Chapter 96

Gavin’s POV

It’s been a couple of days since Gavin agreed to let Judy Conrad stay in his packhouse. She’s been a great guest for a human, he had to admit. She helped in the kitchen, assisted the workers in keeping the place clean, and was incredibly kind.

Gavin had promised not to tell anyone why she was there to protect her from her husband, so he just told everyone that she was an old friend that would be staying with him for a while.

Everyone seemed to have bought it.

He spent most of the last couple of days on a hunt to find Susanna, without there being any luck.

He knows that Susanna will most likely come for Erin and couldn’t allow that to happen.

He also knows that Erin will probably still want to continue working at the diner, even though she knows she’s in direct danger because that’s the kind of woman she is. It was infuriating but also incredibly attractive in the eyes of Gavin.

However, lately, whenever he thought of Erin, he also thought of Henry’s arms around her. He wanted to rip Henry’s throat out for touching his mate.

How dare he think that’s okay?

Though, it’s not like they had any claim to Erin.

Not anymore.

“Gavin, I don’t want to stay in this house anymore…” Judy said, leaning against the doorframe of his office. ‘I wish to go out. Anywhere…”

He stared around her face for a moment, trying to think of a place to take her where she would be safe.

Then an idea came to him.

Might as well kill two birds with one stone.

“How about we get dinner this evening? I know I a quant restaurant with an incredible staff. The food is pretty good too.”

Judy looked excited by this and clapped her hands together.

“Sounds perfect,” she cooed excitedly.

…

Erin’s POV

“I hear they’ve been together for a little while and she just moved in with him,” a coworker had said to others.

“I wonder when they will marry,” another chuckled.

They certainly weren’t talking about me. I had no idea that someone moved into Gavin’s packhouse. I knew there was a possibility that these could just be rumors, but there was another part of me that felt a little unsettled by the information I was hearing.

Whom could this she-wolf be?

“Don’t be so quick to think the worst about our mate,” Emily scolded. “We should give him the benefit of the doubt.”

My coworkers noticed that I was nearby at that moment; I had stopped looking over at them and just continued my work, but they now knew I could hear them.

“Must really suck for you, Erin. To see someone, you once loved falling for another she-wolf. You should have never let him go,” one of them sneered while the others chuckled.

“I still don’t believe they ever dated. I mean, look at her.”

“Yeah, she’s not good enough for Gavin Pierce. She never was. If they really did date, then he dodged a bullet.”

I glanced at them, narrowing my eyes. I wanted to tell them off; to say something to defend myself. But I didn’t need to prove myself to them. I didn’t need them to believe me.

So, as soon as I opened my mouth, I closed it right back up and turned away from them.

This only caused them to laugh even more and continue their gossiping.

“That’s what I thought…” I heard one of them mutter.

They weren’t worth my time.

“Don’t let them get to you,” Kelsey muttered as I walked toward the back counter. “They have nothing better to do other than gossip. It’s quite sad.”

“I know,” I said in return. “I’m not letting them get to me. I’m happily married, and I don’t care who Gavin is seeing.”

I was hoping my words were believable. For a moment, I thought she was going to see through me. I knew Kelsey from before she hired me, and she knew me well.

She just looked around my face for a moment longer with a small frown.

“How’s Henry doing by the way?” She asked, keeping her eyes on me.

“Oh, he’s been great,” I told her. “He’s been very busy with his work as a lawyer. Being the world’s best lawyer takes a lot out of him. But we are stronger than ever.”

“I’m glad to hear that. What does he think about you hanging out with Gavin?”

“I’m not hanging out with Gavin,” I nearly snap, looking at her with startled eyes. “Gavin is only my friend, and we barely hang out for personal reasons. Henry understands that and he’s completely fine with it.”

“Are you sure about that?’ She asked, raising her brows.

“Yes,” I answered firmly. “I’m sure about that.”

“Hey! Waitress!! Can I get some service!” I heard a drunken man from across the restaurant hissing.

He was staring directly at me.

Kelsey rolled her eyes and shook her head as she glanced back at me.

“I’ve already cut him off earlier. He’s way too drunk to be served anymore. I made him pay his tab already. I’ll get security.”

“Don’t,” I said quickly. “I can get rid of him.”

Kelsey rose her brows as she watched me walk over to the man.

“I’m sorry sir, but you’ve been cut off. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

I could smell the beer on his breath as he stared me over.

“You’re a pretty little thing, aren’t ya? What’s a dime like you doing in a shit box like this?” He slurred.

A “dime”?

What century was this man from?

“I’m not going to ask you again. Please leave the restaurant If you need a cab, I don’t mind calling one.”

“I’m a paying customer, just like everyone else here,” he went on to say. “I deserved to be served.”

“Not when you’ve had this much to drink,” I told him in return, folding my arms across his chest. “If you don’t leave, I’m going to have to force you to leave.”

He stared at me for a moment longer before he started laughing. Tears welled up in his eyes as he laughed and then the laughter turned into coughing. It sounded like he was coughing up his lungs.

“Yeah; I’m sure you can make me leave,” he said.

I smirked at him; he was testing me, and I wasn’t going to stand it.

I placed both my hands on the table and leaned closer to him, so I was practically in his face.

“I know a lot about you, Jim. I know where you live, and I know about your wife Cathy. I know she wouldn’t want you to be here drinking away your life. She’d be incredibly disappointed in you. I know about your many infractions and if my boss calls to get you removed from the restaurant, you will probably end up getting arrested and locked away for a long time. I know that’s not something you want and it’s not what Cathy would have wanted for you. So, I’m going to ask you again to leave. And please… clean your life up.”

He stared at me for a long while; seemingly confused as to how I knew this information. Being part of the Moonshadow organization and doing research on everybody in the area had some benefits.

I instantly recognized him from his profiles, and I knew that if he gets escorted out, he would most likely be arrested.

His wife died last year, and he’s been drowning away his sorrows with boos. I felt bad for him I will admit.

He finally stood from the table and left the restaurant.

Kelsey walked over to me with amazement on her face.

“That was incredible. What did you say to him?”

“I just told him we will call security if he doesn’t leave. He didn’t want the trouble,” I lied.

Kelsey laughed with that amazement still on her face.

Soon, I heard the door chime and I turned to see who was walking in.

I froze when I saw Gavin standing at the door. Beside him, with her arms wrapped around his like they were on a date, was a gorgeous-looking she-wolf.