Chapter 30

Erin’s POV

“Can we talk about this another time,” I managed to ask, peering up at Henry who kept a serious look in his eyes. “I think we are both exhausted after today.”

“I’m thinking straight, Erin. Why won’t you let me mark you? If you really loved me…”

“We’ve already talked about this,” I say firmly, shaking my head. “I don’t want to be marked by anybody.”

“Is it because of Gavin?”

“No. It’s because of me,” I tell him. “I don’t know why we have to keep having the same conversation. I’m sick of having this conversation. Can’t you just let me be?”

He looked taken aback by my small outburst; he stared around my face for a moment longer, disbelief lingering in his eyes.

I sighed and placed my hand on his bicep once again.

“I’m sorry, Henry,” I breathed. “But I need you to understand that I can’t be marked. Not right now. I need to just focus on myself and live a quiet life. I can’t do that if I’m wrapped up over somebody.”

“You are wrapped up over Gavin,” Henry said, a frown decorating his features.

“He’s my mate…”

“Let me fix that,” Henry said, brushing a strand of hair away from my neck.

I jerked away from him, startling him.

“Henry, that’s enough,” I hissed. “I don’t want you to mark me. Can’t you respect that?”

He looked as if he was going to protest again, but thankfully, his phone started ringing, interrupting us. I had never been more relieved to hear a phone ring in my life.

He looked at me as if to say, “hold that thought. This conversation isn’t over.”

He turned away from me to answer his phone.

“What?” He muttered. “Okay… I’ll be there soon.”

He hung up the phone to look back at me, narrowing his eyes.

“I have to go,” he murmured, walking past me.

I turned around to face him just before he reached the door.

“At this hour? Where are you running off to?”

“They have a few suspects that they need interviewing. I’m the best at telling if someone is lying and have a knack for getting the truth out of people so they want me there during interviews.”

Without another word, he slams the door behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

…

Gavin’s POV

Gavin gave Seth an odd look as Susanna continued to cry into her hands. Her best friend had turned up dead; the only thing left was the necklace Susanna had gotten her for her birthday.

Seth rose his brows at Gavin; Gavin didn’t need him to speak to know what Seth was thinking. Technically, Gavin and Susanna were still together, and Gavin needed her to help better and strengthen the pack. He needed to be there for her to provide her comfort.

He sighed and wrapped his arms around Susanna’s shivering body. Susanna turned to face him, burying her face in his chest, and sobbing.

“I can’t believe she’s gone,” she cried into him.

“I am so sorry for your loss, Susanna,” he said to her in a low tone for only her to hear. “I promise, I won’t rest until we find out who did this crime.”

“I don’t want to be alone, Gavin,” she cried. “Can I come over and spend the night with you?”

The thought was annoying to him, but he didn’t feel as if he could deny it.

“Of course,” he eventually answered.

Gavin took some pictures of the body before it was removed from the scene of the crime. Susanna kept her hold on his arm and her head against his shoulder. If only she knew moments before he arrived that he was buried deep inside another woman.

It would break her heart if she knew the truth.

Then again, it was obvious she only wanted him because of what he could offer her. If she thought for a moment that her status was in jeopardy, it would destroy her. Before he got into his car, allowed Susanna to get in first. He felt his phone buzz in his pocket and saw that Erin was calling.

He frowned; it was odd that she was calling. He didn’t think he would hear from her so soon. Though it didn’t matter, he couldn’t talk to her right now anyways.

He denied the call and shoved his phone into his pocket before getting in the car.

Susanna cried the entire way to Gavin’s house.

“You rest for as long as you need,” Gavin said to her as she crawled into his bed. “I know it’s been an incredibly hard evening for you.”

“I just can’t believe she’s gone…” Susanna whispered. “Oh, Gavin… please don’t leave my side. I need you more than ever.” She touched his arm gently as she spoke those words.

As an Alpha, Gavin felt it was his responsibility to care for her needs. He nodded and sat by her bedside.

“Who would do such a terrible thing?” Susanna asked between tears. “Alice was so kind and innocent.”

“I will find out,” Gavin assured her. “I won’t rest until they are in custody.”

“I know I can count on you, my love,” Susanna breathed, pressing her head against his arm. “I love you so much.”

He didn’t respond to her words of endearment, but he gently rubbed her hair out of her face. He felt his phone buzzing, once again, in his pocket. He didn’t need to look at the screen to know who it was.

Erin had called him about 3 times and left him a couple of messages.

“Gavin, where are you? Call me back!”

“Henry is interrogating people with the authorities. He suspects you!”

“I don’t know what to tell him. Gavin, please, call me back.”

It pained him to ignore her messages. It’s been hours since he last saw and spoke to Erin. Susanna was fast asleep now in his bed.

He stayed with her for a long while, even after she fell asleep. But eventually, he moved into his office so he can examine the photos of Alice more carefully. From how burnt her body was, it was obvious it wasn’t a normal fire. It was someone with the ability to manifest the most powerful type of fire.

He has never seen or heard of such a power before, and the thought was ironically chilling.

After the 6(th) phone call from Erin, Gavin decided to turn off his phone. As much as he wanted to talk to her and tell her what was going on, he didn’t need the distractions. He needed to stay focused on finding out who killed Alice and the others.

“Perhaps if you weren’t off doing goddess knows what with that waitress, then you could have been here to save Alice before anything serious happened,” Seth said, leaning against the door of Gavin’s office.

Gavin’s eyes pierced through Seth, causing his body to stiffen.

“Mind your words,” Gavin growled. “And keep your voice down. Susanna is only in the next room.”

“I’m sorry for speaking so boldly, Alpha. But you must admit that since you’ve been spending all this time with her, things have gotten out of hand.”

As much as Gavin didn’t want to admit it, Seth was right. Things have gotten out of hand.

…

Erin’s POV

It’s been over 72 hours since I had last spoken to Gavin. He hasn’t answered any of my calls or texts. He eventually turned his phone off, which I admit, hurt my heart, but I supposed it was fair. He must be busy trying to figure out who killed his pack member.

But I needed to warn him that Henry was still suspecting it was him and that Henry can tell if people are lying; including Gavin.

Thankfully, I don’t think Henry had the chance to speak with Gavin personally yet. Hopefully, he would never get that chance.

I woke up to the sound of the television being blasted through the house, early. I made my way down the stairs and into the living room. It’s been days since I’ve spoken to Gavin and my heart was admittedly heavy in my chest.

I had to get dressed for work soon and I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through today with a calm head on my shoulders. Especially knowing that there was a killer somewhere out there.

Henry sat on the couch, staring at the TV with a frown and that’s when I saw Gavin standing at the podium, speaking to the press about the recent murder of his pack member. It was being broadcasted live.

Standing beside him, with her arms wrapped around his, was Susanna.

My heart fell into my stomach as I watched her head leaning lovingly against his shoulders. The same shoulder I had bitten playfully only days ago.

Henry turned and met my eyes, seeing the sunken expression on my face he asked, “Does seeing them together make you jealous?”