Chapter 217

Judy’s POV

The manor was gorgeous; it was everything the magazines had said it was. It was in a secluded part of the Silver Crescent pack, so I never had the privilege of actually seeing it. In the beginning of the small forest, there was a pearl gate that led up the driveway and it was guarded by a couple of Gamma officers. Nobody was allowed to pass except for those with invitations and of course Gavin.

The guards recognized him right away and opened the gates; he nodded at them as he drove past them and up the 3-mile-long driveway, which was a large foresty area. once we neared the actual manor, my jaw dropped. It was huge; probably as big as the mansion and sat right on the edge of the ocean, looking out into the horizon. The clearing passed the forest was large and the driveway curved at the top, circling around a large fountain, a stone carving of a wolf looked back at me.

I recognized the wolf was one of the first Lycans to walk our planet and the fact that Donna Landry had a statue of him in the middle of her driveway, piqued my interest, to say the least.

Gavin parked the car in one of the designated areas before he turned off the engine.

“Are you ready?” He asked, looking over at me. I must have looked as though I’d seen a ghost to him because he narrowed his eyes, and I could see a slight hint of worry in his gaze.

After a beat of silence, I finally nodded.

“Yeah,” I said softly. “I’m ready.”

He nodded and opened the door; before I could open mine, he ran around to the passenger door and opened it for me. He held out his hand for me to take.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I told him, taking his hand. I stepped out of the car and stood in front of him, suddenly very aware of how close he was to me.

“We need to keep up appearances,” he told me, his eyes shifting over to the door. I followed his gaze and noticed a tall and lanky man standing in the doorway. I raised my brows and glanced at Gavin, wondering who that was. “My mother’s butler.”

I nodded; of course she had a butler. I wasn’t surprised by that fact.

“Okay,” I said, letting him take a hold of my arm and guide me towards the door. In comparison to Gavin, I looked tiny. He was not only tall, but he was built like a god; he had these broad shoulders and muscled arms. Though I was strong and had my own muscles, they were packed in a small petite form that looked as if I couldn’t throw a punch to save my life. I might have been a small package, but I was anything but weak. But in comparison to Gavin, I looked small. I could only imagine what the butler was thinking when he looked at me, but it was clear he was sizing me up.

“Is she close to her butler?” I asked, keeping my tone low knowing that wolves could hear for miles.

“She’s close to all her staff,” he replied.

I took a shaky deep breath as she reached the front door.

“Alpha Gavin,” the butler said, bowing his head. “Your mother is expecting you.”

“Thanks Doug,” Gavin replied, giving him a small nod as a simple gesture.

The butler, Doug, stepped aside for us to enter. His eyes flickered to me and suddenly a knot formed in the pit of my belly. I gave him a small smile, trying to keep up my appearance, just had Gavin had said, and then I stepped aside from him to enter the manor.

I shouldn’t have been surprised that the entire place smelled of her perfume, also with a Mix of Daisy’s lingering scent, indicating that she had been here, but she was no longer here. Gavin tensed when he smelled it and I could practically hear the scowl as he came up with the same conclusion that I did.

“Right this way,” Doug said, closing the front door and stepping around us. “Your mother is in the parlor. Dinner will be ready shortly.”

Gavin nodded and took my hand, keeping me by his side as we followed Doug through the manor; it was gorgeous with elegant decorations and portraits all along the walls. They were portraits of past Alphas and portraits of men that kind of looked like Gavin. I assumed they were his family members; maybe father, grandfather, and the brother that was abroad with his family.

I knew Gavin had a sister as well, but I didn’t see any portraits of her, which I found strange.

There were a ton of pictures of Gavin though and it warmed my heart knowing he was loved by his mother, even if she couldn’t stand me.

As stepped into the parlor, Gavin’s hold on me tightened even more, like he was afraid I was going to run away at any moment. I thought the idea was funny, but when I looked up at him, I saw that his jaw was tense.

He was worried about something; I wondered what it was.

“Madam Landry, your son and his date have arrived,” Doug announced, stepping aside for us to enter.

