Chapter 165

Gavin’s POV

“Alpha Gavin….?” I heard a voice from behind me as I was heading to the arena.

I paused when Megan, a woman I had once had a fling with, walked towards me.

Megan was tall and slender with long blonde hair and ocean-blue eyes. She always wore elegant clothing, which made sense because her father was filthy rich, considering he owned this resort. She worked mostly as a model and traveled around a lot. I used to have a lot of business in this region and stayed at this resort in the past before, which was how I met her.

The last time I was here was over 5 years ago, and I broke it off with her before I left.

Her eyes poured into mine as she walked towards me, tucking a long strand of blonde hair behind her ear, and her naturally plump and rosy lips pressed into a thin line.

“When I heard you were here, I had to come to see for myself,” she said, folding her arms across her chest.

“I’ve been here for over a week,” I told her, raising my brows, I was surprised she was just now hearing about my arrival.

“I just got back from a work trip myself,” she said, following me towards the arena. “When I heard the competition had started, I came back early. I knew you’d be here with the other Lycans.”

I nodded, my eyes fixed on the crowd that was rushing in to greet the winners. Word had gotten around fast that a team was already on their way back. They still had several hours before the competition ended, so returning early was a good sign.

“Do you think we can talk for a minute?” Megan asked, grabbing hold of my arm, trying to stop me before I entered through the overly crowded arched doorway that led to the arena.

I looked at her hold on my arm and then back at her, my eyes narrowed.

“There’s not much for us to say to one another, Megan,” I told her, pulling my arm out of her grasp. “We ended things several years ago.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she nibbled on her lower lip.

“You might not have anything to say, but I have plenty to say,” she murmured. “Things I’ve been wanting to say since you dumped me.”

Dump her?

It was a fling, and she knew this.

Ignoring her, I turned and went into the arena, finding my seat with the other Lycans. There was no way I was dealing with that mess right now.

Mica was the first to greet me with a head nod, and then Jeremy greeted me with a short wave. Per usual, Levi was in his own world, speaking to his Beta about something privately, both engrossed in their conversation and not paying attention to anyone else.

I still hated being in the same territory as that asshole. He had been after my business for years because it’s the most successful in the world.

Unfortunately for him, my business is concrete, and all his attempts at a takeover have been prevented.

I felt a hand on the back of my shoulder, and I tensed, already knowing who it belonged to.

“Please, let’s just talk,” Megan whispered.

Before I could say anything, like tell her to go away, cheering erupted around me. I knew what it meant; a team had returned. Just as they walked in, the highlights started to play on the big screen of the team that was returning.

I didn’t know I was holding my breath until I saw the team that won… blue team. That’s Judy’s team.

Soon, the teammates were being shown, and I saw Judy’s smiling face on the big screen.

The team was already walking into the arena, Judy falling to her knees out of exhaustion. My heart lurched, and I had to fight the urge to go to her and make sure she was okay. She had a bandage on her arm that I knew was most likely from the bear she fought yesterday. I wanted to look beneath the bandage to make sure it was healing properly, but then internally scolded myself.

Judy was not mine to care for or protect, so I wasn’t sure why a scratch bothered me so much.

“Looks like we have our winners,” Megan whispered from behind me. “Any of them from your pack?”

My eyes remained fixed on Judy. I didn’t want to engage in a conversation with Megan; I mainly just wanted to get her off my back. Figured if I played nice, it’ll get rid of her sooner rather than later.

“Yes,” I said, pointing to Judy; though she really wasn’t officially part of the Silver Crescent pack, I still considered her pack. She was the only one in the surrounding packs that qualified for this competition. She was part of my region… she was my wolf. “She’s a fighter,” I murmured as I watched her highlights on the big screen.

“I’ve always been a fighter, too,” Megan purred. “Remember we used to spar each other when you were here? Just because I’m a model doesn’t mean I can’t kick your butt.”

“That was the past,” I told her blandly. “It was meant to be forgotten.”

“How can I forget something that means so much to me, Gavin,” Megan said, touching my shoulder and leaning in close enough that I could feel her breath on the nape of my neck as she spoke. “We were really good together. All those late nights…”

“We were never a couple.”

“That’s not how it felt for me,” she said, nibbling on her lower lip. “I fell for you, Gavin. I wanted to be yours, but then you left me without a real reason why.”

“Because I wasn’t in the market for a monogamous relationship,” I said through my teeth. “You knew this when we began.”

“I thought you would change your mind,” she complained.

“I didn’t.”

“How about now? Are things any different? Are you in the market for a relationship?” She asked quickly, desperation clear in her tone.

