Chapter 39


    I’m not expecting to see him, so when I get a whiff of his scent, my head whips around and our eyes


    meet. **, every time I see him, my insides melt. I have to figure out how to put up a wall when I’m


    around him. I make sure that I don’t go anywhere near him as I talk with Alpha Deke. I know Den is


    trying to tell me something with his eyes, but I don’t want to know what it is.


    I noticed the way his expression hardened, and his jaw clenched when he saw that I’m with Gavin, but


    he needs to get over it. He has his own Luna and his own little family to worry about now. It’s time he


    lets me have my little bit of happiness wherever I can find it. I don’t owe him any exnations as to why


    I’m with his cousin.


    When everything is set and Alpha Deke’s Beta’s daughter is removed from sight, I let the Alpha know


    that they can take their time, in case he wants to look around the area for clues as well, before he


    heads back to his own territory. I turn to Gavin and ask if he’s ready to head back or if he was going to


    stay with his cousins.


    He nces at Deke and then at Den, and smiles sadly, “Nah, they wouldn’t want me hanging


    around. As you can see, we aren’t that close.”


    I can sense the sadness in his voice and in his demeanor. He’s jealous of the rtionship that the other


    two have and feels left out. I reach my hand out and take his,cing my fingers through his as I turn


    back to the other two Alphas.


    “We are going to head back. Let me know if you need my assistance with anything.” I smile at Alpha


    Deke as he nods his head at me and says goodbye, but Den is ring at where Gavin’s hand is


    laced with mine, “Alpha Den, nice to see you again. It’s unfortunate that it was under these


    circumstances.”


    I turn to walk away, but his voice stops me, “It’s always a pleasure, Quinn.” I hear the true meaning


    behind his words and my head turns slightly to the side, indicating that I heard his every word, but I


    don’t turn to meet his eyes this time. Nodding my head in response, I walk away, dragging the Alpha


    heir behind me.


    Cici is helping me get ready for my date with Gavin. For some reason I’m a bit nervous, and I don’t


    understand why. Gavin and I have been friends for almost a year now and are veryfortable in each


    other’s presence. Maybe it’s because we are taking our rtionship in a different direction, or maybe


    it’s because deep down I feel a bit of guilt. I have nothing to feel guilty about, except for maybe dating


    the cousin of the Alpha who took my virginity, and who he hates with a passion.


    “Will you keep still already?” My friend lectures me, “If I burn you then it’s your own fault!”


    “Sorry! I’m just so nervous…”


    She stills for a moment and stares at me through the mirror, “What’s there to be nervous about? Gavin


    has been crushing on you since your eighteenth birthday party. I hardly doubt you can do anything to


    chase him away at this point.” She continues to curl the piece of hair that she had started on before


    pausing, “Besides, he’s hot as *, girl!”


    I chuckle. She’s right on all ounts, but I wonder if him looking a lot like his cousin is the reason why


    I’m willing to give him a chance. I’d like to think that I’m not that shallow, but these days, I just don’t


    know.


    “I’m just worried about getting close and then my matees along, and I end up breaking Gavin’s


    heart. He’s been such a great friend; he’ s got the number three spot after you and then Summer.”


    “You said that you already warned him about all that, didn’t you?”


    “Well yeah, but…”


    “No buts, then! You are going to go out on this date and then another and then another, and you’re


    going to enjoy all of them. If your matees, then we will deal with it at that time. Don’t stop living


    your life because your mate is toozy to leave his territory toe find you.”


    I love my best friend, but I wonder where shees up with half the *thates out of her mouth. I


    laugh out loud and then agree with her just to appease her, and well, she’s holding a very hot curling


    iron next to my scalp.


    “Okay, I will keep an open mind while I’m with Gavin.”


    “Don’t forget to take some baby blockers, you can never count on a male to have one on him at all


    times.” My friend is dead serious when she says this to me.


    “I said that I would keep an open mind, NOT open my legs, Cici!” I say incredulously, I’m not having sex


    with Gavin!”


    Now she looks confused, “I thought that’s what this date was about, so you could getid and forget


    about You Know Who?”


    A 90%


    I wish I had never told Cici about Den, but as my best friend, it’s in the rules that I must share


    everything with her, and she must share everything with me. Now, she continues to bring the situation


    up, but at least she isn’t trying to talk me into being Den’s mistress like she was at first.


    “Come on, Quinn! Most Alphas who are forced to take a Luna usually have a Mistress, and they are


    treated better than the Luna herself!” My friend had said back then, “Den’s pack loves you and will


    ept you as his Mistress before ever epting L as his Luna. They will respect you more.


    That is the exact reason why I left and refuse to let anything else happen between us. Yes, L **up


    and has to live with being disrespected, but I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I was part of her


    being disrespected. I don’t want the Mistress title either; I’m an Alpha, not a **.


    “You’re wrong, Cici. I’m not dating him because I want to getid. I’mfortable around Gavin, and I


    want someone that I can cuddle with sometimes or kiss. I don’t know where it will lead, but I’m trying to


    keep an open mind about it. My neenth birthday is right around the corner, and I n on making a


    decision at that time on whether or not I want to get more serious with Gavin. By then, I’ll give up in


    finding my mate.”


