Chapter 4
Judy’s POV
I walked in just as Simon was whispering into his phone, looking all kinds of guilty.
“Who are you talking to?” I asked, folding my
arms.
He flinched like I’d caught him mid-crime. “Oh -just Harlan and the guys. They’re dragging me
out for a few drinks.”
“Is that so?” I raised an eyebrow. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen them. I’ll come along.”
His smile froze.
“Oh, babe, I don’t think-I mean, it’s just the guys tonight. You’d be bored.”
“I could use a drink myself.”
I wasn’t asking.
I wanted to see just how long this little secret
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of his could stay buried when I was sitting right there, smiling, breathing down his neck.
He tried everything-weak excuses, sudden tenderness, even fake concern about me
“getting tired”-but I gave him that look, the one that meant don’t test me. And he backed
off.
But not without trailing behind me, frantically texting under his breath.
By the time we reached the bar’s private lounge, I could practically smell the panic. His wolf was pacing beneath his skin.
Good.
The second we stepped inside, I spotted his
little crew.
Four of them. Sitting stiffly around a table, drinks untouched, no women in sight. No music. No laughter.
Just tension thick.
The moment they saw me, they shot up like
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soldiers caught slacking.
“Evening, Judy!” one of them blurted. “Just us guys tonight. No one else.”
I arched a brow. “So… what, as a woman, I
shouldn’t be here?”
Their eyes darted to Simon.
Simon scrambled. “That’s not what they meant! They just thought you might be bored.”
I gave them a half-smile. “I didn’t mean to crash
the man cave. I just haven’t seen you guys in a while. I’ll have one drink and get out of your
hair.”
I reached for a glass—someone’s untouched whiskey-and downed it in one smooth shot.
Cheers to betrayal.
Then I turned on my heel and walked out.
Simon followed me to the door, giving me a
quick hug and kissing my forehead,
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“I’ll come home early. Don’t wait up.”
Right.
I descended the stairs slowly. Once I reached the lower level, I ducked into a shadowed
corner near the entrance. Wolves have excellent hearing, but Simon was never great at paying attention.
I waited.
And I didn’t wait long.
Wilona showed up moments later. She was dressed to kill-tight dress, full glam, fake
innocence.
She strutted past me without a clue I was there, and I watched her disappear into the lounge.
From where I stood, I had a perfect view.
She made a beeline for Simon, threw herself onto his lap, and whined, “Why did you bring her? You had me hiding like some mistress. I want the bag I showed you today. As
compensation.”
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Simon just laughed and wrapped his arm around her waist. “I’ll buy you two.”
Wilona giggled and kissed him.
The others joined in with fake groans and envy jokes.
“Come on, man. You’re killing us.”
“Seriously, you’ve got both girls fighting over you?”
“Get lost,” Simon laughed. “You’ve all got your own girls. Call them over. Let’s party.”
And just like that, women started pouring in- flirting, drinking, dancing. Laughter filled the
air.
I stayed frozen.
Then they pulled out a bottle and started playing Truth or Dare. Of course they did. Nothing screams immature man-child like a drinking game after cheating on your fiancée.
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First up: Simon.
One of the guys grinned. “Alright, Simon. Who do you like more-Judy or Wilona?”
Wilona beamed, her eyes sparkling.
“Tell the truth,” she said sweetly. “And don’t let
me being sick influence your answer.”
Simon didn’t even hesitate.
“Judy.”
Wilona’s smile twitched.
“I’m right here, you know.”
Simon just shrugged. “I like you too. But that was the past. You left me. This marriage is about giving you closure. But the one I’ll spend my life with is Judy. We agreed on this,
remember?”
Then came the dagger.
“Next time,” one of the guys muttered, “don’t let Judy show up again. Just keep everything
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from her.”
“She’s not the type who forgives betrayal,” another added. “If she finds out, she’s gone.”
“But Wilona’s dying,” Simon said, his voice heavy with fake guilt. “She came back just for this. How could I say no?”
Then he smiled, like he’d solved some great
moral riddle.
“As long as Judy doesn’t find out, it’ll all work out. When Wilona’s gone, I’ll still marry Judy
and take care of her forever. That way, no one gets hurt. Perfect, right?”
Wilona nodded, curling into his chest, voice soft and fragile. “I don’t mind. I left first. You giving me this moment means the world.”
Then, louder, to the room: “I love Simon. I’d
never want to hurt his girlfriend. So please….. let’s all keep this from Judy, okay?”
Outside the door, I stood completely still.
The air felt cold. My blood colder.
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Their voices were knives-slicing through my heart one smug comment at a time.
His plans. His reasoning. His twisted logic. All laid bare like I was too blind to see.
My wolf howled inside me, clawing at the cage of my chest, furious and heartbroken all at
once.
I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t
even cry.
Eventually, I slid down the wall and sank to the floor, my whole body trembling. The betrayal hit harder than any battle wound.
How long I sat there, I don’t know.
Minutes. Hours. Maybe lifetimes.
When I finally forced myself to my feet, I moved like a ghost. Hollow. Weightless.
I tried to make it down the stairs.
Halfway down, the pain surged all at once.
Everything went black.
