Chapter 358

Gavin’s POV

I hadn’t seen Noah Blackwell since I was 16 years old. We used to be best friends, but then something happened, and I was no longer allowed to see him. His entire family fell off the face of the earth. I stopped questioning why after a while; my father refused to talk about it, and my mother claimed not to know a thing. But I always felt as if I had missed something.

I’ve heard of Noah’s work alongside his father in the shadow regions, though, and I knew he wasn’t the same 16-year-old I had once known. He wasn’t someone I would consider a friend. His dark hair was shoulder length, and his eyes were so dark they looked black, but I knew they were blue like the dark ocean. He looked more like Zachary Blackwell than any of the others.

Back then, he wanted nothing more than to follow in his father’s footsteps. I wondered if he still felt the same way now.

“Noah,” Selene said with a pleased smile. “Come join us, darling.”

She motioned for an empty chair, and Noah walked towards it without his eyes meeting mine. He sat down and started to put food on his plate.

“I apologize for my late entrance,” Noah said.

His voice was deeper, more polished than I remembered. A man’s voice now, edged in teal. Though I’m sure mine was too.

“No apologies necessary. You have quite a bit on your plate. We weren’t expecting you to arrive at all,” Zachary said, eyeing his son.

Noah’s eyes flicked up at last, catching mine across the table. For a moment, I searched for the boy I had once known—the reckless grin, the secret plans whispered in the training yard. But there was nothing left of him. Only a cold, assessing stare.

“When I heard who our guest was this evening, I knew I had to be here, so I cleared my schedule,” Noah said. “I’m honestly surprised to see you here, Gavin.”

His lips curved into something that might have passed for a smile if his eyes hadn’t been so empty. I felt Judy shift slightly beside me, her hand brushing against mine under the table. Her touch soothed me, which I knew mine soothed her.

“Your father invited me. It would have been stupid to refuse the invitation. I’m pleased you were able to clear your busy schedule to join us, Noah.”

My words dripped with sarcasm, which I didn’t mean.

Noah’s eyes narrowed as he leaned back in his chair, swirling the wine in his glass before taking a slow sip.

“Still arrogant. I see some things never change.”

Selene’s soft laugh followed, low and approving.

“he does have that reputation, doesn’t he. Darling, have you met his mate, Judy?”

Noah’s eyes flickered to Judy, and it took all I had not to growl at him.

“I haven’t,” Noah said, eyeing Judy up and down, making her squirm under his scrutiny. “I wasn’t aware the great Alpha took a mate. And a lovely one at that… It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He reached his hand out to shake hers, and she gingerly placed her hand in his. I squeezed her thigh without meaning to. After a quick shake, she drew her hand back as if he had burned her.

“I must say, you look quite familiar. Have we met before?” He asked her, his eyes lingering on her for way too long for my comfort.

“I don’t believe so,” she replied, averting her eyes from him.

“What is your last name?”

She glanced at me briefly as if asking permission to answer his question; it was permission she didn’t need, but I was pleased that she thought of me at that moment. I gave her a small smile and a slight nod, subtle enough for them not to notice.

“Montague,” she answered, glancing back at him.

He looked through for a moment before his eyes widened.

“Holy fuck. You’re the one who won the gamma competition this year,” he exclaimed. “You have quite the following… me included. I didn’t recognize you dressed so gorgeously.”

“Judy’s the one who won the competition?” Zachary asked, raising his brows. He glanced at her as if he was trying to size her up and figure out what made her so special. It made me lean closer to her; my wolf needed to protect what was his. He didn’t like the fact that our mate was the center of attention.

“She is,” Noah answered, a smile growing on his lips. “I watched her on the television. She was quite impressive and put the others to shame.”

“Must you flirt with every woman that glances at you, brother?” Lila asked, rolling her eyes.

The corner of Noah’s lips tipped upward into a smirk, his eyes never leaving Judy's.

“When I see what I like…I go for it. No regrets.”

This time, I couldn’t stop the growl, and every pair of eyes turned in my direction. It made Emmet laugh and Lila smile to hold back her own laughter. Noah raised his brows, clearly amused, but not showing it as well as his siblings.

“My mate is not up for grabs,” I say, my eyes never wavering.

The table stilled.

Noah leaned back, swirling his wine lazily.

