Chapter 10

((EDITED 5/17/2016. Ok, so this chapter is now 700 words longer with the edit... whoops! Didn't realize I was adding that much!))

(please read A/N at the end, it has important info!)

-------

The cool breeze whispered across my bare skin, making me shiver slightly.

The moon was high in the sky and I could feel my Wolf whining inside of me. She was itching to be let out. Goosebumps covered my body, although that might have been due more to my nervousness than the crisp air. I was currently behind the large, twisted trunk of a tree, completely naked but outside of Gabriel's line of sight as I prepared to Shift. Part of me had the urge to step outside of the shelter of the trees, just to see his reaction, but I quelled the thought. I wasn't ready for that sort of intimacy yet. I barely knew Gabriel and I still wasn't sure exactly how I felt.

My Wolf, however, was making her intentions clear. We knew that our Mate was standing not too far from us and that he was completely unclothed as well. My body itched to be near him, bare flesh pressed against bare flesh. The thought made me shiver again, and not from the cold this time.

Behave yourself, I instructed my Wolf. She would be much more prominent in my consciousness as soon as I Shifted, and her instincts would be hard to resist, although I could still reign her in with enough willpower.

She whined slightly, disagreeing with me but partially understanding where I stood.

I'm not ready for that yet. You know that. I continued softly. Although her animalistic urges would be hard for her to ignore, we were bound together. She could feel what I was feeling. I knew she'd take that into account and not act too rashly.

I felt a slight sense of begrudging agreement emanate from her. I'd have to keep an eye on her.

I picked up the large bag that held my clothes and necessities, loosening the straps as much as I could and putting it on my back. Gabriel had been prepared to carry it, but I hadn't been sure that the straps could even loosen up enough for the bag to fit on his back when he was in Wolf form. As an Alpha, he would be much bigger than me. Admittedly, I had also been tired of him bossing me around all evening and wanted to do something for myself, so I had insisted (and then grabbed the bag from where he had set it on the ground before he could respond).

The bag hung off of my small form but would fit tightly once I had Shifted. I knew it would look comical, a wolf wearing a large bag on its back, but it was the most convenient way.

Closing my eyes I willed the Shift onwards. Instantly my shoulders hunched and I fell forward, my bones realigning themselves as I transformed into a different being entirely. A Wolf's first shift was painful, but now the sensation didn't hurt in the slightest. Heat rushed from my core outwards and I felt a tickling sensation as claws exploded from my limbs and fur sprouted from my skin. As my large paws hit the ground, I felt my canines elongate and a rush of overpowering smells as my Wolf's senses became predominant.

I shook off the last vestiges of the Shifting sensation, fighting the urge to yip in excitement. I desperately needed a run, and my Wolf was overjoyed that we would be running with our Mate. I was a bit more preoccupied about the idea but I had no choice in the matter. I could only hope our Wolves would control themselves so we didn't find ourselves in an awkward situation back in human form.

I padded out from behind the twisted tree, my silver fur glowing softly in the moonlight. I was above average size for a female but I had no doubt that Gabriel would still tower over me. My Wolf's eyes, the same shade of blue as my own, roved the forest as we searched for our Mate. It didn't take long for him to emerge from the thick foliage.

I immediately froze in place, awestruck. He was larger than any Wolf I had ever seen, although this did not surprise me. His fur was thick and pitch-black, the color matching his hair. He was nearly indiscernible from the deep shadows of the forest. Gabriel's entire form rippled with thick muscles and he radiated power, both Alpha power and sheer physical strength. My Wolf growled softly, clearly pleased and even slightly intimidated as he approached us silently.

He seemed to be taking us in, too, his dark eyes flickering with interest. He made a brief sound deep in his throat. It sounded like approval, and I fervently hoped I was right. I would be completely humiliated if Gabriel's Wolf was not at all impressed by how we looked in our wolf form.

