Symbiosis: Growth of Lichens in Ochre soil

Judy’s POV

Today was supposed to be the day my fated mate and I got engaged. But now I’m watching him kiss another woman. Marrying her could make him the future Alpha because she’s the daughter of Gavin Landry, the most powerful Lycan chairman in the world.

A couple of months ago, our Alpha died during a battle and now all the candidates are competing for that position, including my mate, Ethan.

Everyone knows the Lycan’s control the werewolf population. And Gavin? He could singlehandedly appoint everyone the new Alpha.

So, Ethan made his choice.

Her, not me.

“Get me a whiskey and a martini for the lady,” A deep voice sounded from nearby. “Is it the future bride, or the future groom that’s got you in a mood?”

“I’m just not into parties,” I decided to say.

“Nor am I,” he murmured. “I’m here out of obligation.”

The bartender placed my drink in front of me and I immediately took a sip, sighing in contentment. I waited for the alcohol to do its job and finish numbing the pain.

Every time Ethan kissed her it killed me a little more.

How had my life taken such a devastating turn? How could my fated mate do this to me? Did our 2 years together truly mean nothing? Did the mark on my neck mean that little to him?

“Thank you for the drink,” I told the man.

I took one last sip of my martini and started to get down from the stool, except my blouse snagged on the corner of the counter and just as I heard a tearing sound, I began to fall to the ground. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the impact, but it never came.

Instead, I felt strong arms wrapping around my body, lifting me into the air. I opened my eyes and peeked up at the man who caught me, and my breath hitched.

He was so handsome.

He held me with ease as if I weighed nothing and I could tell from the feeling of his arms around me that he was muscular. He smiled down at me and a dimple appeared on his right cheek.

I wanted to lick that dimple.

“Madam, are you falling for me?” He asked teasingly.

I stared at him for a heartbeat longer before I squinted my eyes at him, seeing what he did there.

“You’re a funny one, aren’t you?”

He grinned. Then he looked at my shirt and immediately frowned.

“Let me take you to my suite upstairs,” he said, making my heart skip a beat.

“What?” I said in barely a whisper.

His eyes met mine and I got lost in their beauty for a moment.

Goddess, his good looks were sinful.

“Your shirt is ripped. I have one you can wear upstairs in my VIP suite,” he explained.

I blinked a couple of times and gave a nervous chuckle.

“Oh, alright. Thank you,” I managed to sputter.

He turned to the bartender.

“Charge our drinks to my suite,” he ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

I allowed the man to carry me out of the room.

His arms were so warm that I found myself resting my head against his broad chest, breathing in his minty scent. My wolf was practically purring in my mind. She’d been quiet for most of the evening while she licked the wounds the broken mate bond had caused. But right now, it was as if she had forgotten she was heartbroken.

“Take off your shirt,” he ordered once we were in the suite. He had released me and was walking to the closet.

“Excuse me?” I squeaked.

“So, you can put on a new shirt,” he explained.

“Right,” I breathed.

I lifted my ripped shirt over my head and threw it onto the bed, leaving me in only my bra from the waist up. Once he found a shirt, he turned around to face me, and his entire body froze as his eyes trailed down my body. I was too busy checking him out to notice him staring at me but the longer I stared at him, the more I started to recognize him.

Then, realization struck me, and I gasped.

“It’s you…” I breathed, taking a step back.

His eyes shifted upward and met mine; his brow arched.

“You know me?” He asked.

“I know of you,” I clarified.

The corner of his lips tipped upward as he walked towards me, slowly, as if he were stalking his prey. I could practically hear the sounds of my heartbeat.

“And what do you know of me?”

“Only what I’ve heard…” I admitted.

“And what have you heard?”

“You’re Gavin Landry, Lycan Chairman. You’re a playboy. You have a new woman each week and you never sleep with the same woman twice.”

He raised his brows.

“Is that so?” He asked. “Tell me more about myself.”

Hell, he's the father of the bride and Ethan's future father-in-law? I'm confused, I don't know what I should do. But I'm not surprised I didn't recognize him at first. The Lycan family isn't high profile, they're more used to staying behind the scenes than becoming politicians and celebrities like werewolf Alpha.

Should I tell him who I am? But that would be stupid at this moment.

He continued to walk towards me, and I continued to walk backward until my back hit the wall.

“What more do you want to know?” I asked, my voice coming out breathy.

“Everything.”

I’m not sure if it was the martini speaking or me, but I decided to be bold. If Ethan can indulge himself in someone new, then so could I.

I lifted my gaze to meet his as he neared closer.

“Your eyes…” I started to say. “I’ve heard that they were mesmerizing, and I must agree.”

“What else?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“When you smile, you have this adorable dimple on your cheek…” I whispered.

He was only inches from me now, staring so intently at me that I thought I would burn up under his scrutiny.

He licked his lips, drawing my attention to his mouth.

“And your lips…”

Before I could finish that sentence, his mouth crashed into mine. His kiss was anything but soft and sweet but filled with hunger and possession. I kissed him with just as much eagerness. His tongue made its way between my lips, tasting every inch of me. He lifted me into the air, my body pinned between the wall and him. Instinctively I wrapped my legs around his waist and allowed him to deepen the kiss.

His lips trailed down the nape of my neck and warmth spread across my body as I felt him sucking on my soft flesh.

All self-control and common sense left my mind the moment his lips touched mine. All I could think about was Gavin; he consumed my mind, body, and soul entirely. I pulled at his tie, wanting to take it and his shirt off. He helped me undo his tie and then lifted his shirt over his head, tossing it to the ground.

I let my fingers explore his body; they roamed over his abs and up his broad shoulders.

I moaned into his mouth as his lips found mine again.

“Are you sure you want this?” He asked between kisses.

“Yes,” I rasped out. “We are both willing adults, so why not?”

His lips were on mine again and just as he was about to take off my bra, I received a tearful mindlink from my adoptive mother.

“Judy! Please, come home!” She sounded panicked; my mother never panicked.

Hearing her voice was like cold water being dumped on my head and I gasped. I let my legs fall from around him and I pressed against his chest.

“Stop,” I said breathlessly. “I have to go.”

He frowned.

“I don’t have much patience; stop joking,” he says, a hint of anger in his tone.

“I’m so sorry. But I’m sure you have plenty of other options,” I said and started to run towards the door, but he grabbed my arm, stopping me.

I whirl around to face him, my own anger rushing to the surface but before I can say anything, he points to the bed.

“Your shirt is ripped, remember?”

I looked down at my bra with a frown.

“Oh…”

He sighed, grabbing his shirt and putting it over my head.

I inhaled deeply and warmth spread throughout my body; it smelled like him.

……

The moment I stepped into the house; I could hear my mother sobbing.

“Judy?” My mother sobbed; I could hear that she was in the kitchen and my heart stuttered at the sound of her broken voice. “Your father was taken away by the Gammas tonight.”