Note: A small part of this chapter is rated 18 pls. skip if you are below the age requirement. Big thanks from your author.
His house really was something to behold. It was elegantly (and very formally) furnished, with a massive stone fireplace being the center of attention in the living room. There were plenty of plush armchairs and leather couches to accommodate a small crowd, and the color scheme was rich and inviting. Gabriel showed me the living room, kitchen (rustic, but large), and dining room (which looked like it was barely used) before leading me up the curved staircase to the second floor.
We strode down to the end of the hall where he opened the door. A large four-poster bed stood against the wall. It looked like it had been recently made. There were large windows on either side of the bed and a comfortable armchair in the corner. I felt a prickle of excitement upon seeing a shelf with plenty of books that would occupy me for days. The room was designed in the same rich colors, deep red, creamy white, and brown, as the rest of the house. Lastly, a door in the back clearly led to a private bathroom. There was one thing that confused me, though. If this was Gabriel's room, why did it look like nobody ever stayed here?
"This will be your room. Mine is upstairs," Gabriel said quietly from behind me.
My heart sank at his words and I felt as if I couldn't breathe for a few seconds. We were staying...in separate rooms? The idea of staying in different rooms of the house seemed odd, as if we were strangers. Despite the fact that I wouldn't have known how to handle myself had we been staying in the same room, I felt a rush of disappointment and frustration.
Then I knew I was being a hypocrite, because I wasn't ready for any sort of intimacy with him yet. This whole situation was complicated and my emotions warred with each other. I shouldn't feel hurt by his actions of putting me in my own room, but here I was.
"Oh..." Was all I could muster at first, standing there as I tried not to let my confusion show.
Gabriel gave me an appraising look, sensing that I wanted to say more, but he looked unsure as to whether he wanted to hear it.
"Okay," I muttered. Apparently I could only handle one word sentences at the moment. All of my small disappointments throughout the day were catching up to me.
Gabriel clenched his jaw, avoiding my gaze. He seemed to have accurately gauged my confusion. "I think for now it's better that way."
Mates weren't supposed to stay on opposite ends of a house, no matter how unconventional the relationship was. Once again, I noticed my own hypocrisy. I probably wouldn't have been able to handle sleeping in the same room as him, regardless.
But the way he had been treating me all evening had really gotten to me, along with the unwelcoming and hostile treatment from his pack. My patience was wearing thin, and it was a difficult situation to begin with. Frustrated with him, I couldn't help but argue with his logic.
"It's better to isolate me?"
Gabriel ran a hand through his tousled dark locks, clearly agitated. "It isn't isolation. I..."
"Yes it is! You asked me to come here with you, away from my family and friends, and now you are shoving me to the side like you'd rather me not be here!" I wasn't sure where this bravery was coming from but my anger had been building up all day and I was having a difficult time containing it.
Gabriel's eyes flashed and he took a step back, balling his fists at his sides. "You're overreacting."
"I am not," I spit out. "You're the one"
"Why are you being so argumentative?" He said, his voice a growl. That was rich, coming from him, I thought.
"Why are you being so cold to me?"
He hesitated, irritation still plain in his expression, and I continued,
"I could be back home with my mom and dad..."
"They can't protect you," he snapped.
"Back at my pack village, with my friends!" I continued recklessly.
"Is this house not good enough for you?" He snapped, clearly agitated.
"Maria...Will...."
"WILL?" Gabriel demanded, eyes darkening, and I felt warning bells going off in my head.
"My friend" I began weakly, unsure what else to say.
Gabriel suddenly roared, slamming his palm against the wall near him with such force that I swore I heard something splinter. If his hand had been in a fist, he surely would have punched through the wall.
"I swear that if that pup touches you again I will fucking rip his throat out!" Gabriel snarled in fury, his deep brown irises no longer visible. His pupils had expanded and I could tell his Wolf was about to take over. I stood there, frozen in shock, my hands gripping the doorframe on either side on me. I was sure Gabriel was about to Shift any moment and the logical side of me wanted to hightail it out of there before he could.
I was still frozen in shock at his outburst, breathing heavily, deciding whether to back away or try to talk him down.
Comfort him! Do it! My Wolf snarled into my mind, her conviction washing over me in waves. I hesitated briefly. Part of me yearned to do just that, to ease his anger, as it was one of the things a Mate was supposed to do, but I was still stubbornly furious. I stalled, trying to set my thoughts straight, but before I could, Gabriel was already backing away.
"I'm going for a run," he seethed before I could say anything. He spun around and took off down the corridor, shoulders hunched and hands clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.
