The air in Gabriel’s office feels stifling. The office is packed with tension and unspoken words. Gabriel himself walks back and forth, his face heavy with a frown and brows furrowed together. My heart pounds in my chest as I wait for him to speak. The mate bond is very new but it’s still very raw. Every fibre within me is attuned to his emotions and attitude. “There’s something I really need to tell you, Avery.” The man stops in front of me. His eyes serious but sorrow filling them. “What is it?” My voice is hesitant and I brace myself for whatever he’s about to drop on me. Gabriel takes a deep breath, pausing before he drops the truth on me. “I’m betrothed. To someone else,” he adds as if that’s not clear enough. I nearly double over from the pain that radiates throughout me. It hurts like a physical blow, knocking all the air from my lungs. “I’m sorry, what?” I manage to get out. “It’s not what you think, Avery. I know it sounds wrong but it’s just a business th
Walking back to camp is no easy feat.My mind is a whirlwind of emotions. So hung up on Gabriel, I realized I never even asked that woman’s name.I doubt I’ll see her again. She belongs to this pack and I’m not sure what to do here now. Do I go back to my old pack? I don’t think Serena would appreciate that. I now belong to Alpha Gabriel’s pack. After the recent turn of events, that doesn’t seem as endearing as it did in the first place.The omission of her name now feels like a missed opportunity. It was a fleeting connection that might have helped me.It never hurts to have a friend in such times. Times like your heart being ripped out by your own soulmate.Oh well….I stumble my way back to the camp. The reality of the entire situation weighs heavy over me. Heavier than anything did before. The pressure from the impending rogue attack and my complex emotions makes each step heavier than the last.“Avery. Wait! Please.”The sudden sound has me stopping in my tracks.Turning around
My mind aches from the events of last night.My heart is resolute, unfortunately, and I know there’s much to do. Regardless of the turmoil coursing through me.I make my way to the main hall where I was informed that the pack usually gathered for their daily briefings. The air is thick with tension and it serves to remind me that the rogue attack had been averted albeit narrowly.Walking through the camp, I ignore the wary glances that follow me. As I approach the main hall, a familiar face pops out and grins back at me. A faint smile makes its way across my face, something that takes me by surprise.“Good morning,” She chirps while waving me over.I walk up to her, feeling relief at seeing such a friendly face. The woman from yesterday stands perched up against the door. A few pack members linger around her before dispersing.“Good morning. I just realized I never asked for your name last night.”The woman laughs and waves her hand.“Don’t worry about it. I go by Star. That’s what th
There’s pin drop silence. The air in the room is thick with tension. Gabriel and his beta work tirelessly to finalise a plan. One thing is certainly clear. I was not being delivered to the rogues, no matter what. There’s an urgency regarding the threat but I still couldn’t get rid of the way Gabriel held rage in his eyes.It was due to the mate bond. That’s all. But then why is the intensity of the bond shading ever more?There wasn’t much to discuss. Or maybe I couldn’t focus on any of the information that was being discussed. We soon leave the room and I followed after the beta and Gabriel. Although this wasn’t my pack that I had been born in, this was my pack now.I’d do anything to protect it.As the two made their rounds around the darkening pack grounds, I couldn’t help to notice the way my mate’s eyes kept hovering over me. We couldn’t ignore it, no matter how much we tried.Unfortunately, we just had to.The stars hung high in the sky and I just wish Gabriel and I could esc
*Gabriel’s P. O. V*I stand at the foot of the training grounds, entirely divided on Avery. The woman moved with a grace that compared to none. She was only a beginner but so talented, it took my breath away. Her eyes were sharp but determined and she made sure to take in every one else’s movements.I can’t help the regret that pangs through me every time I see her. She’s everything I need but our circumstances tear us apart. The bond between us is like a magnetic pull that only grows stronger with each touch.Stella flashes through my mind before I get carried away.It’s as if I had uttered the woman’s name out loud but a soft knock echoes from my door followed by the woman herself. She wore a bright smile but that only caused me to wince in pain.I can’t stand her.“Gabriel! I’ve been looking for you. I was wondering when I’d get some alone time with you,” her voice is sultry and full of familiarity.I force a polite smile and gesture for her to enter although she’s made herself co
“I hate this.”That’s all that goes through my mind as I wake up every day. The thought of going with the motions as I have been… plague my being with each second.I follow my usual routine of getting dressed before I head on my walk. It helps as I don’t have to mix with people but instead, take some time to myself and admire everyone from afar.I wander through the heart of the settlement with rustic cottages setting on the edges. The pack members were already up and bustling even though it’s very early in the morning. I nod at a few people before I turn back towards the outskirts of the pack. It’s then that I catch an elegant woman walking towards me. Her eyes are focused on me and authority follows her everywhere. I feel as if I’ve seen her somewhere.My eyes widen as I realize that’s Gabriel’s mother. She had been briefly pointed out by Star but we had never made contact.What am I supposed to do? Walk away? Introduce myself?“You must be Avery,” The woman begins before I get a c
