Chapter 9: I'm Glad It Was You

Gabriel POV

Gabriel grabbed a basket as he entered the small farmer's grocery mart near his veterinarian clinic. He was thinking about asking Lucy out on another date since it was his turn to reciprocate. How he could make this a more romantic date and possibly win Lucy over?

He grinned. Maybe I'll even get a smooch out of it.

He cringed in shame as he pictured Lucy's shocked expression yesterday morning after he was brushed by her silver bracelet. No wonder she had been texting less, he had acted rather oddly. Well not oddly for a shifter.

Silver was deadly to wolf shifters, and could even be used as a torture device if their weaknesses were discovered. It was a closely kept secret that there were even wolf shifters living in Arizona to begin with.

He mentally kicked himself as he started down the cracker aisle looking for the perfect type of crackers to use on a charcuterie board. He really hoped he hadn't ruined the spark he and Lucy already had. Their spark as mates was even more vulnerable since she was human and truly had no idea.

Ugh this is torture. He groaned as he haphazardly chucked a box of crackers into his basket. He wished he could just tell Lucy exactly who he was and that they were meant to be together and bam! They'd be together happily ever after.

Being distracted, he didn't notice a familiar face making its way to him as he moved to the deli in search for Prosciutto.

"Gabriel Elijah Herman." A commanding female voice rang in his ears, and he slowly faced the familiar voice.

"Gertrude Eudora. Sorry, I am unaware of your middle name." Gabriel smirked at her mischievously.

"Yes, let's keep it that way." Gertrude grinned back at him and looked him up and down. "Shopping are you?"

"Yes, for your niece in fact. I'm planning on asking her out and I'd like to make her something foodwise." Gabriel nodded matter-of-factly.

"She'd like that. Smart. It's not just the men who are won over by food." Gertrude shrugged, complimenting Gabriel's idea.

"Does she know?" Gertrude interjected without much of an explanation. Gabriel gave Gertrude a knowing look. He had always wondered if Samson had told Gertrude about wolf shifters and if what he believed was true, she did know.

"No… but I plan on telling her. Soon," Gabriel said, looking for a reaction from Lucy's aunt.

He wondered what Gertrude knew. Did she know much? Did she know about the Moonlight Pack too? Or just the strays on their compound?

"Good. Secrets will tear a relationship apart. Best to tell her now before you two get more serious. I am assuming she's your mate?" Gertrude asked, sounding as if she approved of Gabriel's plan.

"Yes, she is. She's perfect," Gabriel mused happily and wondered how Gertrude really felt about this. After all, she was Lucy's aunt.

"Tread carefully Gabriel. She's been very recently hurt in Colorado. I believe unwanted attention was given to her at the hospital she used to work at. I have reason to suspect the attention was of a sexual nature, and feeling trapped she fled here. She's always viewed Arizona as a safe place. Make sure it stays that way." Gertrude almost sounded threatening and Gabriel was none the wiser, nodding at her words.

"Gertrude. I promise I'll treat her with as much love and care as she deserves and more than that. I love her, and I plan on spending the rest of my life with her." Gabriel knew how it would sound to human ears, but this was his mate. He intended on making sure Lucy was safe in his arms forever.

"Good. For what it's worth… with all this shifter and mate stuff I am glad it was you." Gertrude smiled the warmest smile at Gabriel and he could feel the warmth in her approval.

As the two parted, Gabriel knew he would have to make sure Lucy understood he was safe and not anything like whatever transpired in Colorado. He had a job to do, and he was determined to see it to fruition.

*****

Later that evening, Gabriel picked up Lucy at her aunt's house. He noticed she seemed more distant and removed from him. She was biting her lip more, picking at her fingers, and was even quieter than usual.

He smiled realizing that she did say yes when he asked her out on a "truck date" complete with his homemade charcuterie board, champagne, and dessert! He mentally patted himself on the back, because well… hey it was a romantic gesture. He was a bit nervous too because he planned on telling her about what he was. He could tell she already knew something was not quite adding up.

He eyed the silver bracelet still on her arm - d*mn thing!

"So… Airport Mesa? Why do they call it that exactly?" Lucy said, breaking the silence between them.

