Patrick's eyes were cold. He carefully observed Damon's reactions and subtle changes in his expressions.
Thus, he saw a trace of viciousness flash across Damon's face. He could not turn a blind eye to it and pretended not to notice it. He said, "Damon, you hate Gloria so much, and I can't be at ease. She is my mate and also the Luna of the Black Thorn Pack. She will live here with me in Alpha's villa. I won't give you a chance to hurt her."
Although Damon hated Gloria, Patrick was relieved because of Damon's reaction.
At least, Patrick could guess that Damon had only told his grandfather secretly that he was investigating the case four years ago.
"It's late. You should rest." Patrick threw the cigarette butt to the ground and then walked away.
Before he left, he glanced at the river not far from him from the corner of his eye.
Just now, Damon didn't reveal the slightest bit of trace that he knew that Patrick's grandfather had framed Gloria. Otherwise, Patrick would have killed him and thrown him into the river.
Damon looked at the cigarette butt on the ground that had yet to be extinguished. Then, he raised his head to look at Patrick's back far from him.
The hatred in his heart spread throughout his body, and his desire to take revenge burned like crazy.
"It is unfair to Gabrielle!" Damon stood under the tree and muttered.
After returning to the villa, Patrick opened the door gently.
He walked in without saying a word and took off his clothes silently, exposing his fit upper body. He did not look at Gloria but walked directly into the bathroom.
Gloria was on the bed, staring blankly out the window. Only when the door of the bathroom closed did she slowly turn her head back.
She moved to the bedside, curled up, and closed her eyes. Her movements were slow and did not make a sound.
Soon, he returned to bed.
Gloria clenched her fists subconsciously and felt warm behind her back. Then, an arm wrapped around her waist.
Patrick pulled her to the center of the bed.
Gloria's shoulders stiffened. She was shaking and the wound on her neck, which had just healed, was bleeding again.
Once Patrick touched her, she couldn't help but tremble. Her senses became sharper, and every second felt like a century for her.
Gloria endured the torment and begged in her heart, 'Patrick, can you stay away from me?'
"No one can hurt you in the future anymore," Patrick whispered into Gloria's ear. His voice was a little hoarse and sounded tender in the darkness.
'Including my grandfather,' Patrick thought.
He knew that Gloria was innocent, but he could not explain it to her because his grandfather was involved.
Patrick's grandfather framed Gloria, and Patrick sent her to the werewolf prison, which caused her to lose her wolf. The truth was too cruel. Even a cold person like Patrick didn't have the heart to tell her about it.
If she knew the truth, she would never forgive him.
Patrick hugged Gloria even tighter in his arms. Half of Gloria's face was covered by her hair. Patrick looked at her and said in his heart, 'Gloria, I'm sorry.'
In the morning, Patrick got up early and went to patrol the border.
It was a sunny day, and the sunlight in the winter was warm. Gloria was lying on a chaise longue in the corridor with a blanket. She was still young, yet she enjoyed sunbathing like an old lady.
A new Beta named Kevin came to the villa. He was as serious and reticent as Damon.
Damon finished the handover this morning. Gloria heard the intermittent conversation between him and Kevin.
They did not speak much, but they were efficient.
Gloria stared ahead, lost in thought. She did not care about what they were talking about.
She could hear that someone was approaching her from behind. Gloria glanced out of the corner of her eye and saw a familiar figure. She stood up slowly from the chaise longue and said, "Beta Damon, come with me."
Her coarse voice stopped Damon's footsteps. There was a trace of hesitation in Damon's eyes, but quickly, he caught up with Gloria, who was walking slowly in front of him.
Gloria walked toward a quiet place and stopped at the corner. Damon followed her and kept a distance from her.
"What do you want?" Damon looked at Gloria, his eyes filled with suspicion, hostility, and wariness.
Gloria smiled faintly and thought, 'What is he afraid of? Does he think a cripple like me can hurt him?'
She found it ridiculous.
"Why are you laughing?" Damon was provoked by Gloria's smile and growled, "Do you think you've managed to replace Gabrielle? Gloria, you are just a substitute!"
Damon's face was ferocious. He recalled what had happened by the river behind the villa last night.
Gabrielle passed away only four years ago.
After Damon said those words, his sharp eyes were fixed on Gloria's face. He wanted to see the pain on her face, but she seemed to have turned a deaf ear to his words.
Gloria reached out a hand and said, "Give it to me."
"What?" Damon was puzzled for a moment.
Gloria chuckled, her lips dry. "The thing in your pocket, give it to me."
Damon's eyes widened. He said in a panic, "I don't know what you are talking about."
Gloria shook her head gently and said calmly, "Give it to me. I know you want to put it into my soup when everyone is not paying attention in the morning."
She then added, "I saw it with my own eyes."
Damon glared at her and cursed fiercely. "Do you want to tell Alpha Patrick? Go ahead. Anyway, you killed Gabrielle, and he didn't really punish you! But, I'm not afraid of you!"
Gloria raised her eyes and glanced at Damon's furious face meaningfully. She did not say anything.
She could not help but think, 'It turned out that my three-year hellish life in the werewolf prison, the scars on my body, my crippled legs, and losing my wolf were simply nothing in Damon's eyes.'
Gloria looked at Damon's vicious face again. She did not want to argue with him. Her miserable past could not be changed, and time could not turn back.
She stretched out her hand toward Damon and continued, "You don't want me to have his babies. Well, I have the same idea as you. So, take it out."
Damon was shocked and retorted, "I don't believe you!"
"It is up to you. When the new Beta became familiar with his work, you wouldn't have the chance to do it," Gloria said.
"You don't want to have Alpha Patrick's babies? I don't believe it! No woman in this world can refuse him." Damon was still in disbelief.
Gloria had tried several times but failed to convince Damon. She thought that there was no need to say more and turned to leave. She limped forward slowly, but she looked relaxed and elegant.