Chapter 48

Erin’s POV

“Oh, my goddess!” Emily gasped. “Did he just ask us to move in with him?”

I stared at Gavin with my mouth hanging open; he was looking at me with such seriousness on his face that I couldn’t even think of what to say in return. I couldn’t just move into Gavin’s packhouse and live with him.

Could I?

I wasn’t sure how long I was staring at him, but it must have been long enough to make him feel uncomfortable. He broke his eyes from mine and gave me a small laugh.

“Is that a yes?” He asked with a playfulness in his tone.

“Say yes!” Emily cooed excitedly.

She wanted to be around him as much as she could, and this would be a great opportunity to be around him more.

But I wasn’t sure I’d be able to handle being this close to him. I swallowed the large lump that had formed in my throat, shoving it down into my stomach.

“Let’s be serious, I can’t live with you, Gavin,” I said to him, staring down at my bags. “It would look very bad.”

“It only looks bad if we make it look bad,” Gavin said with a shrug; he didn’t have a care in the world, and in a way, I admired that about him. “You don’t have anywhere else to go and I have plenty of rooms here. You can pick out your own room and stay here for as long as you would need.”

Oh, so it would be a temporary arrangement.

Just until I get myself back on my feet or makeup with Henry.

I could handle that; it’s not like I had anywhere else to go.

“Okay, but this is only temporary,” I tell him, giving him a fond smile as I touched his arm gently. “I really appreciate this.”

“You know I would do anything for you, Erin,” he breathed.

He reached his hand out to me and ran the back of his fingers delicately down the side of my face. His fingers left a tingling sensation in its path. I felt myself leaning into him, loving, and embracing his touch.

I closed my eyes as his thumb traced my bottom lip; I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to kiss him badly.

Just as I felt him near me with his lips, the door of the living room swung open.

My eyes flew open, and I saw Seth staring between the two of us completely dumbfounded.

I heard the growl escaping the depth of Gavin’s throat out of annoyance as he glared over at his Beta.

“Seth, how about you take Erin and her things to her room,” Gavin said between his teeth. “Show her a few different rooms and let her pick out whatever one she wants.”

“She’s staying here?” Seth asked, raising his brows.

Gavin didn’t bother answering his question.

After a moment, Seth sighed. He looked annoyed as he grabbed my suitcase and began leading me out of the living room, but not before I heard Gavin’s voice from behind me.

“I’ll come to find you later.”

I gave him a small smile before disappearing with Seth up the stairs.

I wasn’t going to be picky about what room to stay in.

“Are you sure you want this one?” Seth asked as I looked around the basic room, he showed me. It was also the first room he showed me. “It’s the smaller choice. There’s a bunch of nicer ones…”

“This one’s fine,” I assured him. “I’m only going to be here for a short time anyways. I appreciate your help.”

He stared at me with uncertainty for a moment; I could tell there was something he wasn’t saying but he refrained from speaking.

He nodded his head and left me alone with my thoughts.

…

It was a sleepless night; Gavin wished me goodnight before he headed to bed. He looked incredibly sexy without his shirt on and only his pajama bottoms.

I knew he did that on purpose. He knew exactly what his body did to me and my wolf.

I had to fight to keep Emily under control.

“The cooks will make breakfast in the morning. Seth will be here,” he told me before leaving the room.

“You won’t be?” I had asked him.

“I have some things to take care of in the morning. Hopefully by this time tomorrow, you’ll be in the clear for attempted murder.”

Oh right, he needed to clear my name.

I gave him a small smile and said nothing more as he left.

As promised, Seth was waiting for me in the dining room when I woke up the next morning. I could smell the bacon cooking from the kitchen and my mouth was watering. It felt like it’s been a while since I’d had a hot meal, even though it’s only been less than a week ago.

Seth was seated and already eating his breakfast, and sipping his coffee when I entered.

“Good morning,” he said with a mouthful of food.

“Morning,” I said in return, sitting across from him at the table.

There was a plate in front of me, but it was empty.

“The cooks will bring you food in a few minutes,” Seth said, peering over at me. “Do you like coffee? I can have them bring you coffee as well.”

“Tea will be fine,” I answered.

I felt awkward sitting across from Beta Seth. I knew he didn’t like that I was there and I kind of wanted to ask him, “why.”

But I didn’t.

He ate quietly for a long moment and then the chefs brought out more food, piling the food on top of the plate.

“Can you bring her some tea as well?” Seth asked.

“Right away, Beta,” the chef said with a head nod.

He disappeared into the kitchen and returned moments later with a cup of hot tea, along with a little milk and sugar on the side.

“Thank you,” I said to him before he disappeared into the kitchen.

Seth observed me while I ate.

“Can I ask why you are here?” He finally asked, breaking the silence between us.

I glanced up at him, confused by his question.

“I don’t have anywhere to go…” I admitted. “Gavin said—”

“I know what Gavin said. He might want one thing, but that doesn’t mean he should have it,” Seth said with an eye roll.

“I’m not sure I understand,” I said, furrowing my brows together. “What did I do that was so wrong? Why am I not welcome here?”

“It’s not that you did anything wrong,” Seth said shaking his head. “It’s the way Gavin feels about you.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Gavin needs a Luna that can live up to his standards. He’s going to need one for the Alpha convention in a few months. Honestly, Erin. You are nothing more than a simple waitress. I don’t know what he sees in you… but I don’t think you are the kind of Luna Gavin needs. You aren’t Luna material.”