Gabriel stopped several feet from us, his Wolf inhaling our scent. I kept my paws firmly planted to the ground, not stepping any closer to him. I was pretty sure Gabriel's Wolf wanted us but there was no telling what he'd do if we acted on our more basic impulses. His unfathomable gaze observed our form for a few seconds more before he jerked his head in the direction of the trees. My Wolf padded after him obediently, staying a few feet behind but close enough so his alluring scent surrounded us.

Gabriel quickly broke into a faster pace and I followed suit, enjoying the feeling of stretching my stiff muscles. I barely even felt my injuries anymore, especially in this form. I had a sneaking feeling that Gabriel was slowing himself down slightly to accommodate me but I pushed myself, easily keeping up with him. I couldn't run at an Alpha's pace but my Wolf and I wanted to show him that we were in perfectly good shape. The forest whizzed by and the wind whistled through our fur as we sped towards our destination, the moon rising ever-higher into the sky.

It was a pity that we couldn't mind link with him, I thought. That wasn't possible until the actual Mating was completed. He had to mark me and I him during...I stopped my train of thought right there. The idea of that sort of intimacy excited my Wolf but made me huff in embarrassment, and I would have been blushing in human form. Gabriel briefly glanced over his shoulder at my quiet exhalation. Feeling my embarrassment worsen, I tried to focus on something other than the giant wolf running in front of me.

I wondered if my pack would be angry at me. Only those that had sent me off knew about where I was going; to avoid more of a confrontation, Alpha Brett wasn't telling the others until tomorrow. Of course, all of them already knew that Gabriel had paid us a visit to help them find me. Surely they could have guessed what would be coming. I could only hope they didn't begrudge my decision; it had helped ensure my pack's safety, after all. They wouldn't have wanted to witness Gabriel's fury if I had blatantly refused to go with him.

---

We ran like that for several hours. As we continued our quick pace, I grew increasingly lonely without anyone to talk to. I could have contacted my pack but I figured they would think I was chickening out already, and I didn't want that. Who I really wanted to talk to was running to my right, only a few feet in front of me. Close enough to catch my signal if I indicated that I needed to stop, but far enough that our coats weren't touching. My Wolf, too, was frustrated. The whole point of this venture was to get to know Gabriel, to assure that Fate really had made the right decision and that there was something there beyond the merciless tyrant everyone made him out to be. So far, it was not going well. I had no way to speak with him at all, and I would have to wait until we returned to our human forms.

Hungry and frustrated, I growled slightly to get his attention, slowing my pace. Gabriel glanced at me from the corner of his eye before slowing. As we came to a halt he turned to face me, an inquisitive look evident in his features. He probably thought I was weak and tired already. I was more frustrated that anything, but I knew I needed to eat soon if I wanted to keep up that pace. I had recently been injured, surely he realized I wouldn't have as much endurance as I normally did.

I growled and sniffed the air, hoping he would realize what was going on. I thought I detected the faint scent of rabbit, so I meandered further into the woods, padding lightly as I followed my nose. I noticed that Gabriel was following me at a safe distance, giving me plenty of room to hunt. I cut through the undergrowth at an angle and maneuvered myself so I was downwind of my prey. Rabbit wasn't my favorite but it would do; I hadn't scented any herds of large game anywhere near the area. Rabbit had been the only prey bigger than squirrels that I could find, recently.

I crouched low to the ground, silently stalking the small animal. It had always amazed me how quiet my kind could be considering our enormous size. We were far more graceful than any other animals this large. I didn't have to hunt often since I only ate raw meat in Wolf form, but my Wolf enjoyed the predatory practice and I let her revel in her ferocity. In the back of my mind, I knew that Gabriel, or at least his Wolf, would probably be interested in how well we hunted.

Moments later we had leapt swiftly on the rabbit as it scurried out of its den, breaking its neck with a twist of jaws. Without preamble I dug into the fresh meat. I felt my ravenous hunger take over. Manners meant nothing to a Wolf.

I was so absorbed in my dining that I didn't think before acting as Gabriel approached me. All I registered was that there was a Wolf infringing upon the prey that I had caught. I had a single-minded focus on devouring my food, and it was my prey. Seeing another Wolf so close to my kill infuriated me, and I reacted on pure instinct without a human's logical thought intervening. Growling low in my throat, I snapped at Gabriel's legs in warning before realizing my mistake a second later.

