Chapter 76

Seeing his grandfather again wasn't as worrisome as he expected it to be. Gabriel was still reeling from the fact that he had found Lori safely. He really wasn't as worried as he should have been about the elder meeting.

Although Kate mentioning the fact that Lori might be the purpose of the elder meeting did put him off a bit.

He had mentioned to them during the last meeting that he had a mate, he just chose to omit that she was a werewolf. He would have to tell them about that too.

The pack house was usually used for meetings, it was also sort of a recreational home for most wolves. Some stayed all year round, many came around every month. Gabriel himself used to visit a lot, that was before Emilia was born and he started to visit less and less. He didn't see many of the elders often either. He mostly saw the wolves he worked with. The guards, the ones that worked in the underground and the many other wolves that he had placed in all of his family empire. He saw them everyday. They were the ones he needed to see at least.

The pack house was on private Caine property. A sprawling mass of land that his family had owned even before his own grandfather was born. A sprawling castle like structure that was built in the late 1800s. Dark grey stone walls, high towers and small windows. Over the years it had gone through differing stages of renovation. Many of it to modernize it. Gabriel liked it's original charm, so when he became Alpha he stopped the renovations. He kept the original design, while adding modern touches like an up to date plumbing system, a better lighting system and better floors.

Even while growing up he rarely spent time there... his father was the one who went there often, it was far away from the city and much too cumbersome to go there as often as one wanted to.

Besides, many of the elders lived there... Gabriel did not want to be under their watchful judgmental eyes.

His grandfather was waiting for him in his study, he was informed the minute he arrived. He went through the formalities of saying hello tothe staff around before heading up the stairs to see him.

There was at least twenty minutes before the meeting started, he had time. Time to debrief his grandfather on Lori.

"Alpha."

His grandfather said as he walked in. Gabriel smiled tightly. The old man didn’t even look at him.

"Grandfather."

"I had no idea you were in town."

Gabriel noted as he noticed his grandfather was standing in front of the window and not turning towards him.

"I just arrived."

"That's good. How's everyone?"

Gabriel asked and the old man scoffed.

"Don't act like you care now."

"Very well."

Gabriel answered. He was right. He didn't care. His family was shitty to him, he didn't have to pretend to care about them.

"How's Elliot?"

Gabriel hesitated.

"He's... he's doing great.."

The old man finally turned. He was wearing an impeccable grey suit. It was unusual that he was dressed so formal.

"His mother's worried about him. She hasn't heard from him in weeks."

Gabriel rolled his eyes. Weeks?! Took her long enough.

"It's not like she really cares."

His grandfather gave him a look.

"Tell Elliot to call his mother."

Gabriel nodded.

"I'll pass along the message."

He finally moved to the couch at the far end of the study and sat down.

"I have to talk to you about something grandfather."

Gabriel said as he cleared his throat.

The old man gave him a look and stared out the window again.

"Is it about that girl who is your mate? "

"Well. Yes."

"She's my mate."

He repeated and his grandfather nodded.

"I see."

The old man murmured.

He finally turned to Gabriel. He glared at him.

"Tell me, what pack is she from?"

"She's not a werewolf."

"I see."

"You already know that?"

Gabriel asked as he raised his eyebrow. That was strange.

How did he know? He thought as he sat upright.

"How did you know?"

He asked and his grandfather shrugged.

"I have my ways."

"So she's a nephilim?"

"Yes."

The old man sighed.

"I don't have to explain to you what you must do."

"And what is that?"

Gabriel retorted.

"You must reject her."

"Never."

He fired quickly.

The old man glared at him again, anger in his eyes as his hands trembled slightly.

"Her kind... they're not the kind to be around with."

"Lori's harmless. She grew up human. She didn't even know she was nephilim until recently. Her kind is so rare that we haven't found any other."

That was a lie but it was better he hid the truth from his grandfather.

He waited eagerly for his grandfather's reply but the old man just took off his jacket.

"What are you doing?!"

He asked but his grandfather ignored him as he started unbuttoning his shirt.

Gabriel shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Grandfather..."

"Do you? Do you know what did this to me?"

He asked as he finally peeled off his shirt to reveal a long nasty scar that covered his entire left arm. How did Gabriel ever miss that?

He had never seen the scar before. From how it looked, it must have been there for years, but whatever cut through his grandfather didn't just cut through flesh alone. It cut through muscle too.

"It was a nephilim!"

"I was young... barely twenty one. I had a nasty fight with one of them. I was lucky to come out alive.”

“What happened?”

“I just told you what happened!”

His grandfather snapped.

Gabriel shrugged.

