Chapter 2 — A Promise to be Made

Jacob sat beside the bed, waiting for the man in it to wake. He sat with his jacket unbuttoned and the top button of his shirt undone. It had been a long day for him, but Kevin had been a long-time friend to him and his family and had to see that he was okay. His thoughts should have been about his friend, but he couldn’t help thinking about the mysterious girl with the hazel eyes. He shook his head as he closed his eyes, trying to envision the girl once more. The smells from the hospital were hindering his senses, and he couldn’t get a whiff of how she smelled. A minor reason for that could be the fact that he’s spent the last sixteen years living amongst the humans and refraining his wolf from using his powers. But something awakened inside him when he felt the electric connection as his fingers grazed hers. He felt like there was something familiar about the girl, but he couldn’t put his finger on what it was. Jacob lifted his head when a groan came from the older man lying in the bed. The older gentleman turned his head while his eyes slowly opened and blinked to get them to focus on the person sitting next to him. Kevin smirked as he turned his head back to its original position and said, “I must be dying if the great Jacob Sullivan is here to see me.” Jacob shook his head as he smiled. “I’m sorry that it’s been so long between visits. I’ve been away on business.” Kevin turned to Jacob, giving him a knowing glare, and said, “We both know why you have come to see me.” Jacob leaned forward in his chair. “Kevin...” But Kevin lifted his hand to stop him from saying anything more. “I made my peace with it a long time ago. Besides, there are more important things we need to discuss at the moment. It’s about the cabin.” Jacob leaned back into his chair and crossed his legs. “You needn’t worry about any of that right now. Let’s focus on getting you better. I’ve requested the best doctors to attend to you. You’ll be feeling better in no time,” he assured. “I wish it were that easy. I’ve been sick for some time, and now it’s finally catching up to me,” Kevin admitted. “There are so many things that still need to be handled. My granddaughter, for one.” But Jacob interjected, “I’m sure your granddaughter is fine.” Kevin shook his head. “No, I need to tell her about the cabin. She doesn’t know.” Jacob’s blue eyes widened with surprise and quickly returned to normal. He stood, started buttoning up his jacket, and said, “It’s good she doesn’t know. It’s safer that way for everyone. The less she knows, the better off she’ll be. I will have my people keep an eye on your cabin until you can return.” Kevin shook his head, reached out, and wrapped his hand around Jacob’s wrist. A snarl came out from Jacob, but he softened once he realized Kevin meant no harm by it. “Promise me, promise me you’ll protect her. She’s the only family I have left. Please, promise me.” Jacob sighed as he looked down at the older man and his pleading eyes. “I promise to keep her safe while she’s at the property,” Jacob confirmed. Kevin released Jacob’s wrist and closed his eyes. Jacob went to the door; he stopped when he heard Kevin speak out to him. “One more thing. A man has been coming around to the property. He’s been pushing me to sell it to him.” Jacob narrowed his eyes when he heard this news; he turned back to look at Kevin and said, “Get some rest, Kevin. I’ll look into this buyer and take care of it.” “Thank you,” Kevin said softly. Jacob nodded before he left the room. Gavin met him outside the hall and asked, “How is he?” Jacob shook his head. “Not good. Come on, we’ve got work to do.” They made their way to the elevator, and just as their elevator closed, the one next to it opened, letting Cassidy and Natalie out. Cassidy walked into her grandfather’s room, and her face lit up when she saw he was awake. “Pop Pop,” the young woman called out as she approached the side of his bed and hugged him. “Cassiebee, what are you still doing here? It’s late,” he asked her. “I had to make sure you were doing alright. You know I can’t sleep if I don’t know you’re okay.” Kevin chuckled. He knew his granddaughter was a worry wort, especially when it came to him going up to his cabin. “Well, I’m glad you’re here,” he said as he looked at her. Her wavy chestnut hair and fair skin reminded him so much of his late wife. Her hazel eyes, he smiled, those she got from him. He was going to miss seeing her beautiful face. “Cassiebee, I need to talk with you about something,” he started. Natalie backed toward the door and said, “I think I’m going to hang out in the waiting room while you two talk.” “Thanks, Nat,” Cassidy said with a small smile. Cassidy turned and looked at her grandfather. She brushed her fingers through his silver hair. “You should try and get some more rest. We can talk later once you’re better and you are released from this place,” she assured him. “Please, Cassiebee, we must discuss this in case I don’t make it.” Cassidy pulled away and turned toward the window. She didn’t want to hear him talk like that. “No, don’t say that. You’re going to get better. I can’t; I can’t go through another loss. I’m not ready,” she pleaded. It killed Kevin to hear the sadness in his granddaughter’s voice. “Cassie…” he started, but then a fit of coughs began, and he couldn’t catch his breath. Cassidy rushed back to his side and tried to offer him some water to drink, but it didn’t help. Cassidy quickly pressed the nurse call button as her grandfather started to cough up blood. “Pop Pop!” she cried out. The machines next to his bed started to go off, alerting the staff that something was wrong. A group of nurses rushed into the room, pushing Cassidy toward the door. “I’m sorry, you’ll have to step outside and wait.” “Cass, what’s going on?” Natalie asked as she rushed over to Cassidy’s side. “It’s Pop Pop,” she said as her body shook with fear. “Come, let’s sit down and wait,” Natalie said softly. Cassidy sat down with her head in her hands and waited. After a short while, a doctor emerged from the room. He walked up to Cassidy, who lifted her tear-streaked face at him. “I’m sorry.” the doctor said as he shook his head. Cassidy just sat there feeling numb as the world around her came crashing down.