    “Well, whatever you decide, you know I’m behind you one hundred percent.” She smiles at me from


    behind, “Vi, another masterpiece from the amazing Cici Stone..soon-to-be Cici Neely.”


    I giggle, “How is mated life? We don’t get to talk much about you and Spencer.”


    “Oh, you don’t want to hear about us.” She waves the suggestion away.


    “Yes, I do. You’re my best friend and I’m here for you just like you are for me.” I remind her as I take her


    hand in mine.


    “No, I mean, you don’t want to hear about me and Spencer, because you will get jealous from all the


    hot sex we have every chance we get.” My best friend throws her head back andughs.


    “Oh, my Goddess, you’re absolutely right,” Iugh as I roll my eyes, “I don’t want to hear about that!”


    Ourughter dies down and I get a little more serious, “But you’re happy right?”


    She ces her hands on both my shoulders and gives me her famous Cici Stone smile, “I’m extremely


    happy, Quinn. I don’t know how ! lived without having him beside me before.”


    My stomach lurches, but I’m happy for my friend, “I’m d that at least one of us are able to find real


    love and be happy.” I don’t say this in a sad way either, I’m truly d that she found her mate.


    “You will find your happiness too, Quinn, I promise.” Cici hugs me from behind momentarily before


    jumping away, “Enough stalling! Gavin will be here any minute and you are still practically naked.


    Unless you want him seeing you this way, I suggest you go put some clothes on.”


    “Okay, geesh!” I chuckle and go into my ensuite where my outfit is waiting.


    Gavin took me to a nice Japanese restaurant where the food was amazing, and thepany was even


    better. He talked about growing up in the Blue River pack as the Alpha heir and about how strict his


    father was on him. I’ve met Alpha Daniel and so I understand what he means. I didn’t care much for the


    Alpha, but his son doesn’t seem to take after him, thank Goddess.


    I told him about my childhood with my brother and parents. There were a few tears, but I’m getting


    better at being able to talk about them now. I even talked about how it was when I was brought into my


    new pack after the attack. I left out my feelings for my former Alpha, because I don’t think it would be


    appropriate to bring it up on our first date.


    Once we leave the restaurant, Gavin takes my hand and leads me down the street to a park that has a


    little carnival going on. I’ve never known about this part of the human town. Apparently, they have this


    small carnival every weekend, Gavin buys us tickets for the Ferris Wheel and then holds the gate open


    for me to go through. When we are settled, the car jerks forward as it starts to go up but stops to let the


    next customer on.


    All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    The car has a little privacy, with a cover thates up from the back, and over the top of our heads.


    Gavin automatically stretches his arm across my shoulders and then pulls me closer to him. He smells


    nice, like shower gel and **cream, but I can scent his own underneath it all. He smells like a fresh


    spring, nestled in the middle of the woods.


    “Is this okay?” He asks softly.


    nce up and smile. “Yes, Gavin. It’s fine and feels nice.”


    He grins and then leans in to ce a kiss on my temple. The car jerks once again as it ascends into the


    night. We can see for miles when we are at the top. I’m staring at the beautiful sunset when I hear


    Gavin’s soft voice.


    “So beautiful…”


    I turn and start to nod in agreement, he has other ideas. He holds my head by cing a finger under


    my chin and slowly brings his lips to mine. The kiss is soft, and yet, a little more demanding than the


    last time. There isn’t any hesitation this time when I open for him. His hand


    slides back so he’s now holding part of my cheek and the back of my neck. His thumb caresses my


    cheek as I bring my hand up to hold onto his wrist. My other hand rests on his muscled thigh beside


    me.


    We make out through the whole ride, only breaking away when we hear the people in the car below us


    unloading and just before our car jerks as it descends to the bottom. I can feel how warm my cheeks


    are and Gavin chuckles at my slight embarrassment.


    He kisses the tip of my nose, “Let’s get out of here, and see what else this carnival offers, shall we?”


    I smile and nod, letting him take my hand and help me from the small car. He never let’s go of me as


    we walk through the assortment of different stands. From food to games, to rides, this little carnival has


    everything you need to make a nice first date memorable. Gavin shares a funnel cake with me and


    then wins me a teddy bear while ying one of the games. Overall, the date is a sess.


    As we walk back to his vehicle, we take it slow, neither one of us are in a rush to get home. When we


    reach the restaurant, he’s parked right out front, so he walks around to the passenger side and opens


    my door for me. Before I can get in, though, he moves in until my back is against the frame, and he


    kisses me once more. The kiss is brief, but long enough to make my toes curl with the passion it holds


    in it.


    We are both smiling when he pulls away, and then waits until I’m seated before closing the door. I’m


    still smiling as I take hold of the seatbelt and click it into ce. When I nce out the window, I freeze.


    There, standing just outside the door of the restaurant with a to-go bag, is L. She’s smirking at me as


    Gavin gets behind the wheel. I then hide my expression as I turn to him once more and smile.