Chapter 299

**Chapter 299**

I looked back at Mica and Jeremy, who were chatting with each other. The chosen judges sat at the front, also deep in conversation. Most of the audience had gone to greet the people they came to see.

Nan was frowning as she watched Judy walk away. Next to her, a guy leaned in and whispered something in her ear. I didn’t know who he was, but I noticed he had his hand resting on Nan’s leg, and that made me uneasy.

Nan usually didn’t let anyone get too close, especially not like that. I could feel my brows furrowing with concern as I observed the scene.

I was watching a girl who seemed to be getting cozy with a guy she just met. The way he was touching her and how close they were, it looked like they definitely hooked up.

“Excuse me,” I said to the other Lycans before I stepped away.

I headed off in the direction where Judy had gone. Soon, I spotted her crouching behind a tree. She was completely naked and trying to cover herself with her arms.

I walked around the tree, which surprised her.

“Are you hurt?” I asked, concerned.

She was kneeling in front of me, her face pale and her lips marked by a small amount of blood. There were bruises on her body that showed the pain she had endured. Seeing her like this made my chest tighten, and I felt a strong urge to confront whoever had hurt her.

I felt a strong urge to do something, but I pushed it down right away.

“I’m okay,” she said softly. “You should see the other guy.” She laughed lightly, and her laugh had a strangely musical quality.

“I did,” I replied to her.

“You did great out there,” I said.

Her cheeks turned pink, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Really?” she asked, her voice full of hope.

I nodded in response. Reaching into the bag I was carrying, I pulled out one of my shirts. I keep it in there for moments like this.

I was happy to have the shirt ready for Judy so she could change.

When she saw it, a big smile appeared on her face.

“Thank you!” she exclaimed, taking the shirt from me. She quickly put it on over her head.

Her head fell down to her knees, and that felt just right. She leaned against the tree, feeling exhausted.

“I’m so tired,” she whispered.

I leaned against the other side of the tree.

“It’s protocol,” I said.

“I need to see the medic after the match,” I told her. “Everyone must have an exam before they can be cleared for the next round.”

She sighed. “Yeah, I remember they said that.”

At the introductory banquet, she said to me, “Can’t I just sleep for a little bit? Shifting took a lot out of me.”

I let out a small laugh; it felt strange coming from me.

“I like that,” I heard her whisper.

I turned and leaned to see her from behind the tree. Her eyes were closed, but she wore a soft smile on her lips. I felt so close to her, and it made my heart race.

I realized that if I moved just a little closer, my mouth would touch her cheek.

“What do you mean?” I asked, curious.

Her eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting me to be so close. She could feel my breath gently brushing against her cheek, and I could sense the moment between us shifting.

Her nose and cheeks turned pink.

“The sound of you laughing,” she said, turning her head to look at me. “I don’t hear it often. It’s nice when I do.”

I looked into her eyes.

I smiled as I lifted my hand to brush a sweaty strand of hair out of her face. I tucked the hair behind her ear, noticing how she leaned closer to me.

I gently rested my fingers on her cheek for a moment. Then, I used my thumb to softly stroke her bottom lip, which she parted slightly.

There were no words spoken between us; this was a moment filled with unspoken feelings.

It was a different kind of closeness than I was used to. There was no cuddling—just the simple act of breathing in each other’s energy.

I leaned in and let my lips gently brush against hers. My tongue slipped into her mouth just a little. I noticed her eyes beginning to light up.

I gently ran my fingers through her hair as I deepened the kiss.

“Gavin…” she whispered softly, her voice barely audible.

I kissed the corner of her chin and moved my lips down the nape of her neck. Goosebumps appeared all over her skin.

She trembled as I ran my fingers up her back beneath her shirt. Just as I started to lift her shirt, a twig snapped nearby. I jumped back so quickly, it felt like I could have started a fire from the shock.

Then, a voice called out.

“Judy, are you still out here?”

The voice called out from nearby, searching for her.