Chapter 274

Judy’s POV

“Are you sure you want to leave? It just seems so sudden,” my mother said, watching me as I pack my belongings. Nan was also in my room, a frown marring her face. I told them late last night that I had an early flight this morning. I hated that I was leaving without much warning, but I needed to get out of here; I needed to start fresh away from Gavin Landry.

“I’m sorry that I’m just taking off like this,” I told them without meeting their eyes. “But this is something I need to do. Plus, it’s a huge opportunity. The Redcliff pack is one of the largest packs in the world, and their Elite force is huge.”

“Not as big as the Silver Crescent pack,” Nan told me, folding her arms across her chest.

“Gavin hasn’t offered me anything,” I muttered. “Plus, you know why I can’t stay here, Nan.”

She sighed, running her fingers through her hair.

“I just wish you would take the time to think about it a bit before you make any drastic decisions.”

“I had thought about it, and I need to leave…” I told them, tears filling my eyes. I refused to look at them, though; I didn’t want them to see my sadness. “I can’t watch him have a baby with another woman…”

My voice broke when I broke that sentence. I hadn’t realized I was trembling until my mother came towards me, her arms outstretched as she pulled me into her arms. The second I was engulfed in her warmth, I lost it. Tears soaked my cheeks and into her shirt as I cried. She held me tightly, her own tears spilling down her cheeks.

“I will support whatever decision you make,” she whispered. “I love you so much, Judy. Just know that you will always have a home here.”

I nodded as my mother pulled back to look at me, a small smile on her tear-filled face.

After a moment, she cocked her head to the side.

“You look… different,” she said, almost thoughtfully. “There’s a glow about you…”

I frowned.

“I don’t really feel any different,” I admitted. “Just hollow.”

She gave me a sad look and then nodded as she released her hold on me.

“We will help you finish packing,” my mom told me as she went to grab another suitcase from the closet. Nan pushed herself off the door and strolled over to me, a warm and yet sad look in her eyes.

“What am I going to do without my best friend?” She asked, her lip trembling.

“You’ll still have me,” I assured her. “We will video call all the time, and I’m making you and Chester visit me. And if you choose to adopt Emalyn, she’ll come visit too.”

Nan blushed.

“Actually, we plan to meet with Gavin about it next week. I’m so nervous,” she admitted. I couldn’t help but be happy for my best friend. I hugged her tightly.

“Oh, Nan. I’m so happy for you. You’re going to be a wonderful mom,” I told her.

“It’s not set in stone yet. It’s just a meeting,” she told me, but I could hear the excitement in her tone.

“Trust me, everything will work out exactly how you want it to,” I assured her, pulling back so I could look at her. “I’m so happy for you.”

She grinned.

“You know, your mom is right. There’s something different about you. Maybe more mature?”

I laughed.

“Doubtful,” I told her. “Maybe it’s the fact that we finally graduated from college.”

She chuckled.

“Maybe.”

We spent the next hour packing, and then my father knocked on the door. He was taking me to the airport, along with Nan and my mom. After I said my final goodbye to my childhood bedroom, we loaded the car and headed towards the airport.

Beta Ron was able to get me a last-minute plane ticket so I can arrive at the Redcliff pack this evening. They even got me a condo to stay in and emailed me my schedule for the next couple of weeks. Tomorrow, I have to meet with the Head Gamma and get all the equipment I need. I also needed to meet with the Alpha of the pack and pledge myself to him, considering I will be residing in his pack for the foreseeable future.

Once we reached the airport, my mother and Nan were back to crying again. My father hugged me tightly. He was proud of me for making it to the Elite Gamma force, just like I wanted. He knew this was a huge opportunity for me, and honestly, I think he was relieved that I wouldn’t be having a relationship with Gavin Landry any time soon.

My mother, on the other hand, hated that I was leaving home.

“I’m going to miss you,” she cried as she held onto me.

“I love you,” I told her, hugging her back as more tears spilled down my cheeks.

It was Nan’s turn to hug me so tightly like she was afraid I’d disappear at any moment.

“Call me as soon as you land,” she whispered before pulling back.

“I will,” I assured her.

She blinked away the tears and stepped back just as my section was called.

“Tell Irene I’m sorry,” I told her. I hadn’t told anyone that I was leaving, other than my parents and Nan. I’m sure Chester was already aware by now as well, but I didn’t have the heart to actually say goodbye to anyone.

With my graduation, my contract as Matt’s tutor had come to an end. It stated that I would remain his tutor until I graduate; now the contract doesn’t apply to me. I didn’t have the heart to say goodbye to him either. I knew he’d be gutted to find me gone… but it was better this way. A silent goodbye.

I turned on my heel and headed towards the gates. I looked back once more, smiling at my family and giving them a short wave before I turned for the final time and headed off to start my new life.

….

Third Person POV

“She’s on her way here as we speak,” Alpha Levi said into the phone. “You’ve done well, Lila. Pretty soon, we will be able to take over the company completely. Gavin will be so distracted by everything going on around him, he won’t even see it coming.”

Rachel, aka Lila, laughed bitterly into the phone.

“He’s so stupid. He doesn’t expect a single thing. You should have seen the look on Judy’s face when I told her we were getting married. She was gutted. I’m glad she’s out of the picture now, though. It’ll make things much easier with Gavin.”

“Remember what I said, he’s not allowed to touch you. I won’t allow it,” Levi said, his tone dark on the phone.

“Baby, you know I’d never let another man, other than a human, touch me. I hate that I’m pregnant with someone else’s baby,” Rachel said, scowling. “But thankfully, it was only a human, so it doesn’t mean anything.”

Levi growled lightly.

“I still don’t like that his hands were on you. I’ve already sent someone to kill him.”

Rachel chuckled.

“You didn’t have to do that. I could have done that myself,” she replied simply.

“You should have done that after you fucked him.”

“I didn’t want to leave a trail,” she muttered. “So, tell me, my darling, what’s your plan for Judy? I can’t imagine you are going to be treating her well while she’s residing with you. Will you?”

“We got a condo for her to live in. We’ll let her get settled in, have her be preoccupied with work and responsibilities, and then we will slowly chip away at her. We will break her and eventually she will spill even more secrets to us,” he explained. “I already have some inside men on the ready for when she arrives. She’s not even going to know what hit her.”

Rachel laughed with glee.

“I can’t wait. Please keep me updated—”

Just then, the door of the hospital room slammed open, leaving a crack on the wall as Gavin stood before her. Rachel’s eyes widened in shock, and her heart leaped into her throat.

“What’s that?” Levi asked. “What just happened?”

“Let me call you back,” Rachel said as she hung up the phone. “Gavin, what’s wrong?”

Gavin looked furious, and it was clear his wolf was on the surface, ready to be ripped free from his human form. Rachel's heart was racing rapidly in her chest, and her hands trembled as she clutched the thin blanket that covered her.

“You lying bitch,” Gavin seethed, making Rache’s jaw drop.

“W…what?” She asked, panic striking.

Did he somehow find out about her plan?

“That baby isn’t mine,” he growled, nearly shaking the entire hospital room. “And you drugged me.”

“I… I…” She was at a loss for words. How the fuck did he find out this information? She made sure any traces of evidence were gone.

Before she could even fully reply, he was standing over her, his hand wrapped around her throat as he fought to keep control of himself.

“What the fuck did you say to her??” Gavin growled.

“W…what?” Rachel croaked, trying desperately to draw breath as she struggled against his hold.

“At the hotel suite. I saw you talking to Judy in the doorway,” Gavin said, his temper past the point of no return. “What did you say to her to make her leave? What did you say to hurt her??”