Chapter 672
I carried Judy into my bedroom, my heart pounding harder than ever. Holding her felt both grounding and overwhelming, as if she was the missing piece I had been searching for all along.
We only had a couple of hours before our lunch with Irene and Matthew. I had already mindlinked Taylor to make a reservation at Irene’s favorite restaurant — a place Matthew liked as well. If I wanted to earn their trust, I had to show them I cared about what mattered to them. Judy wasn’t just affecting me anymore… she was affecting my family, too.
Judy clung to me tightly, as if afraid I might vanish if she let go. I kissed her forehead and brushed her hair gently back from her face.
“Don’t worry,” I whispered. “I’m not going anywhere this time.”
Her eyes softened, but there was still something vulnerable in her expression.
How had I ever let her slip away before? Goddess, I wasn’t going to make that mistake again.
I laid her down carefully on the bed, tucking the blanket around her to make sure she was warm. The faintest blush touched her cheeks, and she turned her face slightly away, but not before I caught the small smile tugging at her lips.
“You’ve changed,” I murmured. “You’re stronger now. And more beautiful than ever.”
Her hand rested gently over her stomach. For a moment, I was struck by the reminder of what was to come — the changes, the new life we were preparing to welcome. The slight signs of her pregnancy were becoming clearer, and instead of fear, I felt pride.
I kissed her hand, letting my lips linger against her skin. “You have no idea how much this means to me. How much you mean to me.”
She blinked, tears welling in her eyes, though she tried to hold them back. “You really mean that, Gavin?”
I nodded without hesitation. “More than anything. If you wanted the moon, I’d find a way to bring it to you.”
Her lips trembled into a smile, and she reached up to touch my face. “You always know what to say.”
I leaned my forehead against hers, breathing her in, letting the silence between us say what words could not. My wolf stirred with fierce protectiveness, and a low growl slipped past my throat — not of desire, but of devotion.
“You’re incredible,” I whispered.
She shook her head softly. “Not as incredible as you.”
I laughed under my breath, brushing a final kiss against her temple before pulling her closer into my arms. Together, we lay there in quiet warmth, the storm of the world outside temporarily forgotten.