Chapter Five

“Oh, thank God. Could you please help me out?” I asked politely, feeling desperate to be out of the ditch.

“How come you were in a ditch just now?” He asked as he pulled me out of the ditch with both his hands. How should I explain in a situation like this? How was I supposed to tell him I sneaked out of the house simply because my dearest mother didn’t give in to me starting my training today? I had totally forgotten he was helping me out as thoughts of what to tell Gabriel.

“Thank you… Omph!” My face his chest as I tried to gain my balance. I can swear that I almost developed a headache from my head coming in hard contact against his chest; it felt like I hit a hard brick wall. There was an unbelievably strong scent emanating from him. It smelt like mint and then hawthorn wood… It was weird and very masculine but it was very strong, too strong in fact.

Gabriel retracted from me suddenly, as if jolted by electricity. I looked up at him and I can swear; why am I swearing again? But then, I can swear he looked more handsome than he did yesterday and he looked different to me; although, different in a really good way. Probably because I was seeing him up close, I took in all his features.

His eyes weren’t just blue, they had golden flecks around them and his orbs were like an endless whirlpool, drawing whoever looked at him closer. His hair had rough curls at the tip and they looked really beautiful, his chiseled jawlines looked sharper than before. A part of his hair had fallen over his right eye, giving him a hot boyish look. His muscles were bulging from his tight-fitted polo, his chest I hit earlier was very defined. In all, Gabriel was the hottest guy I had ever come across.. not like I’d come across a lot but I don’t think that matters.

I was shamelessly checking him out which was maybe embarrassing but I’ll blame it on my parents who didn’t exactly teach me about shame. Don’t get me wrong, my parents taught me morals but I wasn’t exactly one to listen since all my thoughts were always wrapped around the fact that I didn’t want to be locked up in the house like a fugitive who had been captured. I guess that all comes back to me but oh, well.

“T… Thank you” I coughed out awkwardly when I noticed he was staring at me intently and with amusement in his eyes. Busted. He caught me.

“You’re welcome” He shifted back, putting in some space between us which I found very weird. 

“Great, Alice. He thinks you’re some kind deranged weirdo”

“Shut up!” I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth when I realized I had spoken out loud. What was that?!

“That was your wolf” Did I say that out loud? And wait, my wolf? What the hell is that?

“No, your didn’t” My eyes twitched in surprise. Am I going crazy then?

“You’re not going crazy, Alice” Gabriel said, a deep chuckle erupting from him making the hair on my body stand on end. What is going on?

“We are werewolves, Alice. We can read minds… it’s called Telepathy. Plus, I can easily read you from the expression on your face” Someone pour ice water on me. And why is the scent from Gabriel getting stronger and why am I feeling so attracted to him even though I just met him? Oh,no. He must have heard that too.

I looked up at him, feeling my cheeks grow red from embarrassment as he flashed me a toothy smile. His smile is so beautiful. Shit! The color drained from my face as I realized he heard that too.

“My guess is that you are my…”

“Alice!” I groaned internally. And my mother is now chasing after me, isn’t my life so great?

I turned towards the direction of her voice and I was quite startled to see her standing right behind me. Wasn’t her voice distant just now?

“Hey Mom” I drawled, sounding extra sweet

“You’re in some big trouble, young lady” I sighed, throwing both my arms apart in despair. Why did she come just when I was about hearing something from Gabriel? I heard a deep throat clearing as if trying to announce his presence.

“Alpha Gabriel” My mother dropped in a deep bow, showing respect for her superior. It gave me a sense of happiness that she was actually subduing, it was always the other way round for me. It was as if Mother was on a mission to drive me crazy with her usual nagging at me.

“Jane” Gabriel greeted, acknowledging her “I can see you’re fine. How’s Peter?”

“My husband is doing fine, thank you Alpha” Mother gestured towards me as I rolled my eyes feeling frustrated at my mother’s overtly caring attitude “I’m sorry if my daughter has caused you any troubles, she can be really silly at times” Wow, Mother. Way to make your daughter look good.

“She didn’t cause any troubles, we were actually having a discussion when you came around but I’m sure you can give her the answer for I wanted to say. She will relay a few things to you but in the mean time, keep her from falling into a ditch as we wouldn’t want her to sustain any kind of injury before she starts her training. I’ll be leaving then” Before I could get a word out, he was gone like he was never just standing a few feet away from me just a while ago. Great. A sad feeling gnawed at my heart painfully as the breeze settled after Gabriel disappeared. While I was feeling sad, Mother slapped my arm hard and started scolding me.

“Alice, what the hell where you thinking when you left the house? What if something had happened to you?!” A feeling of anger surged through me

“And so?! What if something had happened to me? Wouldn’t you be happy that you would not have a child who gives you headaches anymore? What do you want from me? All my life, I’ve always being locked up in that for some specific reason that you deem too unnecessary to let me know about? Do you have any idea how lonely I’d feel and you and dad leave and then you lock me up? Do you even know how annoying it was for me to be home-schooled unlike every other kid? Or do you have the slightest idea of how depressed I’d feel that I had no one to talk to? And when I sneak out to be at least free for a while, you come along and start breathing down my throat. Do you loathe me or something? Why can’t you just let me be, Mother? LET ME BE!” I hissed as I felt a sharp sting on my face, my mouth tasting something metallic. Blood.

“You do not raise your voice at me, young lady” I laughed mockingly, my chest heaving as I held my hand to my face. I felt hurt. Being hit my your mother simply because of a stupid instruction is not the sweetest thing.

“Yea, mother. I don’t expect you to understand me anyway so why bother? It’s why I got a slap instead” I said as I tried to brush past her.

“Do you even know why I do the things I do?” She asked, dragging me back

“Gee mother, I don’t think I care and you know why? Because I cannot freaking count the amount of times I’ve asked you the reason I’m being treated like a fugitive” If she was about to tell me something that would further aggravate my anger, I’d rather not listen

“My mother died because I refused to listen to her just like you” I opened my mouth in shock, my body shaking slightly “I was just like you; locked up, lonely and friendless. I wanted to be free, I wanted to explore, I wanted to find answers to why my own family always had me behind closed doors like a hostage and my mother died while trying to save my life. Turns out, I was targeted by an enemy of the pack because of the powers I possessed… I didn’t realize my thirst for freedom was drawing me into my supposed death” I stared at my mother as she looked on ahead, as if recalling the memories of what had happened then “I was captured but my mother saved me and died in my stead” Tears dropped from her eyes, guilt and regret swimming in her black orbs. I reached out to wipe her tears without realizing it. I felt really bad for her. She must have gone through a lot, I cannot imagine how my life would be without my nagging mother in it with me.

“Mother” I called, my voice shaky as I drew her into a tight hug.