Chapter 260

Judy’s POV

My body felt like it was on fire as Gavin spoke in a low and deep tone. His breath fanned across my cheek, sending goosebumps to form along my neckline and arms. His close proximity was intoxicating. My heart was hammering in my chest as I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat.

“Whose attention are you trying to attract, Miss Montague? Because I’m about to gouge out every single eyeball in this room who looks at you.”

His words sent a chill down my spine; his voice was icy and possessive in a way that was unfamiliar. I had never had anyone, not even Ethan, sound this possessive. The way his lips brushed across my ear made my knees weak and my body melted a little, but I caught myself before I turned into a fool.

“What makes you think I’m trying to attract anyone’s attention?” I asked, proud that my voice came out stronger than I felt.

I felt him smirking against my ear.

“A woman doesn’t wear something like this without an alternative goal,” he murmured.

I hated that my eyes fluttered closed from the warmth of his breath against my features. His scent was choking me in a way that made me not want to breathe.

“Well, you can thank your daughter for my choice of outfit. It was her designer who created this dress,” I said, my voice coming out as a breath.

He pulled back slightly to look at me, trying to detect any hint of a lie, but finding none. His eyes were dark and dilated as he stared into my eyes, and I swear I saw a hint of his wolf surfacing slightly, but it was gone before I could blink.

“You do realize that every man and even some women are staring at you?” He asked.

I smirked, finding a bit of confidence in the almost vulnerable tone he used.

“Jealous, Alpha?” I asked, teasing him slightly.

His nostrils flared.

“I don’t do jealous.”

“Could have fooled me,” I murmured. My eyes flickered over to Rachel, who was still dancing with Gregor, a retired Alpha. Though he seemed to be engrossed in whatever conversation they were having, Rache’s attention was clearly on my dance with Gavin. I could see the jealousy and anger in her eyes, and it was like a bucket of cold water being dumped on my head.

“Perhaps you should be paying more attention to the men who stare your date instead,” I told him, my eyes finding his again.

His brows furrowed a bit, and I could tell he was about to say something, but I pulled away, feeling cold without his touch.

“Thank you for the dance, Alpha,” I say as I walk around him to join Irene at the bar. He grabbed hold of my arm, not enough to hurt, but enough to make me freeze and look back at him.

“The song isn’t over yet,” he said, his eyes darkening until they were almost black.

I pulled my arm away from his grasp, watching his hand fall to his side.

“It is for us,” I told him before I turned and walked away. I could feel his eyes following me, but I forced myself to keep moving forward.

By the time I reached Irene at the bar, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. My heart was pounding so heavily against my chest, and my nails were digging into the palms of my hands, creating little moon marks in the process.

One look at my face and Irene already knew what was wrong.

She grabbed a shot off the bar top and handed it to me, grabbing one for herself as well.

“Forget about him for tonight,” she said, clinking the glasses. “This isn’t about my father. You are here as a favor to me, and I’m forever grateful to you for it.”

Without a word, I downed the shot, realizing too late that it was straight up tequila. I let the liquor burn my throat, wincing as it entered my stomach. Irene laughed at my expression before grabbing another shot.

“Should we really be getting drunk at this event?” I asked her. “Aren’t there important people here?”

“Girl, we don’t have to impress anyone,” she said, winking at me. “That’s the beauty of not being an Alpha or a Luna.”

“Yeah, but you’re the daughter of Gavin Landry. Aren’t you worried about your reputation?” I asked, staring at the other shot she just handed me.

“Paparazzi aren’t allowed in this building, so we don’t have to worry about a bad publication,” she told me, nudging my shoulder. “You are here as a favor to me, and I’m here out of obligation to my father. Nobody here cares if we are here or not. The only reason anyone is interested in talking to us is because we look hot, not because we contribute to anything here. My money is my father’s money, so whatever contribution he makes, puts me in the clear of any actual financial obligation.”

