CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: EYES EVERYWHERE

Gareth looked out the window as Beta Kevin drove him home from his office. During his entire workday, he silently stewed about catching Jasmine on top of his nephew. Even now, images of them rolling around on the ground assaulted his mind. Gareth shook his head in anger at the excuse that they had been "sparring."

He had seen the way Axel’s eyes had possessively roamed over Jasmine’s body in that tight workout outfit of hers, like he wanted to own it.

Just thinking about Jasmine and Axel as a couple made anger flood through him. Gareth crossed his arms tightly to his chest and tried like hell to get his mind off that frustrating girl that he couldn’t stop thinking about. Ever since he met Jasmine, she seemed to always be on his mind in one way or another, which was something that he didn’t want to examine too closely.

What made the situation even worse was that his nephew would make a suitable partner for her. Axel was from a good family, passionate about his art, and in line to be Alpha. He would be able to provide for Jasmine and might even make her happy.

Gareth didn’t understand exactly why he didn’t want them to be a couple. Maybe it was because Axel was still a little too immature for Jasmine. Of course, he was successful in his own right, in his art, and in Alpha training. But a lot of that success had to do with the opportunities that being a part of the Laken family had given him. Jasmine was resilient and hardworking despite the crappy hand life had dealt her. If they were to date, Gareth was sure that she would eventually get tired of his nephew’s childish ways and break it off.

When he threatened Axel to stay away from Jasmine, he was doing both of them a favor. Any relationship between them would end badly.

When Beta Kevin stopped at a light, he turned to his Alpha with a nervous expression. "I have something to report that you’re not going to like."

Gareth froze, immediately on guard.

"What is it?"

"I’ve heard from multiple sources that Jasmine and Axel were seen on a date last night," Beta Kevin started. "They had dinner at a restaurant and spent the night flirting. You know, holding hands across the table and laughing."

Gareth’s blood boiled with rage as he processed this news. He couldn’t believe that his nephew had openly defied him. Hadn’t he made himself perfectly clear to stay away from Jasmine? And Jasmine had been there when he threatened Axel. What kind of game was she playing to go on a date with Axel when she already knew Gareth forbade it?

His teeth gnashed together, and the tension in the car thickened as the light turned green, and Beta Kevin began to drive again. Gareth’s mind began to race. Jasmine wouldn’t risk her job as Michelle’s tutor...unless she thought she would be able to get money from somewhere else.

Was that what this was? Gareth’s hands clenched into fists. Was Jasmine using Axel because his family was rich and well-connected? Was Jasmine planning to seduce his nephew to ensure that her family was taken care of monetarily? Maybe that was her new plan to get her dad out of prison.

If Jasmine had Axel to take care of her, then she wouldn’t care if Gareth fired her for dating his nephew.

"Drive faster," Gareth growled at his Beta, his ears ringing with anger. "I want to talk to my dear nephew and Michelle’s tutor." He was so mad. He couldn’t even speak their names aloud. "I want them to know what happens when they blatantly defy the Lycan King."

"Yes, sir." Beta Kevin nodded and stepped on the gas pedal, weaving around cars.

When they were finally at his house, Gareth threw open the door and raced inside. He frantically looked around, half-expecting to see Jasmine tutoring Michelle, or even Jasmine and his nephew flirting and kissing.

But as he raced up the grand staircase, the sight that met him made him freeze in surprise. At the top of the staircase, he made it just in time to watch Axel slam Elliot against the wall, growling with rage.

Neither of the younger men noticed his presence.

Axel had his forearm pressed against Elliot’s throat and his other hand on his shoulder, holding him in place against the wall.

"Let go of me!" Elliot demanded, struggling to push Axel’s arm off of him.

"No," Axel snarled. "Not until you tell me why in the hell you would end things with your fated mate to marry Isabella. It doesn’t make sense."

"Because I love Isabella, you idiot!" Elliot answered. His face was turning red from exertion as he struggled to free himself from Axel’s strong grip.

Axel snorted with rage. "That’s bullshit. I’ve never heard of anyone leaving their fated mate because of love. You’re only with Isabella because you want to be the next Alpha of Ashborne."

"Think whatever you want to," Elliot replied. "But you haven’t found your fated mate, so you have no idea what it’s like." His voice grew low and rough. "You have no idea what it’s like to not have a choice in who you love. I chose Isabella over Jasmine. I choose her every day because I love her. I’m not going to allow the Moon Goddess to choose who I want to be with."

Elliot paused to take a much-needed gasp of air, and Axel loosened his grip just slightly.

"I love Isabella more than my own life," Elliot said with passion, staring daggers at Axel. "Haven’t I shown that? I was willing to leave my fated mate for her. What more proof do you need? I don’t want Isabella to find out about all of this. It would kill her to know that I broke Jasmine’s heart to be with her and that I have a fated mate."

Gareth knew that this was a good time to step in.

"That’s enough, boys," he ordered in his Alpha voice. "Do not tell Isabella anything you’ve just discussed. Axel, let go of him."

With a reluctant sigh, his nephew stepped away from Elliot.

"I’m sorry for using force, Uncle Gareth," Axel said. "I’m just trying to prevent this asshole," he gestured to Elliot, "from hurting Isabella."

For a moment, Gareth forgot about his anger with Axel. As he narrowed his eyes at Elliot, all he could think about was Isabella’s fragile heart.

He stepped toward his daughter’s fiancé with a menacing expression.

"If you aren’t one hundred percent committed to my daughter, you need to walk away from her now," he warned. "The longer you stay in this relationship, the more attached she gets to you."

Although Elliot leaving his daughter right now would shatter her heart, Gareth would much rather he break things off before they get married. The pain from the heartbreak would be even worse if they were husband and wife.

"Don’t forget that I have eyes everywhere," Gareth continued threateningly, walking even closer to Elliot. "I know you were arguing last night. If I find out that you are unfaithful to her, or greatly upset her, I will chuck you into prison with the worst of the worst criminals and allow them to tear you into pieces until you’re unrecognizable."