The Human's Gargoyle

Growls

I woke up with a groan. My body is sore! But in a good way? I rubbed my neck and smiled as my fingers danced across the tender spot. Matthias marked me last night. I sat up with a start, throwing the blanket off of me. I tried to stand, but just managed to hit the ground. That’s when I heard a chuckle on the bed. I peaked over the edge and gasped!

“ Matthias?” Looking at me was a man! Not the gray gargoyle from last night! His skin was a pale white! His hair and eyes were the same dark colors. “Is that you?” He pushed up onto an elbow and smiled.

“It’s still me.” The deep, gravelly voice was rich and thicker from sleep.

“You look different!” I gently grazed my hand over his chest. He just closed his eyes and sighed.

“Mating with you, I’m no longer confined to stone. I have free range of my appearance now.”

“You’re beautiful.” I couldn’t help but whisper. He just chuckled. “ I mean… you were beautiful before too! All of you is beautiful!”

“You are breathtaking little one!” I smile before leaning down to kiss him. This was my mate! No, more Gatherings! I pushed away quickly.

“Oh, my Goddess! The Gathering tonight! I need to be there!”

“What Gathering? Why?”

“It’s a large party we hold every year for unmated wolves! My brother is meeting his mate tonight but only if I’m there!” He growled.

“You will be surrounded by unmated male wolves? Why do you need to be there for your brother to meet his mate? I don’t understand.”

“Trust me, they don’t want me. I have been going since I was 18. They take one sniff in my direction and walk away because I’m human. But if I’m not there my brother will leave early. He’ll leave before she gets there! I’ve seen it!”

“You’ve… seen it?”

“I’m weird. I’ve always known things. I can’t explain it. No one knows why but I dream something and it happens or I’ll look at someone and know their name or whatever. I knew my oldest brother and his mate we’re expecting before they told anyone. I know what they’re having, but I’m refusing to tell them.” I bit the edge of my lip when I smiled. Matthias groaned.

“Don’t abuse your lips like that love. If I t must be bit so badly I’ll gladly do it for you.” I squeaked out in shock! He just smiled again before pulling me down for a kiss. I melted against him. Everything about Matthias felt like home. A moan escaped me as he turned over onto his back, pulling me with him so that I was now straddling him. We were still very much naked.

“Matthias, wait a minute.” I pushed up using his chest. “As much as I would love to go again this morning, I’m still sore from last night and I really need to get home. My dad’s probably furious with me. I kind of left yesterday without telling anyone.” He groaned. “And my bike is at the cemetery. I was never cleared to ride by my doctor. Dad’s gonna kill me.”

I took a little more convincing for Matthias to let me up. Then of course there was the issue of my shirt. It seemed as if someone seriously didn’t enjoy me wearing another male’s shirt and managed to rip it in half.

“Seriously?! That was one of my favorite ones!”

“I’m sorry love.” I glared at him and he just smirked.

“No, you’re not.”

“No.” He chuckled, pulling out of shirt of his own. Just a plain black shirt. “I’m not. Try this on.” I pulled the shirt over my head and laughed. The thing went almost to my knees!

“Hang on, I can fix this.” I pulled a leather cord from the dresser and tied it around my waist. I pulled the shirt up a little so the top was looser. The shirt now ended just below my shorts. I glanced over my mate.… my mate! I would never get used to that. Matthias was dressed in a pair of well fitted jeans and another plain black shirt. “Where’s your tail? And your wings?” He lifted the edge of his shirt up slightly, and I saw his tail wrapped around his waist like a belt. I even got a peak of his abs.

“My wings are retracted. But I’ll take them out to fly us.” I smiled as he gathered me into his arms and and flew us back to the cemetery. Convincing him I wanted my bikes only a little difficult. He flew over me back to my home. My heart sank when I pulled up to my front door. Dad was there and for the first time in my life he was angry with me.

“Ariana where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea how worried I was? I’ve had people out searching for you all night. Your mate has been out of his mind!”

“I’m sorry daddy I just needed to … Wait, my what?”.

“Alpha Rick has chosen you as his mate you will accept.”

“I will not.” He stomped over and grasped my arm. “Ow! Dad! Let go!”

“You have no choice Ariana. A deal was made. You will except Alpha Rick as your mate.” He growled into my face.

“I won’t, I can’t!”

“Why not?” His eyes were flickering between normal and black. I cried out with his claws pierced my arm. Then I heard a thump of someone landing. I looked just passed my dad’s shoulders to see Matthias standing behind him. His beautiful black wings are stretched out to the sides and his eyes were blood red.

“Let go of my mate before I remove your hand from your body.” Matthias’ deep growl sent shivers down my spine. The look of fear in my father’s gaze was something new. I had never seen the man scared of anyone before. Dad turned slowly, his hand still wrapped around my upper arm.

“Who the hell are you?” Dad yelled. Then he growled. “How’d you get onto my land?”

“I am Ariana’s mate. I flew here.”

“No. Her mate is Alpha Rick. He chose her. You’re going to die for trespassing.” Dad finally let go of my arm only to charge at Matthias. With a single leap, Matthias was flying over my father’s head and snatching me up into his arms before dad even had a chance to turn around. I only glanced down at the ground as we flew away to see dad’s large black wolf chasing after us.

“Matthias?” I cried against his chest. He simply pressed my face further into his neck as flew. I knew dad wouldn’t be able to keep up. We didn’t stop until we were back at his castle. Back in his room. Our room? He set me on the bed gently before taking my arm. It wasn’t bleeding anymore. “Matthias?” I tried again.

He shushed me before licking at the wounds made by my own father’s claws! My father cut me! I cried silently. It was maybe a minute before Matthias pulled back and then laid on the bed, pulling down onto his chest again. A deep rumble started in his chest. It reminded me of my dad’s purrs and it had the same soothing effect on me. My tears slowed before stopping altogether. Then I fell asleep.