursue his dreams and how he got to know the Landry family. He even talked about how he got to know Harper and why she’s so obsessed with him.
He knew that the conversation was hard for Nan to hear about his relationship with Harper, but the air needed to be cleared. He needed Nan to trust him and to open herself up to him.
After Chester was done telling her his life story, they were seated at the local park, his arms draped around her shoulders and her body pulled close to his. They had fallen in a comfortable silence when Nan
finally spoke.
“I go to school with Judy when I’m not working,” she said softly. “I’m in the culinary program.”
His eyes grew large as he stared down at her.
“That’s how you knew so much about food and their seasonings…” he breathed; it
was an observation, not a question.
She nodded.
“I aspire to be a chef one day…”
His heart melted at the sound of her soft whisper and the words she spoke. He smiled down at his mate.
His mate wanted to be a chef… like him.
She looked almost embarrassed by it as she nibbled her lip. He cupped her face
in his hands and brought her gaze to meet his.
“I can help you make your dreams a reality Nan… but I need you to start trusting me. Do you think you can d
Judy’s POV
“Great job today, Matt,” I said proudly as we finished up our training for the evening. I was exhausted about ready to return home. It was the day after I went out to dinner with my family, and I hadn’t heard from Nan since last night. I was admittedly worried about her, but life had to go on.
“Thanks,” Matt said with a bright smile. “I learned a lot from watching the competition.”
I laughed and rubbed his head with my hand, ruffling his hair. We walked inside and I paused when I saw Gavin walking towards us. His expression was hard to read, but his eyes poured into me. He didn’t bother responding after I asked him for my favor last night.noveldrama
“Hi, Dad,” Matt said with a bright smile. “We just finished training. I learned new stuff from the competition and impressed Judy.”
I chuckled at his words; he wasn’t wrong.
“Nice job,” Gavin said to him, giving him an appreciative nod. “Can you give us a minute, buddy?”
Matt nodded and said goodbye to me before retreating to his room. I gazed up at Gavin, wondering what it was he wanted to talk about. He stepped closer to me, his expression suddenly softening and my heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. He brushed a strand of sweaty hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear, his fingers lingering around my cheeks for a moment longer.
When he spoke, his tone was low and thoughtful, like his words were meant for my ears alone and I felt a warmth spread throughout my body.
“Mind to tell me why I just fired one of my most trusted maids?”
My heart stuttered at his words. I gawked at him; he was serious.
“You fired her?” I asked, already knowing he was talking about Harper. He raised his brows.
“You asked me to,” he reminded me.
I nodded and nibbled on my lower lip; I noticed his eyes dropping to my mouth
and the heat that crept up around my face made me release my lip.
“I thought you would have asked more questions,” I admitted. “You didn’t even respond to my text.”
His expression darkened for a moment.
“The fact that I didn’t ask questions and just fired her all because you asked worries me as well,” he admitted, his tone a bit rough. “But here we are. Now, explain what happened.”
I sighed and looked away for a moment, which apparently he didn’t like because he grabbed my chin gently and guided my gaze back to his, leaving me no room for argument.
“She showed up on Nan and Chester’s date last night and caused a scene,” I told him. “Poured wine on Nan’s dress and got everyone at the Whimsical Whisk to stare at them. It was bad and Nan was gutted. Chester almost killed her. They can’t work together, and Nan can’t see her again. I won’t have my best friend uncomfortable coming over. If I have to live there, and if Chester has to work there, I don’t want Harper there… I don’t want my best friend heartbroken and guarded.”
Gavin’s expression softened even more, and he nodded.
“Okay,” he said, dropping his hand from my face.
I raised my brows at his words.
“That’s it?” I asked. “Just ‘okay’?”
“What was it that you wanted me to say?” He simply asked.
“I don’t know… I thought you’d ask more questions or argue about it.”
He shrugged.
“I already fired her; it doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Yeah, but as you said, she was your most trusted maid…” I reminded him.
He nodded.
“Yes, but it seems I trust you more,” he admitted. Besides, you’re right. I’d rather have Chester working for me because he is one of the best chefs and he continues well to the pack. I don’t need him distracted or avoiding those he works around. Probably for the best.”
I was surprised by his easy assessment, and I nodded thoughtfully.
“Thank you,” I said softly, meeting his gaze for a moment. I started to walk around him, but he grabbed my arm, stopping me.
“What are you doing tonight?”
I paused and looked back up at him.
“I was planning on just going home and sleeping,” I told him with a noncommittal shrug. “Why?”
“Stay.”
His one word sent my heart into complete turmoil. His eyes were dark and brewing and it made my breathing heavy. I found myself nodding without much thought.
“Okay,” I breathed.
Before I knew what was happening, he was pulling me into his body so I was flesh against him; his strong
arms wrapped around my waist et
possessively and his lips were claiming mine in a searing kiss that made me see stars. His mouth moved perfectly against mine and when I felt his tongue sliding across my bottom lip, I gladly parted my mouth to grant him access.
Third Person POV
Alpha Levi was sitting at his desk when his phone rang. He didn’t need to look at the caller ID to see who it was that was calling. He grabbed the phone and pressed the “talk” button, pressing it to his ear.
“I better have good news,” he said, his tone harsher than intended.
“I don’t feel good about this…” the voice on the other end said. “What if I screw up? What if I give myself away?”
“You won’t,” Levi said, his tone turning even more sour. “Because if you do, I’ll send someone in to complete this job and you won’t like your punishment if I have to do that.”
There was silence on the other end for a long while.
“I’ll keep you updated on my progress. But it might take a while…”
“I expect a report by the end of the week. Don’t disappoint me,” Levi growled and without another word, he ended the call, slamming his phone on his desk, nearly breaking it. It wouldn’t be the first time he broke a phone; his Beta Ron would have to get him a new one periodically.
Levi stared at the information gathered about Gavin’s company information; his company is the largest franchise in the world and something Levi had been wanting for a long time. Though the company is large, it has its weak points and his relationship with Judy seems to be one of them.
He realized that she’s a strong part of his life… crumbling their relationship, might crumble Gavin which will make it easier to get a hold of his company. His children are also a factor as well; so far, Levi discovered that Mathew Landry is not Gavin’s biological son, but his nephew.
He pressed the intercom on his desk.
“Ron, have Ethan Cash come to my office immediately,” he ordered his Beta.
Within minutes, Ethan was walking into his office looking nervous. Levi fed off the nerves of others; it pleased him that he intimidated those around him. He leaned back in his seat, assessing Ethan as he closed the door behind him.
“You wanted to see me, Alpha?” Ethan asked, his eyes fixed on the ground, unable to look Levi in the eyes. It wasn’t unusual; Lycans were often difficult to look at because of their powerful aura.
“Yes, I have a task for you,” Levi told him, staring at him for a moment longer before leaning forward on his desk. “I need you to return to the Silver Crescent pack.”
Ethan’s eyes grew wide.
“What?” He asked. “Gavin is looking for me right now; he’ll kill me if he sees me.”
“You will be protected by my spies,” Levi assured him. “I found out that Gavin’s son isn’t his actual son.”
“Matthew?”
Levi nodded.
“He’s Gavin’s nephew. Matthew’s mother is Gavin’s sister,” Levi explained.
Ethan looked dlost in thought about that realization; Irene had never mentioned that. She always referred to Matt as her little brother, never her cousin. Ethan wasn’t entirely sure what to do with that information, but he knew it had to be important if Levi was bringing it up to him like this.
“I need you to find out what you can about her,” he said firmly. “Her name is Cassandra Landry, but that’s all we were able to retrieve about her. Everything else had been hidden by the Landry Corporation.”
“How am I supposed to find out information about this woman?” Ethan asked. “I don’t have any connections with the Landry’s anymore.
“Figure it out,” Levi said without hesitation. “Then report to me any findings. I’ll give you two weeks but then you better have something.”
Ethan stood; his stomach knotted. He knew if he didn’t do what Levi asked, then he could make his life a living hell. So, he nodded.
“I’ll get on that right away,” Ethan said, bowing his head before retreating from the
room.
….
Judy’s POV
“You totally kicked ass in that competition,” one of my classmates said as she walked by my table in the student lounge.
“Yeah, we were rooting for you,” her friend said in response. “You were totally awesome. I couldn’t believe I actually knew you.”noveldrama
I glanced at Nan, and she gave me an identical look, both of us knowing that these girls wouldn’t be talking to me if I hadn’t won the competition. They didn’t like either of us in the 4 years we’ve been at this school. Now that we are preparing to graduate in a few months, suddenly I’m important to them.
“Thanks,” was all I managed to say.
It’s been like this all day. Today was the first day back at school since the start of my last semester. This semester was crucial for my degree, and I was excited to finally finish up with school and get a start on my life. I know technically I don’t have to finish school; winning the competition means I was part of the Elite Gamma Force, but I really wanted to prove myself in more ways than muscles and speed. I wanted to prove my brain too.
If things didn’t work out as a gamma, at least I still have my degree and a little bit
of courage to move forward.
“Graduation cannot come soon enough,” Nan murmured as she assessed the girls walking away.
I chuckled at her statement, completely agreeing with her.
Judy, Nan!”
I heard a familiar voice saying from across the student lounge and when I looked, my eyes grew wide.
“Holy shit, she’s actually here,” Nan breathed, her eyes fixed on Sammy who was walking towards us with a bright smile on her lips.
“Sammy?” I asked once she finally approached.
“It’s so good to see you both,” Sammy said, sitting in the seat across from me. “I Hope I’m not interrupting.”noveldrama
“Not at all,” I told her. “We are just surprised to see you are all. I didn’t think you’d actually be here.”
She nodded.
“I needed to get away from my pack and my boyfriend. Gavin was kind enough to set me up here. I’m really excited to start this semester with you guys.”
“When do you graduate?” Nan asked.
“Two more years,” Sammy explained.
“Too bad we didn’t know you soon,” Nan said with a small frown. “We are graduating this year.”
“That’s huge,” Sammy said with a bright smile. “Let me guess, you’re in the Gamma Force major?” She asked me.
I nodded.
“What gave that away?” I chuckled.
She laughed too and then turned to Nan.
“What about you? You don’t strike me as a gamma,” she said pointedly.
“I’m a chef,” Nan said, nibbling her lower lip. “At least aspiring to be.”
“Nan is a great cook,” I said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer to me. “She’s in the culinary program and on her way to graduating top of her class. Don’t let her sell you short.”
Sammy smiled thoughtfully at that.
I noticed more eyes wandering in our direction and I tried my best to ignore them. Sammy on the other hand was glancing around with a frown before leaning into the table to speak to us.
“Everyone is staring at you,” she whispered. “Is it like this all the time?”
“Only recently,” Nan told her, just as quietly. “Since she won the Gamma competition, it’s all anyone can talk about.”
