Chosen By My Mate's Father-in-law novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Chapter 13: No Turning Back

I saw the desire flicker in Gareth’s eyes and I thought I had the upper hand. For once, he wasn’t in control. He looked at me the way a man looked at a woman, not like some unwanted trespasser. Heat flooded between my legs. He had this effect on me.

But the moment didn’t last.

Gareth straightened, his face hardening. That flicker of hunger disappeared, and in its place, cold authority took over.

“You’re playing a dangerous game,” he said, voice calm but tight. “Do you want to lose this job?”

I blinked, my smirk vanishing.

He stepped closer—not as a man, but as the Lycan King. “Don’t forget I could fire you right now and tell Michelle you were trying to seduce me. She’d believe it. And it would crush her, after she defended you so fervently minutes before.”

I froze. All thoughts of teasing shattered.

The thought of Michelle, hurt and angry, thinking I’d used her just to get close to her father made my stomach twist.

“I didn’t mean—” I started, then stopped myself. I had meant it. I just didn’t think it through.

I looked away, heat rushing to my cheeks. “I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “That was out of line.”

He didn’t speak, but I could feel him watching me.

“I’ll keep my distance,” I said. “And I’ll dress however you want. I’m here to teach Michelle, not cause more problems.”

He nodded once, curt. “Good. She likes you. Don’t make me regret this.”

I swallowed my pride and nodded. “I won’t. She’s smart. She has a lot of potential.”

With that, he moved to the door and opened it. I walked out first, grateful for the fresh air in the hallway.

Michelle was waiting, arms crossed. The moment she saw me, she lit up. “Finally! What took so long?”

“Your dad just wanted to talk,” I said, forcing a smile.

“About me, right?” she grinned. “I’m important.”

Before I could answer, she grabbed my wrist and tugged me toward the garden. “Come on! You said you’d teach me that double knife throw!”

I laughed as I let her drag me back outside.

For the next hour, things were easy. Peaceful, even. I showed her how to adjust her grip, how to control her breath before a throw, and how to focus on the target and not the distraction around it.

Michelle was a quick learner. She listened closely, asked good questions, and only rolled her eyes twice—an improvement from earlier.

She threw with all her heart. Wild and fierce. I saw myself in her.

When one of the blades landed near the edge of the target, she groaned. “Ugh, I missed.”

I smiled. “You’re improving. That’s what counts.”

Before she could try again, Butler Jones appeared by the garden entrance.

“Miss Michelle,” he said with a small bow, “Lady Isabella and her fiancé have just returned.”

My stomach dropped. Fiancé. I didn’t need to ask who. I already knew.

Michelle brightened. “Isa’s back? Yes!”

She turned to me, eyes shining. “You have to meet her!”

“I... actually, I should go,” I said, trying to sound casual.

Michelle blinked. “Why?”

“I have things to do,” I lied.

“You promised to stay for dinner!” she argued.

Guilt pulled at my chest. “I didn’t say tonight.”

“You’re being weird,” she said, frowning. “Isa’s great. She’ll love you. She’s really nice.”

It wasn’t Isa I was worried about. It was the man walking through the front doors with her.

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