Chapter 45

Chapter 45
+25 BONUS

She fastened her seatbelt, and I did the same. Then, she put the car in drive and we headed off towards Gavin’s Villa.

“I’m sorry if my brother is too much,” she said, glancing at me as we drove.

“I don’t understand him much,” she said after a moment of silence. “He’s chased away every tutor he’s ever had. I’m not sure what’s wrong with that boy.”

“He seems great to me,” I replied honestly. “I think he just needs some time.”

“I honestly think he just craves attention and will do anything to get it. With Gavin being a busy Lycan chairman and Alpha of his own pack, and you being engaged, I think he feels a bit lonely,” she said.

I stumbled through the conversation, trying to absorb her words.

When I said the word “engaged,” it felt strange to talk to Irene about it. But she didn’t seem to notice my uncertainty.

“I guess I’ve been really focused on this wedding,” she sighed. “I just love…”

Ethan and I spent so much time together that being away from him upset both me and my wolf.

I felt uneasy at her words; I really didn’t want to discuss this with her. But then she said something that made me listen closely.

“Your wolf?” I asked her.

She let out a small laugh.

“Yeah, don’t get me wrong. We both know that Ethan is not our fated mate. But he’s been really sweet and careful with us since the day…”

“We realized that it doesn’t even matter. My wolf has claimed him as ours, and I have to agree with her.”

Hearing her confession made me feel sick to my stomach. I stared at my hands, unsure of what to say next.

She seemed to sense something because she glanced at me when we stopped at a traffic light.

“Have you ever been in love?” she asked.

I was surprised by her question. When I looked up at her, I saw that she was watching me closely, waiting for my answer.

She had a small frown on her lips and a curious look on her face. I didn’t want to lie to her, but I also couldn’t share the whole truth. If I did, it would make things awkward, hurt her feelings, and ruin our relationship.

“I thought so,” one person admitted. “But he didn’t love me in the same way.”

I could see a flicker of sadness in her eyes. Just then, a car behind us honked its horn, catching Irene’s attention.

The light turned green. She pressed the gas pedal, and we drove toward the Villa, which I could see in the distance. It was big and beautiful.

As we got closer to the pack borders, the guards from the Silver Creserit pack didn’t stop us.

Irene drove through the parklands, her signature car catching the attention of a few people. They recognized her and bowed their heads respectfully. In return, she offered them a polite smile as she passed by, making her way to Gavin’s park.

“He’s an idiot for not loving you,” Irene said, expressing her thoughts clearly.

After a long silence, she said to me, “You seem like a great girl, and any guy would be lucky to have you.”

I didn’t reply to her kind words. Instead, I gazed out the window, watching the buildings and trees go by.

It didn’t take long to get to the villa. Irene parked the car, and we both got out.

“Thank you for the ride, Irene,” I said to her. “I won’t keep you, though. I’m sure you have more wedding plans to take care of.”

She nodded, looking thoughtful. “I have so much to do. But Ethan has a meeting today, so I’ve been left kind of alone,” she said, giving me a sad smile. “But I know you are busy too, so…”

“Do your thing. Maybe we can talk more later?”

I nodded, unsure of what else to say. Then, I turned and walked into the Villa.

**Chapter 0045**

**+25 BONUS**

“Good evening,” Adam said as I passed him at the front entrance.

I shot him a look that I knew wasn’t very friendly. When I first started, I thought Adam and I could be friends. But after that stunt he pulled to try to get me fired, I wasn’t so sure anymore.

I wasn’t sure if I could trust him anymore. Since that incident, we hadn’t talked, and I made it a point to keep my distance from him.

“Is Matt around?” I asked.

“He’s out back, practicing his sparring,” he replied. “He’s really focused on it.”

Matt was feeling nervous about his combat class coming up next week. He had a test to prepare for.

He had mentioned the class to me briefly. It turns out that he has to pair up with someone bigger than him, and that made him worried. He was afraid he might make a fool of himself during the class.

I met Matt outside, and we practiced his sparring together. I showed him a few new moves that would help him prepare for his test next week. Within an hour, he was performing really well.

We mainly practiced with swords.

He handled the weapon like a pro.

“Try to disarm me,” I said to him. “Take it from my grip.”

He followed my instructions perfectly. Before I knew it, he was using the new moves he had learned.

I taught him how to loosen the sword from my grip until it fell to the ground with a clatter. Now, he had me exactly where he wanted. He swung the sword in my direction, careful not to cut me. However, he misjudged his swing and went a little too far.

The point of the sword caught my blouse. I heard the sound of tearing, and it made him stop in his tracks.

**Chapter 0046**