ILL-FATED MATCH

ARRIVAL

ARRIVAL

Gabriel woke up just in time to find his cousin and beta, Shawn Adams, holding up a bowl of water over his face. His eyes betrayed his intent and immediately clouded with disappointment when he discovered that Gabriel's eyes were open.

They stared at each other for a full minute before Shawn burst out laughing.

His best friend, the future gamma of the pack, Adrian McCall, appeared holding his cell phone. "s**t! We could have caught some action on camera. Why the hell did you wake up now?"

"Really? I worry about Clara's and Raphael's pranks. I never thought that I would have to add my cousin's and bestfriend's to the list."

Adrian stared at him wide eyed and open mouthed.

"What?" Gabriel demanded.

"You succeeded in doing the same thing to me while I was asleep just last week. You even caught it on camera and now you…"

"Oh please, everyone should have their own fair share of getting pranked. Those kids are my fair share. You do not have anyone else to play pranks on you except Shawn and I. Consider us your own fair share"

"You are unbelievable," Adrian muttered in mock disgust.

Shawn gasped in mock incredulity. "Did you just call our Alpha unbelievable?" He turned to Gabriel. "Can we call it treason?"

Gabriel eyed him for a minute. "Have you marked her yet?" He asked, referring to Mitchell, Shawn's mate.

"Nah. We've decided to take it slow"

Adrian snorted.

Shawn had been in love with Mitchell since high school. Just before she turned eighteen, which was the age most female werewolves found their mates all things being equal, she and her family had transferred to another pack for confidential reasons.

They had met again during the general gathering of the nine different packs which took place every seven years, and to Shawn's utmost delight, he had discovered Mitchell was his mate. He had marveled at his luck.

"What about your mate? Have you found her yet?" Adrian asked of Gabriel.

"Of course. As a matter of fact, she will be here today"

"Are you for real? You've found all these while and said nothing about it." Adrian was incredulous.

Gabriel merely shrugged.

This time, Shawn poured the water on him for real.

"What the……" Gabriel began but was interrupted by Clara's and Raphael's appearance.

"Skyler is about to deliver," Raphael began breathlessly, "Can we watch?"

"I am not sure about that" Gabriel was skeptical about their ability to watch without a fainting spell.

"Please. We promise we can handle it." Clara nodded vigorously beside her brother.

"Alright, alright. But tell Nicklaus to stall things a little bit. I'll be right there." He finished, referring to the pack's doctor. He didn't want to miss Skyler's foaling. She was his favorite mare.

The kids ran off with whoops of excitement. Soon after they reappeared.

"What now?" Gabriel asked

"We forgot to say our greetings." They promptly did that and finally disappeared, leaving the amused trio staring at the doorway.

Shawn suddenly gave a chuckle and started, "I wonder…." He gave another chuckle earning puzzled looks from Gabriel and Adrian.

"Could you please let us share in your amusement?" Adrian asked.

"I was just thinking about calling Mitchell to witness the foaling."

"Oh no" Adrian muttered

"Shawn, we all know Mitchell can't handle the sight of blood and stuff. Don't do it." Gabriel scolded.

"I know. But if I tell about it she's going to insist on coming"

"Then don't tell her".

"Oh Gabriel, don't be such a bore. It's going to be fun."

Gabriel shook his head. "Do as you please. She's your mate after all."

With that he pulled the covers off him and got out of bed earning himself identical disgusted looks from Shawn and Adrian.

"You should have given us some sort of warning before giving us an unwanted view of your naked ass." Adrian complained.

Gabriel ignored them and headed straight for the bathroom.

"One of these days I'm definitely going to cut off his balls." Shawn muttered.

"I heard that" Gabriel returned as he shut the bathroom's sliding door.

● * * *

By the time Gabriel, Shawn and Adrian got to the stall, Nicklaus was almost about starting the foaling process.

"Right on time" he announced as he squatted down in front of the mare. "The placental fluids are already out"

Gabriel shook his head as he took in the eager faces of Raphael and Clara who were about to dissolve into a puddle of excitement.

"Hey guys, how's it going?" Mitchell greeted as she joined them.