Gabriel snarled furiously at my disrespect and in one instant he had barreled me onto my back and had me pinned down, one massive paw planted on my chest. My backpack was crushed underneath me from my own considerable weight and I winced, hoping nothing was smashed. I felt a surge of regret and fear as he towered over me, leaning close. Gabriel had me pinned tightly, though not with unnecessary force. It was as if he was trying to avoid causing me pain. He was growling slightly, his lip curled to reveal one dangerously sharp canine. I mentally reprimanded my Wolf although I knew it was equally my fault for getting so absorbed in my food. I had disrespected an Alpha male, and one with a short temper at that. I knew he hadn't been approaching me to steal my kill. Regardless of his motivations, though, I had snapped at him, which was completely unacceptable.

Yet, as he leaned over, I felt another emotion rising besides the fear and I could not quell it. Lust. I could feel my lust rising at my Mate's close proximity to me and I began to squirm slightly as I realized I was in a dangerous position. Gabriel's Wolf's eyes had darkened considerably until they were completely black. They burned with a bright intensity and I could almost feel his own desire rising. He leaned even closer until his snout was inches from me, inhaling deeply. I felt my fur stand on end as I tried not to whimper.

Thankfully, something else happened then, or I'm not sure where that would have gone. Gabriel's powerful sense of smell obviously detected something else as he inhaled, for his head snapped up and he lifted his paw off of my chest. His ears pricked and I heard another growl erupt from his throat, this one much more threatening. I attempted to struggle to my feet but in a flash he had shoved me down again with his paw. While I was still laying there, belly up, he moved and placed his front legs on either side of my body. He remained in this protective stance, glancing around, the deep growl continuing to erupt from his chest. Gabriel's fur stood on end and I took a whiff of the air. Despite my potent sense of smell I couldn't detect anything. Gabriel, however, obviously sensed something was there for he continued to stand over me defensively.

I didn't move, trusting his Alpha instincts. While I wasn't fond of my vulnerability my Wolf and I found that we rather liked the protective way our Mate towered above us. We remained locked in these positions, my earlier mistake forgotten, for another moment or two before Gabriel's fur flattened again. He stepped away from me, allowing me to scramble up. I whined softly. He shook his head in a very un-Wolflike gesture and I resolved to ask him what the Hell that was about as soon as we Shifted back.

Feeling uneasy, we resumed our trek, although Gabriel first waited a moment longer for me to devour the remaining half of the rabbit. I couldn't shake the prevailing sense of unease, remembering the last time someone had been watching me in the forest, and what had happened to me just days after.

---

The rest of the trip was uneventful, although I did make him stop three times more throughout the day; twice for brief rest periods (I was still recovering from my experience with the vampires, after all, and was weaker than normal) and once to hunt again. We shared no more uncomfortable moments, for which I was glad. Contact with Gabriel made me weak and vulnerable and I wasn't ready for that yet. Besides, he seemed to want to maintain the barrier he erected around himself, the cool distance he kept. Aside from a few brief glimmers of emotion I didn't really know him. Though my body yearned to be closer to him, I was worried about the daunting task that lay ahead.

His territory was much more difficult to traverse than mine. For a few hours now we had been navigating rocky slopes and steep inclines. The foliage was patchy, and as we climbed higher and the sun began to rise in the sky, the landscape around us was thrown into clarity. I wanted to stop and observe, as it was far more beautiful than expected. The ridges and slopes were a different sort of natural beauty than I was used to in my home valley but I could appreciate them all the same. Gabriel, however, pressed on relentlessly and I tried to absorb as much as I could. After all, this would be my home for a while now. The thought definitely made me nervous. Soon I would be meeting his pack for the first time.

---

It had just getting dark when we arrived, meaning it took us a little less than an entire day to travel to his village. I again realized that Gabriel must have run almost impossibly fast to get to my village in half a day when he was coming to save me.

