Chapter 276

Judy’s POV

2 weeks later.

Life in the Redcliff pack had been interesting these last 2 weeks. When I first arrived, it was Beta Ron who had met with me. I was expecting Levi, but apparently he was too busy. I hadn’t even seen Alpha Levi the entire time I was here. His home pack was only about an hour away from Redcliff, but I thought he would have been there to see me; I was wrong, Instead, he sent his Beta.

I stood in the front of the mirror in the bathroom in my new condo, getting ready for the day. When I first got here, I couldn’t stop crying. All last week was miserable, but I vowed that I wouldn’t shed another tear for a man who didn’t want me. It was obvious where his loyalties were, and it wasn’t with me, so why should my loyalties be with him? This week, I felt different. Not necessarily stronger, just different. I couldn’t figure out why, though.

I stared down at my body; it didn’t look any different. I still had the same narrow frame with curvy hips from all the years of working out. I wore a tank top that rested just above my belly button and yoga pants that hugged my figure. I tied my long hair back into a ponytail, my eyes went to the fading mark on my neck from Ethan. It was almost completely gone; not being around him as much this past year had drastically weakened our mate bond, and when that happens, the mark gradually fades. In a few months, it’ll be completely gone.

I heard a knock on the door. I pulled my gaze away from my reflection and opened the bathroom door. I walked down the short hallway and entered the living room area. The condo was a vast and clean space; I hadn’t done much to it. It was decorated by the Redcliff packmates, and it was nicely done; it was modern and made the area seem brighter and comfortable.

I went to the front door and opened it to find Lucy standing in front of me. Lucy was gorgeous with straight blonde hair with pink streaks and Emerald green eyes, equipped with long and dark lashes. The second she saw me, her smile lit up her face, and she pulled me into a tight hug.

“Hey, girl!” She cooed. “Sampson wants you at the packhouse this morning. Something about a rogue threat he wants you to investigate.”

She waved her hand dismissively as if it were no big deal.

I nodded as I grabbed my backpack, which was filled with all the supplies, such as weapons and equipment, that I would need for the day. I put my shoes on while Lucy watched me from the doorway, her eyes following my frame, and her eyes cocked to the side a bit.

“You look different,” she pointed out.

I frowned as I joined her at the door.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I know I’ve only known you for 2 weeks, but last week you were all thin, washed out, and sad. This week… you’re different,” she told me. “Your face is fuller, and you seem brighter.”

“I feel different,” I admit. “I think this was exactly what I needed.”

We stepped out of the condo; Lucy’s red convertible was parked right outside. I raised my brows as I watched her walk around the car to get into the driver’s seat.

“I’m surprised that Alpha Sampson let you drive yourself here,” I teased as I slid into the passenger side.

“Oh, he doesn’t know I’m here,” she giggled.

I gawked at her, shocked.

“Are you kidding me??” I asked. “I thought he sent you to get me.”

She shook her head, nibbling on her lower lip.

“Not exactly. I convinced the Gamma that he did send to let me go instead,” she admitted with a shrug as she put the car in drive.

“And he went along with it??”

She just laughed, pulling away from my condo.

“Of course he did; I’m the Luna. He has to do what I say.”

I laugh at her logic.

“Your mate is going to kill you,” I tease. “And me for letting that happen.”

“Oh, please. He’d never. He loves me, and you’re my friend, so my default, he loves you.”

I laugh again and shake my head at her; I loved Luna Lucy and Alpha Sampson. They both welcomed me with wide smiles and open arms, especially when they were told I would be joining their Elite Force. It took a little while to prove myself to those I’m working with, even after I won the Gamma Competition, but after one week of working with me, they realized I was all business.

I wasn’t there to play around. I was there to do a job. I do my job well, even if my brain is clouded because of a stupid guy. I refused to let my teammates see me weak, so I left my crying at my condo door before leaving every morning. This is the first week that I don’t feel like crying; yes, I’m still sad and my heart still aches every time I breathe, but I feel a bit lighter today. I feel as if the weight of the world isn’t on my shoulders, and it was a nice feeling.

I was quickly making friends and a home in this pack.

Though I had to admit, I missed my friends back home. I’ve had my cellphone shut off for the last 2 weeks; I was afraid that if I called one of my friends, or if they called me, they would only feed me information about Gavin. The last thing I wanted to hear about was his wedding planning.

“Where did your mind just go?” Lucy asked with a frown.

I hadn’t told Lucy about Gavin or about anything real in my life. She obviously knew I had family and friends back home, but she didn’t know much of anything else. I told her that I didn’t have a phone, which is why she couldn’t contact me right now. I have a company one from working with the Elite Force, which is what Sampson contacts me on; she keeps trying to get Sampson’s permission to contact me on that phone, but he refuses because it’s not meant for socializing.

I suppose at some point iw was going to have to turn on my phone and get a hold of my parents because they were probably worried about me, despite me calling them when I landed to tell them that I was safe, and I’ll contact them again when I can in a few weeks.

I’ll just tell Lucy that I happened to have gotten a phone and then give her my number.

She offered to buy me a phone, but I refused to take a dime from her.

“Just thinking about the rogues. There are new attacks?”

She shrugged.

“Or so I’ve heard through the grapevine,” she replied.

We pulled up to the large manor of a packhouse and got out of the car. We walked together while they mindlessly spoke to me, and soon we were entering through the large doors only to see a bustling of Gamma warriors.

“Woah,” I said, freezing.

Before I could comprehend what was going on, Sampson was in front of us with his arms folded across his chest; his eyes were fixed on his mate.

“You bribed one of my Gamma warriors,” Sampson stated; it wasn’t a question; more like a fact. “You can’t do that kind of thing, Lucy. Not right now, at least. It’s dangerous for you to wander around the pack unprotected. You know the main target for rogues are Lunas and those who are important to Alphas. It weakens the pack when the Alpha is distracted. By being careless with your life, you put the pack in danger.”

“You are so dramatic,” Lucy said, rolling her eyes. “It’s not that serious. Judy lives literally up the street.”

“It is serious, Lucy. If anything happened to you…” His voice trailed off, unable to finish the thought. I loved how much Sampson loved Lucy; it made me envious. I wanted that kind of love. I wanted to feel worshipped like she did. My heart ached at the thought that I might never have that. My true mate didn’t want me… and the guy I thought I was falling in love with, also doesn’t want me. My hope was dwindling, and there was nothing I could do about it.

“Is the threat that bad?” I asked, interrupting his scolding. “Why are there so many warriors here? What’s going on?”

“You should find your team,” Sampson told me, directing his gaze from Lucy to me. “Marlo will tell you the details.”

Marlo was my team leader. We don’t always see eye to eye, but I respect him as my superior. I had only been here for a couple of weeks after all.

“Are we in danger, Sir?” I asked him.

Sampson opened his mouth to speak, but then he closed it as if he were to rethink what he wanted to say. Then he pressed his lips together and gave me a short nod.

“Yes,” he replied. “I’m afraid the security of my pack had been breached. We are calling in for help from other packs and waiting to hear back from them, but it’s not looking good. There are a lot of deaths, and I’m trying to keep those of us here alive. Go find Marlo and have him fill you in, Judy. I need to deal with my mate and make sure she stays in the packhouse.”

I nodded without hesitation and did exactly what my new Alpha requested.