The True Luna's Kiss

Chapter 17

Sirona stood at the top of the stairs, taking in the scene below her. As soon as her eyes locked onto her mates, she found she couldn't tear them away. The intensity that burned within them made her shiver. She fidgeted slightly in the clothes Alice gave her as his eyes raked over her body.

Sirona had managed to grab a look in a mirror before she left the bedroom. For a while, she hadn't realised what she was looking at. The pale skin, the dark eyes, and wet black hair. The too thin body, with no curves, no muscle and bones, that stuck out at the wrong angles. She winced before quickly turning away and leaving the room.

And now here she stood. More clothed than she had been in a long time, feeling more naked than ever as his eyes took in every inch of her. She was frozen to the spot, unsure whether to walk towards her mate or run in the opposite direction. Her breath came in pants, and her senses were overwhelmed by the smell of fresh mountain air. Her mate's scent.

Slowly, Gabriel began to climb the stairs. His eyes never left Sirona. Her body, her face. She was perfect.

"Our mate is stunning," Shadow purred, almost making Gabriel stop walking to react. His wolf was purring! He couldn't think about that. All he could think of was his mate, standing in front of him. Standing in front of her, he lifted his hand to touch her cheek.

"Maybe she can even heal us." Shadow said. He sounded hopeful.

At the words of his wolf, Gabriel stopped. He pulled his hand away. Sirona's eyes flashed with hurt and confusion. Gabriel felt his heart fracture. He was hurting his mate. But his scars... He needed his scars.

If his scars were erase, were healed, then it would set him back so far. Gabriel had the reputation of being cruel and ruthless, but it was for a good reason. How could he even begin to explain? How could he make her understand? Could he even touch her without removing years of work, of pain? Would he have to start again each time?

He needed his scars. It was the only way. He would take Sirona with him. He couldn't leave her here. But Gabriel knew he would have to find away to touch her and keep the scars on his skin. He slowly lowered his hand to his side. The air between them felt like fire was caressing every inch of his body. It wanted to pull him in. But Gabriel knew he would be burned if he did. Maybe not physically, but emotionally. He would be scarred in a different way.

Sirona stared at her mate, a thousand questions rushing through her head.

"Why won't he touch me?" Sirona asked Briar. "Why does he pull away?"

"I don't know." Briar answered truthfully, unable to keep the hurt out of her own voice. "I can feel that he wants to, he doesn't want to reject us. But touching seems to be a problem."

Sirona felt the tears well up in her eyes. She blinked them away quickly. She didn't want him to see how much he hurt her. If he was going to withdraw from her like this, she would do the same. She could feel the stares of the others in the group, and knew that Alice would have pity all over her face. She didn't want that. So she kept her eyes firmly on Gabriel and hardened her stare.

Gabriel watched the emotions flicker over Sirona's face. He kept trying to think of something to say. Anything he could say that would make her understand. But his mind was blank.

"She thinks we don't want her," Shadow said sadly. "She thinks we will reject her. Is that what you want? Would that be worth it?"

Rage filled Gabriel's mind, filling in all the blank spaces. He struggled to keep it down, to control it. His eyes blazed from black to brown as he tried to contain the anger that was consuming him. He had struggled with this for so long, the feeling of ice spreading through his veins, coating every part of him. And then, when it finally covered him, the eruption that it caused was lethal. Some people had been caught in the blast and it had not ended well for them. Since then Gabriel had fought to contain the beast that dwelled inside him. Even Shadow, with all his strength had been unable to help.

"The rage is not part of me." Shadow had said, which meant only one thing. Gabriel had to deal with it on his own.

Over the years he had managed to deal with it, not allowing his temper to get the better of him. But here it was thrashing against him. As if being near Sirona had caused it come alive. He let out a low growl, which startled his mate and she even took a small step backwards.

"That won't help!" Shadow snarked at his human. "Now you're frightening her!"

Gabriel cursed at himself as he looked at his mate. She looked so frail, so thin. They obviously hadn't being feeding her properly. That was the first thing he would change. Who knows, maybe once she realises she is safe, can eat as much as she wants and get anything she wants, she might even start to speak again. He would give anything to hear her voice right now, to here her say 'mine!' To know he was her's and to hear it from her own lips. He sighed inwardly. He was doing this all wrong. And he didn't know how to fix it.

But he did know one thing. His mate needed to eat a proper meal!

"Let's go!" Gabriel said as he turned from Sirona and walked down the stairs.