Chapter 222

**Chapter 0222**

Matt looked up at me with a big grin on his face.

“I wanted to get this done quickly so we can spar outside!” he said eagerly. “I kind of wish we…”

“We’re still at the mansion,” I said. “I actually like it here.”

“Your father thinks it’s better if we stay here for now because of the paparazzi. Until he deals with it, it’s safer for you not to go over there,” my friend replied.

I just hoped everything would be sorted out before it was time for me to go home. The last thing I wanted was to stay here, especially not with Irene under the same roof. I knew she didn’t like or trust me.

I didn’t want things to stay awkward between us. I thought spending the night with her father would make it even more uncomfortable.

He nodded thoughtfully, then a grin spread across his face.

“So, are you going to…?”

“Be my mom?”

I almost choked on my spit when I sat down next to him.

“I’m sorry, what?” I asked, my eyes snapping towards him in surprise.

He shrugged like it was no big deal, as if he hadn’t just asked me something so shocking.

“I saw the news reports. I don’t live under a rock,” he said, looking at me suspiciously. His gaze made my cheeks burn even more. “I’m not upset if you’re going to be my mom.” I would…

“I really like it if you were…”

“Oh, Matt…” I said, feeling my heart squeeze in my chest. I didn’t want to disappoint him or hurt his feelings. But I never imagined I would marry Gavin.

“Maybe we should talk about this later?”

His face dropped a bit, but he nodded. He wasn’t foolish; he could tell I was trying to avoid the topic. Still, he was polite enough not to call me out on it. We moved on with his conversation, keeping the atmosphere light.

After finishing our homework, we spent some time sparring in the backyard. Now that the film crew was gone, it was nice to have the space to ourselves again.

I didn’t notice at first, but someone else had joined us in the training area. It wasn’t until Matt’s gaze drifted that I realized.

“Hello, Miss Sinclaire,” Matt said.

I turned around, and my jaw almost dropped when I saw Skyla walking toward us. She gave Matt a small nod and then looked at me. My cheeks felt hot under her gaze.

“Hello,” I said to her, feeling embarrassed about my stutter.

“Can we talk for a minute?” she asked me.

My eyes widened. What could she possibly want to talk to me about?

I looked down at Matt, and he seemed to understand what I wanted. He nodded and quickly went back to practicing with the bow and arrow. I turned to Skyla and forced a smile her way.

“What’s this about?” I asked her.

“I think you know what this is about,” she replied, raising her perfectly trimmed brows. “It’s about you and Gavin’s relationship.”

—

**Chapter 222**

**+25 BONUS**

My cheeks burned.

I wanted to tell her that we didn’t really have a relationship, at least not in that way. But the words just wouldn’t come out. My inner wolf stopped me from speaking because I knew she didn’t want to hear them.

I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I found myself keeping quiet and listening to her more closely.

“If I had known he was already with someone, I would have never gone after him,” she said.

Skyla looked at me and said, “I just want you to know that I’m not a homewrecker. I can’t have the paparazzi thinking that about me.”

I was taken aback by her words.

“I don’t think anyone believes that,” I replied, trying to reassure her.

“I’m not a homewrecker,” she assured her friend.

“I kissed him on camera,” she admitted, her cheeks turning a bit red. “Eventually, they’ll start talking about it. They are so focused on his new relationship that they haven’t really noticed what’s happening.”

is still getting the hang of things. I know he’s trying to gather all the stories, but I can’t help but feel concerned about how this might affect my reputation.”

“Well, if it comes to that, I’ll just explain that our relationship is still new and that he’s still learning the ropes,” she said reassuringly.

“I was single when I met you.” The words slipped out of my mouth before I could catch them, and as soon as they did, I wished I could take them back. Did I really want to tell the paparazzi that I was in a relationship with Gavin Landry? It felt like a huge mistake, and I couldn’t believe I’d said it.

Skyla looked surprised. She took a moment to think before she nodded.

“Just don’t make it seem like he left me for you,” she said with a wink, as if she were sharing a secret.

I could tell she was being serious. “Look, I’m really sorry for any misunderstandings I may have caused. I thought his fling with you wasn’t serious. I wouldn’t have gone after him if I had known differently.”

“It’s okay,” I said to her gently. “It’s not your fault. We were keeping things secret. That’s not on you.”

Her face relaxed, and she nodded in understanding.

“Well, that’s all I wanted to say,” she replied.

She told me this and started to walk away, but then she stopped for a moment. “Oh, and Judy?”

“Yes?” I replied.

“Hold onto him tightly,” she said to me. “He’s a good man… and he deserves someone who…”

“I will stand by his side no matter what.”