Chapter 42

Gabriel Silva's P.O.V.

I hurriedly button my shirt as I descended the stairwell. I'm rushing to see my mate after listening to Ryan and the majority of my pack that she's at the pack house. The happenings of the week before replay in my mind; it's only been a week since she accepted me, and things are going well. Our bond is growing stronger, but with it comes an overwhelming desire for me to finalize the marking and mating procedures with her.
I cannot force her, notwithstanding how tough it is for me to keep my beasts under control. She isn't ready, and if I hurt her, I would never forgive myself. To be honest, I'm worried that my mark will hurt her, and the idea of her suffering as a result of my actions keeps me from going any further. Moving out from the house, I make my way to the pack house's back entrance, in which my mate's divine scent is strongest. I rounded the corner, stopping shortly at the incident in front of me, inhaling deeply to calm my beasts. Amanda, my mate, is wrestling on the ground with one of my pack warriors who smashes a cupcake onto her cheek while she laughs. Immediately, my beasts snarl at the sight of their mate in the arms of another, growling at me to rip him apart.
''What is going on here? You are all supposed to be training! Amanda!'' My voice booms in the clearing, making everyone freeze.
My eyes snap to her as she grabs a cupcake from a nearby table and stands, sighing loudly. ''Alright fruit avengers. Disassemble!''Amanda, my partner, is battling on the floor with another one of my pack's warriors, who laughs while smashing a cupcake into her cheek. My beasts growl at the glimpse of one‘s mate in someone else's arms, snarling at me to tear him apart. "What the hell is going on here?" Everyone is supposed to be working out! Amanda!'' My voice reverberates throughout the clearing, causing everyone to freeze. As she snatches a cupcake out from a table closeby and stands, sighing loudly, my gaze is drawn to her. "OK, fruit scavengers. Disassemble!''
And then everyone vanishes, abandoning only her and me in the vast backyard. I felt twitchy myself and harden as I let my gaze wander over her long legs, which are clad in ripped denim. I groan softly at the things that this lady does to me, knowing I'll be getting a chilled shower later. ''Dammit! She pouts and stomps her foot in anger before running straight back into the pack house.
My wolf perks up at the prospect of chasing down my mate, and I let out a low growl. I run inside after her, just in time to catch her before she ends up leaving the pack house. I start to walk up the stairs, flinging her over my shoulder. As we approach the second floor, Amanda mutters to herself, slowly whacking her feet up and down. I opened my mouth to say something as I place her in my office and observe her face scrunch up in discomfort. "I'm not feeling well." She strolls to the black leather chair right behind my desk, groaning and clutching her stomach.
As I crouch down, her grey eyes meet mine. When I looked into her eyes, I noticed that the blue specks are darker than they've ever been. Her eyes aren't fixed on anything, flitting around the room, looking at everything while her leg bounces. "Are you high?" "No, I'm not." You're just making a fool of yourself!" She responds a little too loudly, squeezing my cheeks and standing out from her chair to wander aimlessly around the room.
My breath is caught in my throat as a result of the sudden action. I'm still getting used to the flickers and tingles that erupt on my skin anytime she brushes up against me. Never in a million years did I think I'd have another chance, but here she is, and the connection between us is getting stronger on every minute we enjoy together.

It's becoming increasingly impossible to ignore her, particularly when she's dressed in a way that makes me really want rip her clothes off and drag her on top of my desk. Gabriel, you're out of your mind! I mentally scream. Returning my gaze to my daughter, I watched as she skips over to the bookshelf, muttering under her breath. "Amanda..." I begin cautiously, recalling a bit of advice given to me by Chris Valentine. "Did you have anything sugary to eat or drink this morning?" "How did you figure that out?!" She spins around and gives me a grin. "Helena made my breakfast and let me add some extra sugar in it!"
"And then what did you do?" "I cooked cupcakes and spent a bit of time with Drew; we tried to rap on a dare, unfortunately it was so lame," she says. She laughs, and I clench my fists, trying to keep my wolf at bay. "Demonstrate to her to whom she belongs to!" Kelvin her, please! Mura yells within my head, "She's ours!" and I growl fiercely at him. Even her adorable pout can't make me feel better. She, on the other hand, refuses to allow me respond to her.
"Did you know, Gabriel, that stars are really gas?" Are you aware that Santa Claus does not exist? Why is school even necessary, and oh! Hello.'' I can hear my friend's heart pumping at an exceptionally high rate as she smiles up at me. The phone rings just before I could answer, making her grin happily. I won't be able to catch her once she dashes over to get it and grabs it. "You're talking to the greatest person on the planet; how may I assist you?" she asks, huffing as I take the phone.
I move up to the wide window and welcome another person on the phone, my back to her. Looking back, I notice Amanda seated at the table, her lovely legs hanging back and forth. I resume my conversation with another Alpha now that I know she's here. However, I'm looking down at the expanse of land right opposite me as I talk. When loud laughing comes from below, my sight strays to the pack warriors finding their route to the boundary line to conduct their rounds.
My eyes are probably bloodshot, and my form is trembling as I say farewell to Alpha Peter as quietly as possible. I throw the phone on the desk and sprint just outside the pack house, arriving just in time to witness my comrade trip over a boulder and fall to the ground. Drew walks over to her and rips up my mate's elbow, revealing a sharp gash on her skin with blood flowing out of it. She sits there smiling, oblivious to my enraged figure behind her. At the sight of my partner in pain, I almost allowed my animals to take over and kill him. Within me, Mura and Boris snarl and let out a loud howl.