Chapter 41

Judy’s POV

I fell off Walter and my lower back hit the ground with a thud. I winced in pain, but it was quickly replaced with fear when I saw the furious look in Gavin’s eyes. I didn’t even know he came home, and I wasn’t sure why he was so upset. Walter was only showing me some moves so I could better teach Matt.

“What do you think you’re doing??” Gavin asked, his eyes blazing with fury as his wolf surged forward.

Walter frowned as he got to his feet.

“Uncle Gavin…” he began to greet but his voice faltered when he saw the look on Gavin’s face.

Gavin stopped only inches from him, and I could practically smell the rage rolling off him in waves. I swallowed the lump in my throat and stepped away from the Alphas not really sure what to do. I glanced over my shoulder at Ethan and Irene, and I saw that Ethan was also fuming, while Irene just looked confused, completely oblivious of the look on her finance’s face.

“I invite you into my home and you get handsy with my staff? Are you out of your mind?” Gavin growled.

“I didn’t mean any disrespect,” Walter assured him. “I was only trying to be helpful.”

“He wasn’t hurting her, Dad,” Matt said, stepping beside his father, trying to diffuse the situation. “He was only helping. Besides, Judy could have taken him easily.”

Walter corked an eyebrow at Matt and then he glanced at me, a smirk playing on his lips, making me blush.

“Is that so?” Walter asked, his voice turning flirtatious which only seemed to fuel Gavin even more.

Gavin grabbed Walter by the throat and lifted him into the air; Walter gagged, struggling to “breathe.

“You’re only the next Alpha of your pack because of me!” Gavin growled. “I can take it away from you in a heartbeat.”

Walter’s face paled as he attempted to get Gavin’s grip to loosen around his neck.

“Alpha please,” I said quickly, not wanting to see Walter get hurt any further. “He hasn’t done anything wrong. There’s no need to act like this.”

“Uncle…” Walter tried to say in a raspy tone; his face turning red from the lack of oxygen.

“Stay away from her and any of my other employees. They are not your playthings, Walter.”

Gavin finally released his nephew, making him fall to the ground and cough. I was about to run to him, but Irene grabbed my arm. When I looked at her, she gave me a slight headshake. I knew she was right; if I went to help Walter, it would only make Gavin angrier. And telling from the look on Ethan’s face, it would make him mad too. Though, maybe it would be a good thing if he lost his cool because then Irene could see his true colors.

I swallowed and took a deep breath as I turned back to look at Walter who was rubbing his aching throat and looking pissed. Even Walter knew better than to piss off the Alpha though, so he remained quiet as he rubbed his neck and pulled himself to his feet.

“Tutoring is over for the day,” Gavin barked. “I’ll have my driver take you home.”

Without another word, he turned, and stormed away, leaving us staring after him with shocked expressions.

“What the hell was that about?” Walter rasped out once Gavin was inside the villa.

“He’s protective of his employees,” I said, staring at the ground, feeling the heat rushing to my cheeks.

“I don’t think that’s it,” Irene said under her breath.

I looked at her, confused.

“What?” I asked.

She shrugged.

“He’s not like that with all his employees,” she told me. “Only with you.”

“I’ve never seen him act like that towards the other staff,” Matt agreed.

Irene smiled at him; they both exchanged knowing looks which irked me a little.

“Come on, Matt. Let’s go inside,” She said, putting an arm around him.

She held out her hand for Ethan to take the other one, but he was still brewing in his place. His eyes never left mine; I knew Irene could finally see that Ethan wasn’t okay and that he was staring at me.

“Ethan?” She asked, worry clear in her tone as she looked between the two of us. “Is everything okay?”

He pressed his lips together, his eyes still remained on mine.

“Ethan?” She asked again when he didn’t respond the first time.

I cleared my throat loudly, snapping him out of his trance.

“I think your fiancé is waiting for you,” I told him, loudly.

He blinked a few times as if he was just remembering where he was. His eyes snapped to Irene who had a crease between her brows and was looking at him suspiciously.

“Sorry, what were you saying, Darling?”

Her frown deepened.

“I’m going inside with Matt,” she snapped, her eyes dark with anger. She turned away and started to walk inside with Matt beside her. Ethan’s face paled when he realized his mistake.

“I think you should go after her, lover boy,” I said, folding my arms across my chest.

He didn’t humor me with a response, but he quickly ran after her, attempting to explain himself. I shook my head at their retreating backs.

“Why do I get the feeling there’s history between the two of you?” Walter asked, turning my attention to him. If Gavin saw us talking alone together, he would be furious. I honestly thought Walter went back inside while Ethan and I were having that stare-down. I was surprised and maybe even a little startled to see that he was still here with me.

Even though I just met him, there was a part of me that trusted Walter. But I didn’t think I should tell him the truth about Ethan and me because I’m not sure how close he was to Irene. Telling from what I saw in the parlor earlier, with the two of them laughing and hugging, I would say they are very close.

“There’s not,” I lied. “He’s just Irene’s fiancé. I never really talk to him.”

He cocked his head to the side as if he was trying to read my thoughts and then he nodded, not asking further questions about Ethan and me.

“I’m sorry if I made things weird between you and your boss,” he told me, kicking the dirt on the ground like he was a small child who just got scolded. “He can be intense.”

“That’s an understatement,” I teased. “You don’t need to apologize, Walter. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

He shrugged and then lifted his gaze to meet mine.

“I hope he didn’t scare you away from me though,” he said softly.

I raised my brows at him; not sure what he meant.

“Wasn’t it you that he threatened?” I asked.

“He can take away whatever he wants,” Walter murmured. “I never wanted to be an Alpha. It’s what my father wanted for me. I just want to run my business and continue to expand. All the money that I have has been earned by me. I am wealthy because of my successes, not because of the Landry fortune. Uncle Gavin can’t truly take anything away from me.”

“I fear that’s not true, Walter. He’s a Lycan Chairmen and you know the Lycan’s rule over the werewolf population,” I reminded him. “Your uncle has all the power in the world.”

“I’d like to see him try,” Walter murmured, folding his arms across his chest.

I frowned at him as I went to collect my belongings. I grabbed my phone out of my bag to check my text messages, ignoring the weight of Walter’s gaze on me as I did so. I was about to put my phone back in my bag when Walter’s voice stopped me.

“Can I give you my number?”

I froze and looked at him.

“Is that wise?” I asked him.

He shrugged.

“Probably not,” he said with a sly grin. “But maybe we could do more training. Or something else…”

My cheeks burned with heat from his words; they were not lost on me.

“Something else?” I asked with raised brows.

He stepped closer to me, and I felt the warmth of his hand on my arm; it was a nice touch, but it didn’t ignite me. I glanced up at him through my lashes, waiting for him to continue.

“I’d like to maybe take you to dinner sometime,” he admitted. “I’ve never met anyone as beautiful as you, Judy, and you are smart, strong, and quick on your feet. Let me take you out tonight.”

I stared at him with disbelief; was he seriously asking me out after his uncle just threatened him and nearly choked him to death?

I glanced around, expecting Gavin to appear at any moment. Walter took hold of my chin between his thumb and index finger, and he gently moved my head, so I was looking up at him and into his eyes.

“Say yes,” he said softly. “Let me show you how a man treats a woman. Let me take you out tonight.”

After a beat of silence, and his face so close to mine that I could practically feel his breath on my lips, I finally whispered, “Okay… yes.”