Chapter 0086
Gavin’s POV
“Alpha, I need to tell you something,” Beta Taylor said from the front seat, breaking the silence that had settled between us. We were driving back to the villa after a long day at the office, and honestly, the last thing I wanted was more bad news. I was still seething from what I had caught yesterday—my nephew, Walter, on top of Judy in broad daylight. Since then, I hadn’t spoken to either of them, and I couldn’t shake the image from my mind.
I knew I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. Walter wasn’t a bad kid—he was ambitious, successful, and had a good head on his shoulders. He came from a decent family, and I had a respectable relationship with his father. But with Judy? It felt different. My stomach twisted at the thought of him with her, and I couldn’t ignore the uneasy feeling gnawing at me.
I dismissed the thought and turned to look at Taylor, who was staring out the front window, avoiding eye contact.
“Well, spit it out,” I demanded, my patience thinning.
“It’s about Judy and Walter,” Taylor said, his voice a bit sheepish.
My blood ran cold.
“What about them?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“They were spotted last night on a date,” he blurted out. “They went to a luxurious restaurant and were seen holding hands.”
I could feel the blood rush to my head, my temper flaring instantly. I had told Walter specifically to stay away from Judy, but he didn’t listen. And Judy—she knew better. She knew I could fire her at any moment, yet here she was, flaunting my orders. Was this a risk she was willing to take? Or perhaps she thought Walter’s money could somehow help her father’s debts?
She was playing a dangerous game, and I wasn’t going to let her get away with it.
“Floor it!” I growled, my voice low and dangerous. “I need to get home immediately.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Taylor responded without hesitation, pressing harder on the gas. He knew better than to speak casually when I was this angry. He also knew not to defy me.
We sped back to the villa in record time. I didn’t say a word to Taylor as I stormed out of the car and into the villa, my mind clouded with anger and frustration.
Adam, my silent servant, bowed in greeting as I passed, but I didn’t acknowledge him. I was in too much of a hurry. I expected to find Judy tutoring Matthew, as usual, but what I saw instead made my blood run cold.
It was Walter and Ethan—Walter had Ethan by the collar and was pressing him against the wall, his fury palpable.
“Get your hands off me,” Ethan growled through gritted teeth, struggling to break free.
“Why would you break up with your fated mate for my cousin?” Walter snarled, his tone low, controlled, but deadly.
Ethan’s eyes flared with defiance. “Because I fell in love,” he spat, his voice hard. “I love Irene.”
“Bullshit,” Walter hissed, his grip tightening.
“I’m speaking the truth,” Ethan shot back, his voice steady despite the tension.
“She was your fated mate!” Walter growled. “Your wolf wouldn’t have given up on her so easily.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Ethan shot back, his anger rising. “You’ve never had a fated mate. I didn’t want the goddess to dictate who I ended up with. I love Irene, and I would do anything for her—even leave my fated mate behind. She doesn’t know that Judy and I were mates, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
Before Walter could respond, I stepped into the room, my voice cutting through the tension. “And she won’t.”
Both Walter and Ethan froze, their heads snapping to me. Walter immediately released Ethan, stepping back as he ran a hand through his messy blond curls.
“I’m sorry, Uncle,” Walter muttered, his voice softer now. “I got carried away. I didn’t want to see anyone get hurt because of this asshole.”
I nodded, my expression hardening. “I agree with you,” I said, surprising both of them. “I don’t want anyone getting hurt, either.”
I turned my gaze to Ethan, my eyes narrowing. “If you aren’t genuinely interested in my daughter, then you need to step away from her before it’s too late. I don’t want her getting married to someone who isn’t 100% committed. I don’t care what excuses you give. If you don’t love her, then let her go.”
The words stung more than I intended, but they needed to be said. As much as I knew this would hurt Irene if Ethan walked away now, it would only be worse if they married and he hurt her later. I couldn’t let her live through that pain. I had to protect her at all costs.
I stared at Ethan, my voice low and lethal. “If you hurt her in any way, I will kill you on the spot.”
Ethan’s eyes widened, but he didn’t speak. The weight of my words hung in the air, and I knew he understood.
