Chapter 123

Judy’s POV

“You want me to go with you??” Nan asked, her eyes wide.

I nodded.

“Yes,” I told her. “We would only be gone for a few weeks. And I think it would do us both some good to get away for a bit.”

“Are you sure?” She asked, worry and fear in her eyes. “I don’t want to impose.”

“You could never impose, Nan,” I assured her. “Plus, I don’t want to go alone.”

A grin spread across her lips.

“I do have a ton of PTO I haven’t used,” she told me.

“And it’s during school vacation so you won’t be missing anything,” I told her, nudging her gently. “Come on, Nan. Say yes.”

She laughed and then nodded.

“Okay, yes!”

For the remainder of the night, we talked about everything we had missed these last few days. It was nice to have my best friend back, and the more we talked and planned for our getaway, the more excited we both became.

I read to her the email that I received about the place where the competition is being held. It’s a tropical location and it looked so nice. We were staying at a nice resort, completely paid for by the sponsors of the event. The only thing Nan needed to do was get a plane ticket and a new bathing suit.

Thankfully, the seat right next to me was available and she was able to book the seat without any issues before the night ended.

Chester hadn’t bothered us for the rest of the night, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was okay. I went to check on him at some point during the night while Nan slept, but he wasn’t in the kitchen and one of the night warriors mentioned seeing him leaving not too long after we returned.

I figured he needed some space, so I left him alone for the night.

Nan ended up leaving early in the morning so she could get home and shower before her late morning classes. I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen only to find Chester and Harper in a heated argument.

“How could you choose her over me?” Harper asked through her teeth. “After all we’ve been through together? I’ve waited for you for long enough…”

“I never asked you to wait for me,” Chester said, shaking his head. “I thought you wanted to keep our relationship, and our work separate. Why are you bothering me in the kitchen?”

“Because you won’t talk to me otherwise,” Harper cried. “It’s not fair, Chester!”

“You aren’t acting fair, Harper,” Chester said, turning to face her. “I found my mate. You were once my friend, Harps. You should be happy for me.”

“I’m in love with you,” Haper said, folding her arms across her chest. “I thought you were feeling something for me too. But I guess I was wrong.”

“Look, I enjoyed hooking up. But it can’t happen again. Not while I’m trying to figure out what to do about my mate.”

“Well, you have a bit of time to figure it out,” I said, interrupting their conversation. Harper tensed when I approached and then I sat at the counter, grabbing the coffee that Chester had waiting for me.

“What do you mean?” Chester asked, a frown decorating his lips.

“I was nominated for the Gamma Competitions,” I told him after I took a sip of the coffee. “I’m leaving in a week. It’s across the country and I’ll be gone for a few weeks.”

“And what does that have to do with Nan?” Chester asked, his brows pinching together.

“She’s coming with me,” I answered.

His face paled immediately

“She’s what?” He asked, nearly shouting. “Why??”

“She needed to get away and clear her head, so I suggested she come with me. She bought her ticket last night.”

I could see the struggle in Chester’s eyes as he battled with his wolf.

He didn’t like the idea of his mate running away to a different country, but I think this would be good for her and soon, Chester will think so too. It’s what’s best for the two of them as a pair. They need to figure out their own shit separately before they join together.

“So, you have time to figure it out,” I continued. “Don’t worry, Chester. I’ll take care of her.”

He looked as if he wanted to argue, but he pressed his mouth in a thin line and nodded. Deep down, he knew it was for the best.

I had never seen him look so serious before.

It made me chuckle.

I didn’t have any classes today, so I went to the Landry Villa a bit early. I was hoping to be able to speak with Gavin and tell him that I was leaving for the Gamma competition in a week.

A part of me hoped he’d want to go with me as well, but there was another part of me that knew that he wouldn’t.

“Is Gavin here?” I asked the butler, Adam.

He shook his head.

“He hadn’t been here all night,” he told me. “I think he spent another night at the office.”

My heart fell into my stomach. Why was he avoiding coming home? Was it because of me?

