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
Gabriel POVGabriel couldn't believe it when Lucy told him through their mind link that Fennick was there on Gertrude's property. How dare he even think that this behavior was allowed? Did Fennick want a war to break out between the two packs?He and Samson had been at the local jewelry shop speaking with the clerk. It had seemed surreal to him as he helped his adoptive father pick out a ring for his true love. The two of them had been slaving away for an hour trying to pick the perfect rings. Samson had picked out a three-stone ring with hexagon moss agate and moissanite set in black gold. The ring had a string of leaves above the three stones truly signifying Gertrude's connection to nature. Samson commented that the ring would fit Gertrude well.Gabriel had toured the store with worry and hesitation. What if he didn't find something that would suit Lucy? Just as he started to give up hope, he spotted a white gold ring with a carat pear shape to the smokey quartz stone with ivy
Lucy POV"You're stealing me?" Lucy answered questioningly looking from Sara and Gabriel."Oh hell no, I can't compete with the best friend. Seriously, she's mine Sara," Gabriel said with a fake teasing aggression pretending Sara was a new contender for Lucy's heart."Wow, okay lover-boy, chill." Sara laughed, waving dismissively at Gabriel. "I'm taking you mini-golfing. Beers and mini-golf, what a great combination. You, me, and your aunt who I just met. What a lovely creature."Lucy stood there with surprise. "Mini-golf?""Yeah, I thought it would be a good distraction after what happened. Your aunt told me everything," Sara answered, gesturing toward the door. "Come on, there's no time to waste. They close when the sun goes down so we got to hurry.""Wait, before you go," Gabriel grabbed Lucy's arm as he finished saying, "can you please give me a kiss?""Aw, cute," Sara cooed as she stepped toward the front door allowing them some privacy. Lucy stepped on her tippy toes and p
Gabriel POVGabriel sat on his porch that evening sipping some tea. There was a cup with a teabag in it sitting on the counter so he could prepare it for Lucy when she got home. He loved the fact that he could dote on her more easily, now that she was staying with him. He couldn't wait to hear how the mini-golf tournament went between the girls. He watched Sara drive into the compound's parking lot. The three women quietly got out of the car. He frowned. Weren't they supposed to be laughing about the good time they had? They looked more stoic than anything.Lucy was speaking with the three women while looking over at him on the porch. Did she want him to come over? She shook her head, her voice echoing in his head, 'All good. I'll be right there.''Sounds good,' Gabriel answered her, and sat back in his chair. He waited for the ladies to finish their conversation and watched as Lucy walked toward him. "Hello there," Gabriel greeted as she walked onto the porch and joined him i
Gabriel POVGabriel stood awaiting Samson's answer. Samson looked apprehensive as if he was afraid to tell Gabriel. "I have my suspicions. I don't think I'm at liberty to really say," Samson paused.Gabriel had never seen Samson hesitate to this extent. Samson truly did not want to say his thoughts out loud."You can tell me," Gabriel pleaded, hoping Samson would give him more information.Samson sighed, rubbing his face with his hands in worry. "Back then Fennick had conjured up a following in the Moonlight Pack. He had many shifters starting to believe the old ways were correct. They thought your mom shouldn't be Luna since she was a human being.""My mom?" Gabriel spoke, feeling his jaw tighten as he clenched his fists. He would give everything to have his parents alive and well."She had been originally accepted by the pack. But I'm wondering if one of Fennick's followers may have set the fire," Samson ran a hand through his hair. "I really hope arson isn't what happened an
Lucy POVLucy looked into Gabriel's eyes as she told him how she was feeling about tomorrow. He looked at her with love as if he already knew she felt that way. "I know. It's got to be done though, Freckles," Gabriel said softly as he walked over to her in the doorway and kissed her forehead. "I promise, I'm not going anywhere. Plus, I have you I want to fight for. I love you.""I love you too," Lucy whispered as she pursed her lips letting him know she wanted a kiss. Gabriel's hands cupped around her face as he brought his lips to hers. She missed the feeling of his mouth against hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer. Their breathing became faster as things started to heat up between the two of them. "Why do I get the feeling that we are going to get to lunch later?" Gabriel asked huskily as he broke the kiss."Your fault. You are only wearing a towel." Lucy grinned bopping his nose playfully as she pulled him to the bed.*****The next day the St
Lucy POVLucy held onto Gertrude's arm, watching Gabriel hold his head in pain. She desired now more than ever to speak to him through their mind link to encourage him to get up, but she feared she would distract him. Her whole world felt like it was on pause as she watched Fennick gloating with a devious smile on his face while making his way over to Gabriel. She wanted to curl up under a blanket so she didn't have to watch what would happen next.Yet, with one swift move, Gabriel pushed himself up onto the fence with his arms before swinging his body high and gracefully into the air to propel himself over Fennick and land behind him. He had avoided Fennick's assault with poise and ease. Fennick seemed slow as he spun back around to face Gabriel with a look of pure hatred. Gabriel grinned at his uncle. "Thought you had me right where you wanted me, eh?"Fennick growled, "I'm going to make your fake mate watch as I tear you from limb to limb.""She's real, spoiler alert and som