Pain.I wake up as I gasp for air. My body is in flames from the inside out. My skin is hot to the touch and my heart pounds away in my chest. An unbearable ache blooms through me.Heat.That’s all that reverberates in my brain.The realization hits me square in the face as an overwhelming need courses through me. One that is impossible to ignore. It stirs Aurora to life, an infrequent occurrence but one that brings her instincts to the surface. The undeniable truth hits me flat in the face.I need Gabriel.A soft whimper tears past my lips. I clamp down onto my mouth. I’ll be mortified if someone hears me. I can’t let anyone know. A searing pain runs through me and this time, a loud sob escapes me that rings through the hallways. It doesn't take a second before the door to my room swings open.Gabriel steps inside, his eyes wild and locking with mine. His gaze is filled with concern as he rushes over to me. Even through the pain, I notice the way his eyes flicker from his worried l
Waking up the next morning was nothing short of bliss. The first thing I notice is the warmth beside me. I let myself relax, savoring Gabriel’s presence. I close my eyes as the memories of last night run through my mind. The heat. The intensity of the bond and how he stayed with me.I shift slightly, feeling the weight of Gabrial’s arms frapped over me. His even breathing let me know that he’s still sleeping and this causes me to hesitate. I want to bask in this feeling and moment but the frustration of the entirety of our situation drags me down.How can he be so close but so so far away from me?I turn my head and catch sight of Gabriel’s sleeping face. He looks peaceful with his usual stoic expression softened by sleep. There was one part of me that wanted to trace his features and just to feel that everything was okay. Another part of me still hurt from the fact that he rejected and pushed me away so easily.I’m not sure how long I stay looking at him as Garbeil finally stirs.“
The feud between Gabriel and I lurks behind me like a bad taste in my mouth. What do I do when I’m severely pissed off and need some fresh air to relax my inner-although very much dormant- wolf and me? Of course, I take a long walk in the creepiest part of the forest imaginable. THe forest even resembles different parts of my drated mate. From the thick gnarled root that matched his twisted soul to the warm light that filtered through the trees which matched the bubbling warmth I feel whenever Gabriel looks at me. I need space. A place to breathe and clear my head without the weight of the world weighing down on my two shoulders. Walking amongst the trees, a semblance of peace moves through me and relaxes the core of my being. Stretching out, I sit down on the soft earthy floor and lean back against a tree. I close my eyes and merely focus on the breeze against my skin and the dirt underneath my palms. It’s amazing that now my ears can pick up on the tiny critters scuttling a
Waking up the next morning was nothing short of bliss. The first thing I notice is the warmth beside me. I let myself relax, savoring Gabriel’s presence. I close my eyes as the memories of last night run through my mind. The heat. The intensity of the bond and how he stayed with me.I shift slightly, feeling the weight of Gabrial’s arms frapped over me. His even breathing let me know that he’s still sleeping and this causes me to hesitate. I want to bask in this feeling and moment but the frustration of the entirety of our situation drags me down.How can he be so close but so so far away from me?I turn my head and catch sight of Gabriel’s sleeping face. He looks peaceful with his usual stoic expression softened by sleep. There was one part of me that wanted to trace his features and just to feel that everything was okay. Another part of me still hurt from the fact that he rejected and pushed me away so easily.I’m not sure how long I stay looking at him as Garbeil finally stirs.“
Pain.I wake up as I gasp for air. My body is in flames from the inside out. My skin is hot to the touch and my heart pounds away in my chest. An unbearable ache blooms through me.Heat.That’s all that reverberates in my brain.The realization hits me square in the face as an overwhelming need courses through me. One that is impossible to ignore. It stirs Aurora to life, an infrequent occurrence but one that brings her instincts to the surface. The undeniable truth hits me flat in the face.I need Gabriel.A soft whimper tears past my lips. I clamp down onto my mouth. I’ll be mortified if someone hears me. I can’t let anyone know. A searing pain runs through me and this time, a loud sob escapes me that rings through the hallways. It doesn't take a second before the door to my room swings open.Gabriel steps inside, his eyes wild and locking with mine. His gaze is filled with concern as he rushes over to me. Even through the pain, I notice the way his eyes flicker from his worried l