“It’s still all over the news,” Sammy agreed. “So, I don’t blame them for talking. Not often a woman takes home the title and becomes a part of the Elite. It’s a rarity and you happened to be that rarity.”
I felt my cheeks getting warmer by the second and I nibbled on my lower lip.
“What am I supposed to do? I can’t have them staring at me all the time. Will it
ever wear off?” I asked, staring between the two of them.
“I’m sure it will,” Nan said gently. “Try not to worry about it too much.”
I nodded and took a deep breath.
For the rest of the day, I tried to keep my head as low as I could. I could still feel eyes on me and hear the whispers that went on around me, but I tried my best to ignore them. By the time classes concluded for the evening, I was utterly exhausted. I thought about calling Gavin and telling him that I didn’t want to tutor Matt today, but I thought against it. I didn’t want to do that to Matt; he was expecting me around now anyway and Beta Taylor was probably already waiting for me to take me to Gavin’s Villa.
Before I left my final class of the day, my professor stopped me.
“Judy, can I speak with you for a moment?” She said, a small smile playing on her lips.
“Is everything okay, Professor Rivers?” I asked when I reached her desk.
“Yes; firstly, I wanted to congratulate you for winning the competition. That was a huge accomplishment,” she said thoughtfully.
“Thank you,” I said, feeling a bit awkward.
“And secondly, we are going to be getting a new student at some point this week He’s in your major and he’s going to need to be caught up. I was hoping you’d be able to tutor him and help him out a bit. You’d get paid of course,” she told me.
I nodded without hesitation; I could use the money, and I enjoyed tutoring.
“Sure, I would love to. When does he arrive?” I asked.
“Tomorrow,” she replied. “He’s transferring from a different school.”
“Okay,” I told her. “I’d be happy to help.”
She smiled.
“Thanks, Judy, I knew I could count on you.”
With that being said, I left and went straight toward the front of the campus. Taylor’s car was already
parked out front when I arrived.
opened the back door and paused when I saw Sammy seated in the car with her bag pressed against her chest.
“What are you doing here?” I asked getting into the car.
“Alpha Gavin said I can stay in the mansion with you,” she told me, raising her brows. “if that’s okay. I don’t really have another place lined up right now and he figured that’d be the easiest solution.
“That’s completely fine,” I told her. “I’m happy to have you.”
She beamed at me my words.
“Also, he got me a job,” she told me. “So, I can earn my keep in his pack while I’m here.”
“A job?” I asked, confused. “What type of job?”
She broke out into a wide grin.
“You are looking at your new handmaiden.
Reality set in almost right away; Gavin hired a new maid to replace Harper.
Judy’s POV
“Woah, this mansion is huge!” Sammy cooed as Beta Taylor pulled up to the mansion. On our way, he informed me that Gavin was giving me the night off and he would be arriving at the mansion shortly to get Sammy set up as the new maid.
I wasn’t sure of the kind of background that Sammy grew up in; I had no idea if she ever lived in a large home or if she lived in short homes. But one thing was certain, she’d never lived in a mansion before. I never had either until I came here so I couldn’t blame her for being awestruck by the sight.
Taylor stopped the car outside of the front entrance and he quickly got out to grab Sammy’s luggage which was stored in the trunk.
“Home sweet home,” I told her as I opened the car door.
“I can’t believe you live here,” she breathed. “How did you get so lucky to live in a Landry estate?”
I never actually told Sammy about my relationship with Gavin, though we didn’t really hide it all that well when we were at the resort. I assumed already that she knew about my relationship with him through Nan or something.
“It’s kind of a long story,” I admitted.
“Well, you’ll have to catch me up later,” she told me. “I’m not really used to having friends, but you and Nan have been great to me since the competition and now I finally;/feel like I have a small group I can turn to. I hope you know you can turn to me too.”
My heart melted at her words.
“Yeah, I would like that,” I told her as we walked into the mansion.
Before I could say another word, Gavin walked around the corner, his appearance business-casual and handsome as ever. My heart immediately skips a beat upon seeing him, and he pauses his movements when he sees me. His eyes scan me briefly before they fixate on Sammy.
“Welcome,” he told her. “I have some employment paperwork for you to sign, but for right now, Beta Taylor will show you to your new room.”
Sammy smiled politely at him.
“Thank you for this opportunity, Alpha. I won’t let you down,” she tells him as she follows Taylor towards the maid’s quarters.
“It was nice of you to hire her as your maid, and get her a transfer to my school,” I told him, standing a bit awkwardly in front of him. I wasn’t sure why I felt awkward in front of him, but for some reason, I did. He nodded thoughtfully, his hand reaching out to tuck a strand of fallen hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering around my cheeks for a moment too long before he pulled his hand back.noveldrama
“She’s a good friend to you and she came to me in need,” he told me. “It was the least I could do.”
“I was going to have a girl’s night tonight with Sammy and Nan; would that be okay?”
He raised his brows at my question.
“You don’t need to ask my permission to hang out with your friends.”
I shrug casually.
“But it would mean I can’t hang out with you,” I tell him with a smirk.
He thought about that for a moment and nodded.
“Guess we’ll just have to see each other tomorrow night then,” he said, running his thumb across my jaw.
As soon as we heard the door opening and shutting down the hall, he stepped away from me, giving me a respectful amount of space.
Sammy walks out with Taylor.
Sammy has a bright smile on her face.
“This place is amazing. My room is huge,” she cooed. “I think I’m going to love it here.”
“Glad things are to your liking,” he said with a nod. “Let’s go into the kitchen and discuss the terms of your contract and get these papers signed.”
He held up a folder
older of papers, a thick stack that made her eyes widen. They were pretty much the same papers that I had to sign when L
started working for him as we net
Samm went into the kitchen while I
caffed Nan and set up a girl’s night at the mansion.
After about an hour, Gavin and Sammy emerged; Sammy looked more tired than when she went in.
“I’ll leave you girls alone now,” Gavin said, adjusting the papers in his folder. “I’ll see myself out.”
Without another word, Gavin left.
“He’s an intense man,” Sammy said, running her fingers through her hair. “The paperwork was so long and thorough.”
I nodded.
“Yeah, he’s very detailed,” I tell her.
“Nan should be here any minute
are going to have a girl’s night.
eli
Chester is making our food as we speak.”
Her eyes lit up.
We
“I’m excited to have my first girl’s night in this mansion,” she breathed.
Nan arrived shortly after and soon we were gathered in the living room with plates of finger foods, deserts, wine and blankets. We were dressed in pajamas and giggling about the latest gossip.
You should have seen the look on my ex’s face when I told him I was leaving,” Sammy said, shaking her head after her second glass of wine. “I thought he was going to start crying.”
“Has he tried calling you?” Nan asked.
Sammy shrugged.
“I blocked his number so who knows.”
We all chuckled.
“What about you, Nan?” I asked her curiously. “How’s you and Chester ever since your first date disaster?”
She smiled, a small blush creeping along her nose and cheeks.
“We’ve been good these last couple of days,” she admitted, nibbling on her lower lip. “He’s been really great… tentative. I haven’t seen him flirting with anyone… I think this could actually work.”
I felt relieved hearing her say that; I knew Chester could man up and get his head out of his ass if he really wanted to.
“I’m glad to hear that,” I tell her, resting my head on her shoulder as I grab another mozzarella stick off the plate. “You two are going to make beautiful food together,” I tease, a little wine tipsy.”
She chuckled, taking another long sip of her wine before pouring another glassful.
“Yeah, I think so too. He wants to help me with my cooking endeavor,” she explains. “Which is awesome. I never had anyone who wanted to help me like that before. But Chester is different. He’s been through all this already, so he knows what needs to be done.”
I nodded.
“He’s your fated mate; he was made for you. Chosen by the Moon Goddess for you… it’s supposed to be a match made in heaven,” Sammy said thoughtfully.
My heart twisted at her words; as much as I wanted to believe that what she was saying was true, part of me didn’t believe in the concept of fated mates anymore. Not since Ethan came into my life and then destroyed my vision of happily ever after. He was my fated mate; the one the moon Goddess had chosen for me. He was supposed to be my match made in my heaven, but it turned out he was just a manipulative asshole who only cared about himself. He wasn’t my perfect match… he was someone I wished I never met.
“I’m surprised you didn’t invite Irene to this girl’s night,” Nan said with a frown.
I thought about inviting her, but I knew she had her own shit to deal with, and plus, our relationship was a little weird right now. I wasn’t sure where we stood with our friendship. We hadn’t really talked since coming back from the competition and I wasn’t sure if the bond we shared while in a different country was even real.
“Maybe next time,” I settled on saying as I took another long sip of my wine before pouring myself another glass.
“So, what’s going on with you and Gavin?” Sammy finally boldly asked, her eyes narrowed at me.
My eyes grew wide at her question as I turned to look at her.
“I’m sorry, what?” I asked her, my breath coming out as a whisper. Nan laughed.
“Do you mean Sammy has no idea about this?” Nan asked, her brows raised.
“I knew it,” Sammy said, sitting back in her seat with a grin. “So, something is going on between you and Gavin.”
“W…what makes you say that?” I asked a bit awkwardly, expertly avoiding her eyes.
“Well, for starters, y’all were acting weird during the competition and I
thought it was kind of obvious. But now… I mean, look at you. You are living his mansion and the way he was looking at you earlier. It’s even more obvious now. Something is happening here… what is it?”
I nibbled on my lower lip.
“Yeah, maybe there is something. But there’s no label to it,” I admit. “We are just casual…”
“So, anyone could just hook up with him?” Sammy asked, her brows raised. “And you wouldn’t be upset?”
My cheeks flushed at her words.
“He can hook up with whoever he wants,” I told her.
Nan and Sammy exchanged knowing looks.
Soon, the front door opened, turning our attention in that direction. My heart
dropped when I saw Harper staggering into the room.
It’s obvious she’s been drinking.
Her things were all still there and though Taylor had packed her things up already, she hadn’t come tonoveldrama
collect her things. I’m
assuming that’s why she was here, but her being drunk was questionable.
being drunk was ne
“Harper, what are you doing here at this hour?” I asked, glancing at the clock. It was 11 pm at this point.
She pauses when she sees us sitting on the couch and then her eyes narrow at Nan, a scowl clear on her lips.
“You fucking home-wrecking bitch
You are going to pay for this,” she
growled and then before I could react, she was lunging at Nam.
Judy’s POVnoveldrama
I was quick to react. Nan jumped out of her seat, and I jumped in front of her to keep Harper from hurting her. It wasn’t difficult to stop Harper’s attack because she was drunk and sloppy in her movements. She nearly fell over by the time she even remotely reached Nan.
I had Harper pinned to the ground with ease; she screamed out in frustration as I quickly got the upper hand.