"You are in for a treat! It's this wonderful place filled with beautiful views of Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and even a few trails one can take. Although, I recommend we watch the sunset from my truck bed. I've got it all decked out with a cooler in the back with good food. And not to toot my own horn, but I made all the food," Gabriel grinned making eye contact with Lucy as he spoke and she couldn't help but smile back.

"You should have told me to bring something… it doesn't feel good to show up empty-handed!" Lucy said, sighing as she grabbed her water bottle to take a sip of water.

"Nah, this is my treat, Lucy. I wanted to give you a romantic Sedona sunset experience. I'll make sure it's a night you can't forget!" Gabriel said confidently as he pulled up the hill to the mesa and toward a good parking spot.

He heard Lucy's breath catch in her throat as they came up on the view. It was incredibly breathtaking, even for a local such as himself. The red rocks, beautiful landscape formations, and the height of where the mesa stood added to the majestic peaceful atmosphere on the overlook.

The area was visited by hikers, meditators, and nature lovers galore but this night it seemed not as busy as usual and Gabriel mentally thanked the Moon Goddess for that. He did not want anything to ruin their special date.

The sun was starting to set and Gabriel made his way around to Lucy's door after he parked the car. He opened it for her, surprising her with his chivalry as he offered her his hand to step down from the truck. He had worn a green collared shirt with tan khaki shorts and he admired the rose-colored sundress and tan sunhat Lucy had on. Her freckles were accented more with the color of her dress, and he knew he could get lost in them if he were to follow the map they created on her body.

Focus, he told himself as he walked her to the bed of his truck. A romantic at heart, he had put down a few blankets and pillows to add a comfy and intimate nature to the truck bed. He helped Lucy climb into the truck bed and he followed suit. D*mn I did good, he thought smiling as he saw Lucy get comfy in the right corner of the truck.

"Okay, I'll admit you outdid yourself, Gabriel. This is beautiful… thank you for taking me." Lucy smiled over at him as he started to open the cooler with the food and drinks. He turned on the country station on the battery-powered radio he had left in the bed of the truck for some much-needed ambiance.

The awkward tension seemed to dissipate as the two dug into the late dinner Gabriel had prepared and they partook in some small talk about the landscape and the trails they'd like to explore in the area.

Gabriel listened intently as Lucy spoke about her favorite hikes back home in Colorado. He compared her favorite trails to a few in the surrounding area promising her that he'd take her. As the stars started shining after the sunset the two of them lay down in the bed of the truck, the sides giving them a bit of intimate privacy as they pointed out the constellations that they knew.

As they laid parallel next to each other, Gabriel sucked in his breath as he worked up the courage to lightly place his hand over hers. He waited for a reaction expecting her to pull away but Lucy intertwined their fingers together. Just like how they should be.

"Gabriel," she whispered.

"Yeah?" he asked, spinning his head toward her, making direct eye contact as the light faded.

"Can I kiss you?" she asked, biting her lip.

After hearing this declaration his heart skipped a beat and leapt for joy. His stomach flooded with butterflies at the thought of kissing her and the fact that she felt safe enough with him to want to initiate physical touch. Especially a kiss.

"You have my consent, Freckles." He winked but waited for her to make the first move.

He caught a whiff of roses as she swept her hair back and propped herself on her elbow. In one fluid movement, she placed her fingers on his chin and turned his face to meet hers.

He could barely breathe as the distance closed between them painfully slowly. Her lips lightly grazed his gingerly and he felt like he was drinking pina coladas on the beach. She tasted like the strawberry she had just eaten and he could feel her hesitation and nervousness in the kiss. Maybe she hadn't done this very much? Or was she worried he wouldn't like it?

To confirm his approval, he reciprocated the kiss by cupping the sides of her face with his hands and sweeping her hair in between his fingers. He kissed her deeply as he strengthened the kiss between the two of them. She felt like a silk pillowcase on a warm summer's evening.

They broke the kiss and Gabriel gulped. She was even more amazing kissing in real life than imagining it. Without warning his eyes flashed and he growled low as he felt his wolf become responsive to the call of his mate. He watched as Lucy noticed the color in his eyes, and she gasped in shock drawing back.

Reigning himself back in from losing his cool, he groaned and smacked his forehead.

"All right, so… before we go any further… there's something I have to tell you."