“I hate this.”That’s all that goes through my mind as I wake up every day. The thought of going with the motions as I have been… plague my being with each second.I follow my usual routine of getting dressed before I head on my walk. It helps as I don’t have to mix with people but instead, take some time to myself and admire everyone from afar.I wander through the heart of the settlement with rustic cottages setting on the edges. The pack members were already up and bustling even though it’s very early in the morning. I nod at a few people before I turn back towards the outskirts of the pack. It’s then that I catch an elegant woman walking towards me. Her eyes are focused on me and authority follows her everywhere. I feel as if I’ve seen her somewhere.My eyes widen as I realize that’s Gabriel’s mother. She had been briefly pointed out by Star but we had never made contact.What am I supposed to do? Walk away? Introduce myself?“You must be Avery,” The woman begins before I get a c
*Gabriel’s P. O. V*I stand at the foot of the training grounds, entirely divided on Avery. The woman moved with a grace that compared to none. She was only a beginner but so talented, it took my breath away. Her eyes were sharp but determined and she made sure to take in every one else’s movements.I can’t help the regret that pangs through me every time I see her. She’s everything I need but our circumstances tear us apart. The bond between us is like a magnetic pull that only grows stronger with each touch.Stella flashes through my mind before I get carried away.It’s as if I had uttered the woman’s name out loud but a soft knock echoes from my door followed by the woman herself. She wore a bright smile but that only caused me to wince in pain.I can’t stand her.“Gabriel! I’ve been looking for you. I was wondering when I’d get some alone time with you,” her voice is sultry and full of familiarity.I force a polite smile and gesture for her to enter although she’s made herself co
There’s pin drop silence. The air in the room is thick with tension. Gabriel and his beta work tirelessly to finalise a plan. One thing is certainly clear. I was not being delivered to the rogues, no matter what. There’s an urgency regarding the threat but I still couldn’t get rid of the way Gabriel held rage in his eyes.It was due to the mate bond. That’s all. But then why is the intensity of the bond shading ever more?There wasn’t much to discuss. Or maybe I couldn’t focus on any of the information that was being discussed. We soon leave the room and I followed after the beta and Gabriel. Although this wasn’t my pack that I had been born in, this was my pack now.I’d do anything to protect it.As the two made their rounds around the darkening pack grounds, I couldn’t help to notice the way my mate’s eyes kept hovering over me. We couldn’t ignore it, no matter how much we tried.Unfortunately, we just had to.The stars hung high in the sky and I just wish Gabriel and I could esc
My mind aches from the events of last night.My heart is resolute, unfortunately, and I know there’s much to do. Regardless of the turmoil coursing through me.I make my way to the main hall where I was informed that the pack usually gathered for their daily briefings. The air is thick with tension and it serves to remind me that the rogue attack had been averted albeit narrowly.Walking through the camp, I ignore the wary glances that follow me. As I approach the main hall, a familiar face pops out and grins back at me. A faint smile makes its way across my face, something that takes me by surprise.“Good morning,” She chirps while waving me over.I walk up to her, feeling relief at seeing such a friendly face. The woman from yesterday stands perched up against the door. A few pack members linger around her before dispersing.“Good morning. I just realized I never asked for your name last night.”The woman laughs and waves her hand.“Don’t worry about it. I go by Star. That’s what th
Walking back to camp is no easy feat.My mind is a whirlwind of emotions. So hung up on Gabriel, I realized I never even asked that woman’s name.I doubt I’ll see her again. She belongs to this pack and I’m not sure what to do here now. Do I go back to my old pack? I don’t think Serena would appreciate that. I now belong to Alpha Gabriel’s pack. After the recent turn of events, that doesn’t seem as endearing as it did in the first place.The omission of her name now feels like a missed opportunity. It was a fleeting connection that might have helped me.It never hurts to have a friend in such times. Times like your heart being ripped out by your own soulmate.Oh well….I stumble my way back to the camp. The reality of the entire situation weighs heavy over me. Heavier than anything did before. The pressure from the impending rogue attack and my complex emotions makes each step heavier than the last.“Avery. Wait! Please.”The sudden sound has me stopping in my tracks.Turning around
The air in Gabriel’s office feels stifling. The office is packed with tension and unspoken words. Gabriel himself walks back and forth, his face heavy with a frown and brows furrowed together. My heart pounds in my chest as I wait for him to speak. The mate bond is very new but it’s still very raw. Every fibre within me is attuned to his emotions and attitude. “There’s something I really need to tell you, Avery.” The man stops in front of me. His eyes serious but sorrow filling them. “What is it?” My voice is hesitant and I brace myself for whatever he’s about to drop on me. Gabriel takes a deep breath, pausing before he drops the truth on me. “I’m betrothed. To someone else,” he adds as if that’s not clear enough. I nearly double over from the pain that radiates throughout me. It hurts like a physical blow, knocking all the air from my lungs. “I’m sorry, what?” I manage to get out. “It’s not what you think, Avery. I know it sounds wrong but it’s just a business th