<b>Chapter </b><b>718 </b>


    Judy’s POV


    I <b>stared </b>at myself in the mirror; shock was evident on my expression. My belly was rounded… I had popped.


    It had been almost a month since the banquet. Levi was still in prison, thankfully, and thye were working on appointing a new Lycan to take over Levi’s territory and take his ce as chairman, tough I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. It was hard to fill the shoes of a Lycan chairman, let alone someone as powerful as Levi,


    Until then, Gavin and the other Lycans had been taking turns going to Levi’s territory and taking care of pack needs, so they weren’tpletely without help. This week was Gavin’s turn to go to Levi’s territory.


    He’s been gone for almost 8 days, and I missed him with every beat of my heart. I wasn’t expecting to actually pop while he was away, though. I was just about 4 months pregnant, and this was the first time I actually looked pregnant.


    I went to bedst night and my belly was still its typical t… but when I woke up this morning, I had this huge, rounded stomach<i>. </i>My wolf refused to shift out of protection for our young one.


    This was it. It was real. I was officially a pregnant she–wolf, and my mate was in a different territory.


    There was a knock on my door, drawing my attention away from <b>my </b>appearance for a moment. I went to the door and opened it, revealing Nan, who was standing before me nervously. She was nibbling on her lower lip; her hair curled to perfection, and her makeup done beautifully. I knew Irene had gotten to her, and it made me smile at how gorgeous my best friend was.


    She was wearing a tank top and short sweat shorts that hugged her curves perfectly.


    “Why aren’t you in your dress yet?” I asked her, frowning. “Please tell me you aren’t getting cold feet again…”


    “What if this is a mistake, Judy…” she said, walking into my room without being invited. “I mean… I love Chester and I want to marry him and continue with this little family that we have… but what if it ends up biting me in the ass at the end?”


    My gaze softened.


    “You won’t know unless you try,” I told her. “I know this is scary, Nan. But Chester loves you, and he’s been so good to you since finding out that you are his mate. He adores both you and Emalyn, and he’d do anything for you both. Marrying him should be an easy choice<b>.</b>”


    “I know and I want to marry him… but what if it’s too soon? I haven’t known him very long…”


    Without a word, I pulled her into my arms to hug her. I couldn’t believe my best friend was getting married today, and my mate wasn’t here with me. I hated that I had to attend her wedding without a date, and when she suggested that I <b>go </b>with Lukas, I nearlyughed. Gavin would kill me if he found out that I took Lukas as a date to Nan’s wedding. He couldn’t stand Lukas… it wasn’t anything specific that Lukas did… he just didn’t like that he was an unmated male. 3


    He thought Lukas had a thing for me despite how many times I told him that we were just friends. I hadn’t seen or spoken to Lukas since graduating from the college; Lukas is attending hisst year at the college and then afterwards returning to his uncle Mica’s territory. But he and Nan keep in touch, and she invited him to the wedding.


    I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to see him again… but I was also nervous for what Gavin would have to say.


    “You are getting married in a few hours, Nan,” I told her. “You need to get dressed.”


    On cue, Irene walks in, her hands on her hips and her glossy lips pressed in a thin line. She wasreayd fully dressed in the purple maid of honor dress that hung off her shoulder delicately<b>, </b>showing off the purple pendant that dangled on her chest. 3


    Her blonde hair, which she just got light purple highlights for, was pulled out of her face and still flowed in curly waves down


    her shoulders.


    She was beautiful, and it always took my breath away; she looked so much like Gavin that it amazed me, besides her blonde hair and feminine features, which I’m sure she got from her mother. She had his eyes and his smile; it always amazed me.


    <b>“</b><b>Are </b><b>you </b><b>serious</b>, right now?” <b>Irene </b>scowled, her eyes narrowed. How can you run off while I was in the bathroom<b>? </b>It <b>took </b><b>me </b>hours <b>to </b>do <b>your </b>hair and makeup, Nan…”


    “I’m sorry…” Nan said, nibbling on her lower lip. “I just freaked out. I needed to talk to Judy…”


    “What you need is to finish getting dressed. We need to get to the silver Crescent Church,” Irene scolded.