Donna Landry wore one of her gorgeous gowns and her jet-black hair was curled around her features, crowning her heart-shaped face. She was a gorgeous woman and you’d never be able to tell she had children who were in their 30s. She was also an intimidating woman, and I can tell she never smiled… except for when she was with Daisy. I’ve seen her smiling with Daisy.

“Gavin, I’m so glad you could come to dinner,” she said, motioning for the small couch across from the loveseat she was sitting in. Her slender leg was crossed over the other and she had a cup of tea in her perfectly manicured hands.

Gavin motioned for me to sit on the couch, releasing his hold on me, though he seemed hesitant to do so. I went to the couch and lowered myself into it, trying not to notice how Donna’s gaze followed my every movement.

“Mother,” Gavin greeted as he went to his, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. She presented her cheek to him as if it was the most natural thing in the world before she leaned back in her seat, watching as he took his seat beside me.

“I’m glad you could join us too, Judy,” Donna said, her eyes never leaving mine.

My cheeks flushed and I had to force a small smile.

“Thank you for the invitation,” I told her. “I’m a little surprised honestly.”

She raised her perfectly trimmed brows as she studied me; maybe I shouldn’t have said that. I mentally bit my tongue.

“I’m sure you are,” she replied coolly. “We didn’t exactly get off on the best start and I’d like to apologize for that.”

I nodded.

“Thank you,” I told her, glancing briefly at Gavin who appeared tense in his spot, his eyes never leaving his mother’s face.

“I guess it was because I didn’t realize how important you were to my son. But seeing you two together during your little date… I realized I might have been wrong,” she said, her eyes narrowed as she studied my face. “If you are going to be a constant in his life, I figured it was time that I got to know you. Don’t you think?”

I felt my cheeks flushing as I nodded.

“Yes, I suppose so,” I told her, playing my part to the best of my ability.

Gavin reached over and took hold of my hand; I was surprised by the gesture, especially when he entwined his fingers through mine. His warm and calloused fingers touching mine sent an electric shock through me that made my wolf practically roll over and purr.

I had to shush her before she made it obvious.

“I figured what better way to get to know you other than dinner at my place,” she said, a small smile tipping the corner of her lips, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I hope you like Lamb.”

I swallowed and then nodded.

“Yes, Lamb is great,” I told her. I never actually had lamb before, but it was meat and wolves loved meat so I couldn’t imagine not liking it.

“Great,” she said in return, her eyes studying me.

I felt like I was going to melt under her scrutiny. I wished she would stop looking at me like that. Sensing my unease, Gavin cleared his throat, getting his mother’s attention.

“I’m glad you were able to have dinner with us without your shadow,” Gavin murmured; his tone and words surprised me.

She corked a brow up at him.

“Are you speaking of Daisy?” She asked. “She is not my shadow; she is a family friend. Are you forgetting she is your sister-in-law? She’s practically family.”

“She is not my sister-in-law anymore,” Gavin reminded his mother. “My late wife passed away years ago.”

“And that makes her any less family?” Donna asked. “Gavin, I’m surprised in you. You are better than that.”

Her tone was almost mocking and there was a glint of something in her gaze that passed from her to her son and it made me even more uneasy.

“Oh, by way, I spoke to Cassie,” Donna said, her eyes never leaving Gavin who tensed at her words. “She wants to meet with you… and she wants to see her son.”

“No way in hell,” Gavin all but growled, making Donna’s eyes widen in shock. ‘

I furrowed my brows; I could feel Gavin’s agitation rolling off him in waves.

“Gavin let’s be fair…” Donna tried to reason with him.

“She’s not going near him,” Gavin said through his teeth.

“I’m confused,” I said, cutting through their tension. “Who is Cassie?”

Gavin didn’t reply and for a second, I didn’t think either of them heard me. thye were having a pretty intense staring contest. It was Donna who backed down first with a sigh as she looked at me.

“Cassie is my daughter,” she told me. “Gavin’s sister…”

Realization dawned at on me all at once as I let out a breath of air.

They were talking about Cassandra Landry… Matt’s mother.