Keeping My Word

CHAPTER 21: KEEPING MY WORD
~ Gabriel’s POV ~

She didn’t even pull back when I closed the distance between us leaning in licking her bottom lip, teasing it with my tongue. I captured it between my teeth, softly biting and sucking. She let out a soft moan telling me that she was enjoying what I was doing. I reluctantly broke away from her. “Did you like that?” I asked her with a grin. My voice was breathy. She nodded at me and leaned in again, seeming eager for more.

I stood from the table. I grabbed her hands and pulled her up to me. Then I wrapped my hands around her waist and pulled her into my chest. She slid her arms around my neck. I dipped my head down and hungrily took her mouth in mine giving her a proper kiss this time. She moaned lowly into my mouth and began to follow my lead. Her hands began to trail down my shoulders and around my back. I was trying to stay gentle and romantic but my desire for her took over. My hands seemed to have a mind of their own. My fingers found their way under her shirt and were caressing her low back slipping below the top of her shorts. I released a growl that vibrated from my chest. I parted her lips with my tongue and slid it into her mouth. She met my tongue with hers and we melted into each other.

Mika was bouncing around my head excitedly. It was the hottest kiss I had ever experienced. I wanted to pick her up, wrap her legs around my waist, carry her to my room and claim all of her as mine. I broke our kiss as the urge to mark her was taking over. I leaned down and ran my tongue over her marking spot softly.
“I want to mark you so badly, but I want to do it in the right way. I have to know that I am your intended mate. I don’t want to take that away from you.” I whispered to Harper.
“Alpha Gabriel, I appreciate you wanting to make sure that you are my mate first before moving any further with things. But my feelings are so strong for you right now and only getting stronger. The connection between us is undeniable. I feel like I want to be yours and I want you to be mine.” Harper’s voice was soft and honest.
“Formalities are not necessary between us, Harper. To you I am Gabe. And I am already yours.” She nodded at me and gave me a cute smile. “All I want is you. But I have to be sure.”

A loud howl sounded in the forest behind us. With that, I broke apart from her and instinctively shoved her behind me. Placing my body between her and the direction of the howl.

“Gabe! Rogues have crossed the east side of our border!” Tanner yelled through our mind link.

“How many?” I said back to him.

“At least ten or more. You need to get here now!”

“Harper, I’m sorry I have to go. We have rogues.” I am having a warrior escort you back to your room. Stay there until I come to get you.

“Gabe no! I can help.” She said.

“Harper, you don’t have your wolf yet. If you get hurt, you can’t heal fast. It is too dangerous for you.” She nodded her head understanding what I was saying.

“Run to the packhouse my warrior is already on his way here to meet you. I have to know that you are safe before I…”

I couldn’t finish what I was saying before a menacing voice cut me off.

“Well, if it isn’t Harper Rae. It is an honor to be in the presence of the Luna of the Foul Moon Pack. Isn’t it boys?” I looked to see a greasy looking man who looked to be in his early thirties leap over the wall of the garden. He had shoulder length light brown hair and crooked teeth. He was followed by two other men. They looked younger around mine and Harper’s age both with short black hair. They could have been brothers. They were completely nude due to just shifting back into their human forms. You could tell modesty wasn’t something what bothered them.

“What business do you have within the borders of my territory?” I said my voice loud and authoritative. I tried to keep Harper behind me not intending to let these wolves near her.

“We have already gotten what we came for. The location of the girl is confirmed. Alpha Thane already knows she is here.” Said the greasy dude with the long hair.

“Now we are going to take her back with us as a bonus in payment is waiting for us if we do.” They all stepped forward.

“As if I am going to just let you take her.” My anger is now rising causing my voice to combine with Mika’s. Anger was coursing through my body, and I allowed my wolf to slowly emerge.