Hearing the commotion, Chester quickly ran into the room, his eyes wild as his wolf fought to take control, already sensing that his mate was in danger. The second he saw Nan standing off to the side, her eyes wide as she watched me tackle Harper, he relaxed slightly knowing she was safe, but then once his eyes found Harper, he was furious.
“What the fuck do you think you are doing??” Chester asked, approaching us, his eyes never leaving Harpers. “Why are you here, Harper? You were fired.”
Tears continued to fall down Harper’s cheeks; when I didn’t think she would attack Nan again, I finally released her.
“I came to get my stuff,” she said, her bottom lip trembling. “But when I saw her here…I just snapped.”
“You need to leave before the security team throws you out,” Chester said, folding his arms across his chest.
She sniffled and wiped at her tear-soaked eyes.
“I’ll help you with your things,” I told her as I stood up from the ground, pulling her to her feet as well. My heart went out to Harper in a way; I didn’t like the fact that she wanted to fight my best friend every chance she got, but I did feel bad that she was so heartbroken.
I knew she had feelings for Chester for a long time and now it was being ripped away from her. Chester stayed behind with Nan and Sammy as I went towards Harper’s old bedroom. Once we were in her room, she broke down into more tears. She was a complete mess, and I hated that it was happening to her.
“I’m so sorry, Harper,” I whispered, stepping towards her.
“No, you aren’t,” she murmured. “How could you be? You’re taking her side over mine.”
She started to grab her things, rummaging through the room to make sure Beta Taylor didn’t forget anything.
“Of course, I’m taking her side; she’s my best friend,” I say, sitting on the edge of the bed. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not feeling remorseful about what you are going through. I wish there was something I could do that didn’t require hurting my best friend.”
“I’ve loved him for so long,” she whispered. “Ever since he moved to the Silver Crescent pack. It just doesn’t seem fair.”
“Nan is his fated mate. You had to know the possibility of that happening.”
She frowned deeply as she narrowed her eyes at me.
“I thought he would have rejected her,” she admitted. “Like I rejected mine for him…”
My mouth all but fell open as I gawked at her. Did I hear her correctly?
“You rejected your fated mate?” I asked her.
She nodded, nibbling on her lower lip as she processed the gravity of the situation.
“I thought he would have done the same thing,” she whispered brokenly.
Rejecting a mate right off the bat was a rarity amongst wolf shifters. Wolves found their mate bonds to be sacred and unlike anything else they’ve ever experienced.
“Who was your mate?” I asked, perplexed. “When did you meet him?”
“It doesn’t matter anymore. He wants nothing to do with me. I rejected him in the worst way possible and now he hates me,” she whispered, more tears falling from her eyes.
“When did this happen, Harper?” I asked her.
“A few months ago,” she admitted. “At that moment, I thought Chester and me were end game. But it ended up being a dead end…”
“I’m so sorry,” told her. “I can’t
fathom the thought of your mate truly hating you like this though.
You’d have to do something trunet
[e
awful to get them to hate you Maybe you still have a chance?”
swny
She gave me a sad smile and shook her head.
“No,” she whispered. “I don’t.”
I stood up and wrapped my arms around her, hugging her tightly.
Soon, there was a knock on the door, and it opened slightly, revealing Chester. He glanced between the two of us warily, like he expected us to be fighting or something.
“Is everything okay?” He asked after a moment of silence.
“I’m not attacking her if that’s what you’re worried about,” Harper murmured, folding her arms across her chest. “That’s what you came to check on, right?”
Chester sighed and fully stepped into the room.
“Harper, do you think we can talk before you leave?” He asked, his demeanor, oddly calm for someone who just watched her try and attack his mate. I could tell his wolf had relented full control and Chester was back in charge.
inth
Harper nodded her head once and I excused myself, rejoining Nan and Sammy in the living room. I spent time catching them up on what Harpe and I spoke about, and were astonished when I told that Harper gave up on her own fated mate so she could be with Chester. She was gutted because she thought that Chester would do the same for her, but when that wasn’t the case, it caused her to snap.
I could tell from the nervous way she was biting her lip that she was nervous.
We were all pretty much thinking the same thing… what were they talking about?
Third Person POV
Once alone, Chester closed the door to Harper’s room. His heart went out to Harper in a way; he had been through a lot with her. Experienced a lot with her. He always told himself that if he were to fall in love with anybody, it would be Harper. But then he found his mate and everything changed. He hated that he was losing his friend like this, and he hated what they had become.
“You can’t keep attacking my mate every time you see her, Harper,” Chester finally started to speak after what felt like an eternity of silence. “It’s not fair to anybody involved and it’s not fair to yourself to keep holding onto the past like this.”
She chewed on the inside of her cheek, as she often did when she was nervous.
“I thought it was going to be us against the world,” Harper snapped back. “You always said that I was the only one who got you. That it was me and you forever despite all the obstacles…”
“I said that in the heat of the moment, Harper,” he said, narrowing his eyes at me. “You can’t fault me for the shit I say during sex.”noveldrama
“It doesn’t make it any less true! You were supposed to reject her, just like I rejected my mate!”
His eyes grew large at his admittance. He hadn’t heard that Harper found her mate or that she rejected him.
“You rejected your mate?” Chester asked, his brows knitted together tightly. “Why would you do that?”
“For you!” Harper said loudly; she was sure the others had heard her by now. “I rejected him for you, just like you were supposed to reject her for me.”
Chester stared around her tear-stained face for a bit longer, his resolve fading slightly and the fight leaving his body. He had no idea that she rejected her mate for him… he had no intentions of rejecting Nan… the thought of it made him sick to his stomach.
Unbeknownst to Chester and Harper, Nan had snuck away from her friends so she could listen to what they were talking about. Her heart was in her throat as she peeked through the door and saw them talking.
Chester had stepped closer to Harper and Nan didn’t like their close proximity; it made her feel uneasy.
Chester put his hands on Harper’s shoulders, forcing her to remain still and to look up at him.
“I didn’t know you felt that strongly,” he murmured. “I thought this was a casual fling… but knowing you loved me like that. Enough to reject your mate…”
Nan’s eyes immediately filled with tears at the sound of Chester’s voice; it was soft and compassionate. Like a lover speaking to his woman. She bit her lip to keep from sobbing, but she needed to hear more; she needed to hear what he was going to say next.
“I would do anything for you, Chester,” Harper whispered, her lip trembling. “When will you learn that?”
“I guess I couldn’t read you as well as I thought, he admitted gently. “One thing was always certain; you were my best friend. The only one who truly understood me and loved me just the way I was. I never had to be anyone different. I could sleep around, and you’d still be here waiting for me with a warm bed. I always looked forward to spending time with you.”
Every word was a blow to Nan’s chest and heart; she thought she was going to fall to the ground.
“I don’t regret anything that we shared,” he continued softly.
A small smile tipped the corner of Harper’s lips.
“Me neither,” she whispered.
Nan watched as Harper stood on her toes, her cheeks flushed, her eyes hooded and her lips parted
slightly as she neared Chester’s net
mouth Chester stood still, looking down at her and Nan was seconds away from turning and leaving, but then Chester’s voice made her freeze.
“But I’m pretty sure I’m in love with Nan,” he said softly, making Harper pause and open her eyes even more. “She’s my mate, Harper. The thought of rejecting her makes me sick to my stomach. I could never reject her… I’m falling for her pretty quickly and that scares the shit out of me. It’s a new feeling that’s foreign to me… but it’s real and it’s there. I could never be what you need me to be because I don’t belong to you and I never truly did. It’s Nan… I’m choosing Nan.”
Judy’s POV
Nan walked back into the room with a dazed expression, and I narrowed my eyes.
I knew she wanted to spy on Chester and Harper to find out what they were saying to one another. But the look she had on her face was a mix of fear, pain, and maybe a bit of happiness. I couldn’t really tell what was going on through her mind and before I could ask, Harper walked down the hallway with her things in her hands.
She paused once she noticed us all staring at her and her cheeks flushed red. She stared at the ground for a moment, nibbling on her lower lip before glancing up at me.
“I’ll be seeing you,” she said simply. “I’m sorry for causing such a scene.”
I wasn’t sure what to say in return, so I only nodded and watched as she left the mansion. A few minutes later, Chester returned to the living room as well. He ran his fingers through his blonde disheveled hair and gave me a small smile.
“It’s been dealt with,” he told me honestly. “She won’t cause any problems anymore.”
I nodded my thanks to him, my eyes fixed on Nan’s face. Chester also noticed her expression and a worried crease formed between his brows.
“Are you okay?” Chester asked her, his eyes narrowed.
Nan bit her lip and nodded, though her face gave her away. She wasn’t okay; she saw or overheard something that unsettled her. Chester didn’t look as if he bought it either, but when he glanced over at us, he realized this wasn’t something Nan wanted to share in front of him and that he should leave.
“Okay, well, I’m going to head to bed then,” he murmured. “It’s pretty late.”
We all nodded and said our goodnights as Chester disappeared down the hallway. The sound of his door opening and clicking shut sounded through the room. Nan’s body finally relaxed a bit, but she still looked tense as she lowered herself on the couch next to me.
“Nan?” I asked, my brows raised as I studied her face. “What happened? What did you hear?”
Nan was still processing her words, but she managed to speak so softly that I had to strain to hear her.
“He’s in love with me…” she whispered. “He’s actually in love with me.”
“What?” I gasped, glancing at Sammy who was also looking shocked.
“I overheard him telling her that he loves me and that he chooses me…” she whispered.
“That’s huge,” Sammy breathed. “Do you feel the same way about him?”
“It’s too soon to tell,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t know how I feel yet.”
“And that’s okay,” I told her,noveldrama
wrapping an arm around her
shoulders. “You don’t have to know how to feel just yet. Take your timè. I doubt Chester is going anywhere. I mean, he confessed to loving you. He’ll wait for you. He’s your mate after all.”
“When did our lives get so messy?” Nan whispered as she placed her head on my shoulder.
I let out a soft chuckle.
“I have no idea,” I admitted.
“I vote that we get our minds off stupid boys and just enjoy girls’ night,” Sammy
suggested, lifting her glass of wine with a bright and hopeful smile.
I smiled in return, grabbing my wine just as Nan grabbed hers. We lifted our
glasses in the air and cheered before taking long and steady sips of our drinks.
“To girl’s night!”
Gavin’s POV
was quiet when I
The mansion was
entered. It was past midnight, and I heard the light snoring of one of the girls on the couch. Judy was on one of the couches while Nan was curled up on the loveseat and Sammy was lying on the other couch. Their empty bottle of wine sat on the coffee table.
I walked towards Judy, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She was wearing her hair in a messy bun and had a long T-shirt on that covered most of her body, down to her upper knees.
She stirred lightly from my touch and when her eyes fluttered open, they widened upon seeing me. She sat up slowly, her eyes narrowed.
“Gavin?” She whispered, glancing around at the other two to make sure they were still asleep. “What are you doing here?”
