Before I could grasp anything, Harper grabbed Nan''s wine ss and sshed it at Nan''s dress, making everyone gasp.


    Nan shot to her feet, her eyes red with unshed tears and her face flushed with embarrassment. Even my parents gasped; my mother let out a sad sigh as she saw Nan''s distraught and broken expression.


    "She doesn''t deserve you. She doesn''t know you. She could never love you the way I love you," Harper continued, pointing her red fingernail manicure at Nan''s face. I couldn''t exactly see Chester''s face because his back was turned towards me, but I knew he was looking at Nan, he was now seeing how upset she truly was and the fact that her dress was now stained, didn''t help matters.


    Nan was standing to her feet, her body trembling. I knew she was about to make a run for it.


    My mother tapped the table, getting my attention.


    "Go to her," she said softly.


    I nced between her and my father.


    "Are you sure? I feel bad bailing on dinner," I told her; this was an important


    celebration, and family had alwayse first to me.


    As if reading my thoughts, my father nodded his head.


    "Nan is family too," he told me. "You should make sure she''s okay."


    He didn''t have to tell me twice; I stood up quickly and started towards their table while Nan was having an internal battle.


    "You''ve crossed a line, Harper," Chester said, his tone low and deadly; their


    voices got louder as I got nearer. I could see some of the security and management making their way through the restaurant as well, wondering what themotion was all about and ready to de-escte the situation.


    "You can''t honestly say you don''t have feelings for me, Chester. I have always been there for you... I have always loved you. You can''t deny that we have history together."


    For a moment, Chester didn''t say anything. That was a huge mistake because that was the moment Nan''s face fell, and the tears sprang free from her eyes. I was there before Chester even noticed the expression on her face.


    I wrapped my arm around her, startling her. I turned her way from Chester so he wouldn''t see her face.


    "Bathroom," I told her softly. "Let''s get you cleaned up."


    Chester''s eyes met mine and I could


    see the real reason why he hadn''t said anything; he was fighting his wolf. His wolf wanted to spring free and tear Harper apart and he was trying desperately to keep that from happening. I felt relieved knowing that was the real, but I don''t think Nan understood that as well as I did. She took his silence as him epting Harper''s words and


    agreeing with her.


    That was also the reason he didn''t notice Nan''s sunken and hurt expression because he was too focused on keeping his wolf under control. Chester had an Alpha wolf, which meant they were harder to control.


    "Deal with this," I told Chester, hoping to get through to the man and not the wolf. "Or you''ll lose you forever."


    Chester''s true eyes shed for a


    moment when he finally noticed Nan and how her shoulders were


    shaking She was silently crying


    trying to keep it so he didn''t hear, but now he could see it. A panicked look shed through his eyes and soon, his wolf was returning, and I could see the hatred and anger he felt towards Harper.


    As we passed her, I couldn''t help but whisper, "If I were you... I''d start running."


    With those words left in the air, I guided Nan away and towards the bathrooms. I ignored the screaming as I mmed the bathroom door


    shut and locked it. At that ent


    Nanpletely fell apart. She started to sob loudly as she fell to the ground, her entire body quivering as she let out all the surpassed


    feelings she''d had that evening.


    I sat with her on the ground, my eyes burning with unshed tears as I watched my best friend fall apart. I hated that this was happening; I hated that Harper was making this happen. I wanted to be friends with Harper for a long time, but now... now I couldn''t seem to look at her without feeling resentment and hatred.


    I grabbed my phone and brought up my text thread with Gavin.


    I sent a single text, hoping it didn''t sound like he owed me anything, but I needed


    this to be done.


    Me: I need a favor.