~ Harpers POV~

Gabe had halfway shifted. His body had grown taller and wider with muscles that were exaggerated under his skin. Those silver eyes were now illuminated amber. His teeth had extended showing off razor sharp K9’s, and his fingernails had grown longer. They look sharp enough to cut through bone with ease. He is more dangerous looking than I could have ever imagined, and he hasn’t even shifted all the way yet.
“No Stan, stop what you are doing! I won’t allow anyone to get hurt on my behalf.” I moved past Gabe trying to stop them from fighting.

I recognize Stan, he is a rogue who Thane works closely with to get intel about other packs. I met him only once, in the hallway of The Foul Moon Packs’ packhouse. He was standing propped against one of the walls near the dining hall. I noticed him looking at me and licking his dirty lips at the same time. I asked one of the servants who he was, and she told me all she knew at the time.

I know Gabe is strong because he is an alpha. But it is three on one here. Where is that warrior? I couldn’t bear it if Gabe got hurt because of me. Fear gripped my body for the first time since I lost my parents. I couldn’t live to see someone else I cared about get hurt… or worse!

“If that is what you want then come with me willingly Luna.” He reminded me of a snake the way his tongue moved about his mouth when he spoke.

“That is not going to happen!” Gabe roared and shifted me back behind him, stepping forward toward the men. The two men my age must have felt threatened due to Gabe advancing toward them, so they instinctively shifted into their wolves. Both gray in color.

One wolf launched at us, and Gabe caught it midair by its neck. It flailed its body around trying to get away. Gabe growled and tightened his hand around its neck. A pop was heard. The wolf's body stopped moving and its head rolled to the side. He had just snapped its neck with his bare hand. Gabe carelessly tossed the wolf to the side of the garden. Its lifeless body had now shifted back to human.

“Have it your way then young alpha. I’ll be sure to let alpha Thane know that his chosen mate has taken refuge in another male wolf’s arms.” Stan said, spitting out every word.

“You do that, and don’t forget to tell him that she has never been his mate because she has always been mine. He is a coward for not coming here himself. When he is ready to show his ugly face, I will be waiting for him. You tell him that death should be the least of his worries.”

Gabriel’s voice is loud and threatening. Stan and the other rogue didn’t wait around. Stan shifted into his scruffy brown wolf. He and the last gray wolf tucked their tails and leaped back over the fence.

Gabe mind linked all the warriors of the pack. He allowed me to hear, I guess because I was now considered a warrior.

“They should be retreating now. Finish off the enemy wolves that you are killing and let the others get away. They have something to tell their alpha for me. Double up on border patrol from here on out. I don’t want anything like this happening again. They were here to confirm Harper’s location. I want to be notified right away of any suspicious activity. Is that understood?”

“Yes, alpha Gabriel.” A group of voices clearly answered Gabe over the link. Gabe let his body shift back to normal. Because he didn’t fully shift his sweatpants managed to stay in place.

“Do we have any casualties? I need a report on all injuries.” Gabe said. The seriousness of his tone never faltered.

“No Casualties alpha, but some injuries. Minor injuries have already healed. Some of the pack warriors who had serious injuries have been taken to the pack doctors. Everyone is expected to have a full recovery.” Tanner said. He was the perfect beta to Gabriel.

“Good, put the injured on medical leave. To everyone else. I am proud of your courage tonight. You have protected our pack from the first perimeter breach in over a decade. I will be updating my father of all the happenings. Go to your families and get some rest.” Gabe closed the link. Gabe walked up to me leaving no distance between us. He held me by the waist and looked me straight in the eyes.

“Please, don’t ever put yourself between me and any wolf ever again. If you were to get hurt or killed, I could never forgive myself.” I nodded as if I was agreeing to what he asked of me. The truth is, before I let anyone give their life for mine, I would give myself back to Thane. As painful of a thought as that is. This pack is my family, and I am not going to let them be sacrificed for me. Thane may not realize it yet, but I would kill myself in front of him before I would ever be his. I won’t be his victim.