“Something must have led to the fight. You couldn’t have just been fighting a nephilim for no reason.”

The old man narrowed his eyes at his grandson.

Foolish foolish boy.

“Mindless violence. It was nothing but that. They’re evil creatures. Sometimes their powers have such a hold on them… they go on killing rampages. They’re very unstable.”

As much as he wanted to believe his grandfather, Gabriel just couldn’t. Nephilim were hunted, they were not the predator, they were prey. Hunted for their blood. Yes, they might have fought back… but did that really make them bad?

Besides, they’ve been in hiding for years now… that didn’t sound like something a dangerous species would do.

“Grandfather… let’s be real. I may not have been alive when you were born but don’t be trying to rewrite history for me now. I actually did read some of my supernatural history books.”

“Well they were wrong! I cannot let you make someone like that your Luna! It is impossible!”

“I will not reject her!”

“Foolish foolish boy!!”

His grandfather muttered as he started buttoning up his shirt.

“The elders would not accept her. The wolves would not accept her. Do you know that?!”

Gabriel massaged his temple.

“I’m the alpha. They will have no choice.”

The old man snickered.

“Keep talking like that… and you might just see that you’re not so high and mighty.”

“We have always respected tradition!”

He added and Gabriel scoffed.

“Well… no other alpha in this pack have exactly had a nephilim for a mate have they? All of them have had werewolf mates.”

His grandfather shook his head.

“That doesn’t make you the exception.”

There was a short silence as Gabriel contemplated his next statement. He had to be level headed and strategic. As much as he wasn’t prepared to follow his grandfather or any other elder’s silly orders he also didn’t want to get on their bad side.

He was still wondering how his grandfather had found out about Lori being nephilim. As far as he was concerned only Draco knew that.

Draco wasn’t a loose mouth. He shouldn’t have told anyone…

“Besides… this girl you speak of so strongly… from what I have learned about her… she’s an orphan, no money to her name, no land, no fame. She has nothing.”

“Nowadays, marriages are built on alliances. Our world is cruel… we need all the allies we can get…. And you need a strong Luna from a powerful family.”

“I don’t need all of that. Lori’s enough for me.”

Gabriel murmured and his grandfather sighed.

“Love doesn’t win battles Gabriel. You of all people should know better.”

“You fought very hard to be alpha. Are you going to lose it all because of some girl?!”

The words stung. More than he had expected it to. Just because he wasn’t expecting it… he wasn’t expecting his grandfather to be so shortsighted and care about such frivolities.

When he was fighting his cousins who were eyeing his throne he had no help from allies.

Most of his battles he had fought alone, by himself, without any help from other alphas so why should he marry a Luna because of alliances?!

“I will give you time to think about it. But don’t waste time in rejecting her.”

“I’m not rejecting her.”

The old man walked closer to his grandson and patted him on his back.

“Like I said… I’ll give you time..”

“I think I’d like to see her before I leave, maybe after the meeting. I’m curious to see the young woman who has stolen your heart.”

Gabriel’s eyes widened.

“Will you change your mind if you see her?”

There was an unlikely look on his grandfather’s face. It was highly unlikely.

“Oh there’s no changing my mind Gabriel. She cannot be your wife or Luna.”

***********

The broken necklace was just the beginning. Lori’s power launched back in full force. The growing pains kept her in bed for a while.

Why did it have to be now?! She thought as she walked across the room. She had to at least inform someone… Gabriel’s line was unreachable. Draco’s too.

The stumps on her back were back and they were growing rapidly by the hour and she dreaded looking in the mirror to find wings. Her forehead and hair was matted with sweat. At least there was no bleeding this time.

Just unbearable pain and the insatiable need to break and destroy everything in her path.

Fortunately one of the guards was closer to the door. So when she opened it he was in her face instantly.

His face paled at the sight of her.

Lori didn’t know if it was the gigantic black wings growing behind her or the fact that she looked like a delirious mad woman that shocked him.

“God!!! Is there something wrong?!”

“I’ll call the alpha…”

Lori halted him with a raise of her hand.

“He’s busy right now. He can’t be disturbed.” She said as she gritted her teeth.

“I need you to go to this address. There’s a woman there. Her name is Astra Barlow. Bring her to me.”

She unfolded the piece of paper in her hand. The man was still looking at her weirdly.


“Righ.. right now?!”

The man stammered and Lori nodded.

She slammed her palm on the door.

“Yes now!! As you can see, it’s fucking urgent!”

She snapped as she passed the piece of paper.

The man hurried away and Lori wondered if he would do it. Did Astra leave yet?! Or was there still a chance?
she could only pray that she was .