I knew what she was saying, that we were allowed to have a little fun, but still, I didn’t want to make a fool out of myself in front of all these important people.

“Drink with me, Judy,” she said. “Let’s show my father that he doesn’t control your life.”

Her words sparked interest in me, and before I knew it, I was taking another shot of tequila.

She cheered, drawing the attention of others around us, making us both giggle with slight embarrassment.

“Judy?” My mother said as she approached. Per usual, she looked gorgeous in her own elegant dress; she had a confused yet bright smile on her face. It was nice that she was taking care of herself again; I loved that things were going back to normal now that my father was out of prison and not in jeopardy of losing his company. “I wasn’t expecting you to be here.”

“I’m afraid that’s my fault, Mrs. Montague. I asked Judy to be my plus one,” Irene said, putting an arm around my shoulder.

Irene had never actually met my mother before, but I knew she knew who she was, as did my mother.

“Miss Landry,” my mother said, looking between the two of us. “I didn’t realize you two were so close.”

“Judy is my good friend,” she told her. “As soon as she started to tutor my brother, we clicked right away. We clearly have the same terrible taste in men,” she tried to joke, and I knew some of it was alcohol induced.

I nearly choked on the wine I started to drink.

My mother’s brows arched as she stared at Irene, and then she turned to look at me.

“May we have a word?” She asked.

I knew what was about to come and I wasn’t looking forward ot this conversation.

“Do we have to do this here?” I asked her, begging her with my eyes to just drop it for tonight.

He kept a plastered smile on her face, telling me that I wasn’t to argue with her. Sighing, I excused myself and followed her to a more secluded spot, feeling eyes on me as I walked through a small crowd. Heat prickled the back of my neck, but I refused to look around at the lust-filled and curious eyes.

My mother finally stopped walking once we reached a small section that had fewer people, and she turned to look at me.

“You’re hanging out with Irene Landry?” She asked me, her brows raised. “Gavin's daughter?”

“I know what you are thinking, but I promise, this has nothing to do with Gavin,” I assured her.

“Gee, Judy. What do you think I’m thinking? First, you start tutoring his son, and now you’re friends with his daughter? Was this a ploy to get your father out of prison?”

“God, Mom! No!” I nearly shouted before composing myself and saying in a much lower tone, “I’m not using Gavin like that. I made it a point to make sure he never found out about Dad’s situation. I worked for him as Matt’s tutor so I could earn the money the right way. How I feel towards Gavin is completely separate from anything else.”

“Then why would he not only pay your father’s debt, but also pay to ensure your father never loses the company again?” She asked, folding her arms across her chest. “Why would he do that for you if you didn’t ask him personally?”

I bit my lip and looked away from her penetrating gaze.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “That’s something you’d have to ask him.”

She stared at me for a long while before her gaze lingered on Irene, who was still drinking at the bar and flirting with an older gentleman. I needed to get back to her before she did something she’d truly regret.

“Isn't she the one Ethan left you for?” My mother asked.

I looked back at her and sighed.

“Yes,” I told her. “But like me, she was left burned and disappointed. Now we are friends.”

“Heartbreak brings people together,” my mother said, the fight and edge leaving her voice. She gave me a small smile as she put her hand on my shoulder. “If what you are saying is true, that you didn’t tell Gavin about our family’s situation and you didn’t ask him for his help… then you must be really special to him, Judy.”

I blinked at her words, not sure where she was going with this.

“I’m sorry?” I asked; maybe it was the tequila in my system, but her words weren’t really making sense to me.

“A man wouldn’t go out of his way to help someone like that if there wasn’t something real there. I know I’ve been appearing unsupportive since finding out… but if he truly makes you happy and if he cares about you this much… then maybe it’s worth hanging onto after all.”

She squeezed my shoulder before kissing my cheek.

With those parting words, she rejoined my father, leaving me alone with my very confused and tequila-induced thoughts.