Chapter 0078
Judy’s POV
I tumbled off Walter, landing hard on my lower back with a sharp thud. A flash of pain shot up my spine, but it was nothing compared to the fear that gripped me when I looked up—straight into Gavin’s furious gaze.
I hadn’t even realized he was home. And I definitely didn’t understand why he was this angry. Walter was just showing me some moves to help with Matt’s training.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Gavin growled, his voice dangerously low, his wolf barely restrained.
Walter frowned as he rose to his feet, brushing off the dirt from his pants.
“Uncle Gavin—” he started, but whatever greeting he had died in his throat the moment he saw the look on Gavin’s face.
Gavin stopped just inches from him, and the raw intensity of his anger was palpable. It rolled off him in waves, suffocating the air around us. I swallowed hard and instinctively took a step back, glancing over my shoulder at Irene and Ethan.
Ethan looked furious.
Irene… just looked confused.
Completely oblivious to the way her fiancé was barely containing his emotions.
“I invite you into my home,” Gavin seethed, “and you think it’s acceptable to put your hands on my staff? Are you out of your damn mind?”
Walter held up his hands in surrender. “I meant no disrespect,” he assured him, his tone steady but cautious. “I was only trying to be helpful.”
“He wasn’t hurting her, Dad,” Matt chimed in, stepping beside Gavin, clearly trying to diffuse the situation. “He was just showing her some moves. Besides…” He smirked. “Judy could have taken him easily.”
Walter arched an eyebrow at Matt before his gaze flicked to me, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. My face heated.
“Is that so?” Walter teased, his voice turning flirtatious.
That was the last straw.
Before I could blink, Gavin lunged.
His hand wrapped around Walter’s throat, lifting him clean off the ground. Walter gagged, his legs kicking as he struggled to breathe.
“You’re only next in line for Alpha because of me,” Gavin snarled, his voice raw with authority. “I can take it away in a heartbeat.”
Walter’s face paled, his fingers clawing at Gavin’s iron grip.
My stomach twisted.
“Alpha, please,” I said quickly, stepping forward, my heart racing. “He hasn’t done anything wrong. There’s no need for this.”
Walter tried to speak—“Uncle—” he choked out, his voice rasping, his face reddening from the lack of oxygen.
Gavin’s eyes burned into his nephew’s. “Stay away from her. And any of my other employees. They are not your playthings, Walter.”
Then, just as quickly as he had grabbed him, Gavin released him.
Walter hit the ground with a hard thud, coughing violently as he gasped for air. I instinctively moved toward him, but before I could reach him, Irene grabbed my arm.
I turned to her, confused.
She gave a small shake of her head.
I hesitated.
She was right. If I helped Walter now, it would only make Gavin angrier. And judging by the dark look on Ethan’s face, it would definitely make him mad too.
Maybe… that wasn’t such a bad thing. Maybe if Ethan did lose his cool, Irene would finally see his true colors.
I swallowed and took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay still.
Walter rubbed his sore throat, his expression a mix of anger and wariness. But he wasn’t stupid—he knew better than to challenge an Alpha in his own territory.
“Tutoring is over for the day,” Gavin barked. “I’ll have my driver take you home.”
Without another word, he turned and stormed back toward the villa, leaving us all staring after him in stunned silence.
Walter coughed again, wincing as he touched his throat. “What the hell was that about?” he rasped once Gavin had disappeared inside.
“He’s… protective of his employees,” I muttered, staring at the ground as heat rushed to my cheeks.
“I don’t think that’s it,” Irene said under her breath.
My head snapped up.
“What?” I asked, brows furrowing.
She shrugged, but there was a knowing gleam in her eyes.
“He’s not like that with all his employees,” she said, voice light but deliberate. “Only with you.”
“I’ve never seen him act like that toward the other staff,” Matt added, exchanging a look with Irene that made something twist uncomfortably in my stomach.
Irene smiled at Matt, and they both shared some kind of silent understanding that irked me.
“Come on, Matt,” she said, throwing an arm around him. “Let’s go inside.”
She reached for Ethan’s hand as well, expecting him to take it.
But Ethan… didn’t move.
He was still standing there, his body rigid, his fists clenched at his sides. His gaze was locked on me, dark and unreadable.
Irene’s smile faded.
“Ethan?” she asked, her voice softer now, laced with concern. “Is everything okay?”
Nothing.
His eyes never left mine.
A strange tension crackled between us, so thick it was suffocating.
“Ethan?” she tried again, her voice more urgent.
Still, no response.
I cleared my throat loudly, breaking the silence.
“I think your fiancé is waiting for you,” I said, my voice pointed, deliberately loud.
Ethan blinked, as if snapping out of a trance. His gaze jerked toward Irene, his entire body stiffening.
She frowned, a crease forming between her brows as she looked up at him, suspicion flickering in her eyes.
For the first time… she was noticing.
And for the first time… Ethan had no way to hide it.
