Chapter 14 - The Growl
1799 Words
Gabriel POV
I had to give Leah the choice.
Blue eyes is right, it’s her decision to make.
I only hope it’s the right one.
They disappear in the trees, and I guess there will be no better chance to talk about the cringing event of this morning.
“Hey, about breakfast” I start to say and her face flushes with embarrassment.
“I didn’t mean what I said, I… I ” I f*****g stutter, this is going to be more embarrassing.
“It’s okay, I accept your apologies” she cuts me off before I continue.
“Okay, thank you” I say looking at her like she grew an extra head.
“What happened this morning and why are you apologizing?” Elijah asks. nosy little kid.
“None of your business, Elijah” I shut him down.
“Hello, I’m Elijah” He introduces himself, taking her hand, totally ignoring me.
“If you ever needed anything or Gabriel bothered you in anyway, just tell me and I’ll knock some sense into him” he finishes by kissing her hand.
Is the fucker flirting?
“Yeah, right, go home, Elijah, before I knock some sense into you, don’t you have some homework to do or something”. Did he miss the part where she said she was Zander's cousin or was he so captivated by her that he actually went deaf?
“Way to ruin my game Gab” he says, annoyed.
“Maybe turn 18 first, then we’ll take about your game”. Is he kidding me?
“You are not even 18? You look much older”she says, actually entertained by his shenanigans.
“It’s the muscles” he says flexing his chest. Hell no.
“ That’s it” I say pushing him away and towards the house.
He finally leaves after giving blue eyes a wink… yeah, he got game my ass.
“He is cute” she says, chuckling.
Really? Who the hell is she? I can’t even recognize her right now.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks with one eyebrow raised.
I guess I was staring.
“It’s just… you are being… how do I say it… civil… nice even”.
“Excuse me?” she asks a little insulted.
“I mean, you are apologising and accepting apologies, you are even nice to my brother, I usually only hear insults coming out of your mouth” I say, still surprised by her new attitude.
“That only happens when I’m talking to you. I wonder whose fault is that?” she says, taping her chin, acting like she is in deep thought.
“Yours, that would be your fault, because even when I’m being nice you snap at me”, she does.
“When were you ever nice?” she says with a chuckle.
“I was nice that other night”. Is she kidding me?
“What night? When you called me a brat, spoiled and ugly” she says crossing her arms and irritated, s**t!
“No… the part after that”, the good part.
“When you tried to shove your tongue down my throat?” she asks, raising both eyebrows now.
“I was not… and you were going to kiss me too”.
“And what gave you that indication? The fact that I was going to break your arm?” she asks with a smirk.
“No… the fact that you hesitated before doing so” I say with a smug smile.
“Well, next time I won’t hesitate”.
“Who said that there will be next time?” I say still holding my soon to be shuttered smirk.
“From what I saw yesterday… you want to be a next time” she says, looking me up and down, then turns and leaves.
Damn! That was hot.
“n*****s”
“Shut up, phoenix”
I checked two things off my list, now to the next, alpha Patrick’s announcement.
-
I go past the pack house and past the tree in the front yard with the swing hanging from it.
Lauren’s swing, Patrick installed it for her just after she became his Luna.
She used to swing on it often, letting her inner child free, she used to say… now no one touches it, not even Patrick.
What happened to her was not fair, she didn’t deserve it.
Patrick has every right to hate hunters and any of those who support them.
I greet the warriors that are guarding the alpha’s house and go inside.
Other than Patrick, I’m the only one allowed to waltz into there without permission.
I was the one who found Lauren when she was taken and brought her back to Patrick.
That’s why I get that privilege and that’s why I became his beta at only 18 years old. It is also why I was the one who stayed with her while Patrick went to the alpha meetings and not his gamma.
He never really trusted anyone with the position after he lost his best friend and former beta… until me, that is… I just hope he still does after this whole situation ends.
“What do you want Gabriel?” Patrick says as soon as I step into the kitchen.
He is emptying some plates full of food into the trash… so Lauren is still not eating.
“I’m here to check on you and Lauren” I say as I pull up a chair and sit next to the kitchen table.
“And?” he asks, putting the plates he just emptied in the sink.
“And to discuss the announcement about the new situation”, I guess he knows me too well.
“ Don’t worry about it, I know how to handle my people… they are still my people, aren’t they Gab?” he says, finally turning to face me.
“Of course, they are, I just wanted to know if you needed any help”, and to know what the hell are you going to say exactly so you don’t ruin things more.
“No help needed” he says with a smile, a smile that sends all my senses on alert.
“Patrick, you can’t mention the king in any negative way, we are on thin ice as it is” I remind him.
“I won’t, don’t worry about it”.
“Saying don’t worry about it makes me very worried” I say, having that feeling in my stomach that he is going to f**k things up.
“PACK MEETING NOW AT THE FRONT YARD” he sends a mass Link.
“Patrick, what the hell are you going to say?” I ask, again.
“I said don’t worry about it” he says, walking away and out of the house.
By the time we reach the front yard, most of the pack members had already gathered.
Dear moon goddess, please don’t let him f**k this up.
“Hello everyone, I have an announcement to make” Patrick says, and you can hear the curious whispers erupting among the crowd.
I can see at the back, blue eyes and a few of her people, including Zander and Alex of course, joining the crowd.
“As you all know, I haven’t been myself lately, and some of my actions were unbecoming of the alpha that you deserve, so I decided to step back for a while” Patrick says, and the whole pack is in shock.
“But don’t worry, I leave you in the safe hands of Beta Gabriel... and the King was so gracious to send his people to help if needed” he says, gesturing to blue eyes.
Okay, so far so good.
“Please welcome princess Maxima Salvatore stronghold” he says with a malicious smile.
Son of a b***h!
The whole crowd looks back at the princess who is glaring daggers toward Patrick.
Some bow to her and the rest are still stunned, I guess.
“What the f**k did you do Patrick?” I ask him.
“We’ll see now what the king will do after his daughter’s presence here is known. Will he leave his wolfless b***h at risk or will he send for her to go back home” he says, satisfied with his stupid plan.
“No, Patrick he will come to take his daughter himself, and might as well burn this pack to the ground while he is at it” I say hardly controlling myself.
“Will let him come”, he is gone mad.
I wait for the crowd to disperse and go straight to her to try and control the situation, but I have to wait until she finishes.
She is giving her warriors some orders and sends them away before she starts walking towards the trees with Alexa and Zander just behind her, and I follow.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Alex asks, anxiously.
“Gabriel, now is not the time, please leave” Zander says, and I just ignore them both.
“That mother fucker” Max screams in anger, going deeper into the woods and her cousins try frantically to calm her.
What’s up with that?
“Hey, pl-” I try to plead, going after her but she cuts me off and turns to me.
“Something is off”
“I can feel it too”
“Don’t, the king was right, this man is unfit to be an alpha. Doesn’t he know by announcing that I’m here he is putting his own pack at risk? If not from my father, it will be from whoever he is hoping can drive me out of here” she says, pissed like I never seen her before.
“Yes, I know” I try but she cuts me off again.
“Keeping my presence a secret was not just for my safety, it was also for his pack's… doesn’t he think other packs will wonder why am I here? And they will know that this is a Pack without an alpha?” she says, and I swear I just saw her blue eyes flash red.
What the f**k was that?
“Maxima, please try to calm down” Zander pleads.
“Max, control yourself before it’s too late” Alex now says. What is she talking about?
What is going on?
She snaps her head towards them and lets out a fierce growl.
They immediately submit, baring their necks and even kneeling.
What the f**k?... Did she just growl?
------------------
oh snap! what do you think is going to happen?
- Writer
