Chapter 10: I Trust You

Lucy POV

Lucy moved back from Gabriel after kissing him so deeply that she had surprised even herself! But before she could comprehend the sparks that had flown between the two of them, she watched as Gabriel's eyes shifted color and he growled like an animal in heat.

And now he said he had to tell her something? What was going on?

"Lucy," he started to say and he locked eyes with her.

He looked at her silently as if he was imploring her to hear him out. "If I told you something that sounded so astounding and unbelievable, would you still hear me out?"

Lucy blinked and moved to fully face Gabriel. "Of course, is everything all right?"

"Everything is great, really great with you actually. For starters, I want to kiss you again. But I know before we get any more serious than we already are… I owe you a big explanation and confession. I have to tell you something that you can't tell anyone else about. I am a wolf shifter." He stared at her intently as she took every word he spoke to heart.

A what? She felt frozen in place. What was a wolf shifter?

As if he sensed she was perplexed at his words he continued, "I basically can turn into a wolf and back into a human whenever I so please. One big wolf."

"So… you are part animal?" Lucy stared at him in disbelief.

"Yeah, in a way. There's more to it than that… but wolf shifters are not well known to the human world. We participate in real-world events, but we often are found in a pack and stick together." He shrugged as Lucy hung onto his words.

"I'm sorry… I'm just trying to process... Don't tell me vampires are a thing too now?" Lucy quipped sarcastically. Gabriel didn't answer her question and just nodded. "No… wait what? I was just kidding." Lucy's eyes grew wider.

"Yeah, but there's a whole supernatural world out there that's hidden from the human community. We just prefer to be unknown and go about our business. I personally don't know any vampires, but they do exist. Other supernatural beings do too, but here in Arizona we have quite a few Shifter packs," Gabriel said, sitting up and leaning against the sides of the truck.

Lucy stared at him as if he had grown seven heads like a hydra. "And this is the part where you tell me you are pulling my leg and you filmed me as a prank."

"You said you'd hear me out," Gabriel said intently looking into her eyes.

"Okay, sorry yes I did. I'm more of a scientific mind if you will… this supernatural stuff just doesn't cut it. What makes you a shifter? How do you turn into a wolf? Why did your eyes just flash when we kissed?"

"Whelp, that last question is probably the most important question you have right now… that's a big piece of the puzzle when it comes to us wolf shifters. We believe our Moon Goddess predestines us all with a mate made specifically for each of us. Mates bond for life, and there is no other mate for you in life again. Rarely anyways."

"So, a soulmate… like love at first sight? Someone made for you… okay so like a hopeless romantic lovesick dog?" She narrowed her eyes in thought trying to grasp what Gabriel was saying.

"Well… y-yeah but for only one person. Ever. And you. You, Lucy Carrigan, are that p-person for me. You are my person." Gabriel breathed out a deep sigh looking down at his lap and Lucy wondered if he was embarrassed his stutter slipped through his speech.

She paused, chewing the inside of her cheek. He seemed pretty serious; in fact, it seemed like he was enamored with her. Was he in love? She felt confused, flustered, and doubtful all at once.

Here was this gorgeous man she was attracted to, bringing her on the most romantic date she had ever been on and he was confessing he was a wolf shifter and she was his mate. She felt like she had stumbled into some fantasy book and her reality was falling down around her in shambles.

Because her reality was shattered. It did not make sense that there was an entire supernatural group of people… er… wolf shifters that had gone unknown for so long.

"How long have wolf shifters been around? Who was the first?" she asked, saying her questions out loud.

"Well, the history books say we've at least been around since the 12th century." Gabriel nodded as he brushed his chin with his fingers in thought.

"So, like when do you turn into a wolf? Does this happen when the moon is full?" Lucy asked looking up at the sky to see what phase the moon was in. It was a waxing crescent, so no full moon at the moment.

"No, no, we have full control of every stage from our human form to the wolf form. I can turn whenever I'd like." Gabriel seemed to smirk at her questions. She stared at him trying to take all of the information he was giving her in stride.

"Okay, but I'm your mate… this is why you are telling me all this? What does that mean exactly? I'm sorry you are having to explain this over and over again," Lucy apologized and started tapping her thigh with her fingers. She started to feel her anxiety rise in her legs and hands and she was trying to keep it under wraps.

"Yes. I'm telling you about our people and our secret because you are my mate. The second I saw you that day hiking was when I realized who you were. It took my all not to tell you then… because I know you would have immediately pegged me as some creep who needed psychological help." With how deeply he was looking at Lucy, she felt like his eyes were boring into her soul.

"Lucy, the best way I can describe the mate bond between us is that I feel a magnetic pull to you so profound that if I am not around you my heart feels like it will burst," Gabriel explained and made an explosion gesture with his fist.

