Chapter 362

Judy’s POV

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Nan asked, folding her arms across her chest and pressing her lips in a thin line. “We literally just walked in here, and you don’t know us.”

“I know enough,” she said, her eyes scanning our clothes. “Like how you got your jeans off a discount shop and how your pregnant friend here is going to need extra fabric to cover that mound of a stomach she’s sporting. It’s going to cost you a pretty penny, and considering you shop at discount stores, I doubt you have the funds.”

“Just because I’m wearing discount jeans? They happen to be very comfortable. I don’t shop for price, I shop for comfort and fit.”

I stood shellshocked at the audacity of this woman. I had never seen her before, and she didn’t smell like pack. The city was a neutral ground between the Silver Crescent Pack and the Redmoon Pack, and though it's listed as a neutral territory, it mostly belongs to Gavin. It’s where both his office and the Carter resort are. Everybody in this area knows who Gavin Landry is, including the humans.

She didn’t smell like a human either, though.

“What is your name?” I asked, trying not to let her words affect me. If I were going to be a Luna someday soon, I needed to learn to deal with these types of problems.

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” she said, raising her brows. “There’s the door… please leave through it before you embarrass yourself even further.”

“Is this how you speak to all customers?” I asked her. “Because this is not how you gain business, if so. Are you Sasha Evermoore?”

Her eyes turned to slits.

“How dare you speak her name?” she said through her teeth. “I’m her assistant, Keris, and I call the shots while on the floor. We are very busy and we don’t have the time to be dealing with scum.”

“Then, in that case… I suppose we will shop elsewhere for my wedding dress,” I said, turning away from her. “I don’t have the time for this kind of thing… or the patience.”

“We aren’t going to let her get away with this, are we?” Nan asked, shocked. “She’s being disrespectful.”

“Two wrongs do not make a right,” I tell her. “We need to be the bigger people.”

The door opened and Irene stepped in; her eyes were red as if she had been crying, and her face was slightly paler than it had been not long ago. She paused when she saw the looks on our faces, and then her eyes shifted to Kerris.

“What’s going on in here?” She asked.

“Holy shit, are you Irene Landry?” Kerris’s demeanor completely changed upon seeing Irene. Her eyes lit up, and a wide smile spread across her face. “You are a legend in the fashion world. I’m a huge fan. I heard you’re a VIP customer. I’m new. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

Irene blinked, clearly not expecting to be bombarded like this.

“Um… I’m sorry… who are you?” She asked, her frown deepening.

“Keris Wheeler,” she said, holding out her hand to shake. Irene just stared at it blankly. “I’m from the Yellowstone pack. I just started this job a few weeks ago. I’m Sasha Eevermore’s new assistant.”

As if on cue, a tall woman with a slender waist and black hair walked into the area. She was gorgeous and clearly a huge deal in the fashion world, as evidenced by her impeccable attire and the meticulous styling of her hair and makeup. She looked at Irene with such affection that I immediately liked her.

Though she was beautiful, she didn’t have an intimidating aura, and she smelled like pack. I haven’t met her, which meant she wasn’t from the Redmoon pack; she was from the Silver Crescent pack. It was such a big pack that there were still so many I hadn’t met yet.

“Irene, it’s lovely to see you,” the woman said as she stepped towards Irene, giving her air kisses on both her cheeks. Irene returned the gesture, her expression softening.

“Hello, Sasha,” Irene said, confirming my assumption that this woman was Sasha Evermore, Irene’s mentor and a fashion goddess. “I wasn’t aware you hired a new assistant.”

“The last one didn’t work out. I would have loved it if you could have worked for me, but you turned down the job, wanting to pursue something else,” Sasha stated, giving Irene a playful jab.

“You know I love all you do for me. However, I’m considering becoming a wedding planner instead of a fashion designer. Or maybe I could do both. I haven’t decided yet.”

“You are still young and there’s plenty of time to decide. Whatever you want to do, I’m sure you’ll do great.”

Irene beamed at the compliment, though I could still see some sadness in her eyes. Something happened when she was on the phone, and I was itching to find out what it was. Nan gave me a knowing look, and I shrugged at her, not entirely sure what to do in this situation.

It seemed that Kerris had completely forgotten that we were there, and her soul focus was on Irene.

“I think I have an idea as to why you’re here, and I’m so excited to help,” Sasha said, her eyes shifting in my direction. She smiled fondly at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back; she had an affectionate smile that made everyone else around her smile in return.