Still feeling somewhat numb after seeing him more infuriated than ever before, I slowly walked into my room and closed the door behind me, ignoring my Wolf's reprimands in the back of my mind. I already felt guilty, even though it was Gabriel that had angered me in the first place. I could have helped him, I knew. I could have eased his anger. But I was still angry, too! He dragged me all the way here and then treated me callously.
We deserve better than that sort of treatment, I told my Wolf.
I slowly slid down the door into a crouching position, resting my head in my hands, lamenting my current situation.
What had I gotten myself into?
I thought as I mindlessly drifted into sleep.
-----
************
We were locked in one intimate posture as I crashed my lips into his, my tongue fumbled with his lips, asking for permission to slid in. He let me in and I did my magic in his mouth, tongue swirling against the other. He pulled me from him and stared down at me. Lust evident in his eyes, then he ripped my clothes apart, leaving me clad in only my pants and bra.
He pushed me to the bed and climbed on top of me as he looked at me with want.
He made to unbutton his sleeves, but i stopped him.
"Let me" I said in a whisper
I pulled his sleeves and unbuckled his shorts, revealing a huge.... No, that's not the word... gigantic cock. I didn't know a gasp had escaped my lips.
"Shh" He beckoned, placing a finger on his lips, a gesture i found seductive.
He pulled my pants down revealing my well shaved clitôrïs. He slid a finger into me, then another,
"god you're so wet!" He exclaimed
With that he laid on top of me in the missionary style and in he went, sliding his côck into me.
***************
I woke up to realize.....fuck!!! I had been dreaming, seriously? I slept for less than 2 hours and i was having a wet dream on my mate whom i just had a quarrel with?
Oh! I was betrayed by my body, i thought, or should i say my brain? Tsk, whatever it is that creates dreams in the body betrayed me. I thought, disappointed.
My wolf was mocking me and was enjoying my state of disappointment.
I sighed. Standing up the bed as i paced up and down
Gabriel had been gone the whole time. I knew it must be late at night now, my wolf however was still angry that I had watched him nearly lose his temper and done nothing to stop it. Some part of me did feel guilty, but I'd always had a stubborn streak and I still maintained that it wasn't entirely my fault.
He'd urged me to come here with him and now he was giving me the cold shoulder. It was absolutely perplexing to think about the disparity between his actions when he came to save me from the vampires and his actions now. I had been the reluctant one at first, admittedly I was still a little reluctant, but I was willing to try to get to know him, as intimidating as the prospect was. If he kept acting like this, that would be nearly impossible.
The selfish part of me wanted him to feel some of the turmoil he was putting me through. So far Gabriel had gotten his way, mostly without protest, but I wasn't sure how much more I could take. I usually kept my temper under tight control, but something about him kept me constantly on edge.
The Mating bond. You keep resisting our Mate and it's unnatural, my Wolf growled condescendingly.
Right now, he's the one acting like he doesn't want us at all.
I could tell the thought insulted her, but she knew it was true. For all I knew Gabriel was going to storm in and kick me out of his pack's home at any minute.
I sat on my bed again, sighing, and attempting to twist my frizzy mess of curls into some semblance of a bun. One glance in the mirror was frightening enough and I wished I'd had time to shower before meeting Gabriel's pack earlier.
After forcing my hair to comply I glanced around the room. There were a few books to read, stacked on a shelf nearby, but I was too agitated to do so, and there was no TV. in my room. I narrowed my eyes, an idea coming to me. Perhaps this would be my chance to explore while there was no Gabriel around to hound me. Surely I could find out something about him by examining the contents of his home. He hadn't told me to stay put, had he?
This was probably a terrible idea. Realistically, I accepted that. But if I was getting the cold shoulder from him, then I'd just have to learn about Gabriel through other methods.
My mind made up, I stood abruptly and exited my room leaving the door cracked behind me.
I approached the stairs, freezing in place as another idea came to me. My heart started pounding with nervousness. Gabriel had said that his room was on the floor above. I knew he may not appreciate the intrusion on his privacy but my curiosity was nearly overwhelming me. I wanted to know what his bedroom looked like, especially since he wasn't allowing me to stay there.
Without further ado I began to skip up the stairs with renewed vigor. As I reached the landing above I glanced around with surprise. This floor was much smaller than the other two. On one side was a single door, on the other side stood a set of proud double doors. I opened the single first, gasping in surprise as the room's contents were revealed. It was clearly a makeshift library of some sort, with shelves and shelves of books crammed into every single space. Gabriel hadn't struck me as much of a reader but this room looked more used than those downstairs.
