Chapter 270

Gavin’s POV

“You’re going to be there, right?” Irene asked on the phone. “It would mean the world to Judy. I just know it would.”

“Yes,” I told my daughter, rubbing my temple. “For the hundredth time, Irene. I will be there. You don’t need to worry about it. I’ve already reserved two seats: one for you and one for me. Nothing can keep me away from this event.”

I heard her sighing in relief on the other end of the phone.

“Okay, good,” she breathed. “I’ll see you later tonight, then. I love you.”

“Love you too,” I said, just before hanging up the phone. I felt my aggravation growing even more; it’s been about two days, and there was still no security footage recovery from that night at the Grand Casino Hotel. Monty was supposed to be the best in the business; he arrived last night and had been working aimlessly at getting that deleted security footage. The problem was, so much had been deleted these last few weeks that he said it would take a few days for them all to be recovered and downloaded.

I didn’t have a few days; I needed to find out the truth now. Especially because Judy’s graduation was tonight, and I couldn’t face her fully until I knew the truth. Sitting through the ceremony and then dinner afterwards with the lingering thought that I might have gotten another pregnant made me sick to my stomach.

“Alpha, there’s a problem with Rachel,” Beta Derek said, rushing into my office. “I think she needs to be taken to the hospital.”

A low growl escaped me but I didn’t argue with him. I simply stood and followed him out of my office and towards the back parlor where Rachel sat. She was sweating and her breathing was heavy. She wasn’t showing yet, it was much too early in her supposed pregnancy for that, and yet her hands rested lazily on her belly like she was protecting her children.

I felt a surge of anger, but I pushed it down.

“Rachel, what is it?” I asked her, sitting on the couch beside her. I reached over to touch her face. “Can you hear me/”

She whimpered, as if she were in severe pain. I cursed under my breath before wrapping her in my arms and standing to my feet, lifting her with me.

“Get the car,” I demanded. “I’m taking her to the hospital.

Not long after, we arrived at the hospital. Derek parked the car at the entrance of the emergency room, and I didn’t’ waste any time. I quickly got out, carrying Rachel with me. I hurried into the waiting room, the nurse at the front desk looking up and her eyes widening upon seeing me.

“Alpha Landry,” she said, bowing out of respect. “What seems to be the problem?”

Her eyes found Rachel, and they widened even more in shock.

“I need you to page Dr. Pierce and bring Rachel to a room ASAP,” I ordered. “She’s pregnant and something is wrong.”

“Yes, Alpha,” the nurse said as she rushed off to do exactly as I said.

Not before long, other nurses were rushing into the waiting room, one rolling a gurney.

“Put her on the gurney,” she ordered, her voice coming out concerned and rushed.

I put Rachel on the gurney, careful not to hurt her. Soon, they were rushing her through the emergency doors. Only one nurse remained behind.

“Sorry, Alpha. But while they examine her and find out what’s wrong, you’ll have to stay out here.”

I nodded, taking a seat in one of the waiting room chairs, my fingers brushing through my hair multiple times.

Despite the fact that I didn’t think I had sex with Rachel that night, there was still a possibility that I did. I wouldn’t know for certain until I got proof otherwise. But that meant for the time being, I needed to be prepared for the worst. This baby she’s carrying could very well be mine, which meant I had a duty to protect it. I had to make sure both Rachel and the baby were okay, even if I was starting to resent Rachel a little. I resented Rachel because she was the reason Judy wasn’t in my arms right now; the reason I wasn’t able to wake up next to Judy.

The reason I had yet to tell Judy how I felt…

How did I feel?

The question lingered on my mind, but the snapping of a camera brought me back to reality. My eyes darted around the room until they landed on a familiar figure seated in one of the chairs across the room. My eyes narrowed when I met the eyes of Kelsey Cash, Ethan’s sister.

She was grinning when I met her eyes, and my heart plummeted.

She stood, her short blond locks tucked neatly behind her ear as she walked towards me, her hips swaying as if she was attempting to seduce me. I rolled my eyes at the attempt, though.

“Fancy seeing you here, Alpha,” Kelsey said, sitting in the seat beside mine. “I got to say, I’m surprised.”

“Why is that?” I asked, trying to keep my tone level.

