Gabriel POV
I am shocked at learning who our mate is. I feel her shaking in my arms and I want to hold her closer to me but she jumps off my lap. I watch as she shakes her head and then takes off running. I look to Cameron and we both call out to her as she runs out the door. “Go after her” Uncle Cole tells us and we take off. My beast is wanting free and I let him. We shift and take off after her. We follow her scent trail and finally find her sitting on a rock looking into the lake.
I approach her slowly, while Cameron has already shifted back and in a pair of shorts. I walk up to her and nudge her with our nose. She places her hand on my muzzle and my beast purrs. She wipes her eyes with her other hand and then looks back at me. I know that I may look scary to some but I see wonder in her eyes. “He’s like a big tear bear” I hear Cameron call out.
I turn my head and growl at him with my fangs showing. He chuckles and walks over to pat my head before pulling Violet into his arms. “Sweetheart, talk to us” he says in a calm voice but she is looking straight at me. I know that I am different from a typical lycan with my extra fangs and my one red eye. I lower my head and wait for her to judge me.
I feel a hand on my muzzle and see that our mate is looking at me. “Can I see them?” she asks me. I look to Cameron before looking to Violet. I close my eyes and open my jaw for her to see our fangs. “You have two sets of fangs.” She says in a quiet voice. I feel her run her fingers along my fangs and I can’t hep the purr. She approves of my beast. She pulls away and I look at her. She has a small smile on her face. I walk closer to her and lick her hand.
She chuckles and then turns towards Cameron. “Told you” Cameron says with a smirk. I huff and go to lay down. Cameron moves closer to me and goes to sit next to me. “Come join us sweetheart” he calls out to our mate. I watch as she comes closer to us. She sits down and leans against me. I curl around her and place my head in her lap. She runs her fingers through my fur and I close my eyes.
We sit like this for a few minutes before she starts to talk. “If I am suppose to be so powerful, then why did I get taken from my family. Why did I go through everything that I did? I was at the point where I had given up. I even hoped that one day I would never wake up the next morning” she says in a sad voice and I whimper at her words.
My poor mate has been through so much pain that she wishes for death. “Don’t say that sweetheart. It hurts to hear you say that you wish for death” Cameron says in a sad voice. I can’t take it so I shift back and pull her into my lap. “I am so sorry love. I wish we could have found you sooner. I wish we can turn back time and protect you” I tell her and I nuzzle into her neck. I feel tears run down the side of my face and when I look up I see violet crying.
“Talk to us love. We want to help you” I tell her. She needs to open up to us or someone about what she went through. I want to do everything I can to protect her and keep her safe. “If I tell you everything you will change your mind about me as your mate.” She tells us and I am taken back by her words. What did they do to her that made her think that. My beast is pacing and I have a feeling I already know the answer but wait for her to tell us.
She shifts in my lap and moves to sit in front of us. Cameron throws me a pair of shorts and I place them over my lap for now. We watch as Violet turns her back to us. “I….they…..raped me” she says in a quiet voice. I cant help the growl that rips from my throat. Cameron jumps up and is pacing back and forth. She shrinks in on herself in front of me and I try to calm myself but my beast is not having it.
He takes over before I can get him in check. “They will pay. You are ours” he growls out before giving back control. She turns back to look at me with wide eyes. I reach out for her and grab her wrist. “You think that we would reject you because of something that was not your choice.” I say to her and she has tears in her eyes. I pull on her wrist a little and she moves towards me.
I pull her into my lap and wrap my arms around her. “Love, I would mark you here and now to show the world that you are mine.” I tell her but feel her stiffen in my lap. “I know that you are not ready for my mark and we still need to talk about what it means to bare my mark. I will show you to the world that you are mine and protect you.” I tell her as I kiss her neck where one day my mark will lay.
I feel her relax in my arms and then feel Cameron come up behind me. He wraps his arms around both of us and kisses the top of her head before he kisses my cheek. “Sweetheart. We both will burn the world down if we need to but never think for a moment that we would get rid of you because you were raped.” Camron tells her. I rub my hand in small circles to help calm her more.
After a few minutes, I feel her breath even out as she snuggles into my chest. I look back to Cam and see the smile on his face. “Cam, how did we get so lucky.” I ask him. “I don’t know Gabe but I would do anything for her. I mean she looked into your beat’s eyes and didn’t shy away from you.” he tells me and I smile remembering her finger touching my fangs.
I feel the burn and tingle of my fangs start to slip out. I close my eyes and try to relax but the need to hunt is strong. I look to Cam and he must know since he is moving back and moves to pick up violet from my lap. “Go, I will stay here with her.” He tells me. I nod my head and shift. I look back to them before taking off into the forest.
I finally track down a deer and have my fill. While walking back to where I left Cam and Violet, I feel Cam trying to link me.
Cam: Something feels off. We are going to head back.
Gabe: I am coming as fast as I can. I will catch up. Keep her safe.
Cam: On it. Please be careful
He closes the link and we take off running towards our mates. When we catch up to them, I can sense that we are being watched. When we clear the forest, I see Uncle Cole standing there waiting for us with a few guards next to him. I shift back and take the shorts he offers me. “Glad you guys are back. How is she?” he asks. “In shock about everything but I think she will be ok.” Cameron says to his father.
