His Isolated Omega Luna

Chapter Thirty Nine

Gabriel had already decided he was going to tell LaVey once and for all that he had changed his mind completely about Axel Harrison. He wanted to forget he had ever been to see him at all. Gabriel would make a generous donation to his company for the inconvenience and that would be an end to it.

Gabriel wouldn't be able to rest until he knew that was settled.

The look in LaVey’s eyes just before he left the office on that fateful visit made his skin crawl. There was something dark and sinister hidden there. Now he knew a bit more about what was going on with Cassandra, Gabriel no longer had any desire to separate her from Axel. He might not be someone Gabriel would have chosen for his sister, but there was no denying the tender promise of lifelong affection shining out through those green eyes like a beacon whenever Axel looked at her.

Gabriel knew Cassandra would be lost without him and he couldn’t let his little sister suffer like that. It was cruel to force them apart when all they wanted was to be together.

He would go meet up with Lucas later at the library to see what they could find out about A-type omegas without the threat of Axel lurking protectively in the background just to make sure they didn’t come up with a theory that would get in the way of his plans to stay close to Cassandra until she was ready to let Axel mate her.

Gabriel’s hopes were soon dashed when he was left standing alone on the front steps of LaVey’s main office with no chance of getting in to see him.

An impersonal voice told him through the intercom that LaVey had gone away for a few days and wouldn’t be available for personal appointments for a long time after that.

There was no relief.

All Gabriel felt was a sense of budding dread and the horrible suspicion that was complete bullshit.

Gabriel couldn’t really think of any good reason why he would be dismissed so easily when he was welcomed up to his office before.

There was no more he could do for now, so he headed off to meet Lucas. He was waiting outside the main entrance. Gabriel gave him a friendly wave and jogged up the steps. He offered Lucas a brown paper bag and the other man opened it and took a quick peep inside. Nestled at the bottom was a fresh blueberry muffin and a cup of coffee.

“You remembered. Thanks, Gabe,” Lucas smiled at how thoughtful that was and folded the top back over to save it for later. He hoisted his pack a little higher.

Axel’s lore book was wedged inside between Lucas’ laptop and some of the coded scribbles he created the night he stayed up with Cassandra during her unexpected rush of heat.

Lucas hadn’t asked for Axel’s permission to borrow it, but he didn’t think he would even notice. His brother had become so oblivious to everything else, Lucas wondered how he managed to remember to eat or sleep at all.

Memories of that night soon resurfaced when he thought about Axel and Cassandra's mutual dependency.

Gabriel waved Lucas off. There was no need to thank him for a token peace offering. He was the one who needed to make up for all the damage he caused, but Lucas didn’t know that yet. Gabriel was hesitant to share until he was sure the potential threat to Cassandra’s safety had passed.

“So, what we looking for?” Gabriel asked casually, turning up his collar to stave off the chill.

“Axel asked me the other day how come Cas can sometimes control it and sometimes she can’t, so I guess we’ll start there. I just presumed it was something to do with the way she’s reacting to Axel. It started when he marked her. What do you think?” Lucas asked.

Lucas was beginning to respect Gabriel’s opinion on the things he learned since their first meeting. He wasn’t quite as emotionally invested and Lucas was keen to get a different perspective on it all.

Gabriel looked surprised anyone even cared what he thought and he certainly wasn’t used to feeling valued. He stopped for a second to give it some consideration.

“I’m not sure…” He said slowly. “What happened?”

Lucas was playing aimlessly with the paper bag. The contents were distracting and he couldn’t remember the last time he ate a proper meal.

“I don’t really know. Cas just had this uncontrollable heat that floored her completely and it sent Axel over the edge. She slept it off, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t come back. I haven’t seen her like that since though, and they spend a lot more time together than they did.”

Gabriel tried to come up with a reasonable suggestion.

“Maybe that’s why, then,” He offered uncertainly. “I mean, if this bonding thing pulls them together, then perhaps it was just a natural reaction. If you really believe they’re destined to be mated then it’s possible, I suppose.”

“I’m pretty sure it has something to do with those chemicals.”

“I thought Cassandra was on suppressants? I sent them every month. It was all I could do to help her. I didn’t want anyone to know where she was.”

“They never seemed to work on Axel,” Lucas said, with a dry smile. Gabriel just responded with a hum. He didn’t really want that image lodged forever in his head. “The suppressants must have masked her scent for everyone else, but for a true mate, then maybe not so much.”

“What did the book say?” Gabriel asked. Lucas tapped subconsciously on the side of his bag at the mention of it.

“Not much more than you already know, to be honest. Obviously, there’s not much science in it. That’s something else I want to look for here,” He added. His eyes drifted up to the entrance before sparing Gabriel a brief glance. “Thanks for offering to help, I appreciate it.” Gabriel nodded, but he didn’t reply until they reached the top of the steps.

“I want to know as much about it as you. Cassandra is my responsibility.”

“I know you feel like that, but I’m sure she doesn’t believe that’s true.”

“What about Axel?”

“I’m just worried, Gabe. I’m trying real hard not to show him, but this is sometimes too much for me. It’s exhausting,” Lucas admitted. He felt like he was being pulled in a hundred different directions at once and it was getting harder to pretend everything was alright.

“It’s not just a physical thing anymore. My brother persuaded Cas to phone in sick for a couple of days, but she’s not going to be able to do that forever. I think Axel is so desperate to keep her close, he’s not thinking clearly.”

“You think he wants to control her, after all?” Gabriel asked in alarm. It wouldn’t have been the first time an alpha had taken away someone’s self-worth and turned them into a malleable submissive.

“No, not control her,” Lucas answered, after a thoughtful pause. “Axel’s not like that.” He politely ignored the doubt on Gabriel's face.

Cassandra’s brother didn’t know Axel, not really. Lucas had spent his life following his brother around looking for Cassandra and trying to keep him out of trouble. Not very successfully on both counts, if he was honest.

Lucas always managed to find casual work here and there and he didn’t mind. He knew Axel would find it hard to get decent employment with a record like his. He managed to rack up a long list of misdemeanors over the years and it was only a matter of time before his past would catch up with him.

Lucas sighed, “More like he just wants them to be together all the time.”

“It’s dangerous, a love like that.” Gabriel added quietly. Lucas got the impression for a second time that a bitter memory and personal scars were making that comment for him. He couldn’t resist the temptation to prod him further.

“Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”

“Me?” Gabriel asked suddenly, eyes flicking up. He quickly looked away and shook his head. “No, not me, Lucas.” He answered softly, but Lucas didn't miss the fact he couldn’t look at him.

Lucas didn’t push it. He knew the shadow of a painful memory when he saw one and resumed the conversation about Axel to try and distract him.

“They were both lost, I think,” Lucas concluded, opening the heavy door and gesturing for Gabriel to go inside. He thought about it some more while they made their way to reception. Maybe that’s just what they needed all this time - each other. Like they were missing the other half of themselves. Cassandra’s fear, Axel’s anger. It all seemed to fade away when they met, Lucas thought with a smile.

Coincidence, my ass.