Chapter 236

Gavin’s POV

It was almost like her scent had vanished from pack property. We were able to track her to the forest line, but then suddenly it was gone completely. Though, I thought I smelled a bit of Ethan as well which wasn’t surprising. If they were in cahoots with one another, it meant Sammy couldn’t be trusted and I needed to get rid of them both from my pack.

I couldn’t exactly kill Sammy because she was the offspring of a powerful Lycan. Killing her would only start a war that we weren’t prepared for. Too many lives at stake to risk it. Ethan on the other hand, I wasn’t entirely sure what his deal is. I would like more than anything to kill him, but if I my suspicions are true, he’s switching his alliance to Levi Churchill and if I killed him, that could also start a war.

I prowled the edge of the forest, where we lost Sammy’s scent. I remained in my human form, sniffing the air and trying to get a hint of that scent, but instead, I smelled something else. A calm and flowery scent that made my wolf’s ears perk deep within me.

I turned my head just in time to see Judy’s small wolf breaking through the clearing of the forest. My brows furrowed at her hurried pace. I could practically see the pain etched in her eyes and her aura had darkened drastically since the last time I saw her in her wolf form. It was clear to me that something had happened that seriously hurt her wolf and suddenly, my protective instincts had flared.

My own wolf surged forward, wanting to shift and go to her. I pulled him back, not sure why the sudden reaction he had towards seeing her distressed wolf form.

Without much though, I ran towards her, my wolf itching to be released but I remained in my wolf form. Her eyes darted to me, and I swear saw a hint of relief in them as she ran straight towards me, her strides quickening.

I knelt to the ground, opening my arms for her run into them. She wasted no time, her wolf form colliding with my human form. My arms enclosed around her; it still amazed me how small she was, and yet I knew what she was capable of. She might be a runt, but she was strong and fast.

I ran my fingers through her fur, trying to soothe her wolf who was trembling.

“Shift,” I ordered. “Please, shift…”

Her wolf still trembled, a small whimper escaping her lips. I held her closer, trying to convince her to shift into her human form and just as she started to shift back, her entire body went limp.

My heart stopped, she completely shifted back into her human form, her body going limp against my body.

“Shit,” I cursed as I cradled her in my arms.

I immediately checked her pulse and found it still beating, though her breathing was shallow.

“Alpha?” I heard Derek rushing towards us.

Immediately my head whipped around to glare at him, a snarl on his lips as my wolf’s protective instincts on fire. He and I were in full agreement; we didn’t want anyone to see Judy like this… not while she was completely naked. Seeing the glow in my eyes from my wolf, Derek’s tracks slowed, and his eyes grew wide.

“Get a blanket from the car,” I ordered, my Alpha aura penetrating the air.

Derek nodded and without hesitation, he turned and ran towards the direction of the car. I held Judy even tighter, my face nuzzling her neck, taking in her sweet scent, trying to calm myself and my wolf. She looked peaceful, though there was a slight crease between her brows. I rubbed her forehead with my thumb, trying to soothe her.

Whatever happened seriously had her and her wolf shook and I wasn’t going to stop until I found out what it was.

Derek returned moments later with a blanket. I snatched it from him, snarling at him to avert his eyes and back off. I didn’t need to use words for him to know what I wanted, and he quickly turned his back.

I wrapped Judy in the blanket and stood to my feet with her still in my arms, holding her to my chest.

“Join Beta Taylor and the others. Search the forest,” I ordered Derek. “I’m taking her back to the villa.”

“Yes, Alpha,” he said before he hurried towards the tree line.

I went towards one of the waiting cars; my driver, Leroy, quickly got out and opened the back door. I nodded at him as I slid into the seat, still cradling Judy.

“Take us back to the villa,” I demanded, my tone etched with worry.

“Yes, Alpha,” he replied, shutting the door before rounding the car and getting into the driver’s seat.

Once we returned to the villa, I took Judy up to my bedroom and laid her on the bed. I sat beside her, running my fingers through her hair. Her face had gone pale and my heart lurched at the sight. I worried about what had happened out there and what caused her to become like this.

