Chapter 84

Erin’s POV

“Gavin, you can’t be serious,” I said, staring up at him with wide and shocked eyes.

His face was very serious looking, and his eyes remained dark as he poured his gaze into mine.

“I have never been more serious in my life,” he said in a firm tone. “I wish for you to marry me and be my Luna, Erin. I’m done playing these games. We love each other and we should be together.”

“It’s not that simple,” I told him, shaking my head.

Of course, I had always dreamt of marrying him. He’s my mate and I love him so much.

But I couldn’t risk him finding out about the Moonshadow organization and even still, I couldn’t risk him being in any danger because of me. I’ve already lost so many people in my life… I couldn’t lose Gavin too.

The very thought hurt my heart.

“It is that simple,” he said, raising his brows. “Erin—”

“I can’t marry you,” I said quickly, meeting his eyes once again.

I could see the pure disappointment on his face, and I felt bad, but he had to have known that I would have said no to his proposal.

Didn’t he?

“I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you,” I told him even more firmly and sure of myself.

He went to say something else, but we both fell silent when we heard the rustling of some nearby bushes and then somebody cleared his throat.

…

Henry’s POV

Henry was leaving the woods when he stopped and thought more about it. His heart was aching from the sight of Erin with Gavin. He had known that she was in love with him; they were fated mates. But he had hoped that Henry would be her chosen mate.

It didn’t seem like it was going to be like that, and he had to face the music. He had to come to terms with the fact that Erin would most likely never be his.

But that also wasn’t something he wanted to think about.

His feelings for Erin were only growing stronger by the day and didn’t want to give that up so easily. He straightened his stance and turned in his direction.

He was leaving, but now he’s not.

He went back to his hiding spot and saw that Erin and Gavin were still talking. Gavin was standing now, and they looked incredibly serious; whatever they were talking about.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you…” Erin had said to him, peering up at him with her big sad eyes.

Henry’s heart fell into his stomach at her words; Gavin had proposed to her, and she just declined him.

He wasn’t sure if he should be jumping for joy, or worried that Erin could change her mind at any moment.

He wondered what was running through her head at that moment. Erin couldn’t marry him while she was in the Moonshadow organization. She wouldn’t put them at risk like that.

Gavin looked like he wanted to say more, but before he could, Henry was stepping out of his hiding spot.

The rays of light from the moon, that hung over the sky, lit up his pathway as we made his way toward Erin and Gavin.

He found himself clearing his throat loudly to get their attention.

Both of their demeanors changed, and they both looked over at him at the same time.

“Henry?” Erin gasped, staring at him shocked. “What are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here? Erin, what are you doing here?” He asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

She frowned and stared around his face for a moment before answering.

“I couldn’t just stand around and do nothing,” she said. “Nobody was coming here, and I wanted to try to help.”

“Wait, you came here because you wanted to find the Slayer organization?” Gavin asked, staring at Erin with wide eyes. “On purpose?”

Henry realized that they shouldn’t be talking about this in front of him like this. It could give away the fact that they are both in the Moonshadow organization.

“I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt because of them,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. “I did what I thought was right… we had a lead and I wanted to follow it.”

“Why didn’t you call me?” Gavin scolded. “I would have come here myself if I knew you wanted to do this. I already told you that I had it handled.”

Henry had to force himself to not eye roll.

“I didn’t think you’d let me do this if I were to ask,” she admitted; a guilty look crossing her vision.

Henry knew it was difficult for her to not tell Gavin the truth, but neither of them could say anything.

“You’re right. I wouldn’t have. This was incredibly stupid. You could have been killed.”

As much as Henry agreed with Gavin, he also knew that Erin was capable of caring for herself. She wasn’t a child, and he was treating her like he was. He knew this was going to be negative points in Erin’s book, which was good for Henry.

Maybe there was hope after all.

“I wasn’t though,” she said in return, raising her brows up at him.

“Because I saved you,” he sneered. “I took the damage for you knowing that it wouldn’t kill me.”

“Why exactly didn’t it kill you?” Erin asked, keeping her eyes locked on his.

He fell silent for a moment.

“I’m just stronger,” he said, shrugging his shoulders.

“Strong enough to not be affected by a silver dagger?” She scoffed. “I find that hard to believe.”

He went to say something more, but Henry couldn’t stand their back and forth any longer. He stepped beside Erin, reminding them that he was present and then they both fell silent as they looked him over.

“We should probably not stand around the area the Slayers could be,” he told them.

Even if Bane was lying about this location being the hideout, he was lying because he was trying to lure them here. They were most likely still around and waiting for an attack. Henry didn’t want to take that chance.

Erin nodded and draped her arm through his, which surprised him.

“We are leaving now,” she said, almost coldly, to Gavin.

He looked pained by this, but he nodded, meeting her eyes.

“Thank you, Gavin, for saving me,” she said to him. “I owe you more than you know.”

He doesn’t say anything about that, and Henry was pleased by this. They turned and left, leaving Gavin alone with his thoughts.

As soon as they returned to their home, Henry felt as if something was seriously off. The aura of their home was thrown off and there was a strange energy coming from their bedroom.

Telling from Erin’s face, she could feel it too.

They both looked at one another curiously for a moment before going to the bedroom. He kept his hold on her arm, just in case something jumped out in front of them. Despite knowing that Erin was more than capable of handling things on her own, he still felt the need to protect her.

They remained deadly quiet as they reached their bedroom; Henry was the one who pushed the door open.

They both froze when they saw where that strange sensation was coming from.

Sitting on their bed, glaring at them, was Theo.