Gabriel POVThe tension in the room was so thick Gabriel felt like he could cut it with a knife. If his uncle could blast fire from his eyes, he would with the look he was giving them. Fennick's face was contorted into an irate angry frown, his eyes flashing with contempt and disdain. "An act of extending a branch of peace," Gabriel answered tactfully with a serious look directed at his uncle. His uncle stared him down as if daring Gabriel to continue looking him in the eyes. Gabriel felt a pulsing buzz throughout his body that he had never felt before. He felt stronger and more confident. The power to speak out against his uncle was radiating from him.Uncle Fennick broke away from Gabriel's gaze with a look of doubt and concern. "Fine. If that's what this is, I'll accept the branch of peace for now. I can admit when my pack members act out of naivety and stupidity.""Thank you," Gabriel answered with a nod. "We appreciate that and look forward to being neighboring packs."Unc
Gabriel POVGabriel tapped his foot against the kitchen floor. He was thinking about everything that had happened that day on the Moonlight Pack's land, Lucy's run-in with his uncle, and the meal he was making for her that should hopefully be ready by the time she got here. He was excited to have his mate come join him at his home on the stray compound. Perhaps they could even have some more privacy.He tapped his foot quicker thinking about how Lucy told him she wanted to speak to him about what his uncle had said to her. Supposedly, his uncle pointed out that he has not marked Lucy yet. He groaned audibly from frustration as he stirred the pasta into the shrimp scampi sauce he had made.He heard voices building outside his house. He could hear one voice that was undeniably Lucy's. She sounded happy, chittering away to someone. Who could it be? It didn't sound like Sara.He set the spoon down and moved the pan from the hot burner to let the homemade meal cool. He took a deep breat
Lucy POVLucy stared across the table at Gabriel, watching his face contort in confusion. She knew how it sounded, but she was more than confident in their relationship. She wanted this."Hold up," Gabriel responded, putting his hands up in a time-out gesture. "You want me to mark you? Why?""If marking me means that our mate bond is solidified even more than I want that. Gabriel… I … I know exactly who I want in my life. I love you. You are my love, there is nobody that compares to you." Lucy blushed as she spoke but continued triumphantly getting her point across.Gabriel's eyes stared back at her as she spoke and he barely moved. Did she say something that rubbed him the wrong way?"You love me?" he asked, standing and kneeling down in front of her with a bewildered expression."I love you," Lucy whispered, lifting a hand to touch his cheek.Gabriel smiled with a goofy grin and pulled her lips against his in a fervent kiss. Lucy blinked in shock but kissed him back just as lo
Lucy POVLucy wondered if she had perhaps been too ambitious when she asked to join Gabriel during a training session. Did they not like that she had come to see what training was all about? Suddenly a clapping came from one corner of the gym and the other shifters joined in. Some had smiles on their faces, while another shifter whistled loudly. They seemed ecstatic. "See? They are thrilled you are joining us. They want you to approve of their hard work," Gabriel explained with a wave at his pack. "Does my opinion really matter that much to them?" Lucy asked, feeling relieved and confused at the same time. Why did they want her to approve?"Yes, as Luna you are their leader too," Gabriel spoke into her ear pushing her toward a boxing ring. "Some Alphas don't give the Lunas enough credit, but in our pack we honor Lunas. My mom was like a First Lady to them; a queen even. Don't forget your worth my love.""Hey guys," Vance called walking over to them with a smile. "Lucy, we met
Gabriel POVGabriel felt Lucy's thigh muscles tense as they heard Sara ask about why Moonlight Pack members were entering the liquor store across the street. He furrowed his eyebrows as he made note of the baseball bats they were carrying into the store. That could not be good.Someone must have called the cops because quickly pulling up to the store were three cop cars. They jumped out of their cars with their guns drawn. "Looks like those baseball bats will be no match for the cops," Vance said, taking another sip of his smoothie."Were they going to rob the store?" Sara's tone was filled with shock."I think they may have," Lucy replied, pointing as the cops came out with Barry and the other Moonlight Pack members in handcuffs. Barry was shouting so loud that they could hear every word in the smoothie shop."You can't arrest me! Do you know who I am? My dad works for Fennick Herman, he'll bail me out. Just you wait and see!" Barry bellowed as the police officer shoved his hea
Gabriel POVGabriel's heart beat fast, feeling turned on by the secrecy of touching Lucy in her bedroom after coming in through her window. He felt like a naughty high school boy who snuck into his crush's bedroom to escape the eyes of her parents. He felt giddy as he moved his hands to caress her body."Can I ask you a question?" he asked Lucy as he slipped her nightgown off, looking deep into her eyes.Lucy's eyes met his with a serious expression. "What kind of question?"Gabriel had noticed Lucy was the one who usually blushed when it came to anything sexual. This time it was his turn. He wasn't sure how to ask her a question like this. He hoped she wouldn't feel pressured by his question."Well, I guess I should just say it. Can we try something… new?" He said with a tense worried look as he brushed his fingers down her arm. "Something new?" she breathed out with a questioning tone as her fingers brushed down his pecs and abs."Yeah, I'd like to try a new position." He gri
Gabriel POVThe stray shifter residents were starting to gather in the driveway and Gabriel joined the rest of the crowd as Vance stood on a rock wall greeting the pack members. "Hello everyone! Thank you so much for coming out to discuss what's new around the compound. Also, a big envelope arrived in the mail today from the Shifter Council of Arizona."A few shouts of excitement and cheering rang throughout the crowd filling Gabriel with pride. He was thrilled that this new direction was filling the strays with joy. "Open it!" one of the pack members loudly shouted."All right, all right, hold your horses," Vance laughed before he unceremoniously opened the envelope with his teeth. The strays grew quiet as they waited to hear what the council had sent in response to their request to officially become a pack. Gabriel felt the blood pump through his veins as he jumped up beside Vance on the rock wall.Vance handed the letter to Gabriel. "Why don't you do the honors, Alpha?"G
Lucy POVLucy stood in the garden as she listened to Aunt Gertrude chatter about the new Italian food place in town that she had just come back from. She was gushing about the food quality and seemed thrilled to share more about her time with Samson. Lucy was happy her aunt had a person in her life like him; it sounded like they had been close for a very long time.Lucy pulled hard on a weed that had somehow camouflaged itself to hide from their observant eyes. The weed was so large, it wasn't budging. Without warning, the weed finally gave way but gravity and force worked against Lucy as she fell backward, letting the weed, dirt, and sand fall around her. "Oof," she said, rubbing her backside. "That kind of hurt.""What happened? That plant just took you for a ride, huh?" Aunt Gertrude laughed at Lucy's expense as she walked over to help Lucy stand."Yeah, that plant did not want to give up. But hey, it appears that I am more stubborn and won!" Lucy laughed along with her aunt a