Lucy blinked in shock as he rambled on.

"I want to constantly be with you, and give in to your every want, desire, and whim. You are the stars and moon to me. My sole and most important purpose in life is to be by your side. I know we just met, but I already love you."

As Gabriel explained the call of the mate bond to Lucy, he knelt on his knees. She watched him speak about her as if they had been together for years. It's something every woman would dream of - true love. This was a lot to process.

Lucy started tapping her fingers faster. "Gabriel. I see how sincere you are. I do. And I respect that you told me something so secretive and truly supernatural. I am going to have to take some time to process this."

Gabriel nodded his head and put his hands up in a surrendering position. "Take all the time you need. I know this is a lot to take in and understand."

"One thing I don't get is… I am human. How can a human and a wolf shifter be mates? Does that happen a lot?" Lucy gave him a sideways glance.

"It's not usual…" Gabriel started to say. "Actually, some shifters even look down upon shifter and human mate bonds. They claim it's not a feasible bond, that it's not real. My mom was human and my dad was a shifter." He gulped and Lucy could sense how hard it was for him to speak about them. He hadn't told her anything about them before.

"Their relationship was considered to be taboo, but other shifters accept that the Moon Goddess chooses mates wisely. I believe she doesn't make mistakes, after all, she is a goddess. All knowing and all-powerful. My mom and dad's story however is for another time."

Lucy knew there must be more to the story with the way Gabriel was speaking, and she realized how hard it was to tell him all of this. As the night drew on, she hadn't noticed the time. "Gabriel, thank you for telling me. It's strange to hear something that I've never heard of before, but it's late. Could you please take me home?"

Gabriel's eyes searched hers as if he was trying to gauge what she was thinking. She just wanted to get back home to process. "O-of course, Lucy," he answered and as they packed up in silence Lucy wondered if he was nervous.

She had noticed his nervous speech, possibly a stutter. She grabbed his arm as he opened the passenger door for her and quickly pecked his cheek with a kiss. Seeming shocked, he looked at her questioningly.

"Please don't worry. I trust you," she said and got into the passenger seat hoping her kiss could calm him.

After they arrived at Aunt Gertrude's house, before she could go in, Gabriel shuffled his feet as he asked her, "Could there be another chance someday to kiss you again?"

Lucy looked around before she bravely stood on her tippy toes, wrapping her hand around his neck to bring his lips to hers one last time before the night together ended.

*****

The next day Lucy was finishing her shift at work by saying goodbye to her coworkers. As she stepped out into the Sedona heat, she noticed a familiar face leaning on her car. Sara Byron waved happily to her with a mischievous grin on her face. Lucy wondered if they were finally going to get that beer Sara said she owed her.

"Hey, new bestie! I wanted to ask you if you are in a shopping mood?" Sara chirped excitedly as Lucy reached her.

Lucy joined Sara on a spontaneous shopping spree, happy to have a female friend show her the retail options in town. Lucy smiled as Sara bounced around a window of a vintage dress shop talking about what colors would suit both of them.

"I like my pastels," Lucy nodded as Sara mentioned rose and mint colors might be best on Lucy.

"Opposites make good friends! I personally enjoy reds, blacks, and dark blue colors," Sara turned toward her.

Her face froze as she made eye contact with someone behind Lucy.

"Hey there Sara. Been a minute, where have you been?" a voice asked, belonging to Barry Clifford. The guy whom Lucy had kicked out of the cafe because he intentionally spilled hot coffee on her and had been bothering Sara.

"Nowhere," Sara said with a stale neutral expression as she pulled Lucy to her side.

"Oh, you got your new guardian angel here with you I see. Lucy, right? I heard of you… you got that Stray Alpha scent all over you. You like human hybrids huh?" he carried on, stepping toward them taking one step too close.

Lucy's heart rate started beating sporadically. She just wanted to enjoy a nice outing with her friend and this guy shows up again? What was his deal? She grabbed her chest trying to will herself to calm down.

"Barry, right? Why don't YOU go pick on someone YOUR own size. Leave us be." Lucy started feeling woozy recalling how he had told her the other day to pick on someone her size. She didn't feel like having another experience like the other day in the cafe. That day her anxiety had not gotten the best of her.

Barry grabbed Lucy's arm. "You are just a human, but that stray seems to be all over you. You're pretty though, you wanna know what it's like with a true full-blooded shifter? I can take you for a spin." He tried to wink seductively at her but he was just coming off as inappropriate.

"I agree with you. She is pretty, but you need to let go of her or I'll tear you to shreds," a voice growled low from behind Barry.

Lucy's heart jumped in relief as she recognized the voice. Was he coming to their rescue?