Chapter 289

Gavin’s POV

I watched as Judy walked into Sampson’s office. I was about to follow her, curious as to what he wanted to talk to her about.

“There you are,” Taylor said, stopping me from walking any further. “My flight is in a couple of hours. I have all the security footage downloaded; I’m going to send it to my email address and take a look at it with our security team once I’m back in Silver Crescent.”

I nodded.

“Thanks,” I told him, putting my hand on his shoulder. ‘’Let me know once you're back.”

“I will,” he tells me. “I’m going to head into the office first and make sure everything ran smoothly this past day or so.” He paused for a moment, his eyes studying me. “Did you know Judy was here when we got here?”

I shook my head, knowing that the question was about to come sooner or later.

“No,” I answered.

“What are the odds of that?” Taylor said, running his fingers through his hair. “What are you going to do?”

Now that was a loaded question. I had no idea what I was going to do. What I wanted to do was drag Judy away, kicking and screaming, and forcing her back home with me. I wanted to demand more answers from her because, despite cornering her in the conference room, I knew there were more answers she wasn’t saying. I could see the terrified expression on her face and the lingering pain in her eyes. I didn’t understand where that pain was coming from, and I was desperate to know.

I was desperate to pry out every single bit of truth she was holding in her pretty little heart. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and protect her. Despite my best efforts, I tried not to care for her as I do… I tried to stop feeling what I was feeling. But seeing her again after a couple of weeks of nothing… my feelings had been solidified.

I fucking loved her.

I was in love with her.

She was mine, and I wasn’t leaving this pack without her.

“I’m going to get her back,” I answered, meeting Taylor's eyes. “And then we will return home.”

“You’re staying?” Taylor asked, raising his brows. “I mean longer than a week?”

“I’m staying for as long as I need to,” I told him. “I might need you to send me more stuff if I do have to stay longer.”

“Of course,” he replied. “You know I got you. Good luck.”

The sound of Sampson’s raised voice brought me back to reality, and my eyes darted to the open office door.

Was he yelling at her?

Over my dead body was I going to let that continue.

I left Taylor staring after me as I rushed into the office, only to hear the words that pulled my wolf right out of me.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant, Judy?”

My wolf growled before I could fully pull him back; he surged forward, and I knew I must have looked insane. Judy’s entire body tensed; her back towards me, which was something she’s grown accustomed to.

Sampson’s eyes grew large as he looked at me, and Lucy seemed to have paled, neither of them knowing what to say.

Pregnant…

Judy was pregnant?

With who’s baby?

How far along was she??

I had so many questions, and I wasn’t leaving until I had answers.

“Alpha Landry…” Sampson said, finally finding his voice. “What are—”

Before you could ask his question, I spun Judy around to face me. Her body was trembling as she fought to avoid my eyes. I cupped her face with my hands and forced her to look at me.

“Tell me the truth,” I said, my voice hoarse as I fought to keep control of my wolf, who desperately wanted to know the truth. “Are you pregnant?”

When she didn’t answer, I tightened my hold on her, my eyes blazing with the power of my wolf. I didn’t want to command her and force the answers out of her lips, but my wolf was out of control and was desperate for answers.

“Are you carrying my baby?” My voice dropped to a vulnerable whisper as tears filled her eyes.

I heard Lucy gasping and covering her mouth, though my focus wasn’t on her. I knew Sampson’s eyes were glued to me, rooted to his spot across the room.

Judy’s bottom lip trembled as a tear escaped her eyes and down her cheek. Without thinking, I brushed my thumb across her fallen tear, wiping it away. I pressed my forehead against her, closing my eyes.

“Tell me it’s mine…”

“Why?” She whispered. “So, you can throw both me and my baby away?”

My heart shattered hearing her words. I opened my eyes and saw the fire burning in her gaze as she stared at me. Something was eating away at her.

“Judy—”

‘No,” she said, pulling away from me, making my hands drop to my sides. I suddenly felt cold without her nearness. “The baby isn’t yours, so you don’t have to worry about it ruining your perfect little life. Just forget about it and forget about me. I’m embarrassed enough. I need to get out of here.”

Without another word or looking in Sampson’s direction, Judy hurried out of the room, tears spilling down her cheeks. It took everything I had not to chase after her; in fact, I was about to, but Lucy rushed past me, calling her name as tears fell down her own cheeks.

I was alone now with Sampson, who was staring at me. I knew he wanted to ask questions, but he wouldn’t dare pry into my personal life, though I knew that he cared for Judy, so that might be enough to push him into asking me what he wanted to know.

“I didn’t realize you and Judy knew one another…” Sampson finally said after a long silence. “She doesn’t really talk about where she came from, but she was sent here by Alpha Levi. I never asked her any questions.”

I looked at him and I could see the concern lingering on his face. It was clear he cared for Judy; it didn’t make me jealous because I knew from the short time I’ve been here; he’s infatuated with his mate. Mated male wolves don’t pose a threat to me.

“She’s from my territory,” I told him.

Sampson tensed, and then realization dawned on him.

“I see,” he said, looking away a bit awkwardly. “So that’s how you know her?”

“Yes,” I said, not wanting to give him too much information.

He was quiet for a long moment, processing what I had told him, trying to fit the pieces of the story together.

“I hope you know that I didn’t know…” he said, breaking through the silence that started to consume us.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“What?”

He cleared his throat and ran his fingers through his hair awkwardly.

“About the baby…” he said, his eyes fixed on the ground. “I didn’t know she was pregnant. I would have never kept her on the force otherwise. I would have tried to convince her to return to her home where she has family and the baby’s father…”

His eyes lifted when he said those last words, and he met my gaze. So, he wasn’t as stupid as I was beginning to think. He put the pieces together, and he understood what was happening right in front of his eyes.

“How has she been?” I asked, hating the slight vulnerability in my tone as I asked that question.

“Honesty, she fits in really well here. She’s good at her job. I know she’s only been here for a couple of weeks, but she’s made an impact on not just the pack but my mate as well. I don’t know if you know, but she and Lucy became friends. Lucy was only trying to look out for her when she told me Judy’s secret. I hope Judy doesn’t hold that over her head for long.”

“That’s not something Judy would do,” I said without hesitation. “She wears her heart on her sleeve and once she names you a friend, she becomes a thorn in your side and it’s hard to get rid of her.”

This elicited a snort out of Sampson as he nodded.

“Yeah, you ain't wrong,” he said, a small smile on his lips. “Despite it all, though, I know a lost soul when I see one, and Judy’s soul is certainly lost.”

I raised my brows.

“What do you mean?”

“It always seemed as if Judy was running from something; despite the smiles and the energy she brings to this pack, I could always tell there was some lingering sadness in her eyes.”

My heart ached at his words; was it true that Judy had been sad? She was running from something… why did I get the feeling I knew what she was running from? Why did I have a feeling she was running from me?

The look Sampson was giving me was telling me all I needed to know; it confirmed my fears.

“I think I understand now what she was running from…” Sampson said slowly. “The question is, why?”

We let that question hang in the air for a moment before I met his eyes, a determined look in my gaze.

“That’s exactly what I’m about to find out.”