Chapter 242

**Chapter 0242**

“I came to ask you if the news reports are true,” he said, looking directly at me.

My eyes widened, and I took a step back from him.

Feeling a surge of anger,

“Are you and Gavin okay?”

“What are you talking about?” I asked him, pretending I didn’t know anything.

“Don’t play dumb, Judy,” he said, stepping closer. I felt even smaller as he towered over me.

I stood in front of him and said, “I saw the news reports last week. I saw the picture. Are you two really together? Is that why you want nothing to do with me?”

He just scoffed and rolled his eyes at me.

“I want nothing to do with you, Ethan. You cheated on me. Then you tried to blackmail me into being your whore. This isn’t about Gavin; it’s all about you,” I hissed, poking my finger into his chest.

He poked his finger into my chest, and with each jab, I could see his eyes darken.

“Break up with him,” he demanded, his tone serious. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“My relationship isn’t any of your business,” I replied firmly.

I was about to walk away again, but he grabbed my wrist. This time, his grip was much stronger, and it hurt. He spun me around to face him, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at me.

“Everything you do is my business,” he said through clenched teeth. “Make no mistake, Judy. You are still mine.”

“Not a chance,” I replied, fighting against his grip. I winced as I struggled to break free.

Ethan tightened his grip around my wrist, causing pain and leaving marks on my skin. “Ethan, let me go…” I whispered, my voice shaky and quiet.

“I’ll let you go when I decide to,” he replied.

“I’ve been very patient with you, Judy,” he said coldly. “But my patience has run out. Now, I want what is rightfully mine.”

“Ethan…” I tried to speak, hoping to convince him to let me go one more time. But he wouldn’t listen.

He tightened his grip around my wrist. I could feel my wrist cracking, and I realized he was spraining it. I knew it would heal soon enough, thanks to my wolf, but right now, it hurt a lot.

“Let me go, you’re hurting me,” I pleaded.

“Tell me you’re mine,” he demanded, ignoring my pleas.

“Ethan—”

“TELL ME!!”

Just as I was about to grab him and push him to the ground, I hesitated.

Ethan let me go quickly, and I heard a cracking sound just before blood started pouring from his nose. He collapsed to the ground, crying out in pain.

I stumbled backward, confused about what had just happened. Looking up, I saw Beta Taylor standing nearby, watching the scene unfold.

His fist was outstretched, and he glared down at Ethan with fury in his eyes.

“She told you to let go. It would have been better if you had listened to her,” he said, pulling his fist back.

Beta Taylor stared at me with a shocked look on his face. He had just punched Ethan for me.

“Taylor…?” I whispered, still in disbelief that he was actually there.

Beta Taylor looked up at me, and his expression softened.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Do you think so?” he asked.

After a moment of silence, I nodded.

Chapter 24

+25 BONUS

“I… I think so,” I told him, looking down at his red and swollen fist, and then up at Ethan’s face. He was still there, waiting for my answer.

The boy lay on the ground, covering his broken nose and whimpering as he rolled around in the dirt.

“Come on, let’s get you out of here,” Taylor said, waving for me to follow him. I took his hand as he helped me up.

I stepped over Ethan.

“You jerk!” he growled as we walked away. “I won’t let you get away with this! Do you even know who I am?”

“In case I hadn’t made it clear…”

“Ethan,” I said, looking down at him. “This is over… we are over. Stop following me.”

He growled at me, his wolf side barely hidden beneath the surface.

“Are you ever done?” he hissed.

I sighed and let Beta Taylor guide me to the car. Once I was safely inside, I turned my attention away from Ethan, who was still on the ground, seething with anger. Taylor began to speak, but I focused on the road ahead, trying to forget about the scene behind me.

“Thank you, Taylor,” I said to him.

He glanced at me through the mirror, and a smile appeared on his face.

“Of course,” he replied. “Gavin would have my head if I didn’t.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Can we keep this between us for now?” I asked. “I don’t want Gavin to worry or be upset. Plus, I don’t want Irene to get hurt either.”

Taylor was quiet for a moment, thinking. Then he nodded.

“Okay,” he said finally. “It’ll be our secret.”