Though I had never met her before, it was obvious that she knew who I was. Being in Gavin’s pack, most knew who I was by now, and plus, she could probably smell her Alpha all over me. Someone who isn’t from the same pack wouldn’t know that familiar scent… such as Kerris.

“That would be great—” Irene started to say, but I cut her off.

“Actually, we were just leaving. It seems we aren’t wanted here.”

Sasha’s face fell, and Irene looked utterly confused as she turned to look at me.

“W…what?” She asked.

“Are you seriously still here?” Kerris asked, finally remembering that we were standing right there. She didn’t hear Irene’s shocked breath. “Didn’t I tell you that you aren’t wanted—”

“Kerris?” Sasha snapped. “What is the meaning of this?”

“My discount jeans turned her off,” Nan said, rolling her eyes. “And apparently Judy’s pregnant belly will require extra fabric that we supposedly cannot afford.”

Kerris’s face paled as she looked at me, then Nan, and then at Irene’s shocked and angered face.

“Did you seriously tell my friends that they can’t shop here?” Irene asked, her blue eyes turning into icy slits. “To their faces?? In front of me?”

“There was a misunderstanding,” Sasha said, trying to dismiss the situation. “Kerris isn’t right in the head right now. Clearly, she’s not well.”

“I…I don’t understand. You know them, Miss Irene?” She asked, glancing at me and then back at Irene.

I just raised my brows, not wanting to get into it with someone who thinks they are better than us.

“Know them?” Irene asked. “Judy is marrying my father and carrying his baby. Of course, I know them.”

Kerris gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.

“Wait, what?” She quickly turned to look at me, her eyes wide with alarm. “You’re Gavin Landry’s rumored mate??”

I shrugged and turned away.

“Does it matter? You’ve made your stance quite clear. We aren’t wanted.”

“It was a mistake!” She nearly screeched. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean for—”

“Is this how you treat all your customers?” Nan cut her off, holding her hand up to stop her rambling even further. “Because as we said earlier, this is not it.”

“Please don’t let her incompetence turn you off from my boutique,” Sasha said nervously. “I don’t want this to get back to Alpha Landry in any kind of way. He could have my entire business shut down in seconds.”

“I wouldn’t want to do that to you, Sasha,” Irene said, folding her arms across her chest. “But I can’t believe you’d hire someone so stupid as your assistant… and not educate her on matters like this. She should have known who Judy was as soon as she walked in the door.”

“Yes, of course. I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again…” Sasha said before turning to a teary-eyed Kerris. “You’re fired.”

“W…what?!” Kerris gasped. “It was a mistake! You can’t fire me over a mistake!”

“I just did. Pack your things and leave.”

Kerris started to cry uncontrollably and begged for her job as Sasha walked towards her office. Sasha was furious and needed a moment to gather her thoughts, but Kerris was determined to keep her job.

I would have laughed if I weren’t so worried about Irene. The second we were alone again, Irene’s shoulders slumped, and she let out a breath.

“Sorry you girls had to deal with that,” she sighed. “It should have never happened.”

“It’s fine,” Nan said. “Just glad it was dealt with. Now, let’s go through these amazing outfits.”

She began to browse the racks of gorgeous dresses, hoping to find the perfect maid-of-honor dresses and bridesmaids' dresses.

Irene looked a bit lost as she stared at the ground.

I stepped closer to her, concern evident on my face.

“Hey,” I said softly, drawing her attention to me. “Everything okay? You seem off?”

She nibbled on her lower lip, and then she nodded.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” she said softly. “I don’t want to ruin your day.”

Now I was really concerned; my chest tightened.

“Is it Chuck?”

She thought about it for a moment, and then she finally nodded, tears filling her eyes.

“What is it?” I asked her, trying to get her to talk to me.

“We got into an argument,” she said softly, giving me a small shrug. “He said he won’t be able to talk to me for the next few days because of work and that he’s calling to tell me that he loves me. I was upset and we got into a small fight over it, resulting in him hanging up on me.”

“Oh, Nan… I’m so sorry. I know what it’s like to argue with a mate. I don’t wish it on anyone,” I said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

“That’s not it…” she whispered weakly. “I called him back to apologize… and a woman answered. Said Chuck was in the shower now and couldn’t talk.”

My heart slammed into my stomach.

“What?” I gasped, not believing what she was saying.

“I think Chuck is cheating on me…”