Chapter 52

They were 1,396-foot above the ground. At least that was what she was told. The sophisticated penthouse they moved in was breathtakingly luxurious and so ridiculously pretty even in a way that put the mansion to shame.

It was only temporary, Gabriel has assured her. Just for a while. He mentioned, till he found a better and more secure location. For now the penthouse was the best option, with the tight security and the fact that they were on the top floor with at least five levels of security to get through, it would be the hardest challenge for an intruder to get into.

The penthouse was beautiful, it had a modern charm to it, one that was quite different from the mansion. A luxurious exterior gallery which boasted of a large living room alongside a library and a burning fire place. The corner dining-room provided multiple exposures and ran seamlessly into the residence's windowed open kitchen space. The kitchen itself was breathtaking, not as large as the one before but equally impressive, it had a wine cellar, some storage, center island, marble flooring and marble countertops and an all white lacquer with natural oak cabinets. Miele stainless-steel kitchen appliances and a classic Dornbracht finished chrome fittings.

The master bedroom had a great view of the city unfolding across the  room's floor-to-ceiling windows, which were curtained in a thick but white fabric. The bespoke bed was large, white white covers and dark brown pillows, the night tables flanking the bed were white, with twin white lamps on them.

The entire room was covered in a thick, soft light grey carpet. She liked the room already, the view was breathtaking.

Even though the penthouse was tiny compared to the mansion, she knew she wouldn't mind getting used to such a small space. It wasn't like she lived in bigger places before.

The penthouse was bigger than her former apartment.

The guest room was a lot smaller and simpler and Grace and Lori had taken their time to set it up since it would be the baby's room.

So far, unpacking had taken a lot out of her. Gabriel had helped but he had to leave for work, Elliot had come over but he was quite lazy and he didn't do anything but watch TV and talk. Now that she knew he was a werewolf he had been rambling on and on about every supernatural he had ever met.

Grace was the only one who truly helped.

She had been devastated when she got back and heard everything that happened.

It hurt her that Tony was gone and Lori was sure the old woman would shed some tears for him.

And it also hurt her that she would probably have to stop coming over too. Gabriel said it was for her personal safety. He was concerned about his pack members, he didn't want anybody else to lose their life. Besides Tony had compromised all of them…


Lori didn't want to put them in danger eitherZ The thought that those wolves had come for her had kept her awake every night, alongside with every other thing that Gabriel had told her.

She was a naphil. Or nephilim. Or she could be, according to what he also told her. He wasn’t a hundred percent sure but he had a strong feeling she was.

Was that why her mother abandoned her? Since her kind was hunted for their blood?!

She had so many questions and she got very little answers.

Gabriel did not know her kind and she was the very first he had met.

Was she truly not human?

That part had worried her the most. She wanted Gabriel to do more tests, to try out and see if she was truly what she said she was.

She also couldn't give the baby her breast milk anymore.

At least not as much as she used to from what he had also told her.

She was the one who had been causing her high fevers. Her milk had caused it.


It took time, time processing it everything.

"So, what should I make for dinner?"

Grace asked as she looked into one of the kitchen cabinets.

Lori shook her head, breaking out of her thoughts.

Grace had volunteered to make dinner. They had been having takeout since they arrived.

"Yea I don't mind anything. Although I might be in the mood for spaghetti."

She said and Grace nodded.

"Ugh! I think I might have to go get some groceries."

"Oh! Why don't you talk to Elliot? I'm not sure he's doing anything at the moment."

Grace rolled her eyes.

"Your think he’ll help out?"

Lori stood up from the sofa where she was laying.

"I'll go ask him myself. Give me a list of what you need."

She asked and Grace nodded and she peeped into the fridge.

"Ah yes basically we need some chicken, some cheese, pasta. I think that about sums it all up..."

She said and she looked into the fridge again.

They had only gotten a few groceries when they arrived, not nearly enough.

"Okay. Please watch Emilia I'll be right back."

She said and Grace nodded.

Outside the penthouse and in the elevator, Lori pressed the number of Elliot's floor.

His floor was five levels below them, a small apartment that Elliot had seemed very happy to be in.

Lori would miss how close they used to be before but luckily he lived in the same building and even though they just moved in a few days ago he likes to drop in unannounced every day.

When she arrived at his floor she was surprised to see him out of his room, his hand on his door handle and his other hand on his phone, to his ear in what seemed to be a heated and serious conversation.

Lori paused.

She had never seen Elliot so angry.

"No! Lyle!"

She heard him.

Lyle?!

Who was Lyle?!

She asked herself as she walked closer and tugged at his sleeves.

"Elliot?"

She called out and he turned to look at her, he froze when he saw that it was her and hastily put his phone in his pocket.

"Lori?! What are you doing here?!"

"Who were you talking to? You sounded so angry..."

Elliot shook his head nervously.

"Nobody.... Just some friend..."

"We got into some petty argument."

"About?!"