Truth be told, I had no idea why I
was there I was lying in bed, intent on sleeping, and I found myself
unable to sleep, the next thing
knew, I was standing in the mansion desperate for a taste of her.
Without a word, I lifted her off the couch. She bit into her lip to keep from
squealing from the sudden movement. I kept my arms around her small frame, pressing her firmly against my chest as I walked into her bedroom on the second floor.
She didn’t argue with me and when I kicked the door shut behind me, she let out a breath she had been holding, as if she was afraid that breathing would wake up her friends.
“What is going on?” She asked again as I tossed her onto the bed.
I smirked at her.
“What do you think?” I asked, my tone laced with a hint of teasing as I took off my shirt, showing off every single one of my abs front and center. She gazed down my body and I saw the dark lust that consumed her as she took me in.
Her eyes finally met mine.
“You couldn’t survive one night?” She asked; a hint of teasing in her tone.
I smirked at her and leaned down so my body was pressed against hers, pinning her to the bed, my eyes searching hers before dropping to her gorgeous and plump lips.
“No,” I answered bluntly. “I couldn’t wait a single fucking day to do this…”
I lowered myself down and pressed my lips against hers. It was meant to be a simple soft kiss, but after a moment, it deepened. My tongue slipped into her parted lips, tasting and capturing everything that I could. He let out a breathy moan into my mouth and I swallowed it down with a hunger that I had never felt before.
The way her body moved against mine; the way she felt pressed against me and the softness of her skin was driving me wild. I let out a low growl as I nipped at her bottom lip and then trailed my mouth down the nape of her neck, sucking and licking every corner of it until I reached her shoulder.
She gasped as I sucked on her sweet spot; my fingers played with the hem of her shirt, lifting it slightly to reveal her silk panties, trailing them up her body, revealing her stomach and bare breasts.
I lifted her shirt over her head, tossing it to the side with mine, and captured her nipples in my mouth, My tongue glided over her breasts, and I let out a guttural groan at the taste of her skin. Goosebumps trailed along her arms and body.
I kissed down her body after spending a few minutes teasing each of her breasts. I tugged down her panties as I positioned myself between her legs. I took her in; her gorgeous sight, her incredible scent… my mouth practically watered with need as I kissed her inner thighs. The evidence of her arousal dripped from her and I let out another guttural groan as she ran her fingers through my hair.
I kissed her clit gently before I let my tongue do the rest of the work. I sucked and
teased the little ball of nerves until she was practically panting with need. I
inserted my fingers, stroking her G-spot.
She let out a moan and a gasp as I hit that perfect spot; the one that made her toes curl and her back è arch. She was so gorgeous like this.. at my mercy, being pleasured by my fingers and tongue. She let out another breathy moan as she spoke my name, begging me to let her cum. She knew I liked to dominate and control when she released, and it made me even harder thinking she was waiting for me to give her the okay.
“Shit, you’re so wet,” I told her as I came up for air, my lips glistening with the evidence of her arousal.noveldrama
Her hooded eyes were dark as she stared down at me; she was right at the edge, and I could tell right away that she was desperate for a release.
I sucked on her clit some more and murmured, “Cum for me…”
Per usual, her body responded to me right away and she exploded all around me. I continued to pump my fingers in and out of her as I sucked on her clit while she rode out her orgasm.
I stopped once she became breathless and a twitching pile of goo on her bed.
I sat back on my heels, satisfied with my work as she fought to catch her breath. After a long while of panting, her eyes finally opened, and she looked at me. “So glad you crashed girl’s night…”
Judy’s POV
I straddled him, wrapping my arms and legs around his body as his lips found mine. His kiss was far beyond any kiss that he’d ever given me before. This was filled with something I couldn’t figure out. It was an emotion that couldn’t quite be named, yet it was filled with so much promise. His strong arms wrapped around my thin frame, pulling me even closer to him as he poured everything, he had into
me.
His tongue invaded my mouth, exploring and tasting everything, I had to offer, drawing out a soft moan from me. He tangled his fingers in my hair, pulling me even closer to him if that was possible, keeping my head in place as he took what he needed from me. I rubbed against him, my made form pressed against his sweatpants, making me moan in pleasure as I felt every inch of his erection. He wanted me to feel exactly what I was doing to him and how turned on he trulynoveldrama
was.
My friends were sleeping downstairs in the living room still, completely oblivious to the fact that I was upstairs being dominated by Gavin Landy.
He reached between us and tugged down the waistband of his sweatpants, releasing himself. His massive and hard length pressed against my stomach, eager and waiting for me, wanting to know what I’d do.
I took him in my hands, stroking him gently; I could barely get my whole hand around him because of how thick he was. He let out a sharp breath, closing his eyes and pressing his forehead against mine as I continued to feel and explore his manhood.
“You feel so good,” he whispered, his lips capturing mine in a searing and breathtaking kiss that made my heart skip a beat.
I felt his precum on the tip of his cock and it made me want him even more.
He brought his lips to my neck, sucking and nibbling every nook and cranny that he could as I positioned myself on top of his length, the tip at my entrance. I let myself sink down on top of him, making us gasp in unison.
“Fuck,” he said against my lips.
He gripped my hips tightly as he moved me up and down his length; I went with ease. His manhood hit that perfect spot buried deep inside me that made me moan and gasp with each thrust. His eyes remained on mine and I saw the lust and desires in his eyes. My heart was beating rapidly as we picked up the pace. His thrust met mine and soon the room was filled with the sounds of our skin slapping against one another and our breathy moans.
Sweat coated my forehead and started to drop down the nape of my neck. He held me close as he pounded into me.
“Gavin…” I moaned as his lips once again found mine.
He kissed me deeply, causing my lips to be swollen and red. I was so close my entire body felt as though it was on fire. Tingles erupted around my flesh, and I threw my head back, letting out another loud moan as I came undone on top of his cock.
He held me in place as he continued his thrusting, until he was nothing more than
a quivering mess, releasing load after load.
We stayed like that for a long while; his arms protectively around my sweat-soaked body, my face buried in his chest and his cock still in my core with cum dripping around it and down my inner thighs.
After a few minutes, he finally pulled out of me, watching as his cum oozed out of my core.
His lips captured mine in one last gentle kiss; this kiss felt different than all the other kisses. This kiss felt like a promise.
“Sleep with me tonight,” he whispered against my ear, his tongue darting out to caress my lobe.
I nodded without hesitation; not sure I could move even if I wanted to. Sensing my inability to move, he chuckled and pulled me into his arms further as he lay down on the bed.
He grabbed the covers and pulled them over our naked bodies, draping the soft fabric over me to keep me warm. I melted into him.
I still had so many questions for him; like what was this? Or what did any of this even mean?
He ran his fingers through my hair lovingly.
“Get some sleep,” he whispered. “Just sleep…”
My mind was whirling the next day. Gavin wasn’t in bed when I woke up. I hated that I woke up alone and I
hated even more that he wasn’t Nobody
anywhere in the mansion, net
had seen him last night, but they all knew he was there based on his lingering scent.
hey assumed I had sex with him last night, but other than that, I didn’t tell them about how different it felt, about how different I felt. Something about my relationship with Gavin had shifted these last few days and it was something I wanted to explore.
But I wasn’t sure if it was something he would want to explore with me. it was something I was hoping to talk to him about this morning, but he was nowhere to be seen. It hurt that he left without saying a word to me, but maybe there was an actual reason as to why he ditched me.
I quickly got dressed because we were going to be late for our morning classes if we didn’t hurry. I was also incredibly hungover; probably wasn’t a good idea to get drunk the night before school, but there was no turning back now, and plus, it’s not like I’m alone in this. Nan and Sammy were just as messed up as I was.
Beta Taylor was the one who dropped us off at the campus; once we arrived on campus, we went our separate ways to our classes. I had trouble concentrating for most of the day because all I could think about was my new dynamic with Gavin. It felt like we were treading the relationship territory; like if we were to hook up with other people, it would be wrong.
I wanted to talk to him about it; I found myself checking my phone constantly throughout the day to see if he messaged or called me, but he hadn’t. it bothered me that he hadn’t bothered to reach me throughout the day after he completely rocked my world last night.
Did last night mean anything to him at all?
“Earth to Judy,” Nan said, waving her hand in front of my face as she sat down at the student lounge at the sat in front of mine. “Where is your mind today? You seem like you’re a million miles away.”
I nodded, my mind still swirling with thoughts, but I was more focused on the present moment.
“Sorry; I guess I’m just feeling a little off today,” I told her softly, trying to clear my head.
“I’m just going to head to class; maybe that’ll make me feel better.”
I stood and gave her a soft smile with a wave. I could still feel her eyes on me, long after I left her in the student lounge alone.
“Judy, just the person I wanted to see,” Professor Rivers said as soon as I entered the empty classroom. I was early for class, which wasn’t surprising because it didn’t start for another 15 or so minutes.
I paused before passing by her desk. A boy was standing beside her desk; he was
tall with dark hair and very strong-looking muscles. I had never seen him around here before but when our eyes met, he gave me a polite smile and a head nod before I looked back at Professor Rivers.
“Is everything okay?” I asked her, wondering why she was looking for me. She nodded.
“Oh, yes, everything is fine,” she assured me. I wanted to introduce you to Lukas,” she explained, motioning for the boy beside her. He just transferred. I’m going to need someone to catch him up and tutor him a little. I thought you’d be perfect for the job.”
She had mentioned something like this the other day too, but when I didn’t hear anything more about it, I assumed she didn’t need me anymore.
“You want me to tutor him?” I asked, glancing in his direction. He glanced at menoveldrama
briefly, a small smile tipping the corner of his lips.
“Yes,” Professor River said thoughtfully. “His parents are well off and are prepared to pay you for your services.”
I thought about it for a moment, I could use the extra money.
I nodded thoughtfully.
“Okay, yeah, I’ll tutor him,” I agreed.
Professor Rivers beamed at my easy acceptance.
“Perfect, I’ll let you two get to know one another before class,” she told me as she
stepped aside, motioning for us to take our seats.
I nodded and went towards my seat, well aware that he was following me. Once I sat, he sat in the seat beside mine.
“Judy Montague,” Lukas said,
holding out his hand. “Lukas Merryweather. I’m a huge fan of yours and I look forward to spending a lot of time with you over these next couple of weeks. I hope we can become friends.”
Judy’s POV
Over the course of the next couple of days, I hadn’t heard much of Gavin. Matt had been away on a school trip, so I didn’t need to go to the Villa for tutoring. I preoccupied my time with Lukas Merryweather and tutoring him. He was actually a pretty nice guy. He was really funny and intelligent.
He was top of his class in his old school and came here for more of a challenge. He was Alpha Mica’s nephew and lived in his territory; I didn’t notice at the time, but Lukas was also at the competition, and he said that I kicked his ass pretty early on and made him give up.