My eyes flickered to Judy; she was in the middle of talking to some of her teammates. She wore a workout bra and high-waisted, skintight, black yoga pants that hugged her form perfectly. She had sweat coating her small and shapely form, her hair tied into a messy pony. My eyes lingered for a bit too long because I barely noticed Megan getting closer.

“I’m not hearing a no…” she whispered, misinterpreting my silence.

A flare of anger rushed through me; her nearness no longer did it for me…in fact, it only seemed to anger my wolf.

“Mega, listen carefully because I’m only going to say this once. I was never interested in making our sexual relationship anything more than what it was. You were nothing but a means for quick release after or before long work hours. Whatever you think you are going to gain by trying to seduce me isn’t going to work out in your favor. I am not, nor will I ever be, yours.”

My tone was cold, and I knew she could see the ice in my eyes. She moved back, gaining distance from me, sensing how serious I was.

I turned away from her, my eyes finding Judy again, only this time, she was watching me.

I could hear Megan leaving, sniffling, but I didn’t actually turn to make sure she left.

“What was that about?” Mica asked, eyes following Megan’s retreating form. “Wasn’t that the owner's daughter?”

“Mm.” My eyes remained fixed on Judy, who was turning her attention back and forth between me and her teammates.

“I didn’t know you two knew each other,” Mica said, still focused on Megan; he blew out a whistle approvingly as his eyes stayed glued on her.

The second I saw Judy and her teammates start heading towards the gym, I stood.

“If you’ll excuse me,” I murmured without sparing him a glance.

He barely even noticed me leaving, he was too busy eye-fucking Megan.

I followed the group into the gym area, and just as Judy was about to go into the women’s locker room behind the female competitors, I grabbed her arm and pulled her along with me.

Her breath hitched, and her eyes grew wide as I pulled her into a dark corner, secluded from the eyes of everyone around us.

“Gavin,” she breathed as I pressed her against the wall. “What are you—?” She started to say, but I didn’t give her a chance before my lips were pressed against hers. The kiss was long and deep, as if I had been starved of her.

I practically had been for two days.

Two fucking days I went without tasting her sweet and plump lips. Two fucking days since, I felt her curvy yet small figure pressing against mine. Two fucking days since I heard her breathy moans when I kissed or fucked her.

She put her hand on my chest after a while and gave me a gentle shove. Her lips were swollen and still parted as she fought to catch her breath.

“What’s gotten into you?” She asked, her eyes narrowing at me, but I could see the smile threatening the corner of her lips.

I stepped away from her.

“My room before you watch l duties this evening,” I said, my tone low and leaving no room for arguments.

With that said, I turned and walked away, knowing she was staring after me.

……

Judy’s POV

He had some serious nerves, kissing me like that and then demanding I go to his room before my watch duty tonight. Truth be told, I completely forgot about the watch duties tonight. I needed to look at my schedule to find out exactly what time it was at.

At least once during this competition, the recruits had to partake in watch duty. We would be going off in a small group with one of the Lycans or an elder gamma, and we would watch over a certain chosen section, protecting it from any threat.

Tonight happened to be my night.

I was still lost in thought, dazed by that incredible kiss, stuck wondering what it meant, and thinking about my watch duty this evening that I didn’t even notice Sammy approaching.

“Hey, Judy,” she said, jolting me out of my head. “Great job out there. I was watching in the arena.”

“Oh, thank you,” I told her. “Did your boyfriend compete as well?”

She nodded.

“Yeah, he left on Sunday and got back Tuesday. His team got second place,” she replied, shrugging. I could tell by the look on her face that her boyfriend didn’t take too well to coming in second.

I couldn’t blame him.

“Were you talking to someone a minute ago?” She suddenly asked, staring off in the direction I was just looking in. “I thought I heard another voice when I approached. But I don’t see anyone.”

My cheeks flushed.

“Gavin Landry,” I told her, hating how my face was betraying my feelings right now. “He was just congratulating me.”

I could tell from her face that she knew there was more to it, but she didn’t press.

“Have you seen Nan around?’ I asked before she could ask any follow-up questions, “I thought she’d meet me here, but I hadn’t seen her.”

“Last I saw her, she was arguing with her boyfriend.”

I frowned.

“Boyfriend?”

Sammy nodded.

“Yeah, that guy she’s been hanging out with. Tyler, I think his name is. He looked furious earlier. I saw them yelling outside of the arena. He pretty much dragged her through the resort.”

My entire body went frigid from her words as panic consumed me.

Where the hell did he bring her??