“Bringing your mistress to the pack hospital,” she said, batting her lashes. “And here I thought you were spoken for.”

“What gives you the right to speak to me like that?” I asked, feeling my temper rising.

She laughed, as if I weren’t a Lycan wanting to rip her head right off her shoulders. She had some serious audacity.

“Oh, I don’t think you have much right to reprimand me right now,” she teased. “Especially because I know your secret.”

“What secret is that?” I asked her if she was willing to play her games.

Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

“The secret that you don’t want your precious Judy knowing,” she said, leaning back in her seat as she took me in. “I can keep your little secret, but it’ll cost you.”

“Don’t the Cash family already have money?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest.

“It’s not money that I’m after,” she said, a grin lighting her face. “I want your hand in marriage. Marry me and I’ll keep your secret.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “I don’t even know what secret you're talking about. I’m not agreeing to anything.”

“Do you really want to find out?” She asked, leaning forward. “Because if it got out, it’ll destroy you. Is that a chance you’re willing to take?”

“There’s nothing you can do that will destroy me, Kelsey. But I can destroy you and your entire family in seconds. Is that a chance you’re willing to take?” I threatened right back, my tone darkening as my anger started to take over.

She blinked at me, her mind whirling, though she didn’t back down.

“I can be a good Luna to you, Alpha,” she told me, putting a hand on my arm, making me feel even sicker. “I’ve been training my entire life to be a Luna. I can give you what your mistress and Judy can’t.”

“You’re too young.”

“I’m only a couple of years younger than Judy,” she shot back. “She’s the same age as your daughter, for crying out loud!”

“You have no right to speak to me like this!” I bark, my anger going overboard. “Test me again and you’ll face banishment.”

She let out a bark of laughter as she stood to her feet.

“Banish me all you want, I’ll just join Alpha Levi just like my brother did,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. “I’m not someone you want to cross either. Give me what I want, and I won’t destroy your reputation.”

I stood up, my form towering over hers, making her look so much smaller.

“I don’t like being threatened,” I said in a low and threatening tone; my aura started to darken and those in the waiting room, who were trying to keep their heads down, shivered.

“Marry me,” she said again, her stubbornness intact.

“Never.”

She pressed her lips together and glanced down at her phone, which she’s been clutching for some time now.

“Then you leave me no choice,” she said as she typed something on her phone.

A second later, she looked back up at me and grinned.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” With those words left in the air, she turned and walked out of the hospital, making me stare after her.

Soon, my phone was buzzing, and when I glanced at the screen, I saw Taylor's name.

“This better be important,” I said into the phone.

“Where the hell are you?”

“The hospital, why?” I asked him, my brows furrowed.

“So, the video was accurate then,” he sighed.

“What video?” I asked.

“Someone took a video of you carrying Rachel into the hospital, announcing her pregnant and that she needs medical attention ASAP,” Taylor explained. “It was sent to the media only seconds ago, and it’s already spread. Everyone is automatically assuming the baby is yours.”

My fists clenched.

“I want Kelsey Cash banished and turned rogue,” I said through my teeth. “Then I want the media to take down this story before I banish them as well.”

“I’ll do what I can. But you better explain to me what the fuck is going on,” Taylor said.

I didn’t bother waiting for a response, I hung up.

Soon, Dr. Pierce, or as I call her, Eliza, walked into the waiting room.

“She’s okay,” she explained. “The baby is fine as well. Rachel was a bit dehydrated and running a fever, but she’s coherent and hydrated currently. Would you like to see her?

I nodded and went into the hospital room to see Rachel. Between making sure Rachel was okay, and getting this news article pulled, my mind was a distant mess. I barely even realized the time until Irene started to call me.

I frowned as I saw her name appearing; it was starting to become late in the evening, and I was exhausted.

“Yes?”.

“Where the hell are you, Dad?” She asked, her tone sounding somber as she held back a sob.

“What?” I asked, feeling exhausted.

“The ceremony,” she all but shouted. “Judy’s graduation. We literally talked a few hours ago, don’t tell me you forgot?!”

I was stunned and silent. I glanced at the time… it was almost 10 pm.

“Holy fuck,” I said out loud without meaning to.

I missed Judy’s graduation.