I watch as Cameron walks into the Coven house before I turn towards my uncle. “Uncle, someone was watching us. I felt it when I caught up to them. Cameron mentioned that something felt off too.” I tell him. He nods his head and looks towards the forest. “I know. Jasper said he caught the scent of rouges close to his borders and felt someone cross but could not find them.”
I nod my head and close my eyes. “We will have to make sure we keep our guard up. My beast and I have a feeling that something is going to happen.” I tell him. He nods his head before he talks to the guards with him. I have a bad feeling that something is going to happen. We need to figure it out and get back home to talk with my parents.
When I get to our room, I see that Cameron and Violet are snuggled together on the bed. My heart melts as the sight of them. I make my way into the bathroom to shower since I know that there is blood and mud caked on me from hunting. Once I am clan, I put on a pair of shorts and go to lay in bed.
I close my eyes but open them again when I feel a hand on my chest. “Can’t sleep love?” I ask my beautiful mate. “I keep thinking about something.” She says and I wonder what is on her mind. I feel her hand on my cheek and I lean into her touch. I roll onto my side facing her and she looks at me. I can see she is wanting to ask me something but she seems nervous.
I grab her hand and kiss her wrist. I run my teeth over her wrist and hear a sharp intake of breath. “Love, you can ask me anything” I tell her as I lick the inside of her wrist. I feel the tingling in my gums again as my fangs slip out. “Do you have two sets of fangs like your beast?” she asks. I smile and let my fangs show.
I feel her pull her hand away and I fear I pushed her to far but she surprises me. She places her thumb on my upper lip and pulls it up more. I close my eyes and let her continue. “You really do have two sets of fangs” she says with wonder in her voice. I feel my beast purr in bliss with how our mate is exploring us and not terrified. “Cameron said that you don’t drink blood but you hunt and drink animal blood” I open my eyes to look at her in shock.
I can’t believe that Cameron has shared that much with her. “You would be right. I tried when I was younger to drink blood but it made me sick. My mother thinks I may only be able to drink my mate’s blood but I don’t know if I will be able to.” I tell her honestly. “Why do you think that?” I hear a tremble in her voice and I know that she is worried about it. I know what those filthy rats did to her. I can see it but I would never push her.
I close my eyes and take a steady breath. “Since I am not a true vampire and nothing like my mother, my theory is that I am only able to drink the blood from animals. I don’t want to push you love. I know that you have been through a lot and I can talk with Cameron about it.” I tell her. She shakes her head and looks at me with a serious look in her eyes.
“Gabriel, I know that vampire’s drink from their fated mate. I also know that a vampire cannot maintain its full strength without blood.” I am shocked at her knowledge but then again, she was held captive for who knows how long. She must have picked up something while being their pet.
Her hand on my cheek pulls my attention back to her. “Gabriel, if it’s you, I think I will be ok. I know that you would never hurt me and I trust you.” she tells me and I feel my heart sore. “Love, you have no idea what that means to me.” I tell her as I lean into her touch. This woman is amazing. She has been through so much but she still accepts me as I am and the breast that lives under my skin.
I close the distance between us and kiss her. She doesn’t respond at first but then she starts to move her lips with mine. It’s a sweet kiss but it also holds a promise. It’s a promise that I will cherish her and protect her. When I pull away, I can’t help the smile on my face. I watch as she touches her lips. I see her smile and then a faint tint or red graces her cheeks.
God, I am falling hard for her. I pull her flush against me and bury my nose in her neck. She giggles and I hear Cameron groan. “Get some sleep” he says in a grouchy voice. I forget how grumpy he can be when it comes to his sleep. I chuckle and then kiss Violet. “Guess we should get some sleep love” I tell her. “Ok, but can we test something tomorrow?” she asks me. I wonder what she wanting to test out. “Depends on what you want to test” I tell her. She hums and snuggles into my chest. She kisses my chest right over my heart. I shiver at the affection she is showing me. “You will have to wait and see” she tells me. “Fine” I say and wrap my arms around her and close my eyes.
Unknown POV:
I hear my phone ringing on my night stand. I look to see that one of the scouts I sent out is calling me. “You better have good news” I growl out. “Sir, I found her.” I sit up in bed at the wonderful news. “Where is she?” I say in a calmer voice. “Sir, she is in the coven as we speak. Looks like they are going to be spending a few days there. What are my orders?” he asks. What a good little spy he is. He is one of my newer people that joined recently and he works hard.
I smile thinking of how close I am to having my little pet back. “Keep watch. I am having the rest join you. When they go to leave the coven that is when you attack. I want her back alive but the rest you can kill” I tell him. “Yes sir” he says before hanging. I lay back down in my bed thinking about how wonderful it is going to feel when my fangs pierce that little neck of hers. She will be mine and I will kill who ever dared to take her from me.
Before I can slip into the dream of having her under me, she will need to be punished first. She was a naughty little pet getting away from me. Oh, the things I have planned for her. I am going to bring her to the brink of death and break her spirit before I make her mine. She will be mine. I close my eyes thinking of all the things I am going to do to her and soon drift off to sleep.