Chapter 254

Judy’s POV

“Earth to Judy,” Lukas said, waving his hand in front of my face. “You keep spacing off. Are you sure you’re okay?”

I blinked a few times, allowing my eyes to readjust to his face. I nodded, running my fingers through my hair, which had pulled free from its binding and was now scattered across my face.

“Yeah,” I said as I looked down at the books that were laid out in front of me. We were in our usual spot in the corner of the library, our noses buried deep in the pages. It was Friday, and our exams officially started on Monday, so this was the last time we’d get to have our study session together. “Sorry, just a lot on my mind.”

I couldn’t stop thinking about the other day at the Grand Casino Hotel. My heart still ached when I saw Rachel and Gavin together. Gavin might not have been in the right frame of mind, but it was Rachel that he was drawn to. It was her that he was thinking about when he kissed me. It was her that he wanted.

I let myself cry that night when I got home, feeling stupid forever thinking that maybe he did want me after all. But since that night, I hadn’t allowed myself to cry over it again. I was stronger than that; I was training to be a fucking Gamma warrior, and I had offers left and right to join Elite forces. I am a warrior, and no man will ever define me.

Still, that doesn’t stop me from being distracted and lost in my own mind.

“Clearly,” Lukas said, his eyes narrowed. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I knew if I told him what had happened, it could ruin our friendship. If he had thought for a second that there was still something going on between Gavin and me, he wouldn’t have wanted to be my friend anymore out of fear that Gavin would try something and ruin his scholarship. Though he has finals like the rest of the school next week, Lukas still has another year of college to attend. He needed to keep his nose clean and his scholarship intact.

“No, it’s okay,” I told him. I glanced at the time and then sighed. “But I do have to go.”

Beta Taylor would be picking me up shortly. I have tutoring with Matt this evening, so it is likely that he was waiting in the car with Taylor. I didn’t want to keep them waiting.

Lukas also glanced at the time and then nodded.

“Yeah, I’ll walk you out,” he said as he packed up his things.

Once we were packed up and ready to leave, we walked in silence across the campus and towards the parking lot. As soon as we were in sight, I saw Taylor's waiting car. I sighed, bracing myself for another awkward ride home.

“I’ll see you later,” I told Lukas as I started to walk away, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me into him. I was surprised by the gesture because he had never hugged me like this before, but as soon as his arms came around mine, I suddenly felt my resolve breaking a little. I had to hold in the tears that threatened to spill down my cheeks. I closed my eyes and let him hug me, his tight embrace an anchor to my soul.

“Whatever is going on in your life, Judy, just know that I’m here if you need to talk about it,” he told me, his voice low and for my ears alone. “I’m a good listener.”

I nodded, my arms coming around him to hug him back. For a moment, I didn’t want to let go. It wasn’t romantic, but it was the comfort that I desperately needed at that moment. I felt like I was drowning and at this very moment, he had become a life wraft.

“Thank you,” I whispered in return.

He pulled back to look at me, noticing that my eyes were filling with tears. He wiped away the invisible tears on my cheeks with his thumb and gave me a small smile, his eyes crinkling in the corner.

“Any time,” he replied. “Good luck on your finals next week.”

“You too.”

He nodded and dropped his arms from my shoulders. With a final wave, he turned and headed towards his car. I watched him for a moment longer before I turned towards Taylor's waiting car and got into the backseat.

I was surprised when I didn’t see Matt in the car as well.

“No Matt?” I asked him.

Taylor was watching me with a curious expression, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes. A worry that caused my stomach to twist. His eyes kept going back and forth between me and Lukas’s car.

“I didn’t realize you and Lukas Merriweather were so close,” he told me, his tone having a hint of depth in it.

I frowned at him.

“He’s my friend,” I told him. “Not that it’s any of your concern.”

“Friends don’t hug friends like that,” Taylor murmured.

“Is there a point to this?” I asked him, raising my brows and feeling my defenses rising. “I mean, why does it matter?”

“It matters because Gavin had already warned him off. If he found out—”

“If he found out, then what?” I snapped, my resolve fading even more as my emotions started to leak through my voice. “He’s busy with another woman, so why does it matter if I have captured the attention of another as well?”

