Friendship
Adea
The worst possible reasons for why he could have done what he did, or why he didn’t pull through with his promise to help rushed through my mind as I answer my own questions. Gabriel took one hesitant step after the other toward me and I took one step back as he reached out for me. His eyes locked on my face and the tears that formed and blurred him. He shook his head and stopped just out of arms reach.
“Let me explain. It’s not what you’re thinking,” Gabriel whispered.
“Isn’t it though? If not that then what could it be? What reason would make me understand your breaking your promise? Since you seem to think you know me so well why don’t you tell me what it is I’m thinking. Maybe I’m the one who was a fool to think I could trust you or anyone else in my father’s pack,” I bit out, the venom dripped from my tongue.
“I didn’t betray you. If you would just give me a chance,” Gabriel choked.
“If it looks like rogue, smells like a rogue, and sounds like a rogue it’s a rogue!” I cried.
“It isn’t! I’m not! Goddess, you stubborn woma—”
“How can this not be betrayal? You’re sleeping with the enemies Beta! Were you ever going to help me or were you just playing with me? Was it fun toying with my emotions? Promising me… promising me a way…” I trailed off. I couldn’t even say it. I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.
Freedom.
Friendship.
Goddess-damned it, someone who cared!
“I’m trying to tell you that’s not what happened!” Gabriel said defensively. He lowered his arm and his hand dropped to his side.
“I looked for you,” I whimpered. My tears finally escaped and streaked down my cheeks. “I searched for you the entire night. I grew more and more desperate with each passing minute that you didn’t show. Now that I look back it I know I was the foolish one for putting all of my trust into a stranger. You were my only hope and maybe that was my first mistake, but I-I… I thought we were friends. How wrong had I been? You deserted me. You left me and now you’re here to what? Have you come to watch me while I suffer?” I cried.
Gabriel shook his head as if he couldn’t bear to hear anymore. In the next minute he closed the distance between us and threw his arms around me. I hiccuped in surprise and my first reaction was to fight, to claw his eyes out, to bite, but this wasn’t Ethan and I didn’t need to fight him. He shushed me like a parent does to a child, his hand patted my back in an attempt to soothe a child.
My body automatically relaxed in his embrace and I choked as more tears streamed down my cheeks. Spit dribbled from my lips and a salt taste filled my mouth as snots ran down my lips. I brought my arms up and balled my hands into fists. I cursed him as one after the other slammed into his chest. He didn’t let up, if anything, he held me tighter—closer—until his shirt was drenched with snot and tears. He was the first and only person to hold me in this hell while I fell apart. I took a step back letting my hands fall, but Gabe grabbed them and wouldn’t let go.
“You left me,” I whispered.
“I didn’t leave you,” Gabriel swore.
“Then tell me. What happened that night? Where were you?” I asked.
“I was there. I was among the many people in attendance and I watched you. I waited for you to get away, to be alone. I had full intentions of helping you that night,” Gabe explained.
“Then where were you? I went off by myself that night and you never came,” I said.
“I was already in the hall when you made your entrance. I was going to follow you when I was pulled into a room. I never saw you leave Ethan’s side and that’s probably because it happened after I was captured. I don’t know who he was, but I found myself going head to head with an heir. It had to be an heir because if he was an alpha he would have easily killed me. Needless to say I lost,” Gabriel said.
“Oh my goddess,” I gasped.
“I woke up in darkness and I couldn’t move. I screamed for what felt like an eternity. I tried to do everything I could to get out, I even tried shifting, but the box was made of a material that stopped me from being able to. I was desperate to get out, to break free, not only for myself, but for you as well. I wasn’t found until the members assigned to cleanup came in. By the time I got out of that box two days had already passed. I may not have deserted you, but I failed you. I’m sorry,” Gabriel said.
“No, don’t be. You did all you could. It is I who should apologize. I’ve blamed you for not being there when you yourself were going through something unimaginable. Please excuse my behavior. I should have been reasonable and asked you about what happened. Being here… has me on edge and I’m not thinking clearly,” I said. I squeezed his hand hoping he knew how much I meant it.
“There’s no need. Your reaction is understandable and I’m not at all cross with you. When they told me that you’d already left I felt unbelievably guilty. I didn’t know what to do and tried to figure out a way I could do something. A month had passed before the letter came. When I read that the new Luna needed a new dress, I came as swiftly as possible,” Gabriel said.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
