Warring Twin Wolves

Chapter Five

Gabby's POV:

        I boarded our car with confidence.  Whatever happens tonight, good or bad, I will take it in stride.  Tessa was sitting next to me bouncing in her seat.  I said, “Tessa, stop bouncing, you should put your sear belt on”.  She stopped moving and looked at me, furrowing her brow, and said, “Why do I need to put on my seat belt?  We are werewolves.  We heal quickly and have fast reflexes.  We also are stronger than humans; they’re so fragile”.  I nodded my head in agreement, and replied, “While I agree with you, I must remind you that the law in this state requires seat belts, and we need to follow them.  We don’t want to attract unwanted attention from their police”.  Her shoulders slumped in defeat, and she pulled the belt down to insert the plug into the connector and said, “Fine!”. 

        I smiled at her scrunched face as I looked out the window.  I heard Cooper speaking authoritatively, and I realized he was giving orders as to their duties for the night.  Sheesh, he is not even Alpha yet, and he is so serious.  He needs to relax and enjoy the party, seriously.  I just let the low rumble of his voice help me to drift and daydream.  

        I was jolted out of my reverie by Tessa tapping me on my shoulder repeatedly, to signal our arrival.  My brother held the door open for us and then offered his arm.  I was fine with him opening the door for us, but having to be escorted into the pasty would be too embarrassing.  I scoffed at him and said, “What is this, prom?  I don’t think so”.  I turned to walk into the place with Tessa, but we stopped mid-step as we heard Cooper growl.  Our backs stiffened.  If his wolf feels disrespected in public, that is not going to have a pleasant result.  I let out a big sigh and turned back around.  I went back and thanked him with a big smile plastered on my face.  I took his arm and Tessa walked beside me, and we entered the party.  I waited for Cooper to let his arm down before I let go, and let him think he was in control by waiting again for him to give us a cue to go our own way.  I saw the pleased smile on his face, and he gave us a nod.  As soon as we saw this, we immediately went to the dance floor.    

        We heard the song playing and jumped right in.  We started swaying our hips back and forth to the beat.  After a few songs, I felt someone come up behind me and grab my hips.  I recognize that scent.  It's Cooper's future Gamma, Gregory.  I know I am safe with him so I continued to swing my hips to the music.  I think he likes me, but I am only interested in finding my true mate.  I know that Gregory will respect me, so I didn't react when I felt his arms go around my waist and he pulled me closer.  Our hips were swaying together, and we really were losing ourselves in the song. Then I felt something poking me in my lower back.   I was wondering what it could be, and then I realized what it was.  I was smiling a small amused smile.  He must have realized his state because I felt him retract his arms and hands.  When I felt his warmth leave my back, I turned around with an even bigger and wider amused smile and saw a very red-faced Gregory.  He seemed flustered and said, "Please excuse my behavior, Gabby.  Just please forget this ever happened".  With that said he spun around on his heel and walked off quickly.  I ran after him and tried to follow him.  It was hard with his fast pace and large strides, but I finally caught up to him and grabbed his wrist, and asked him to turn around and look at me.  

    He slowly turned towards me, but he was averting his gaze.  I don't want this incident to be remembered with hurt or pain.  I needed to let him know that I held no malice toward him.  "Please look at me", I asked softly.  He lifted his eyes to meet mine.  I smiled a kinder understanding smile and said, "Gregory, I have a brother.  I know more than you think I do.  I am aware that your...member...is...unpredictable.  It can react to something without any warning.  Please don't be embarrassed.  I hope our friendship is close enough to get past this.  I promise I will not tell anyone about anything that just belongs between us".  He smiled and said, "Thank you, Gabby.  I also feel like we have a close friendship.  So, if you agree to forget it, I'll forget it.  Deal?".   I nodded my head, gave him a big grin, and rose up on my toes to put my arms around his shoulders for a hug.  

        All of a sudden, I heard a deep voice from across the room say, "Mine!".  No one is shocked by it, werewolves are possessive by nature.  I don't think that much of it until I am suddenly yanked away from Gregory.  My arm is in pain, so I turn to give him a glare and I prepare to tell him off.  Our eyes met and I forgot about my original intent.  We both uttered, "Mate".  I felt like I was in the fog of his scent.  I felt like I was drowning, and I felt like I needed some space to breathe.   I waved for him to follow me.  I have been to most of the packhouses around our area because my brother and I would go with my father when he would attend meetings, and we were allowed to roam and explore, providing we took our bodyguards along.  I got to know the general layout of each packhouse, some more intimately than others based on how frequently we visited.   

        I brought him toward a room I hoped would be empty based on its location in the house.  I stuck my head in and looked around.  I relaxed and entered the room with him right behind me.  He looked bewildered; about what, I don't know.  Then his expression turned serious, and my stomach started to twist.  I asked him, "Is something wrong?".  He looked like he was trying to gather the right words to use to express what he wanted to say.  He finally gathered himself and said, "I have heard some things about you and I was wondering if any of it was true".  

