Chapter 53

Chapter 0053 “Why are you asking?” He countered; his eyes narrowed in her direction..

She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and nibbled on it gently as she thought about how to answer his question.

Truth be told, she wasn’t sure why she wanted to know. Maybe to prove that the mate bond doesn’t matter. She’s not mated with Ethan, but if either of them did ever found their mates, would they still want to be with each other, or would they automatically choose their mates? The thought terrified Irene and she would be lying if she said she wasn’t worried about Ethan one day finding his mate and then leaving her.

She wanted to know if the mate bond could be fought. If someone as strong and powerful as Gavin Landry couldn’t fight the mate bond, was there any hope for the rest of them?

“I guess I’m just trying to figure out how the mate bond works,” she murmured, tugging at her fingers. nervously.

He sighed and leaned back on the couch as he thought about her question.

“The bond is strong,” he admitted. “Probably the strangest thing you’d ever experience. You think your have a handle on it, but in reality, you aren’t in control. It’s your wolves that take over. They make it impossible to stay away. But there’s also a part of you that doesn’t want to stay away. You will start to crave them to a point where it’s almost painful. Fighting it would only make you and your wolf miserable.”

“Did you try to fight it?” She asked.

“I was young,” he murmured. “I didn’t really understand the feeling and the bond. It was all very confusing. I think a part of me tried to fight it, yes. But your mother had a way of bringing me out of my shell. Then, she gave me the greatest gift I could have ever received.”

“What’s that?” She asked.

Gavin wrapped an arm around his daughter and pulled her in for a hug.

“You,” he answered.

She smiled as she peered up at him.

So, you did love her,” she said softly; it wasn’t a question this time, but Gavin still answered her anyway. He nodded with a soft smile playing on his lips.

Yes,” he answered. “When she died it was really difficult.”

“Is that why you don’t date?”

He raised his brows at her question.

“I date.”

“You don’t date seriously,” she retorted. “It’s always one–night stands. Never anything real.”

Chapter 0053 -25 BONUS “I don’t have the time to date,” he told her. “I have a pack to run, duties to fulfill, and children to care for.”

“I’m not a child anymore, Dad,” she reminded him, nudging his arm with hers. “And Matt doesn’t need you around all the time.

We both want you to be happy even if it means dating someone younger than you.”

She bit her lip; she was hinting, and he knew it. He frowned at her.

“Someone younger?” He asked, his eyes never leaving the side of her face.

She shrugged.

“We just want you to be happy... with whoever you choose,” she told him. “We don’t want you to be lonely.”

“You’ve thought a lot about this, huh?” He asked her.

She bit back a smile, but she didn’t deny it.

“I’m going to bed now. I’m guessing Ethan won’t call me tonight,” she said, standing to her feet. Gavin could hear the heartache in her tone. “Good night, Dad. Thanks for the talk.”

He didn’t say anything, he gave her a nod and watched as she left the room. His mind traveled back to Judy and how she must be feeling through her own mate bond. Gavin knew that the mate bond was strong, and it was difficult to break; she had to live with the fact that her fated mate was marrying another woman and there was nothing she could do about it.

He wondered if Judy was strong enough to overcome such pain.

“Is there anything you need tonight before I call it a night?” One of the maids asked, walking into the room.

Gavin sighed and stood to his feet.

“No, you are dismissed,” he told her and started to walk past her.

“I quite liked Miss Montague,” the maid proceeded to say before Gavin could leave the room. “She’s a good fit for the house;

don’t you think?”

Gavin wasn’t sure what to say in response, so he chose not to say anything. He walked out of the living room without sparing her another look.