The last couple of days, he had been hanging out with Nan, Sammy, and me in the student lounge. They found him just as funny as well and we enjoyed having him be a part of our little group.
When we were studying, we were training in the gym. He was good, but not as good as me and it was no wonder I was able to beat him easily in the competition. I couldn’t even imagine how embarrassed Mica must have been when I took down his nephew with ease. The other Lycans must have given him hell for that.
“You should come over tonight so we can start on that project for Professor Rivers,” I told him a few days after we officially met for the first time.
He nodded as he took a bite of his sandwich.
“Yeah, I can do that. Send me your address,” he told me.
I nodded and sent him a quick text with my address.
Soon, Beta Taylor pulled up to come and get me. I waved goodbye to Lukas and hopped into the back seat of the car. Lukas walked to his own car as Taylor drove off.
“New friend?” Taylor asked, raising his brows as he stared at me through the rearview mirror.
I glanced at him, confused.
“I’m tutoring him,” I explained. “But yeah, he’s a pretty cool guy. I enjoy spending time with him. He’s coming over tonight to work on a project.”
Beta Taylor’s eyes widened at my words and for a moment, he looked kind of uneasy.
“Does Gavin know about this?”
My brows knitted together.
“I don’t need Gavin’s permission,” I told him bluntly. “He’s not my boyfriend and also, Lukas is just my friend.”
“Lukas…” Taylor let the name rest on his tongue for a moment. “Merryweather?”
I nodded.
“Yeah, he’s Alpha Mica’s nephew,” I replied.
“I thought he looked familiar,” Taylor said, shaking his head.
He didn’t look particularly pleased, but the conversation didn’t continue as he silently drove me to the mansion.
Once there, I quickly got out of the car, thanked Taylor, and headed inside. The way Taylor was in the car when I spoke about Lukas, made me a bit uneasy. I was worried that maybe hanging out with him wasn’t a good idea because of Gavin. I mean, he was another Lycan’s nephew after all… which meant that Lukas also had a bit of Lycan blood in him.
I doubted Gavin would want him in his mansion, but Gavin hadn’t really been around these last few days so he probably wouldn’t even notice that he was here.
I immediately went upstairs and put on something more comfortable so I could
start this project as I waited for Lukas to arrive. He was due to be here in the next hour or so.
Chester made some food for our study session, which I was beyond grateful for.
Not before long, Lukas was
knocking on the door and I was
opening it smiled when I saw him standing outside with his backpack slungover his shoulders and his hair a bit disheveled from running his fingers through it.
“Hey,” I said, stepping aside.
“I didn’t realize you lived in such a huge home,” he said, admiring the sight before
him. “You are very modest at school.”noveldrama
I smiled and shut the door behind him.
“Actually, it’s not really my home. I’m only staying here temporarily” I told him; though something about that sentence clawed at me, I swallowed it down and led him into the living room where everything was already set up.
“This place is huge,” he breathed. “Who does it belong to?” “Gavin Landry,” I told him as sit on the one of the couches.
He freezes for a moment, registering that name.
“Alpha Lycan Gavin Landry?” He asked, raising his brows.
I nodded, nibbling on my lower lip and trying to keep from meeting his gaze.
“He’s letting you stay in his mansion?” He prodded, studying my reddened face.
“Yeah, something kind of happened with my family and I have this stalker ex, etc etc,” I told him, my face reddening even more.
’m sorry to hear that,” he said thoughtfully. “It was nice of Gavin to let you stay in his mansion while all that got sorted though.
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips.
“Yeah, it was nice of him,” I said softly. “He’s always been kind like that… at least to me.”
“As far as Lycan’s go, my uncle Mica doesn’t mind him,” Lukas suddenly says with a shrug. “he’s probably the only other Lycan he can tolerate.”
I let out a soft laugh.
“The irony is… he’s impossible,” I tell him as I grab a piece of food.
“This food is really good,” Lukas praised as he too took a bite.
I nodded.
“All thanks to Chester, our head chef,” I replied. “He’s one of the best cooks in the world.”
For the next several hours, we spent time eating, drinking wine, and chatting. We also did a little work as well, but not as much as I was anticipating. We made a little progress when it started to get late, and I was getting exhausted.
“I should go,” Lukas said, stretching his arms and legs out and yawning. “I had a nice time though. Maybe next time we can actually get some work done.”
I laughed and nodded in return as I cleaned up our mess in the living room.
“Yeah, next time we’ll definitely have ot get some work done. I’ll meet you in the student lounge tomorrow afternoon, and we can get some more progress done.”noveldrama
“Sounds good,” he said as he stood.
“Hold on, I’ll walk you to the door,” I tell him as he grabs his backpack and shoulders it.
He waits for me to clean up the rest of the mess before I join him.
Gavin’s POV
It was nice to finally be home after being away with Matthew and his school for the last couple of days. hated that I had to attend that event, but it was worth it because it was important to Matt, which meant it was important to me. Plus, thad to get away for a few days.needed to clear my head. Judy had all consumed my thoughts and I needed to figure shit out for myself.
Beta Taylor had texted me a couple of times earlier today but ignored each text. I knew if it was an emergency he would have called me, which meant him reaching out to me via text wasn’t my Beta trying to reach his Alpha, it was a friend trying to reach his friend.
Once I was settled in at home and unpacked, I grabbed my phone and scrolled through the messages. There were no messages from Judy, which wasn’t surprising but when I read Taylor’s messages, my heart sank.
Taylor: Judy invited a guy over to the mansion to study tonight; just thought you’d like to know.
My blood boiled when I read that text message, and a low growl escaped my throat. It was sent several hours ago, and it was pretty late in the evening now. If I went there, I could probably still smell the lingering scent of this guy and figure out who he was. I thought about texting Taylor and asking him if he knew who it was, but I decided against that. I decided I was just going to go to the mansion and see
Judy; I could ask her myself.
I got straight into my car and drove right to the mansion. It was nearly midnight, there was no way he was still here at this hour for studying. But once I pulled up front and saw an unfamiliar car parked nearby, my heart sank even more.
He was here…
At this hour??
I got out of my car, slamming it shut behind me and I marched up the front steps that lead to the large porch. I grabbed my keys and
unlocked the front door. Pushiol net
the
door open, I was greeted with the familiar scent of a Merryweather; I knew the scent well because I was closer to Mica Merryweather vs the Lycans.
But what was a Merriweather doing in my territory?
I went towards the living room where the scent got strong and just as I was pushing the door open, I froze. In the crack of the door, I saw Judy leaning in and wrapping her arms around a tall gentleman.
He wrapped his arms around her as well and he held her close.
I was seeing fucking red.
Before I could stop myself, I slammed the door open with force, making it hit the
wall and crack under its force. Judy quickly jumped away from the guy, her eyes wide with alarm and she sucked in a sharp breath when she saw me.
“Gavin?”
dy’s POV
As I walked Lukas to the living room door, he paused for a moment before we went into the front foyer.
“Thank you again for helping me out, Judy,” he told me. “It’s hard moving to a different school, and you’ve made it a lot easier. I’m glad we can be friends.”
I nodded and smiled at him.
“Yeah, me too,” I told him.
“I’ll say goodbye here and show myself out,” he told me, giving me a brief hug. “Oh, by the way… do you think I can get Sammy’s phone number? She’s super cute.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I hugged him back.
“I’ll see what I can do,” I told him.
Just as he was about to pull away, the door slammed open, making us both nearly fall over startled.
The fire in his eyes was enough to kill a thousand men, and his Alpha and Lycan aura worked together to roll off him in waves, making me shudder. Lukas had gone completely pale. I was surprised by this because his uncle was also a Lycan; I thought he would have been used to the Lycan power by now. Not to mention, Lukas came from a Lycan bloodline. Then again, Gavin was the most powerful of them, so I shouldn’t have been surprised that Lukas felt it tenfold.
“I don’t remember giving a Merryweather permission to take up residence in my pack,” Gavin said through his teeth, his eyes flashing dangerously as he glared at Lukas.
“He goes to my school,” I was quick to explain. “We were studying and-”
“Is that what it was you were doing?” Gavin asked, his eyes never left Lukas’s. “It didn’t look like much studying was getting done.”
“I was just leaving,” Lukas said, his voice coming out squeakier than it had before Gavin showed up.
“Yes, you were,” Gavin agreed firmly. “And I’ll be speaking with your uncle about your lack of common sense. You should be asking my permission if you are to step foot in not only my pack but my mansion as well.”
Luka’s eyes grew wide as he glanced at me.
“I didn’t know this was the Alpha’s mansion.”
I folded my arms across my chest and glared at Gavin. He was being a complete ass for no reason. He has no claim over me to be jealous and he doesn’t really live here. Yes, it was his mansion, but his primary home was his villa on the other side of his pack.
“You aren’t in the wrong, Lukas,” I told him, my eyes never leaving Gavin’s face. “I live here, and you are my guest.”noveldrama
“This is my home,” Gavin shot back, a bite to his words. “You ask my permission before you step foot in here again, understood?”
“Yes, Alpha. I apologize. If I had known this was your home, I would have asked first.”
“Why are you in my region and not your Mica’s?” Gavin asked, narrowing his eyes.
“I already told you, he goes to my school,” I said, exasperated and annoyed.
“I want to hear it from him.”
Lukas swallowed, clearly terrified of Gavin.
“I attend the Shifter Academy. It’s rated the top school in the world. I just
transferred a few days ago and Judy was assigned to be my tutor for the next few weeks,” Lukas explained.
“It’s a job,” I further explained. “His family is paying me.”
“I didn’t approve of you getting another job,” Gavin said, his eyes finally finding
mine and I could see the inner turmoil within them.
My jaw nearly dropped at his bold statement.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think I needed to ask her permission, great lord,” I shot back sarcastically, making Lukas suck in a sharp breath. I’m sure he’s never heard anyone speak to a Lycan like this before, but my retationship with Gavin was… complicated.
“Did you not read the contract I had you sign?”
“You mean the 500-page book? I must have missed it,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “Are we done here? Lukas needs to get going. It’s late and you’re delaying his travels home.”
“Where are you staying?” Gavin asked.
“I got a dorm at the academy,” Lukas told him, shuffling awkwardly in his shoes.
“The Academy is public domain
stated in the school handbook which was signed by each of the Lycan Chairmen,” I reminded him. “He’s not breaking any rules. I didn’t tell Kim that this was your property and for that I apologize. But you have no right to be upset with him over this. If you are to be upset with anyone, it should be me.”
I saw Gavins’ nostrils flaring but he didn’t say anything in response. He continued to glare at Lukas until he was even more uncomfortable than he was a moment
ago.
“I really should go,” he said. “It was nice to officially meet you, Alpha.”
Lukas was smart not to give me another hug or say anything to me for that matter.
