Chapter 118

Third Person POV

Ethan was already healing, thanks to the healing powers of his wolf, before Judy drove off. He stared in the direction of the car, fuming. How dare she treat him like this? After everything they had been through together, she thought she could just step all over him. They had been together for more than 2 years and now she was just throwing him away.

Then there was Gavin Landry, taking what was his. The whole purpose of getting close and marrying Irene was so he could get in good with her father, but now he was growing to hate and even resent him.

Ethan felt a powerful presence approaching him and he quickly spun around to see a few Elite Gamma warriors walking in his direction. His eyes grew large when he saw their pristine uniforms and strong builds. He knew that the Elites were going to be in town soon enough, but he had no idea it was today.

Walking with them was the powerful presence that Ethan felt, and he knew who it was almost immediately.

Levi Churchill, a powerful Lycan Chairman. It’s known that he’s not as powerful as Gavin Landry, but he’s up there, and he’s also Gavin’s arch-enemy.

Levi stared at Ethan as they approached, and his eyes narrowed when he saw the blood on Ethan’s clothing.

“Alpha Levi,” Ethan said, bowing his head. “It’s an honor to meet you.”

“You seem familiar,” the Alpha said, his tone deep and filled with authority. “Have we met before?”

“No, sir. But you have met my father before,” Ethan told him.

“And who is your father?” Alpha Levi asked, sounding almost uninterested and yet interested at the same time.

“Raymond Cash.”

“You are part of the Cash family?” Levi asked, his brows pinching together as he studied Ethan’s face.

“Yes, sir. I am Ethan Cash,” he replied proudly.

Levi thought about it for a moment, and then he nodded.

“I see,” he muttered. “And what happened to your face? “

Ethan almost forgot that he had blood all over his face and his face grew warm with embarrassment.

“I got into a minor accident,” Ethan muttered.

Levi narrowed his eyes again and then he turned to one of his Gammas, nodding at him. The Gamma didn’t need words to know what Levi wanted and he stepped towards Ethan, helping him to his feet. Ethan was startled at first, thinking that the Gamma was about to hurt him, but he was surprised when he was helped to his feet.

“Thank you,” Ethan said, bowing his head.

“What kind of accident?”

Ethan was taken aback by the question; he looked up to meet Levi’s eyes and swallowed the lump in his throat.

“I’m sorry?” He asked.

“I asked what kind of accident,” Levi asked again, more impatiently this time. “Don’t make me use my Alpha command on you to make you tell me the truth.”

“Not necessary, Sir,” Ethan said quickly. “I got into a fight with Beta Taylor of the Silver Crescent pack.”

Levi’s eyes darkened; he knew exactly who’s pack that was and who’s Beta it was.

“The Silver Crescent pack?” He asked, his interest piqued.

At that moment, Ethan had an idea, and a smile crept across his lips.

“Yes, Sir. Alpha Gavin Landry’s pack,” he muttered. “That stupid Alpha…” He pretended to feign shock at his own words and covered his mouth. “I apologize, Alpha. I shouldn’t have spoken so crude.”

Levi raised his brows.

“You aren’t a fan of Alpha Gavin?” He asked.

“Not since he took what belonged to me,” Ethan muttered, folding his arms across his chest.

“And what exactly did he take?”

“My mate,” Ethan answered, much to Levi’s surprise.

“He took your mate?” Levi asked, his brows raised so high that they disappeared in his hairline.

“Yes,” Ethan replied. “We’ve been together for 2 years and now they are together. I was here telling her that she still belonged to me, and I wasn’t giving up on her, but then the Beta came out of nowhere and punched me. It was a cheap shot. I’d be able to take him if I was more prepared.”

“You talk a big game… but can you back it up?”

“Of course,” Ethan said quickly, brushing the dirt off his pants. “I would do anything to get Judy back and put Gavin in his place.”

“Judy?” He asked. “Montague?”

Ethan was surprised that this Alpha knew Judy’s name.

“Y… yes,” Ethan said, suddenly uncertain.

Levi stared at Ethan for a moment, and then, much to Ethan’s shock, the Alpha Lycan belted out with laughter. Ethan wasn’t so sure what was funny, but he felt awkward, so he decided to join in on the laughter.

“Oh, that’s delicious,” Levi said, his eyes darkening.

“What is?” Ethan asked.

