Alpha's Forbidden Dark Fae Mate

Chapter 5

Gabriel continued to lope through the forest lost in thought. The morning had turned from calm and peaceful to an absolute disaster.

Dominic had asked him to meet him in the clearing after he had met with his father that morning. Apparently, Rafa and Craven were beginning to be concerned that Dominic and Gabriel would challenge them for the clan now that Grim had returned. Dominic had asked for his support in exactly that pursuit, they had parried words and then blows of the topic. While Dominic was ready and willing to take over the clan, well, so he said. Gabriel had his doubts. Grim had no desire to pursue any sort of true Alpha position. That would be playing right into his father's hands and that was the last thing he would do after all these years.

Dominic's father, Rafa, was their clan Alpha; while his own father, Craven, was the clan Beta much to Gabriel's distaste. The two senior wolves had worked together for decades. But he knew his father's motives, as Beta were unscrupulous and power-hungry.

Thats why he had left shortly after his mother's murder.

Craven was responsible for Agnola's death. Gabriel had watched helplessly at 6 years old as Craven's wolf had ripped out his mother's throat. He had watched as life left her beautiful green eyes. He had cried for days, hidden under the cabinet where she had told him to hide. When the Alpha had questioned him, he had concluded the boy was traumatized and unsure of what he had witnessed and never revealed to the clan the accusations by the son of the father.

Agnola had been the clan healer, and a memorial was still held for her every winter solstice. She had never been replaced, healers came and went but none ever truly fit.

Dominic had been the only other person he had ever told, the only one who had believed him. To this day, Dominic was the only one who knew the truth behind her murder besides the Alpha. Though he doubted Dominic had ever revealed to his father that he knew what had truly happened.

He had never confided in anyone what his father's motive had been or his treacherous schemes. He wanted to be Alpha, he had planned to challenge Rafa for the position. Angola had never supported his plan, she had objected every time he brought it up. Insisting they were right where the fates intended them to be, he was Beta and she was a healer. She was no Luna. His father had raged time and time again that Gabriel was a born Alpha, his proof that they were being kept below their true status.

It was true that he was a born Alpha, not common for a Beta and Healer mate pair, but not impossible either. Omega's were born to born Alpha's and Luna's. Dominic's younger sister, Kira, was proof of that. Gabriel had left when he was 18 and free to do as he wished, not wanting to be involved further in his father's scheming.

He had spent the better part of his life alienating his father, his clan and most of those who knew him. Guilt and the desire to protect those around him drove him to become the 'ghost' he was known to be. He had made his own way as a mercenary, not the most prestigious job for a born Alpha but as far as he was concerned, he had no clan to inherit and he had proceeded to make the best out of the deck the fates had dealt him.

Returning home and walking into the vipers' nest was the last thing he had wanted to do, but something had drawn him there. His wolf had been restless on the road and regardless of how well the job paid or how challenging it was, that restlessness had only grown. He had finally given into the animal and allowed it to lead them.

He had expected unease from Rafa and Craven. What he had not expected was the envy he had developed towards Dominic upon meeting Ty'an.

To say he was envious would be an understatement actually. He had stopped at the top of the hill, turned and watched the interaction between Dominic and the female Fae, until his envy had begun to surpass into a jealous rage. He was losing his f*****g mind. A Fae, his wolf was screaming at him over a Fae. And not just any Fae. No, this Fae happened to be his best friend's female. What in the hell was wrong with him? Better yet, what was wrong with his wolf?

Sure, the two had trained together and had their fair share of true scuffles over the years. But never had he been jealous or envious of Dominic though. They had been brothers since birth, maybe not in blood but in bond. There had to be more to what was happening to him. Whatever it was, its focal point was that female, Ty'an, who and what she was? She was definitely no ordinary Fae, his gut told him that much. Whatever it was, he would get to the bottom of it so he could move on with his life and get the hell back out of this place.