If he had, there was no telling what he would do. He quickly bowed to Gavin before retreating from the mansion, leaving Gavin and me alone.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I asked as I turned back towards the living room and went to the couch.
“I don’t typically enjoy it when the family of other Lycans are in my territory,” Gavin told me, his eyes never leaving the back of my head; I nearly melted until his scrutiny. “You should have known better than to bring him here.”
I sat down and folded my arms across my chest like a defiant child.
“It wasn’t his fault, and you treated him like shit. He’ll probably never want to talk to me again.”
I felt Gavin approaching me, but I refused to look at him.
“And that’s a problem?” He asked, his tone was low and dangerous, but I wasn’t afraid of him.
“I’m his tutor, Gavin,” I sighed. “His family is paying me to get him caught up.”noveldrama
“Do I not pay you enough?”
“You pay me fine, but-”
“Then why are you seeking another job?” He asked before I could finish my sentence.
“I wasn’t seeking another job. My professor asked for a favor and told me it was a paid opportunity. I took her up on that offer,” I explained.
“You could have told her you have other obligations.”
He was now standing in front of me, and I felt his eyes pouring into my face. I pressed my lips in a thin line as I lifted my gaze to meet his.
“I told her that I had another tutoring job, but I could tutor Lukas around my schedule,” I told him. “Matthew will always be my first priority; you know that.”
Gavin processed my words; I could I practically see the wheels turning in his mind. refused to back down; was not in the wrong. Maybe I was wrong for not telling Gavin that Lukas would be coming overto study, but other than that, wasn’t in the wrong. He was being ridiculous.
Gavin swallowed hard; his Adam’s apple bobbing as he did so.
“Why was he touching you?”
His question took me off guard; I wasn’t expecting to have him directly bring up
the real reason why he was upset, but also the hint of vulnerability in his tone was surprising.
My brows furrowed at his question.
“What?” I asked him.
“Don’t make me repeat myself, Judy,” he said through a tightened jaw. He shocked me further by
kneeling in front of me, so he wan et
now at eye level with my
couch-seated form. “Why was he touching you?” He repeated anyway, this time his voice was softer and more intimate and my stomach flipped.
The fight in me was quickly fading when I saw the hurt flash in his eyes.
“I…..” I started to say, but I wasn’t sure what to say. I was confused by this level of vulnerability coming from the almighty Lycan. “It was just a hug goodbye,” I told him, my tone much softer than I intended.
He ran his hands up my hips, making me tremble from his touch.
“Did he touch you anywhere else?” He asked, his tone low, but the dangerous edge was almost completely gone.
“No, of course not,” I told him softly. “It was only a hug, Gavin.”
He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me against him; instinctively, I wrapped my legs around him. He buried his face in my neck and inhaled deeply like he was committing my scent to memory and when he released it, it was a rapid and shuddering release. I felt the warmth of his breath on the
nape of my neck and the softness of his lips tracing my collarbone.
“I never want to walk in on you with another man again. Do you understand me?”
He asked in a whisper, his hold on me tightening, but not in a painful way. It was possessive and sexy in all the right ways, and it made my lady parts gush with arousal.
“Understood, Alpha,” I said softly and seductively.
“And if I ever catch Lukas Merryweather on my property again… I will kill him.”
Gavin’s POV
I could smell her arousal as she sat on the couch, her legs wrapped around me while my arms were wrapped around her. I wasn’t used to showing this level of vulnerability; I wasn’t used to being this vulnerable in general. I didn’t particularly like revealing this side of myself. But I couldn’t help myself when it came to her; she brought this side out of me.
Seeing her in the arms of another man did something to me; it released this primal need to claim her and make others back off. I never wanted to see another man touching her again and if they did, I would rip their heads off. There was no doubt in my mind that my wolf would happily kill anyone who touched Judy Montague.
A strange reaction for someone who isn’t our mate.
As my lips trailed down the nape of her neck, relishing in her shuddering breath as goosebumps formed along her flesh, I grabbed the band of her waist and started to tug them down her legs. She gasped and for a moment, her hand flew over mine to stop me.
“We aren’t alone in this mansion. Are you forgetting there’s a full staff here, including my friend Sammy who is sleeping down the hallway,” she reminded me, glancing over her shoulder at the dark hallway where most of the staff reside.
I smirked as I continued to pull her pants down, leaving her in nothing but her panties as I pulled her pants completely off.
“Gavin, I’m serious. What if they walk in?” She asked, a slight panic in her tone.
It made me smirk again.
“Let them,” I said, my tone growly. “Then all the men of the mansion will know to back off.”
“Most of the mansions are mated,” I reminded him. “And there are more females than men…including my friend.”
I kissed her inner thighs, silencing her protest. Her arousal was apparent, and I grinned against the softness of her legs. I ran my tongue towards her center, her panties getting wetter by the second.noveldrama
“You’re going to be the death of me,” she whispered, her head resting on the back pillow. I tugged her panties to the side, revealing her wet pink center.
“You’re already the death of me,” I murmured as I ran my tongue up her slit, making her gasp. Her flavor exploded in my mouth, making me even more possessive if that was possible.
I buried my face in her core, a low growl escaping me as I fed from her. I sucked her clit into my mouth, loving how swollen it was getting from her arousal. He let out a soft moan as she dug her fingernails into the couch. Her rejection and fears of being caught left her completely.
I loved the risk of getting caught; I loved the danger of knowing that anyone could walk in at any moment and see my face buried in her core. I almost wanted to be caught with her juices coating my face. I dug my fingers into her thighs, pulling her closer to me and feasting like I starving man.
Her juices poured into my mouth, and I lapped up every single ounce of it.
“Holy shit,” she whispered, her legs trembling as she neared her peak.
I sucked and nibbled gently on her clit, basking in the fact that it was throbbing. I knew she was close; her breathing was getting heavier and her nails dug even more into the couch cushion as she suppressed her deep moans and screams, not wanting to alert the entire mansion about the taboo act that was happening in the living room, right under their noses.
Her toes
as her and her body shook
as her orgasm ripped through her, making more of her juices flow
evenly from her and directly into my mouth Her orgasm was powerful, nearly knocking me off balance as I gripped her hips tighter and buried myself deeper. I continued the assault until she was nothing but a twitching and panting mess.
When her orgasm started to subside, leaving her motionless, I pulled back, licking
my lips, tasting and feeling her release coating my face.
“Holy fuck,” she whispered after what felt like a long moment. “That was the best orgasm I’ve ever had.”
“Better than what any other man could give you,” I said, kissing up her body until I reached her lips. “Kiss me.”
Her eyes were dark with lust; she wasted no time. Soon, her lips were on mine, and he was kissing me deeply, tasting herself on my lips. She moaned against my lips and wrapped her legs around my waist, putting me close to her so was flesh against her. I wrapped my arms firmly around her and
deepened the kiss, letting my tongue explore her mouth.
My wolf
I nipped at her bottom lip before pulling away slightly. Her hooded eyes were filled with lust; her lips swollen from my kiss and her cheeks flushed from her orgasm.
She was beautiful.
The thought was like cold water being dumped on my face and I quickly pulled away from her. She was still in a daze when I stood up to gain distance between us. My heart was beating rapidly against my chest and my wolf had the instinct to pull forward and return to her, but I pulled him back with all the force I had within
me.
“I have to go,” I told her. “You should get some sleep.”
She blinked a few times, coming out of her daze.
“Wait what?” She asked, her mind finally catching up to the present moment. “You’re leaving?”
I nodded; as much as I didn’t want to leave, I needed the space from her because she was making me feel things I wasn’t prepared for. Things I hadn’t felt in a long time, and I needed to clear my head from these thoughts.
I adjusted my shirt, avoiding her eyes. I kept my expression stoic and businesslike
as if I had just finished an important meeting. I knew she was confused, and I
knew she was upset, but I couldn’t bring myself to address it.
“You’ll be at the Villa at 6 tomorrow, correct?” I asked, referring to her normal scheduled tutoring session with Matthew.
She nodded.
“Yes,” she said softly, the disappointment evident in her tone.
“I’ll see you then,” he told her before I turned towards the door. As I reached the doorway, I paused. “Judy?”
I waited until her attention on was me before I continued.
“I was serious earlier; don’t let me catch him here again.”
With that, I turned and left the mansion.
The entire next day, I couldn’t concentrate on any of my work. I thought gaining this space from Judy would be beneficial; I thought I’d be able to clear my head and forget about the feelings I felt last night. But I was proved wrong; in fact, they seemed to be getting stronger.
I ran my fingers through my hair as I sat at my desk chair.
“You seem lost in thought,” Beta Taylor said as he stepped into my office. He made himself at home and sat in the chair in front of my desk. He was the only one I would allow to do that without reprimanding. “I’m assuming it has to do with
a certain Merryweather that was in your mansion last night?”
Taylor was the one who alerted me
that Lukas Merryweather was at my mansion, so he already knew I wasn’t pleased by that fact. He also knew my complicated sexual relationship with Judy, so there wasn’t much for me to hide from him.
“He was hugging her,” I muttered, leaning back in my desk chair, rubbing the bridge of my nose like I was getting a headache. “Can you believe that? A Merryweather… touching her.”
Even I could hear the jealousy in my tone, and I hated it.
It made Taylor laugh as he shook his head.
“I’m saying this as your friend and not your Beta… Man, you are whipped,” he grinned.noveldrama
I rolled my eyes and then narrowed them at him.
“I’m not whipped,” I muttered. “I just don’t like the scent of other men on someone I’m sleeping with. Especially not someone with Lycan blood.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” Taylor said with a chuckle. “And considering you have dark circles under your eyes, I doubt you’re getting much sleep.”
“I made sure he doesn’t return and if he doesn’t… I’ll kill him,” I said in a threatening tone.
Taylor nodded and watched me carefully for a moment before saying, “Are you sure it’s only because he’s a Merryweather and not because he’s a guy?”
“What are you talking about?”
Taylor smirked as he leaned forward in his seat.
“You walked in on them hugging,” Taylor reminded me of the very thing I told him earlier in the day. “It wasz an innocent hug goodbye, and flippedout. Are you sure you wouldn’t have done that if he was just anyone?”
velou
“He’s not just anyone… he’s a Merryweather,” I murmured.
“Yes, but have you ever considered you were jealous because he wasn’t you.”
I low growl escaped my throat as I glared at Taylor.
“What are you saying?” I asked him.
“How do you know you don’t have genuine feelings for Judy?” Taylor asked. “How
do you know that your little Lycan heart isn’t simply… falli
“I don’t fall in love,” I growled, making Taylor freeze, his smile faltering for only a moment. “Bad things happen when I fall in love.”
Taylor frowned; he was the only one in the world who knew my troubled past. I won’t disclose what happened to anyone, but over time, Taylor became my best friend, and I felt comfortable enough with him to share what had happened. He never asks me about it or makes me relive the trauma, which I had always been grateful for. This was the first time it’s been brought up since I told him about it.noveldrama
“Neither of those deaths was your fault, Gavin,” Taylor said, his brows furrowing. “You didn’t get them killed.”