Elliot waved his hand away.

"Let's not! Let's not talk about that."

"By the way... did you hear anything?"

He asked anxiously and Lori folded her arms and stared at him. He looked so jittery, what was he hiding? And who the hell was Lyle?

She didn't know he had any friends named Lyle and even though she hadn't technically met any of his friends the ones he told her about weren't named Lyle.

"Nothing..."

Eliot sighed in relief.

"Are you sure?!"

Lori raised her eyebrow.

"Yes. I am..."

"You cannot tell Gabriel about this okay?!"

"Woah woah!! Now you're acting weird. Tell him about what?"

"That you saw me arguing on the phone."

Lori chuckled.

"I'm not sure he'll care much about that. Come on, tell me about this Lyle guy."

Elliot paled.

"I thought you said you didn't hear anything!"

He snapped at her and Lori took a step back.

She didn't.

Just a name.

Elliot sighed, his hands massaging his temple.

"Okay. Here's what you're going to do. This whole interaction... let's not speak a word of it to Gabriel."

"Please... please Lori."

He begged.

Lori sighed.

She was curious... she didn't even know why Elliot would ask her not to tell Gabriel... it wasn't like she was going to anyways. Why would she burden Gabriel with something as inconsequential as a petty argument?!

That didn't make sense.

What also didn't make sense was how much Elliot was freaking out about the whole issue.

"Fine, I won't."

She answered and he sighed in relief.

"I need you to help out with some groceries."
She added.



*******************


“Kate.”

“Gabriel.”

Kate’s voice was warm and sultry, her scent strong and feminine as she hugged Gabriel tightly, her golden head resting firmly on his chest.

“Oh I missed you so much!”

She declared and Gabriel nodded as he slowly pried her off him.

“I heard you came to my place.”

He said as he moved to the sofa.

Kate nodded. She looked exactly the same, even though it had been years they had last seen each other. The breakup had taken a toll on her, so she had left town, even though she never admitted that it was the reason she left town, Gabriel knew it was.

They just didn’t work…. Everyone assumed they were perfect for each other because of their social status, while in real life their relationship was bland and lackluster. He kept on going only because he expected that it would lead to some specific outcome, but then he decided against it when his beta Draco found his mate.

It gave him hope, hope that his own mate was out there waiting for him and he didn’t have to suffer through an arranged marriage just for the sake of social status.

Kate nodded.

“Yes. Unfortunately it seemed to have been wrong timing…”

“I apologize for what happened to your staff, Draco filled me in.”

Gabriel nodded.

“Thank you...”

There was an uncomfortable silence between them, before Kate decided to take charge of the conversation.

“Your grandfather… he was the one who called me. He told me where you lived.”

Gabriel nodded.

He already figured that one out, he couldn’t count on his grandfather to stay out of his business. He was pretty sure the old man was already pitching a marriage alliance with Kate’s father.

“I heard about your daughter…. I’m sorry about what happened to her mother.”

Gabriel nodded.

“It’s so sad… that you had to endure everything all alone.”

She said as he leaned in, closing the gap between them and taking his hand.

Gabriel shrugged. He had Lori by his side… but did he want to tell her that yet?

No.

If he did she would tell his grandfather and if his grandfather knew he had a mate the rest of his pack would know and there would be questions for everyone to answer. Most especially him.

He wasn’t ready for that kind of drama.

“I tried to see her when I came over. But then your nanny wouldn’t let me…”

Wait. She met Lori?!

“You met Lori?“

He asked as he turned towards her and she nodded.

“Yes. I did… she didn’t let me see the baby.”

“Oh… you’ll get to see her another time.”

He reassured her.

“Awwwn. Thank you Gabriel. We can go after you’re done with work. I actually have a free schedule this week…”

No. No.

Gabriel shook his head.

“Kate… why are you really here? We haven’t spoken to each other in a long time.“

Kate sighed.

“Oh I know. I know…”

“When we broke up I felt like my whole world had come crashing down… I couldn’t stand to see you again after that you know that?!”

She asked and Gabriel nodded.

“I’m sorry…”

Kate shook her head.

“It’s okay… I know it’s okay..”

“I don’t know… when your grandfather called me it gave me hope…”

“And then I heard you also had a little girl and I just couldn’t stop imagining what would have happened if we were still together…”

“Kate… I don’t know what my grandfather told you but I haven’t really agreed to any of that.“

“And I’m not sure I will.”

He answered directly and she gawked at him, her hands limp behind her shoulders and her expression grim.

“Why?”

“I mean… I don’t have a mate, you don’t have a mate…”

She paused.

“Or… wait…”

“Do you have a mate?!”

She asked and Gabriel nodded.

“Yes. Yes I do.”

He supposed there was no need to hide it anymore. He would ask Kate to keep it quiet for a while so he could break the news to his grandfather himself.

“Who?!”

She blurted out and Gabriel grimaced.

“Well… you’ve met her before.”