My nervousness rose again as I closed the door quietly and crossed the hallway to the double doors. This was his bedroom, I knew it.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, I mentally chanted. It was not my Wolf berating me this time, it was the logical side of my brain. The curiosity, however, won out.
I knew I'd be able to hear the door to the house when it opened and sneak out of Gabriel's room before he caught me red-handed, if it came to that.
I also knew Gabriel would later notice that my scent was in his room if I went in there. I realized he would probably be displeased with me. But if he was going to make no attempt to talk to me, this was my alternative. Besides, I wouldn't take anything or disturb the contents of his room.
Holding my breath, I placed my hands on the knobs and gently pulled them toward me, feeling a surge of wariness as I entered his living quarters.
I blinked, eyes immediately fixating on the moonlight that streamed into the room from the gigantic set of windows on one side, giving the area a lovely glow.
His bed was a four-poster like mine but larger. His room was done in a similar color-scheme but looked much more lived in, although I was surprised to see he made his bed neatly. On the opposite wall from the windows was a fireplace, much smaller than the one downstairs, with two armchairs next to it. Near me was a large set of shelves crammed with books. There were two doors in the room which I assumed led to the bathroom and closet.
I felt a bit awkward being in here without him knowing, and quickly pushed aside my misgivings. I had to be quick about this.
My eyes roved all of the room in a brief instant before settling some pictures on the shelves. There were only three of them but I leaned in, trying to observe as much as I could before Gabriel got home. The picture on the left was taken from far away and was clearly a pack photo. My Mate stood rigidly, right in the center, and it was obviously not his idea to take the picture because he had a half-scowl on his face. The expression was visible even from the camera's far distance. Wolves crowded in on all sides of him, Eli immediately to his right, smiling. The children sat on the ground at the forefront. I was surprised at the sheer numbers in the picture there. It must have taken quite a while to fit everyone in the picture.
My eyes found the next picture. I smiled despite myself as I realized that it was of Gabriel and Eli, next to a third male wolf that I didn't recognize. All three of them were young, I guessed around eight or so in the photo. Eli had a mischievous grin on his face, while Gabriel (unsurprisingly) looked much more serious. They were dressed in such a way that it seemed to me the photo was taken at a Mating ceremony or other pack ritual, if the Black Mountains Pack rituals were anything even remotely close to my pack's.
Lastly, I glanced at the third picture. To my surprise it was much dustier than the other two and set back a bit, as if Gabriel didn't want it to be easily visible. I reached out and gently pulled it forward, blowing the dust away. I blinked in surprise. There were three individuals in the picture. On the left was a man that was indubitably Gabriel's father. There was quite a bit of resemblance in their coloring and stature. Like Gabriel he had dark eyes and hair, although his features were broader, less regal than Gabriel's. The man was large and imposing with no trace of warmth in his eyes. In the middle was Gabriel. He couldn't have been older than three or four in this photo. What shocked me was his expression; he was beaming from ear to ear. He appeared completely carefree, which was obviously normal at that age, but I couldn't imagine seeing such an expression on his face now. I felt a pang of sadness at the thought.
On the right, holding his hand, was Gabriel's mother. She was absolutely radiant. Her hair was light brown and parted at the center. It fell down in waves almost down to her waist. She had bright brown eyes and a curvy figure. Her facial features entranced me, because although she was obviously less rugged than Gabriel, I could definitely see the resemblance. They each looked almost regal, like some sort of royalty from times past. She clearly held herself proudly. Her smile, however, was small. For some reason she looked slightly withdrawn in the picture, as if she wasn't feeling well or was upset about something. Frowning, I returned the picture exactly to its proper place.
I wondered what had happened to her. She obviously wasn't around. Had she died? I was burning with curiosity but knew I wouldn't ask Gabriel something like that, at least not yet. Judging by the placement of the picture it was a sore subject.
I backed away slowly, giving the room another once-over. I definitely felt like I was intruding but I couldn't curb my curiosity. Talking to Gabriel was like pulling teeth sometimes and this was much easier.
Don't do it... my logical brain warned me again as I decided my next move. My Wolf was surprisingly silent, just as curious as I was.
I crept over to the door nearest me, pulling it open to reveal a closet. I flicked on the switch, unsurprised to see that Gabriel didn't own a surplus of outfits. All of his shirts and pants were plain and inexpensive. Unable to help myself I leaned towards the nearest shirt, taking a deep whiff and allowing his scent to invade my nostrils. Despite my conflicting feelings, his smell still had the ability to soothe me.
And now I was smelling shirts in his closet. This was an entirely new level of awkwardness, and I knew I should probably go.
I was about to turn and leave, reaching my hand out to turn the light off, when something caught my eye.