“It matters,” he said sharply.

I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out.

What the hell does he mean by “It matters”?

“Where’s Matt?” I asked, changing the subject. “It’s Friday, we have tutoring today.”

Taylor sighed and then nodded as he put the car in drive.

“Gavin said that you can start tutoring at the Villa again,” he told me, much to my surprise. “In fact, he’s even wanting to talk to you.”

My heart started to beat rapidly in my chest at his words.

Gavin wanted to speak with me? About what?

…..

Gavin’s POV

I hadn’t been able to face Judy in the last few days, though I’ve been wanting to speak with her for some time now. I wanted to ask her about the other night.

I was so sure I was with her; I could literally taste her on my tongue and though Rache’s scent was strong in the room, I could still smell the lingering scent of Judy.

Though it wasn’t Judy, I woke up next to that morning, it was Rachel.

Since that night, Rachel had been extra clingy. The only solitude I had was when I was at work, and even then, she still tried to interrupt me. I told my receptionist to tell her I’m busy on countless occasions, but she puts up a fight every time and causes a scene, which I can’t have in my business.

My head was pounding when there was a knock on my office door, my home office. I didn’t need to ask who it was because I could smell Taylor’s scent approaching.

“Come in,” I murmured, rubbing my temple with my fingers, trying to soothe away the dull ache.

Taylor entered, his face looking a bit downcast as he shut the door behind him.

“Judy is with Matt in the parlor,” he announced.

I nodded, pleased that she was back at the Villa. I’ve been wanting her back at the villa for quite some time. Both my wolf and I felt better with her nearby, so we can keep an eye on her, but with me trying to figure out my placement with Rachel, it was better if Judy kept her distance this past month.

Despite Rachel’s betrayal and lies years ago, I couldn’t dismiss the fact that she was still a friend to me and did help me out a lot when it came to my sister. Even if her actions weren’t always genuine. She was back now, wanting to make amends for what she had done and I felt I owed it to her to give her that chance.

I looked at Taylor, who remained at the doorway, his eyes downcast.

I stared at him, my eyes narrowed.

“What is it?” I asked him after a moment of long silence.

Taylor finally looked up at me, and I could see the uncertainty in his eyes, like he didn’t want to tell me. I let a low warning growl escape my lips as my wolf fought to surge forward and rip the information out of his throat.

“I saw her and Lukas Merriweather hugging earlier,” he murmured. “It looked… intimate.”

I didn’t realize how hard I was clutching the pen in my hand until it shattered and ink spilled everywhere on my desk.

I cursed as I grabbed a paper towel to clean the mess, but the damage was done. The paperwork had been ruined, and now there was ink on my clothes and hands.

Taylor rushed to help me clean the mess, his face had gone pale because he knew what I was like when I got like this.

“I want him gone,” I said through my teeth. “I want Lukas off my territory.”

“The school is public domain,” Taylor told him. “He’s staying in the dorms, which means you have no say.”

“Then reach out to Mica and order him to send Lukas home,” I said, my eyes filled with a fiery vengeance. “I want him gone. I don’t want him anywhere near her… understood?”

There was a moment of hesitation, and it pissed me off even more.

“What?” I asked, my temper rising as my wolf grew more restless and pissed off.

“It’s just that… Judy seems to like him,” Taylor murmured. “If you send him away, I don’t think she’ll ever forgive you.”

My heart pinged at the thought. I knew he was right; Judy would never forgive me. Plus, what right did I have to tell her she couldn’t hang out with this guy when all I had been doing this past month was spending my time with Rachel? Trying to sort through my own goddamn feelings.

I stood to my feet.

“I need to speak with her,” I said as I walked around my desk.

I didn’t wait for Taylor to say anything else before I left my office. I could hear Judy and Matt giggling in the back parlor, and my heart started to beat faster the closer I got.

Just as I reached the archway into the parlor, I felt a hand wrap around my bicep.

“Oh, Gavin baby, there you are,” Rachel said, her body pressed close to mine, drawing Judy’s attention to us, her eyes widening at the sight, and I saw hurt flash in her gaze. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”