“Judy is my recruit. So, she’ll be under my wing for a while,” Levi said, his eyes sparkling with contempt.

“Oh,” Ethan said, suddenly feeling unsure about his plan. “I see.”

After a beat of silence, Levi turned to Ethan.

“Are you willing to do whatever is necessary to get her back?” He asked. “Even if it might cost you more than you are willing to give?”

Ethan stared at the Alpha for a long while. This Alpha could give Ethan everything he wanted, which included both Judy and an Alpha title.

“I want to be the Alpha of the Redmoon pack,” Ethan blurted. “But I also want Judy back too.”

The Alpha grinned.

“I could get you both,” he told Ethan exactly what he wanted to hear. “Gavin isn’t the only one who has power.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” Ethan said, a smile spreading across his lips.

“Excellent,” Levi said as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a business card. He handed it to Ethan. “If you want this arrangement between us to work, you’ll need to have over all control over me. Mentally and physically,” Levi continued. “Which means we cannot have secrets between us. You must tell me everything you know. Give me a call when you are ready for the next stage.”

With those words left in the air, Levi motioned for his gammas to follow him and soon they were gone, leaving Ethan alone with his thoughts and a grin on his lips.

…..

Judy’s POV

“Can you take me to Nan’s house before we go to the villa?” I asked Taylor just after we left the school grounds.

“Sure,” Taylor said, glancing at me through the mirror. “Is everything okay?”

“I’m not sure,” I told him. “I hadn’t heard from her since she ran out of the mansion on Saturday. I’m worried about her.”

He nodded thoughtfully and didn’t say anything more as we reached the apartment complex just outside of campus. Nan’s complex was a few buildings down. I already knew the passcode to get into her building and I also knew the hidden key that Nan had in a potted plant just outside her door. I wasn’t going to bother knocking or buzzing in because I knew she would only ignore me as she’d done when I called her these last couple of days.

“Do you want me to come in with you?” Taylor asked from the driver’s seat; he rolled the window down and I stood on the sidewalk, staring up at Nan’s building.

“Yes, please,” I told him before I could stop myself. I wasn’t sure why, but I feared what I might find. I worried that something was wrong with her and if that were true, then I might need some backup or something.

He nodded and went to park the car before he turned it off and joined me outside Nan’s building. He gave me an encouraging nod. I walked over to the keypad and typed in Nan’s code. The door clicked unlocked and Taylor opened it for me.

I stepped inside with Taylor following after me. Nan was on the second floor and only a few doors down. She was the only one who had a potted plant outside of her doorway. I always told her that it was obvious she was hiding something there, but she told me that nobody would think to look for a hidden key.

I rummaged through the plant until I came across a small golden key and then I pulled it free from the twigs as I looked up at Beta Taylor.

“I’m scared,” I admitted.

“I’m right here,” he assured me.

I took a deep breath and nodded; thankful he was here with me. I put the key in the door and listened for the click, indicating that it was unlocked.

I turned the doorknob and pushed it open. I stepped inside and I frowned at the mess in her apartment. Nan was typically a very clean person, so to see pizza and beer bottles all over the floor and tables, was shocking. The TV was left on some kind of reality TV show and the fridge was left open as well. I walked over to the fridge to shut it, but I noticed some stuff was rotting and there was water on the floor, indicating that it’s been open for a while.

Taylor was also frowning, his nose crinkled when he saw the mess on the coffee table. He grabbed the remote and turned it off.

My heart hammered in my chest.

“Nan??” I called out, hoping she would reply, but I didn’t hear her.

I looked at Taylor panicked.

“Maybe she’s in her room?” Taylor asked.

I took a deep breath and walked down the small hallway until I reached her bedroom door.

“Nan?” I called out again. Taylor was right behind me, and he waited as I turned the handle to her door and pushed it open.

As I stepped inside, my entire body froze.

Nan was lying on the ground, face down, in a pile of her own vomit.

“N… Nan?!” I screamed as I rushed towards her, tears flowing down my cheeks.

“Holy fuck,” Taylor breathed as he grabbed his phone from his coat pocket. “I’m calling 911 and I’ll make sure my mate meets us at the hospital.”

“Nan….” I cried, barely paying attention to a thing Taylor was saying. I turned her over to see that she was so very pale. I grabbed her wrist to check for a heartbeat and I was relieved to see that there was one. “Nan… hold in…” I cried. “It’s going to be okay. We are going to get you some help.”