"The show's about to begin sweetie." Shawn grinned and gave her long lingering kiss.

"Are you sure about this?" Gabriel asked

"Of course. I must learn to face my fears. Mitchell replied. A determined expression on her face.

Shawn grinned and Adrian mouthed the word "asshole" at him.

They all watched as Skyler whined and Nicklaus stretched his hands forward to her vulva ready to receive the foal.

The front feet appeared first and Clara shouted excitedly, "I can see its hooves"

"We can all see that Clara" Raphael retorted.

Gabriel threw a quick glance at Mitchell and saw that she was barely holding it together.

Shawn on the other hand was focused on his mate's reaction and trying to suppress his laughter.

Adrian caught Gabriel's eye and shook his head as if to say, "what a mate!"

By the time the foal's hindquarters were expelled, Mitchell had already turned a pale shade of green.

She turned away from the sight and focused on taking deep breaths. Shawn patted her lightly on the back. "Good job honey" he muttered.

"That wasn't necessary at all," Adrian murmured.

They all, except Clara and Raphael, walked away from the stall and left Nicklaus to tend to both mare and foal.

They gathered in the large, well furnished living room where Gabriel promptly handed Mitchell a glass of cold water.

"Your mate's an arse you know."

Mitchell merely smiled and winked at Shawn.

"So tell us about her," Adrian demanded.

"About who?" Mitchell asked, puzzled.

"Gabriel has found his mate," Shawn explained.

"Oh, that's some news," she smiled at Gabriel.

"My mate's a female," Gabriel joked.

"No kidding, '' Shawn murmured.

"Is he bisexual?" Mitchell asked and Adrian burst out laughing.

"Sometimes I wonder if he is." Shawn started. Or what kind of guy would be so comfortable being naked in the presence of other guys?"

Gabriel rolled his eyes. Mitchell's eyes widened and she burst out laughing.

"Honey, ignore Shawn. I'm as straight as a pole.

"She's human"

His audience exchanged curious glances.

"Interesting especially for an alpha" Adrian commented.

"I learnt from my parents that an ancestor of mine also had a human for a mate who also happened to be a witch"

They all gasped.

"Do you know the weirdest part? That ancestor also somehow happens to be my namesake. Gabriel Adams."

"I wouldn't be so surprised if I check the library and find out that we also have identical physical features."

"Maybe it's just a coincidence," Shawn said. "Sometimes things like this happen."

Adrian appeared doubtful.

"I can't wait to meet her." Mitchell grinned.

"Raphael and Clara have met her once. I brought her here yesterday."

They all gave him incredulous stares.

"Nah don't look at me like that. You guys were mysteriously absent on the said day. I wonder why?"

"But anyway she's going to be here today and you're all going to get to meet her. Her name's Selena and she's my latest employee–the kids' nanny"

Adrian gave him a "you've got to be kidding me" look.

"What? They need a nanny if they are going to be staying here with me. I can't handle them. She's the perfect person for the job believe me."

Raphael and Clara bounded in. Their clothes stained with what suspiciously looked like blood.

"Halt!" Gabriel ordered.

"Is that blood?" Mitchell asked in a voice a little higher than usual.

"She hugged the foal before Nicklaus cleaned it and made sure to get me stained also because I told her off." Raphael pointed at his sister and huffed in exasperation.

"To the bathroom you two" Gabriel said. "Raphael see to it that she's perfectly clean when she's out of the bathroom"

"I'm not her nanny" he grumbled before he walked off.

"Well Selena is going to be here soon and I'm going to stop needing your help or anything and you're going to be so sorry. Besides I'm quite capable of cleaning myself up. I do not need to be inspected." Clara shouted after him."

"Sometimes they make me question the wisdom of having pups" Gabriel said amusedly when they were out of sight.

"How are you going to reveal your nature to Selena?" Mitchell asked

"You mean reveal that he's an animal?" Shawn grinned and Mitchell gave him a playful slap.

"Aren't we all?" Gabriel retorted.

"Just know we're here for you if you need any form of assistance." Mitchell said.

Gabriel suddenly paused and sniffed. The others did the same too.

"Something is definitely burning, right?"

"Raphael!!!" Gabriel yelled.