I swallowed, my Adam’s apple moving and I worked hard to avoid his eye contact. This was a level of vulnerability I wasn’t willing to share, not even with my best friend.
“Look, all I’m saying is, Judy is tough. She can handle whatever shit you throw at her and then throw back her own shit just as hard, if not harder. Have you ever considered that maybe this was more than just set to the both of you?”
“No,” I said without hesitation. “I never considered that nor will I.”
“What if she’s considered it?” Taylor asked, drawing my attention to his face. The serious expression he was sporting showed no signs that he was kidding. “How do you know she doesn’t have real feelings for you?”
“She knows what this is,” I told him. “She was using me to get back at her ex and get him off her back… I was using her to get my family off and Daisy off mine.”
Granted, I hadn’t heard much from my mother since I started this “relationship” with Judy, but if I had, I’d simply tell her that I had someone to warm my bed and that I didn’t need Daisy in my life to do that.
“Have you seen the way she looks at you?” Taylor asked, raising his brows. “There’s much more to it and besides, it didn’t work in her favor. In fact, your relationship seemed to make Ethan even crazier. Yet, she still continued it.”
“What are you trying to say?” I shot back, clearly irritated.
“I’m saying, I think she has actual feelings for you, and I think you’re in denial about having actual feelings for her,” Taylor said, folding his arms across his chest, a smug smile on his face like he just cracked some hidden code or something.
“Watch yourself, Beta,” I said, I spat the word “Beta” like it was a bad taste on my tongue. “You don’t want to cross me.”
He frowned and held up his hands in mock surrender.
“I’m not trying to piss you off, but you aren’t well. You aren’t sleeping and you’re snapping a lot more frequently than you used to. If you aren’t careful, it could put the company in danger.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, a low growl escaping my throat.
“My business is perfectly fine. It’s not for you to be concerned,” I said through my teeth. “How about you focus on your own life instead of mine.”
“I don’t mean to step on your toes,” Taylor said, his brows knitting together even
more.
He fell silent for a while as he
assessed my face. I kept my eyes fixed on my computer, pretending to look over my recent reports but my mind went back to last night. The jealousy I felt when I saw he in the arms of another man; the fact that he had gotten his scent on her and I would have done anything to erase it from her body. The way I felt when her legs were wrapped around me and my face was buried deep in her core. The way she tasted and her breathy moans. The flush of her cheeks, her swollen lips, and her lust-filled hooded eyes.
How beautiful she was at that moment and how my heart skipped a beat at the sight of her.
How my wolf wanted nothing more but to claim her.
I bit back a groan, hating how vulnerable was with her… hating how she made me feel because I wasn’t supposed to have these types of feelings. At least not
anymore, I wasn’t. I swore myself off reat relationships long ago and yet here she was… making me feel
unspeakable things.
I glanced at Taylor, who was still watching me, trying to figure out what I was
thinking.
“Why are you still here?” I all but barked.
He raised his brows and started to stand to his feet.
“I’ll leave,” he told me with a slight shrug. “But think about what I said. You might not feel anything for her but I have a feeling it’s not the
for her If that’s the case… Vou Same
should cut your ties now because you’ll only hurt her later down the line.”
His words left me speechless as I stared at his retreating back. Cut my ties?
Is that something I could do?
Could I break things off with Judy and act as if this had never happened? Would I be okay with that?
“What’s the other alternative?” I found myself asking before he could leave fully.
Taylor paused, but he didn’t turn around to look at me, he spoke with his back facing me.
“Take her out,” Taylor suggested with a shrug. “Go on a real date with her and figure out how you feel.”
Without another word, Taylor walked out of my office, leaving me staring at the empty space he once occupied. I ran my fingers through my hair and took a deep breath.
Go on a date with her?
Is that something I could actually do?
Would she even want to go on a date with me?
Before I could talk myself out of it, I pressed the intercom button for my
receptionist on the bottom floor.
“Veronica, I need some date ideas. I expect a full report by the end of the day,” I spoke into the intercom.
After a moment of crackling silence, she finally replied.noveldrama
“Right away sir, but is there any particular reason why? Who are we planning this date for because that’s important? Both parties have to enjoy the outing in order for it to be successful,” she replied.
I sighed and I knew there was no getting out of this; I had to tell her a little bit more information.
“Judy Montague,” I said into the intercom. “Find out what she likes and plan out her perfect date. I want reservations and plans to be settled by the end of the day.”
“When would you like this date to be?” She asked.
“Friday.”
There was another pause.
“That’s tomorrow,” she reminded me. “That’s very short notice for a date.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion; I gave you enough information. Do as you’re told,” I ordered.
“Yes, Alpha,” she replied softly.
I ended the intercom conversation and turned back to my computer, trying to refocus my attention on my task at hand, yet failing miserably.
By the end of the day, as the sun was setting, Veronica appeared in my office.
She looked tired but she had a smile on her face as she held up the reports, I asked her for.
“I found out a ton of information
from Judy’s social media account.
She really should lock her profile, so she doesn’t have to face any creeps Veronica stated
vel.not
thoughtfully, making my jaw tense. “But I found out what I needed. I know her favorite restaurant which happens to be in the Silver Crescent pack. I already made a reservation for 5. I also found out that she loves theme parks, based on her vacation photos. We don’t really have theme parks around here, but the fair is in town. So, I bought you both a ticket for the fair, which will take place after dinner. Tomorrow is Friday, so the fair is having a fireworks and light show display in the evening. There will also be music as well, which Judy seems to like based on her social media account.”
“The fair?” I murmured, unable to hide my disgust. Fairs were loud and dirty, not something I’d like to do on a first date. I’ve only been to one fair as a kid, and it was the worst experience. I threw up on the rollercoaster due to motion sickness; not to mention they were overly crowded.
“Yes, sir,” she replied simply with a shrug. “I know it’s not really your thing, but if we are planning this date for Miss Montague, then I suggest the fair She seems to like stuff like this. Plus, it could be romantic, and you might have a good time.
ら
“I never told you I was going on the date with her,” I snapped as I snatched the
reports off my desk.
“I apologize, Sir. I assumed-”
“You may leave now,” I say dismissively, waving her away. “I have things to do.”
I stood, waiting for her to leave first. Once she was out of sight, I packed up my things and quickly hurried out of the office.
Judy was still in the Villa when I arrived. It was only 8 pm and I knew her session with Matt wouldn’t take much longer.
I paced outside the parlor doors, waiting for her to emerge, not wanting to sound desperate or in any way pathetic.
I heard their talking dying down and Matt’s typical yawn, indicating that he was exhausted. After a moment, Matt emerged from the parlor and frowned up at me.
“Oh, hi, Dad. I was just going to bed,” he told me, heaping another large yawn. I rubbed his head.
“Get some rest, buddy. I’ll see you in the morning,” I assured him.
He nodded, a pleased smile on his face as he headed towards the stairs. Judy was frowning at me as she leaned against the doorway, staring at me. “Everything okay?” She asked. “You seem on edge.,” she pointed out.
I nodded, suddenly feeling nervous but I quickly brushed the feeling away; I had
to think of this as a business offer and not like I was asking someone on a date. “Tomorrow night, be ready at 5 pm. I’m picking you up. We are going on a date.” I didn’t stick around for her answer, I turned and stormed away.
udy’s POV
“I can’t believe he’s actually taking you on a date,” Nan said, a bright smile on her face. “Why are you so nervous? This is a good thing!”
“Is it though?” I asked, I looked at myself in the mirror feeling a sense of unease in the pit of my belly. It was strange because Gavin didn’t really give me much of a choice. I explained how he asked me out to Nan, and she thought it was the most romantic thing she had ever heard of.
It was kind of romantic where Gavin was concerned; he didn’t do romance… he didn’t do dating. So, I was confused as to why he wanted to take me out. From my understanding, we weren’t in a real relationship; so, why the sudden change of heart? My heartbeat was wildly against my chest as I thought about Gavin and what was expected for tonight’s date. I wanted it to go well… I wanted him to see a different side of me. One that maybe he could actually see a future; but I worried that maybe this was some kind of setup. Like there was an alternative plan that I wasn’t seeing.
I just didn’t understand why he suddenly wanted to take me on a date.
But Nan didn’t seem to think there was an alternative motive; she was just happy that I was finally going out on a date with Gavin Landry, despite myself.
I turned to look at her, my eyes pouring their concern into hers and her expression softened along with her brightened smile.
“You look beautiful Judy,” she told me softly, referring to the dress I was wearing.
One problem with him not telling me anything about this date was that I had no idea what to wear. I glanced down at the casual dress I was wearing, hoping that it worked for whatever it was we were doing. Knowing Gavin, he was most likely taking me to a fancy restaurant to wine and dine me. He was a rich billionaire who owned the largest company in the world; I knew this date was not going to be cheap.
I turned back to the mirror to look at my hair. I had it pulled back and out of my face; it curled down my back and landed just above my hipbone. He liked it when my hair was down, but I also didn’t want it in my face, so I figured this was a happy medium.
Ugh, since when did I care about what Gavin liked?
I just wanted to melt away and let the ground swallow me.
There was a knock on my bedroom door and I didn’t need to look to know who it was. Soon, Sammy walked into my room.
“Do you have everything you need for tonight?” She asked curiously as she looked between me and Nan. “Is there anything I can do for you? I am your handmaiden after all.”
I smiled at her; the new role of her being my maid was weird for us both.
“No,” I assured her. “Thank you though. I think I have everything. I just need to grab my purse.”
Sammy was quick to retrieve my purse. I took a deep breath and turned towards my friends, the nervousness never leaving my expression.
“It’s going ot be fine,” Nan assured me, giving me a quick hug, careful not to mess up my hair or anything. “Just relax and try to have fun.”
I nodded, giving her a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.
I walked downstairs, my heart pounding in my chest as I heard the front door opening and Gavin letting himself into the mansion. It was his mansion after all, so he had every right to let himself in, even if he wasn’t actually living here. swnovel.net
I was expecting him to wear an elegant suit that made me feel underdressed, so I was surprised when I saw that he was wearing a casual pair of jeans and a black button-down shirt that left no mystery of the defined muscles beneath his shirt. His hairwas styled in a way that looked tousled, but
also purposeful. swnovelnoveldrama
I was used to this level of casualness from him, and it made me furrow my brows. Though he was casual, he looked amazing, and my heart skipped a beat.
As he took me in, his eyes poured into mine; I saw that they were dark and filled with something I couldn’t quite distinguish. For a moment, neither of us said anything; we only stared at one another with an awestruck expression.
“I need to get my shoes,” I told him, pointing to the shoe wrack across the front foyer, my hands trembling slightly.
“Wear something comfortable. No heals,” he told me.
