Chapter 369

Judy’s POV

The look on Irene’s face was heartbreaking. It was clear that she was trying so hard not to cry. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and hug her, but I also didn’t want to make a scene when she was trying hard to be casual. She kept looking out the window, like she expected Chuck to just show up, but I knew he wasn’t going to. I overheard one of the gammas saying there was a retreat this evening and that most were attending. I assumed that meant Chuck as well, though some did stay behind for security purposes.

“She could smell like him for any reason,” I tried to reassure her. “Maybe they are friends. They could have passed by each other, and she could still carry some of his scent from just their arms touching.”

She shook her head, her eyes averted from me.

“The scene is stronger than that,” she said softly. “Much stronger.”

“Maybe a relative?” I said, trying to come up with a logical explanation. “You know that when you are related to someone, sharing the same blood, you can carry a similar or even the same scent.”

Though Chuck had said he didn’t really have any family.

She narrowed her eyes at me, and I could see the look of disbelief on her face as she stared at me.

“You, out of everyone, should know that we can tell the difference,” she said, shaking her head at my words.

My cheeks flushed; she was right. I knew that we could tell the difference. I let out a breath, not sure what more to say.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Nan asked as she approached. “We are about to head to our rooms. I’m excited to see what mine looks like. Erik went with the other gammas to bring our things to our rooms before they head to theirs. We are just waiting for you two before we follow them up.”

I glanced behind her to see that Gavin, Chester, Taylor, and Eliza were indeed waiting. Gavin was staring at me with a worried expression on his face. His eyes flickered to his daughter and then back at me. I knew from the look on his face and his subtle expression that he was silently asking me if she was okay.

I gave him a quick nod and then gestured with my hand to give us a moment. I turned back to Irene.

“Are you going to be okay?” I asked her. “Truly?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted, nibbling on her lower lip. “It’s just too much. I’m not sure if this is a good idea after all.”

“Wait, what’s going on?” Nan asked with a frown, staring between the two of us.

“That woman over there… at the check-in desk… she smells like Chuck. Like strongly. Like they’ve been together,” Irene murmured, making Nan’s eyes grow wide.

“That could mean anything,” Nan tried to say, but I stopped her.

“I’ve already tried that,” I said softly. “Irene was right, we’d be able to know the difference.”

“But wouldn’t you have felt it if he were with another woman? You wolf would feel it,” Nan suggested, her brows raised.

“Not if he hasn’t marked her,” I said, shaking my head. “And they aren’t together long enough to form a strong bond like that. So, with the distance between them, she wouldn’t feel anything.”

“You’re not helping,” Nan murmured, folding her arms across her chest.

“I don’t need helpful, I need logic,” Irene argued back.

“Okay, let’s not fight,” I said, holding up my hands. “We aren’t the enemies, and we aren’t here to pick with each other. We are here to help Irene and figure out what her mate is hiding. It might not be as bad as we think, or it might be worse. We don’t actually know anything yet. So, let’s just take this one step at a time.”

“Sorry, you’re right. We are here for Irene. Despite what they might think,” Nan said, motioning to behind her where the others still stood.

I bit my lower lip.

“Actually, I might have told Gavin about the real reason behind us being here.”

“You what?!” Nan and Irene nearly shouted.

“How could you tell my father??” Irene asked, her eyes wide with horror.

“He’s my mate… I can’t lie to him. He knew something was up and asked me about it. Don’t worry, he’s not upset.”

“He will kill Chuck the first opportunity he gets,” Irene hissed. “He has a temper. You know this!”

“Yeah, well, if Chuck is really being faithful, then there’s nothing to worry about.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but then clamped her lips.

“We should get to our rooms,” Nan said again. “I’m exhausted, and if we are expected to attend a dinner tonight, I need my beauty sleep.”

I nodded in return. She was right. I glanced at Irene again, who let out a breath.

“Will you be okay?”

She nodded.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “I’ll be fine.”

I turned and started towards Gavin; he was holding two sets of keys and handed one to Irene when she joined us.

“I got a room for you and Matthew as well. It’s a suite, so you’ll both have your own bedrooms,” he explained.

I raised my brows.

“I thought they’d be staying in our room,” I told him.

He glanced down at me, a sparkle of something in his eyes.

“I wanted the space for ourselves,” he admitted, his tone low and for my ears alone. I couldn’t help the heat that crept up my cheeks, and I bit my lower lip to keep from grinning.

“Of course you did,” I say as I take the key from him.

The elevator chimed softly; the doors slid open to reveal a sleek interior lined with mirrored panels brushed in gold. The buttons gleamed beneath Gavin’s touch as he pressed the top floor.

Taylor and Eliza also stepped into the elevator. Irene and Matt decided to take the stairs because Irene hates elevators and Matt wanted to explore a bit more, so they figured taking the stairs was a good way for them to get what they wanted. Nan and Chester took a different elevator.

Once we reached the top floor, the doors opened and we stepped out. Taylor and Eliza’s room was in the opposite direction, so this was where we said goodbye for the time being. We reached our room and I used the key-card to open the door, my mouth nearly falling open at the sight before me.

I swear, I forgot how to breathe.

It wasn’t just a suite, it was an experience.

Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a panoramic view of the city below; the décor was modern but indulgent. Cream marble floors, black accents, art that looked like it belonged in a museum. Soft ambient lighting glowed from hidden panels along the ceiling, and the faint scent of jasmine drifted through the air from a sleek diffuser on the counter.

To the left, a sunken living area featured a plush sectional wrapped around a glass coffee table. Beyond it, sliding doors opened onto a balcony that overlooked France and all its glory.

There were a couple along the far side of the wall, one open and one closed. The closed door I assumed was the bathroom, and peeking through the open door, I could see a large king-sized bed, so I knew it was the bedroom.

I moved deeper into the suite, my fingers brushing over the smooth marble of the kitchen island. It was fully stocked—sparkling water, imported fruit, even a few bottles of wine I was sure cost more than a car.

“This is the nicest place I’ve ever stayed,” I breathed, still in awe over my surroundings.

Gavin was behind me in an instant, his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me into him as he nuzzled his face against the nape of my neck.

“Good. You deserve nothing but the best,” he murmured, peppering a soft kiss to my mating mark, making me shiver with desire. “How about we break in that bed now?”

I smiled and turned to look at him.

“Aren’t you exhausted? Shouldn’t we sleep?” I asked him, raising my brows.

His lips found mine in a deep and all-consuming kiss.

“There’s plenty of time for sleep,” he murmured against my lips. Before I knew what was happening, he was lifting me off the ground and carrying me into the bedroom and dropping me on the bed.

I threw my head back and laughed, but he didn’t give me enough time to come to my senses before he was on top of me, kissing me and nibbling on my lips. I let myself melt in him, being consumed entirely by my mate as he deepened the kiss, his tongue swiping in my mouth, tangling with my tongue.

I ran my fingers down his body, moaning when I felt his hardness between my legs through his pants. He was already so hard, and I was practically panting with need. I fiddled with the buttons on his pants, my fingers shaking, making him smile against my lips as he continued to kiss me.

Just as I got the button undone, a very unwanted image of Esme flashed into my head, and the sound of her voice whispering, “Blood calls to blood,” whispered in my ear.

Pain erupted in my head, and the last thing I remembered before passing out was the sounds of my scream and Gavin yelling my name.