        I felt his intense gaze on me while I tried to process what he just said.  Wait, I must not have heard him correctly.  I felt frozen on the spot with my mouth agape; oh, wait, because I was, replaying the exchange over and over in my head.  I realized that yeah, he said what I thought he said.  Okay, remember Gabby, take it in stride.  My wolf, Gemma, was struggling to come out, so I had to use some of my energy to keep her in.  She is really upset.  I heard her voice speak up, 'Let me out, Gabby.  How dare he question us?'.  'Gem, let's just get a sense of what he's talking about, okay?', I replied.  She let out a frustrated growl and grumbled,  ' Fine.  Go ahead'.  I looked back at him and felt my shoulders slump,  I was exhausted.  I gathered my wits and boldly asked, "What things have you heard about me?".  

        He looked a little uncomfortable, maybe because I had started to approach him - I don't know why.  My feet moved on their own.  I stopped a few feet away and saw him swallow.  He took a deep breath and said that he heard I had slept with many different men in the packs.  He then looked at me with meaning and said, "I need to know the truth".  Gem started growling.  I held her down.  My brain was in a whirl.  I can't believe what is happening.  As I thought more about it,  I started to laugh!  I couldn't stop.  Wait, what?  I was truly laughing.  I guess all my anxious nervous energy just turned into giggles instead of tears. 

         He demanded in a loud voice to know what was so funny.  I finally quieted down and peered over at him.  I could not fathom where this was coming from.  He just met me.  Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a small group of girls.  They wouldn't be able to fashion a modest skirt even if they combined all the fabric they would get from their barely-there skirts.  They were looking around, scoping out the room, and discussing something while looking at all the guys.  They were pointing out specific ones to each other.  That is when a revelation came to me.  I furrowed my brows and cut my eyes to him and called him a fool.  I asked him, "This person who let you know all of this dirt on me, do you believe everything you heard from this person?  Let me guess", I put a finger to my chin and started tapping.  Then I put the said finger up and donned an expression like I just figured out an answer to a quandary.   I continued, "This person is a girl who seems the type that would want to bag an Alpha so she could manipulate her way into becoming Luna".   He looked like he just heard something he hadn't considered.  I could not believe this.  He only heard one scenario, and went with that?  He started to say something, but I put up a hand to stop him.  I was on a roll, so I said, "I do not need to explain myself to you.  All you need to know is the Moon Goddess put us together because we are perfect for each other.  That is the truth that should matter".  I stressed the word 'truth' because that is what he was so eager to know, after all.  

        I noticed how he started to ball his fists and squeeze them.   Oh, my goodness.  I hope that he isn't having a heart attack, or a stroke, or whatever.  He started to yell, and it made me jump.  I looked at him.  Why does he have to be so handsome?  I glanced again and saw his blond hair that was all messy.  His cheekbones were high, his jaw was strong and my eyes traveled over to those thick rosy kissable lips.  Whoa!  I started chiding myself, then I heard him say something that brought me completely back from my reverie.  He said, "I need to know so I can decide if you are worthy to be the next Luna!".  

        It felt like all the air got sucked out of the room.  I quietly said, "If you don't trust me and you do not want to put the time or effort into this relationship, there is not much more I can do".  I shrugged, feeling defeated.  He was still upset.  He yelled in frustration, "Just tell me who you"ve slept with!  How many?", he added with a hint of desperation.  I was trying to keep composed.  So I took a calming breath, and when I felt I could speak without crying, I whispered, "Well, it seems you have already made a decision if you just assume the rumors are true".  I couldn't even get my mind around the fact that he never even asked for my side of the issue.  I should have at least been able to provide a rebuttal for all the accusations.  I am at a loss.  

        It got quiet, so I peeked over at him and he looked like he had just been told something he had never considered before.  He was never going to give me a chance, was he?  He calmed down and looked at me and said in a calmer voice, "I didn't mean-".  I started shaking my head in disappointment and he stopped trying to backpedal.  I tried to prepare myself for what I figured was coming.  I kept chanting to myself, 'Take it in stride'.  I heard a growl, and I looked over at him, and I swear, his irises are swirling with both of his human and wolf colors.  There was a storm brewing inside.  He stood tall and said in a strained voice, "I, Daniel Ravenwood, Alpha of the Blood Fang Pack reject Gabrielle Stone as my mate and Luna".  

        I grabbed my chest and started to scream. I guess no amount of preparation can ease the pain of rejection; especially for a werewolf.  The pain was immense. I started to see black spots around my vision, and I realized that jerk had already fled.  Do I accept the rejection now, or does he have to be within hearing distance to witness it?  I kept crumbling on the floor, not having any energy to put toward keeping me upright.  As things started to go black, I heard Gregory come and tell everyone to stand back.  Then I knew I could let go and sink into the darkness.