Chapter 52
Third Person POV
Later that evening, Irene sat curled up on the couch, staring at her phone. Ethan had promised to call at 8 p.m., but now it was 9:30, and there was still no word from him.
She had tried calling him half an hour ago—no answer. She had sent texts—left unread.
He had never disappeared on her like this before, and she wasn’t sure what to make of it. A tight knot formed in her stomach, the uneasy feeling in her chest growing stronger. She wished she had someone to talk to about it, but the truth was, she didn’t have any real friends.
Sure, there were girls she hung around with occasionally, but she was smart enough to know when she was being used. Most of them only kept her close because she was Gavin Landry’s daughter. They either wanted something from her or were trying to get closer to her father.
The closest thing she had to a friend right now was Judy, but she didn’t even have her number. And she wasn’t sure if Judy even wanted to be her friend. Wrapping her arms around herself, she tried to hold herself together.
“Everything okay?”
She looked up to see her father walking into the room, dressed in pajama bottoms and no shirt. It was rare to see him without a suit. He was always well-dressed, even when he was just at home—though he was hardly ever around to begin with.
“I’m worried about Ethan,” she admitted, glancing at her phone again. “He hasn’t called me.”
Gavin let out a quiet huff—one Irene recognized instantly as disapproval. It was no secret that he didn’t like Ethan. She never understood why. Ethan had been nothing but kind to her from the moment they met.
She could still remember that night so vividly.
He had looked so handsome in his tux, dark curls brushed out of his face as he scanned the grand Alpha banquet. The event had been packed, buzzing with the latest news—Alpha Carter from the Redmoon Pack had died in battle, and now all the eligible Alpha candidates were eager to impress Gavin Landry.
Her father held the power to appoint any Alpha he wanted without consulting the other Lycans. He was the most powerful Lycan chairman in the world.
But the moment Ethan’s eyes met hers, it felt like they were the only two people in the room.
Her heart skipped a beat. Even her wolf purred with contentment. From the smile on Ethan’s perfect lips, he liked what he saw just as much as she did.
It hadn’t taken long for him to stroll over, ordering her another glass of champagne. They talked the entire night. He never once asked about her father or tried to impress him. It was as if he had completely forgotten why he was there in the first place.
By the end of the night, he asked for her number.
The next evening, he called, and they spoke until the sun rose.
Irene had never felt this way about anyone before. She wanted to be with him more than anything. But when she told her father, he didn’t give his blessing—not at first. He had concerns, claiming Ethan might be using her. He said he had heard unsettling things about him from other packs.
She had lost it.
In a moment of desperation, she had threatened to take her own life if her father didn’t approve.
He had no choice.
A month later, Ethan proposed, and Irene jumped at the opportunity.
Now, sitting beside her father in silence, she hesitated before asking,
“When Mom was alive, did you love her?”
Gavin turned to her, his expression filled with concern and thought. The question had clearly caught him off guard.
“She was my fated mate. Of course, I loved her,” he said without hesitation.
“I know she was your fated mate,” Irene murmured, staring down at her hands. “That just means you were drawn together by the bond between your wolves. But that doesn’t mean you actually loved her.”
“I loved her.”
“But did you love her because of the bond? Or because of your heart?” she asked.