Gabriel stopped as the trees, already much less prevalent than near my valley, began to thin out even further. I thought I could see the tops of houses over the next ridge. Gabriel jerked his head towards the bag that I had strapped to my back, indicating that I should Shift back. I obliged, feeling a wave of nervousness crash over me. I hid behind a small copse of trees and quickly changed form, the large pack sliding off of my now-human figure. I opened it and dressed myself quickly before striding out to meet Gabriel. My cheeks reddened slightly as his gaze touched mine and I looked down at the ground, remembering our moment from earlier. I was all too aware that our Mating pull may be slightly more difficult to resist now that we'd interacted in wolf form.

It didn't take long to climb the last slope, which was considerably steeper than the others. I felt my nervousness increase tenfold as we finally reached the top. I tried not to gasp as the pack village was laid out before me. The ground dipped downwards immediately in front of us so that the nearest houses were actually in a valley of sorts, but I noticed more houses situated on rocky crags in the distance. I wasn't sure what I expected but it certainly wasn't this. The houses were less updated and modern than mine, clearly built to serve a rudimentary purpose and not as decoration. However, they were still large and well-kept, situated amidst scraggly trees and small, rolling hills. There were many more houses than I was used to, testifying to the size and strength of Gabriel's pack. Not too far from us stood a three-story house that somehow looked more elegant than the others. It was also the largest house that I could see.

"That's where you'll live," Gabriel said gruffly. His face was expressionless but by his stance I could tell he was proud of his pack village. For what I'd heard of the Black Mountains pack before meeting them, I would have expected this place to be much less civilized.

I eyed his house again. It seemed a little grand for his taste, but then I remembered that his father had probably designed it. Gabriel had only been Alpha for four years.

"Come on," He said coolly, and I couldn't help but feel confused as to why he was being so brusque. It was his idea that I come here in the first place, shouldn't he be more excited about it? I furrowed my brow. Gabriel was too unpredictable, a puzzle I couldn't work out.

It was then that I realized that I had yet to see another Werewolf. Where were they? I opened my mouth to ask the question but snapped it shut as I realized Gabriel was leading me away from his house. He led me through the center of town, leaving me to quickly absorb everything as I passed. To my surprise they had electricity. I felt somewhat stupid for thinking they lived like cavemen, but they were so isolated I was surprised they had any modern conveniences at all.

We wandered a convoluted route through the village, twisting and turning around many houses and other buildings, the purpose of which I could not determine. Just as I was growing impatient, we edged along a narrow path on the side of a small cliff and the ground opened up in front of us to a large, grassy field. The expansive scenery was beautiful, but that is not what made me catch my breath.

There, situated in the field, was the rest of Gabriel's pack, some standing and some sitting. There were well over a hundred of them, clearly waiting on us. All of their eyes were fixated on me.

---

I clenched my hands together in front of me, knowing my nervousness was easily discernible. All of them had stood up eagerly after they saw Gabriel. I had never enjoyed being the center of attention and having so much focus on me was disconcerting.  Hundreds of eyes examined me from top to bottom, analyzing me and judging me. I wanted to cower behind Gabriel until the attention was no longer on me but knew that would make a bad impression so instead I straightened my back and kept walking until Gabriel came to a halt. A massive, muscular werewolf with deep brown skin and a shaved head broke from the pack and strode forwards. I recognized him from the Meeting as Gabriel's Beta.

"Welcome back," he said, somewhat gruffly, and Gabriel nodded. The Beta turned to me, examining me closely. I felt a prickle of nervousness but did not look away, standing strong under his scrutiny. To my surprise, one of the corners of the Beta's mouth twitched into a half-smile. I blinked, not expecting that reaction. The Beta turned back to Gabriel.

"I trust your journey was uneventful, Alpha?" He asked formally.

"Eli, I'd like to get right to it," Gabriel responded shortly, although there was no venom or irritation in his tone. I could tell Eli was used to such responses for he merely nodded and moved to stand behind Gabriel like I was, though on Gabriel's other side.

