Chapter 13 - Have you Been Listening?

Gavin couldn't stop thinking about the girl he just met. He couldn't stop envisioning those beautiful emerald eyes that would not stop looking at him. Gavin wasn't expecting something like this to happen to him. He had found out about a year ago that his mate had died before he had a chance to meet her. He didn't think he would ever get an opportunity to feel the way he was feeling at that moment. Not wanting to waste any more time, he pulled out his phone and texted the phone number under the name Natalie. 'Natalie,' he said in his head. Even his wolf, Timber, liked how the name rolled off their tongue. Gavin clicked into his text messages and typed out his first text to her. Gavin: Can't wait to see you again. I am looking forward to tonight. He pressed send and let out a breath. He hoped he would soon hear a response from the sexy girl with auburn hair. Jacob turned toward his friend and frowned when he saw him looking down at his phone. "Have you heard anything I've said to you?" Gavin looked up like a deer in the headlights and quickly put his phone away. "Yeah, I've been listening. So, what has you so upset?" Gavin asked. He was now giving his friend his undivided attention. Jacob narrowed his blue eyes at his friend and then closed them quickly before taking a deep breath. He didn't want to unleash his frustration on his friend, even though he hadn't listened to one thing he had told him. Instead of starting all over with all his rants about the situation, Jacob decided to give him the key points. "I found out that Kevin's granddaughter is staying at the cabin, and for some reason, Adrian has paid her a visit. I'm not sure why, but it didn't look good." He told him, leaving out one tiny, ok major detail. Alden: You need to tell him. Jacob: Shh, I will. Gavin's chest puffed up as his frustration rose, hearing that Adrian was already attempting to be a thorn in their side again. He's surprised that Adrian would sink so low to cause chaos and wreak havoc on their pack by using the human in his scheme. Something was up. "So, what do you we do?" Gavin asked. He was ready to take any order that his Alpha would give him, knowing the promise they made to their long-time friend and ally with the humans. "We need to set up protection around the party, but she can't know that we are there watching her. It won't be easy, especially if she is living there," Jacob dictated. Gavin nodded as he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He immediately pulled out his phone, and a large smile formed. Jacob looked at his beta with confusion. "What has you smiling that like?" he ordered. Before opening up his phone to read the text, he looked up at his Alpha/long-time friend and said, "I met a girl." Jacob still didn't understand what was going on with his friend. Gavin had never been serious about a girl, especially after hearing that he would never have an opportunity to meet his mate. "What do you mean, you met a girl? You meet lots of girls." Gavin's smile vanished quickly, and a growl unleashed from his chest in defensiveness. Gavin's eyes widened when he realized how he had reacted. Jacob took a step back when he heard his Beta growl at him. "I'm sorry, Alpha. I shouldn't have done that," Gavin said to him as he bowed to his Alpha. Jacob nodded his head as he accepted his apology. He crossed his hands over his chest and leaned on the front end of his truck. "This girl must be special. Where did you meet her?" Gavin gave him a crooked smile. "Today, at the general store. Jacob, this girl, is breathtakingly beautiful. She is a redhead, and her eyes are green like emeralds. I can't stop thinking about her," he admitted. Jacob was happy that his friend had met someone that made him feel good. It made him think about Cassidy and how much he wished he could act like a silly teenager, young and in love. But unfortunately, he couldn't. That wasn't the behavior of an Alpha. "I'm happy for you. Does she live in town?" Jacob inquired. Gavin shook his head, "No, she's staying at a place with her friend for the weekend. She invited me over for dinner tonight." "I see. Well, you should head back and get ready for your date." Jacob said as he lifted himself from the truck so his friend could leave. "There's just one thing," Gavin started. Jacob stopped with his back turned toward his friend as he listened to what he was going to say. "I asked if I could bring a friend, and she said yes," Gavin admitted. Jacob's fist clenched as he refrained from reacting first and regretting his actions later. Turning slowly to his friend, he said, "You did what?" Gavin looked at his friend sheepishly and repeated, "I asked if I could bring you with me to the dinner. Please, her friend will be there too. I didn't want to go alone. I've never felt like this toward anyone before and don't want to mess it up; please, come with me." Jacob's shoulders slumped as he heard the pleading in Gavin's voice for him to go with him. "Fine," was all he said. Relief flooded through Gavin. "Thank you, thank you." "Where is she staying?" Gavin looked back down at his phone and opened the message. Gavin looked at the address and recognized it immediately. "Well, the good news is we will be close by to keep an eye on Kevin's granddaughter's cabin," he responded. A chill went through Jacob as he stared at his friend with a lifted brow. "Meaning?" "The dinner is at the cabin, and the friend is Kevin's granddaughter," Gavin announced.