Chapter 40


    I invite Gavin in for a movie since it’s still early enough, and he happily epts the offer. I bring up the


    streaming channel for him and have him find something while I go and make us some popcorn. Just as


    I walk into the kitchen I shriek and spin around.


    “Get a *room you two!” I’m not really *, but I try to sound like I am as I hold myughter back, “Others


    live here, you know!”


    “You were out on a date,” Cici giggles, “What are you doing back so soon?”


    peek over my shoulder and they both have their clothes back on for the most part, “What do you


    mean? I’ve been gone for three hours, and now we are going to chill and watch a movie, is that okay?”


    The door to the kitchen swings open and Gavin rushes through, looking around the room for


    something, “I heard you scream, Quinn! What happened?”


    I chuckle and point toward my Beta and his mate who are now presentable and no longer half naked,


    making out in the middle of the kitchen. He takes one look at Cici’s messy hair and rosy cheeks, and


    smirks.


    “Go get ’em tiger!” He winks at both of them and earns himself a p to his chest from me.


    “Stop encouraging them! They have a room for that kind of stuff.” I chuckle and move to go and get the


    popcorn started but he grabs me around the waist and pulls me against his chest.


    “How fun is it if there is no risk of getting caught?” He leans in and nips at my neck.


    I gasp, “Gavin! There are others in the room!” Cici chuckles and then rolls her eyes, “Come on babe,”


    she addresses her mate, “Let’s go break in the Alpha’s big bed.” My best friend is evil!


    Spencer chokes out augh but allows her to pull him behind her, while Gavin is doing all that he can to


    cover his ownughter.


    “I better not find any bodily fluids on my bed, but my own, Cici Stone!” I call after her, but then realize


    what I just admitted to and end up turning bright red.


    Gavin snickers, and hugs me closer, “No need to be embarrassed, Alpha. We all do it.” He whispers


    into my ear, making my skin break out in goosebumps.


    “I didn’t mean… I just meant…”. I can’t seem to finish any of my sentences.


    “You didn’t mean to admit that you take care of yourself intimately?” Gavin grins, “Maybe one day you


    won’t have to anymore.” He takes my lips and kisses me with a desire that I’ve never seen in him


    before. He also pulls away before it gets out of hand, and I’m thankful for that, because I’m not sure


    that I would have been strong enough to be the one to pull away, “Only if and when you are ready,


    Quinn, no worries.” He kisses the tip of my nose and then releases me, “Now, where is the popcorn?”


    WWONN


    I’m really happy that Gavin didn’t find some sappy chick flick to watch. I don’t mind them, but it’s not


    what I want to watch on a first date. Instead, he picked out a newly releasededy that I was


    nning on watching myself when I got the chance.


    T hear my phone vibrate on the table in front of me, and when I check to see who it is, my heart stops.


    It’s Den. How much do you want to bet that bitch went back and rubbed it into his face that she saw


    me and Gavin kiss? I ignore it without even opening the message up and then I put my phone on silent.


    I don’t need to exin myself to him or to anybody. I’m moving on and I’m sorry if it upsets him


    because it’s his cousin, but it’s my choice, not his.


    “You can answer that if you need to.” Gavin says as his eyes are glued to the television.


    | smile, “No, it’s nothing that can’t wait.” I snuggle closer to him, and he lifts his arm for me to lean into


    his side. We spend the rest of the movieughing, rxing, and just enjoying each other’spany.


    It’ste by the time the movie gets over, “There is a spare room on the second floor if you want to


    crash.” I say nonchntly.


    “Thanks, but I better head home. I’ve got an early start tomorrow and I’m still trying to prove to my


    father that I’m ready to take over.” He rolls his eyes.


    “Okay, well please drive safely.”


    He pulls me to him and looks down into my eyes, smiling, “Thank you for caring enough. It’s been a


    while since someone has shown they


    0.00%


    cared for my well-being.”


    “That’s just sad, Gavin.” i frown.


    He shrugs, “You get used to it in my family.”


    “Hey, why doesn’t Den like you very much?” Den would never tell me why, saying it isn’t his


    ce, so why not ask Gavin, himself.


    “That’s a story that is probably best left untold. You know how teenagers do *things, especially when


    they are wanting their father’s approval. Den just doesn’t quite understand the whole story and I


    shouldn’t have to exin it to him.” He shakes me a bit, “Hey, it’s the past, and if my cousin doesn’t like


    me then there isn’t much that I can do about it, is there?” .


    I only give a half smile, because only half of what he says is true. I know that it hurts him to be shunned


    by both his cousins; I saw it for myself yesterday. I don’t want to make him talk about anything that he


    doesn’t want to talk about yet, so instead, I lift myself up onto my toes and press my lips to his.


    “Mm.*” he hums when I open my mouth for him. After a few minutes, he pulls away slowly. Still holding


    me close at the waist, he brushes some stray hair from my face and smiles down at me. He’s got a


    great smile, with perfectly straight, white teeth, “Thank you for agreeing to go out with me tonight.”


    “Thank you for dinner and the teddy bear,” I grin back at him, “and for picking out a great movie to


    watch with me.”


    “I’ll take movie nights with you any day of the week, Alpha Quinn.” He dips down and pecks me on the


    lips, “I had better get going, or else I won’t leave at all.”


    I chuckle, “You best be going then.” I walk him to the door where he gives me another peck on the lips


    before walking out to his vehicle, whistling all the way. I smile to myself and then shut the door and bolt


    it.


    wrrrrrr NNNN


    I wake up to my phone buzzing beside me on the nightstand. ncing at the caller ID, my eyes widen


    when I see Den’s name lit up. I ignore the call and bury myself back under the covers. It’s not quite


    seven in the morning; I can’t believe he’s calling me now. When my phone starts buzzing again, I yank


    my phone from the charge cord and answer.


    “What in Goddess’s name can be so important this early in the morning?” | growl.


    “Quinn! Thank *! I’ve been going out of my mind worrying about you!” I can actually hear the worry in


    his voice, and I sit up.


    “Why, what’s going on?” I ask him.


    “Another body was found. It was unrecognizable but she had the same hair color as you. Had you not


    answered in the next fifteen minutes, I wasing to your territory.”


    “Wait a minute, another body was found? Where?” I ask.


    “Right between your border and mine.” He replies.


    “I’m sorry, I didn’t answer your textst night. I was busy, but had I known, I would have texted you


    back right away.”


    “Yeah, I didn’t think to say why I was trying to get a hold of you, sorry.” I hear a small cry in the


    background and then Den is cooing.


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    My heart begins to ache, “I better let you take care of the little guy. Let me know if you need my help


    with anything, and please, keep me in the loop as to who it is that was found.”


    “Quinn, I don’t…” He starts, and I know he’s going to tell me that he doesn’t have to hang up, but for


    my own sanity, I do.


    “I’m sorry, Den, I’ve got to go. Have a good day.” I quickly hang up and then fall back into my pillows.


    Will it ever get easier to talk to him?