I thought about calling Dr. Pierce to have her take a look at her, but Judy soon stirred, giving me a sliver of hope that se was coming to. Though, the waiting didn’t end there. She continued to sleep and made small noises for the next few hours. I put a warm cloth over her face and continued to keep monitor of her until she finally opened her eyes.

“Don’t try to move,” I told her, running my hand down the side of her face. “You passed out.”

She blinked for a moment, seemingly confused. Her brows furrowed as she glanced around the room, trying to grasp her surroundings.

“How did I get here?” She asked, her tone coming out as a whisper. “Last I remember, I was in the forest.”

It made sense; I assumed Judy had passed out while in wolf form and it was her wolf hat kept conscious, getting herself and Judy out of the forest.

“You passed out,” I told her. “Your human form must have passed out while in human form. Thankfully your wolf was able to bring you back in one peace.”

She sighed as her eyes flashed with the memory; they clouded over, and my heart twisted.

“Judy, tell me what happened in the forest,” I said softly. “What spooked you and your wolf so bad.”

She sat up, her eyes flashing with the memory.

“I found Sammy,” she said, her eyes meeting mine. “She was talking to Ethan in the forest. I thought… I thought she could be trusted. I came here to see her earlier in the day and—”

“You spoke to her today?” I asked, my eyes narrowed. “While she was in lockdown?”

She bit her lip and nodded once.

“Yes…” she replied gently. “I wanted to know if our friendship was a lie or not. It was killing me not knowing. She told me that Ethan switched is alliance to her father and that’s why she was speaking to him. That there was nothing more to it…”

“So, I was right,” I murmured, more to myself than to her.

“I believed her…” Judy whispered. “But then I saw her wolf in the forest… the same wolf that saved me during the competition.”

I nodded; already finding that information out earlier.

“Go on,” I urged her gently.

“And then I saw them talking in the forest. Ethan thought that I had some kind of company phone… I guess being a part of your Elite Force meant I’d have some type of phone.”

My blood boiled; I knew what would happen the second I made Judy a part of the Elite Force, which is why I hadn’t offered it to her yet. Each member of the force gets a company phone for emergencies and business-related tasks. These phones hold intimate details of the Landry Franchise, which is information they are meant to protect. The force is responsible for keeping outsiders away from this information and keeping the company safe.

I should have known that someone would try and get their hands on that information through Judy. Tahnkfully, she doesn’t have a phone yet because I didn’t make her a part of the force. I wasn’t planning on it until the threat on my company is figured out.

“She told him she didn’t want any part of it anymore,” Judy continued, her mind replaying what had happened. “He told her he wouldn’t make her his Luna if she didn’t do as he said, and she reminded him who her father was. Then… they started to kiss and rip each other’s clothes off.”

My heart lurched at her words; so, they were having a relationship? I should have figured that one out myself.

“I’m not sure what happened after that… it all goes blank,” she admitted peeking up at me.

I assumed that’s when Judy’s human form passed out within her wolf form and her wolf got them the hell out of there. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her impossibly close and wishing I could protect her from what she had already seen and what she was feeling. I felt her body relaxing against mine and a smile tugged at my lips knowing I had a calming effect on her like she had one on me.

“It’ll be okay,” I assured her. “Just leave everything to me.”

“I feel so stupid,” she whispered as tears filled her yes. “I trusted her…”

I kissed the top of her head and took a deep breath.

“And now I need you to trust me,” I whispered.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Taylors number. There was a chance he was still in wolf form, hunting for Sammy and Ethan.

But he soon answered the phone.

“Alpha,” he greeted.

“Any luck on finding them?” I asked.

“Derek mindlinked me and said they caught sight of them on the run,” Taylor said. “I’m heading in that direction now.”

I nodded, though he couldn’t see me.

“Keep me updated,” I told him. “Once you capture them, I want them both banished. Ethan Cash and Sammy Churchill aren’t to step foot on my territory ever again.”