“Interesting that nobody even knew about her until recently,” he said, his eyes shifting to me and then to Judy. “No announcement… no Luna ceremony. Keeping your mate a dirty little secret?”

Judy’s eyes flashed gold for the briefest heartbeat. I wasn’t even sure if anyone else noticed it… But I did.

“Our mating is new,” I explained calmly; I knew I didn’t have to explain myself, but for Judy’s peace of mind, I felt it needed to be said. I didn’t want her to think, or have Noah put it in her head, that I was hiding or ashamed of her in any way, because that couldn’t be further from the truth. She might be young, but she was mine. “There will be an announcement soon and a wedding later this year.”

“How many months pregnant are you?” Selene asked suddenly, changing the subject and clearing the tension in the air.

“4,” Judy answered.

“Do you already know the gender?”

“A boy,” Judy replied with a small smile, her hand immediately going to her belly.

“A heir,” Zachary said with a nod. “I’m sure you’re very excited to have a heir for your foundation.”

“I already have a heir, but it’ll be nice having another,” I said bluntly.

“You already have an heir?” Zachary asked, his brows raising. “I wasn’t aware.”

“Yes, my son Matthew.”

“I see,” Zachary said, his eyes shifting from Judy to me. “I’m assuming the mother isn’t your mate?”

“That’s not any of your business,” I said a little too sharply. None of this was their business; I wanted to find out why the fuck they decided to invite me to dinner. Surely it wasn’t to talk about Judy or my children.

We continued to eat; they made no more mention of Matthew or Judy’s due date, much to my relief. Judy seemed to relax a little in her seat now that the attention was off her. Noah kept stealing glances at Judy, which made my blood boil, but I bit my tongue.

By the time the meal ended and dessert arrived, I was about to jump across the table and rip his head off for his continuous stares. Noah had always been a flirt, but this was crossing a serious line.

Suddenly, the sound of his phone ringing drew his attention away from Judy. He frowned at the name that flashed across his screen.

“I need to take this,” he said, standing to his feet. “It was good to see you again, Gavin. I’m sure there will be plenty more opportunities for us to talk.”

He glanced at Judy once more, and a slow smile spread across his face.

“Miss Montague. It was a pleasure to finally meet you,” he said, holding out his hand for her.

Judy didn’t take it.

She stared at him with a frown as she said, “You as well.”

He curled his fingers in and dropped his hand to his side before nodding at her. Then the asshole winked before he turned and left.

“Sorry about him,” Zachary murmured, shaking his head at the closed door. “He forgets himself sometimes.”

“I’m sure there’s a reason you invited me to dinner this evening. We should get to it then. It’s been a long day, and we have a long journey home.”

Zachary nodded and cleared his throat.

“Right,” he said, glancing at Selene. “Would you excuse us. It’s time for the men to have a real talk.”

Selene nodded and put her napkin on her plate before standing.

“Of course,” she replied. “Come along, everyone. Let the gentlemen speak privately. Judy, how about I show you around the manor?”

Before Judy could reply, my hold on her hand tightened.

“She stays with me.”

“That won’t be necessary. I assure you, she’s perfectly safe here,” Zachary said.

“She’s not leaving my side,” I said through my teeth.

Selene looked startled by this, maybe even a little hurt.

“It’s okay,” Judy said quickly, glancing at me. “I’ll go with Madam Selene. I’ll be okay.”

My eyes widened. We agreed that she wouldn’t leave my side. That was the opposite of that.

“Judy—” I started to say, but she leaned in closer.

“Let me go with her,” she whispered. “Please… we will talk about everything later. But I’d like to see more of this place, and I have some questions of my own.”

My stubborn mate peeked up at me through her lashes, and my heart crumbled. As much as I wanted to keep her pinned to my side, I knew I couldn’t keep her caged. With a reluctant sigh, I nodded.

“Okay,” I said, leaning in to kiss her briefly as I murmured. “But the second I sense distress, I’m coming to get you. The second you block your emotions from me, I’m coming to find you. Don’t test me.”

She smiled against my lips.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

With that, she stood, excusing herself, and I watched as she followed Selene out of the dining hall.

Zachary turned to look at me as Emmet and Lila left as well, wheeling Esme along with them.

“Now, the real reason I asked you to come here today…”