“Oh, I was going to tell him that I’m going to be gone for a few weeks. I’m leaving next week for the gamma competition,” I told him.

Adam narrowed his eyes.

“It’s kind of short notice, don’t you think?” He asked, raising his brows.

I folded my arms across my chest.

“I didn’t really have a lot of notice,” I told him. “But this kind of a big deal. I can’t pass up the opportunity.”

After a brief pause, Adam nodded.

“I’ll let the Alpha know,” Adam said. “He’s finally allowing me to speak again. Next week is school vacation so it’s not like Master Matthew needs a tutor during those weeks.”

I nodded and thanked him before going to search for Matt, however, I was stopped by Irene who hurried down the steps. Her eyes were wet, and I knew she had been crying. She froze when she saw me, and she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Oh, Judy…” she breathed. “You are early.”

“I didn’t have much going on today,” I admitted. “I figured I’d come early and get a head start.”

Things were strained between us no doubt; I knew she no longer thought of me as a friend, and truth be told, after these last few weeks, I no longer thought of her as one either. But something in my stomach twisted when I saw the pained look in her eyes and her pale features. She was letting herself go; it was clear from her weight loss that she hadn’t been eating and she’d been crying a lot.

I sighed, relenting.

“Is everything okay, Irene?” I asked her, hating that I still cared so much.

She was quiet for a moment, shuffling in her feet before she lifted her gaze to meet mine.

“Can I ask you something?” She asked me.

I nibbled my lower lip nervously as I nodded.

“Of course,” I replied.

“What happened with you and Ethan?”

I was surprised by her question and my brows raised.

“What?” I asked her.

“What happened?” She asked again. “Why did you break up? Tell me the truth, Judy.”

I thought about lying to her, knowing the truth would confuse and maybe even hurt her. But the reason why Irene hated me so much was because I lied to her in the first place, and I didn’t want to pile on more lies.

“He cheated one me with you,” I told her without batting an eye.

“What?” She whispered; her voice filled with horror.

“He met you and your father at a conference, right?” I said with a shrug. “He fell in love with you, and he left me. He and I were already marked and mated for two years at that point. Every time he’s with you, I can feel the pain of our bond severing. It won’t go away until he marks you, which won’t happen until after you get married. But yeah, that’s what happened. He met you, and he left me.”

She let out a breath of air that I’m sure she’s been holding since she originally asked that question.

She looked so defeated and gutted by my confession.

I wanted to tell her the rest of the story, about how Ethan had been trying to get me to be his dirty little mistress because he wanted to have his cake and eat it too. I wanted to tell her that he didn’t love her and was only using her to get close to her father. I wanted to tell her how he’s been blackmailing me and I’m pretty sure he’s the reason my father is in prison with loan sharks after him. But my mouth was locked shut and I could get those words out.

She was going through enough right now and she didn’t need all of that too. Besides, it’s not like I’m lying to her by not telling her that information. I answered her question and that’s all that was required of me at that moment. Unless she asked anything more, I didn’t need to tell her anything else.

“I’m sorry I had to be the one to tell you that, Irene. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” I told her, truly meaning that apology.

She didn’t say anything; she stared at a spot on the ground, completely unmoving.

“Are you okay?” I asked after a long silence.

She blinked a few times as if she was remembering where she was.

“Um, I don’t know…” she admitted in a hoarse whisper. “I had no idea…”

I sighed, hating that she was so upset and hated that I cared so much about it, but I couldn’t help myself. She was once my friend and she is Gavin’s daughter, there was a part of me that still felt connected to her.

“I know I might be the last person you want to talk to. But if you need anything, I’m here,” I told her, trying my best at a reassuring smile.

I turned to walk away, not sure what more to say and needing to find Matt for our daily lessons. Plus, I didn’t think Irene truly wanted to talk to me any further; she was just in shock and once she recovered, she would remember that she thought of me as an enemy.

“I think he’s cheating on me,” she blurted, halting my steps completely.