I raised my brows at his words,
confused by this. I assumed a date with Gavin Landry meant something elegant and worthy, but I’m beginning to think I might have been wrong. Did I hear him incorrectly when he told me he was taking me on a date? Maybe this wasn’t an actual date. swnovel
I swallowed the lump in my throat and grabbed a comfortable pair of shoes,
putting them on slowly and deliberately.
“Ready to go?” He asked when I returned to him.
I nodded and followed him out of the house, avoiding the curious gazes of Nan and Sammy who were clearly watching us from around the corner.
Once we got outside, I noticed Gavin’s personal car parked out front instead of the one that his staff would typically drive. I furrowed my browns when he opened the passenger door for me.
“You’re driving?” I asked him.
He nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. Despite the smirk, he still had a stoic expression that countered it and I wondered what it even meant.
I got into the passenger seat and Gavin closed the door as I put my seatbelt on. I watched as he ran around the car and got into the driver’s seat. I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen Gavin driving before. I didn’t think he knew how to drive if I were to be honest.
The car started with a roar and Gavin put his seatbelt on.
“You can pick whatever music you like,” he told me, handing me his phone which had the music app installed.
I raised my brows; he was giving me control of the music? That was different than I imagined. As he drove, I scrolled through the thousands of artists on his phone and chose one that I actually liked.
I bobbed my head to the rhythm as Gavin drove through the city; the sun was still up, but it looked as if it was about to start setting soon. It was nearing 5:30 and my stomach was rumbling. I hadn’t eaten all day; mainly because I wanted to be hungry for dinner, but also because of my nerves. I was terrified about this outing, not sure what to expect, it kept me from eating anything out of fear that I’d just throw it up.
Gavin parallel-parked the car in the middle of the city and turned off the engine. He got out of the car and walked around to the passenger door, opening it. He held out his hand for me to take. I took his hand and allowed him to pull me out of the car.
“Such a gentleman,” I teased, raising my brows at him. “Didn’t think you had it in you.”
He raised his right brow at me and then gave me a sheepish shrug.
He started to walk, but when he noticed I was trailing behind him, he slowed his steps so he could walk beside me, another surprising act. I looked up at him, he was looking anywhere but at me, and it made my heart race in my chest. I wondered desperately what he was thinking at that moment. swnovel
We started near one of my favorite restaurants, place that I had frequently gone to with Nan in the past; I hadn’t been there in a while, but they had my favorite cosines and beverages. It was called The Grove, and it wasn’t your typical fancy restaurant, but it was classy enough that reservations were recommended. swnovel
It certainly wasn’t a place I could ever see Gavin going. As we walked, I expected to walk past it and towards a more elegant restaurant which knew were further down the stirp. was so lost in though and the view of the fair in the distance caught my attention. I heard the fair was in town and that it was leaving in a few days. I wanted to go with Nan and Sammy, but our lives kind of got away from us and we didn’t have any time. I was a bit disappointed, but I made a promise to myself that I’d catch it next time they were in town. swnovel
Gavin cleared his throat, getting my attention and I realized he had stopped walking. I paused and turned to look at him standing outside the entrance of The Grove. He held his hand out for me to take.noveldrama
“Are you coming?” He asked, raising his right brow.
My heart skipped a beat as I looked up at him and then at the restaurant sign.
“We are eating here?” I asked.
Before he could answer, one of the hostesses walked out of the restaurant, opening the door for us.
“Alpha Landry, welcome to The Grove. It’s an honor that you are chose us for your date this evening. Your table is ready.”
Judy’s POV
I barely had time to register what was happening when we walked into The Grove. The familiar delicious scents of the food that I have come to love invaded my nose and made my stomach rumble even more than it was on our drive into the city. The hostess gave Gavin a polite smile and a bow of her head as she led us through the busy restaurant, many who had recognized him were gawking, not believing that the pristine Lycan Chairmen, Gavin Landry, was actually dining at The Grove.noveldrama
This was not the typical restaurant that he would be dining in; he should be in a fine dining establishment, owned by him or his people. But instead, he was in a small establishment, owned by someone else, eating food that could be classified as greasy, though delicious.
It was almost laughable, but now the casual clothing made sense. He was never planning on taking me anywhere fancy and a part of me wondered why.
Was I not good enogu hfor a 5 star resteraunt? Was he ashamed to be seen with a low-class girl in front of his fancy and rich friends? Or maybe it was something else.
I swallowed another lump in my throat as we walked through the crowded establishment and towards a private booth. There were candles on the table, which wasn’t something they did for everyone and there was a reserved placemat on the table, indicating that this table was reserved for a pristine guest.
“I hope everything is to your liking, Alpha,” the waitress said. “The waiter, Marcus, will be with you in a moment and if there’s anything I can do for you, just let me know. My name is Carly and I’m happy to be at your service.”
She bowed to him again, giving him a polite smile before lifting her gaze.
He nodded, dismissing her as he motioned for me to sit at the booth. I slid into the booth, tucking my purse beside me. Gavin slid beside me; it was a round booth, so it wasn’t strange for him to sit beside me.
Carly handed us our menus and poured a couple of glasses of water before retreating.
“This is unexpected,” I said, glancing down at the menu. I get the same thing every time I come here, so I wasn’t sure why I was glancing at the menu. But I felt a bit awkward and nervous in his presence, especially in a place that didn’t really suit him.
He looked at the menu, his expression was hard to read.
“I wanted to try something new,” he murmured, his eyes never leaving the pages of the menu.
“Why The Grove?” I found myself asking. “It doesn’t suit you.”
He raised his brows, and for a moment, I thought I saw a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, but it was gone in a heartbeat.
“And what does suit me?” He asked me.
“Elegant restraints like the
Whimsical Whisk, or Carter’s resort,” I told him, raising my brows. “There were others on this strip that you could have chosen from. Others that are more suitable for guys like you…” swnovel
“Guys like me?”
I sighed, rolling my eyes but keeping my face buried in my menu.
“Lycan’s,” I murmured. “Rich CEOs. Eligible bachelors… you know, the works,” I explained. “Do I really need to explain that to you?”
He smirked as he looked at me.
“So, you’re saying a rich CEO can’t order a brisket or a burger?” He asked, argument clear in his tone.
My cheeks flushed and I bit my lower lip, nibbling on it. I barely even noticed his gaze drifting to my mouth because he averted his attention from my lips before I could even look at him.
“I’m saying… I thought you’d never be caught dead in a place like this,” I admitted.
His shoulders rumbled with laughter, though it was silent. He fixed his attention back on his menu and scanned the greasy foods.
“What are you ordering?” He asked.
I was embarrassed to tell him what I
was ordering, usually, I get a pulled pork sandwich with extra pickles and fries with garlic butter and parmesan cheese. I also get
alcoholic root beer float. This place was popular for its greasy sandwiches, which was why they are rated high and why they get so busy that reservations are
recommended. swnovel
I debated whether or not I should tell him or not… maybe I’ll just order a salad. Their cobb salads look pretty good, and I could order a glass of wine with it.
vel
“A cobb salad, tell him softly, my eyes averting his as my stomach continues to rumble in protest. it didn’t want a salad; it wanted something greasy. My body associated this place with nasty greasy food and a salad was not going to satisfy me right now. “And maybe a glass of wine. What wine do you recommend?” I asked him as I tried to hand him the wine menu. swnovel
He glanced at the menu and then back at me without taking it.
“You’re telling me with everything on this menu, you’re going to get a cobb salad and wine?” He asked, his brows raised.
My cheeks flushed, but I wasn’t going to back down.
“Yes,” I said, though even I didn’t sound very convincing to myself.noveldrama
He put his menu down and turned to face me, his scrutiny burning into the side of my face as I fought to keep my eyes from finding his.
“Judy, look at me,” he ordered, his tone calm and almost sultry. My cheeks flushed even more; why was I suddenly so nervous around him?
I glanced up at him awkwardly, my eyes finding his.
He reached out, and tucked a strand of hair behind my hair, his touch surprisingly gentle and it left me almost breathless. His fingers lingered on my cheek for a moment, and I had to fight the urge to lean into him.
“When you come here with your friends, what do you usually order,” he asked, his tone low and his eyes never leaving mine.
I let out a breath, surprised by his question.
“How did you know I came here with my friends?” I asked in a breathless whisper.
He smirked, his eyes crinkling in the corners.
“Because I’ve done my research before deciding where to take you,” he replied. “Now answer my question.”
I bit my lower lip and again, chewing on it nervously.
“Bite your lip again and I’ll bend you over this table and give everyone in here a real show,” he said darkly, his tone husky, sending a jolt right between my legs.
I gawked at him, my face heating with embarrassment. I released my lip with a sudden pop and licked it as I looked at the menu.
“Tell me what you normally order,” he said again, his tone even lower this time.
“A pulled pork sandwich with extra pickles and fries with garlic butter and parmesan cheese and an alcoholic root beer float,” my voice was rushed and soft as I averted my eyes from his. I didn’t want to see his reaction.
He put his menu down without saying a word, just as the waiter arrived.
“Good evening, Alpha Landry and his date,” he began politely. “I am Marcus, your waiter for the evening. It’s an honor to be at your service and please, if you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to tell me.”
belongs to swnovel
Gavin nodded at him, his expression stoic and leaving no hint of what he was thinking or feeling.
Marcus pulled out his tablet, ready to enter our order into the system.
“Can I start you off with something to drink? We have an excellent wine selection and-”
“Actually, I think we are ready to order,” Gavin told him.
Marcus’s eyes flashed with surprise and then he smiled with a nod.
“Of course, Alpha,” he said getting his tablet ready. “I should have known you’d know exactly what you wanted for wine. I’m assuming the most expensive brand.”
Gavin nodded.
“Bring us that yes, but we are also getting something else,” he told him.
Marcus’s eyes flashed excitedly; he could already taste the large tip that Gavin was going to leave him at the end of this meal no doubt.
“What else can I get you?” He asked.
“We’d like to order two alcoholic root beer floats,” he shocked me by saying. I glanced at him surprised. Marcus put that in the tablet.
“Excellent choice, Sir. That’s a fan favorite for sure,” Marcus hummed as he tapped away on the tablet.
“We are also ready to order,” Gavin told him. Marcus nodded to him to go ahead. “We would like two pulled pork sandwiches, both with extra pickles, and two orders of garlic parmesan fries.” swnovel
My mouth fell open.
Marcus nodded again as he quickly tapped that into the tablet.
“Another excellent choice. You won’t be disappointed,” Marcus said as he lifted
his gaze. “I’ll get that to you right away.”
“Oh, and Mary’s,” Gavin said before he could walk away. “Can you rush out an order of Mozzarella balls and Pretzel bites as well?” Gavin glanced at me his eyes dark and a smirk playing on his lips. “I’m feeling extra hungry tonight.” swnovel