Gabriel cleared his throat. "As you all know, I left the village in order to retrieve my Mate." I wondered if he'd told them about the vampires. "This is Skylar, she will be living here from now on." His tone was clipped and I felt confused, yet again. Apparently that was becoming my permanent state around Gabriel. I tried to brush it away as the attention was refocused on me. There was silence for a few seconds, only broken by a few hushed murmurs.

Once again, I felt daunted by the presence of the Black Mountains Pack. Aside from the youngest wolves, all of them looked cautious and battle-hardened. I saw many cold and calculating looks from the pack members. These weren't wolves that accepted outsiders easily.

"Will she be going through the formal induction?" One she-wolf asked. I held my breath.

"Yes. It is law," Gabriel replied calmly. I felt my nervousness spike as I wondered what exactly that would entail. Every pack had a way of introducing new members into the pack, but every ritual was different. Would that mean they were planning to make me an official member of the Black Mountains Pack? Could I go through with that? If I planned on staying with Gabriel, I knew I had to. Still, the concept of becoming a member of this pack was not yet appealing to me. I didn't know any of them and my entire experience with this pack, short of Gabriel helping save me from the vampires, had been negative.

Gathering my courage, I let my eyes roam the crowd. My gaze locked with that of another she-wolf, a redhead with long, silky hair. Her bright blue eyes were cold and hostile, and my Wolf stirred within me, not liking the redhead's expression. What was her problem? Did she just despise outsiders?

Holding my glare for one more second, the redhead coolly turned her head away. I tried not to let my anger show.

As I kept looking around at the crowd, I realized that the redhead was not the only one who disliked me on sight. It was not a reaction specific to her. Several others gave me the exact same look she did. As I suspected, I was not welcome here.

The crowd was whispering and muttering again and Gabriel raised his hand to silence them. "She will be living with me. Her battle skills and value added to the pack will be tested shortly." I didn't like the way he talked about me so casually, not showing any emotion. Most wolves would be proud to display their Mate to the pack. I looked down abruptly, swallowing the lump that had risen in my throat. I thought I saw the Beta looking at me from the corner of his eye and I tried to put on a brave face.

Dimly, I registered an incredulous snort from one of the larger male wolves. "You sure she can keep up with us? Her pack doesn't train as...diligently as we do."

I had to clench my teeth together to keep from snarling at him, blood boiling at the insult to my pack. I felt my fingernails dig into my palms, and tried very hard to maintain a cool façade. Nothing good would come out of me losing my temper here. Still, my Wolf growled furiously.

I saw Gabriel's expression harden considerably. "Are you doubting my judgment?" He said coldly. The other wolf snapped his mouth shut and looked away, although he still looked dubious.

"Eli has already briefed you on everything else, so we will have our next pack meeting in a week, usual time. If there aren't any other questions, then you all are dismissed."

There were no other questions, and I noticed the pack begin to disperse, many of them still glancing at me. I turned my head away, unable to deal with so many wolves at once. That hadn't gone worse than expected but I wished their reactions would have been friendlier. I guess I couldn't hope for a warm welcoming given which pack I was from. My pack would not have treated an outsider from the Black Mountains Pack any differently, I knew.

I noticed that two wolves, a male and a female, had come forward and Gabriel had walked over to meet them, so I stood on my own an awkward distance from the others. Although my Wolf was growing increasingly attracted to him, part of me was already regretting my decision.

As if reading my thoughts ,I noticed Eli approaching me. "I didn't really get to introduce myself, I'm Eli, the Beta," he said, giving me a slight smile as he offered his hand. His brown eyes seemed sincere, and although the gesture seemed formal I appreciated it and I gladly took his hand. "Skylar," I said softly.

"Welcome to the pack. I know it seems like a bit...much, but you'll get used to it."

I nodded. "I don't think I really have a choice," I said honestly.

Eli shrugged. "I know it seems strange coming here, but obviously it was meant to be." He indicated Gabriel with his head.

"It seems so." I replied vaguely, chewing on my bottom lip. I only wished I could know what Gabriel was thinking.

"Did he show you around?"

"Er...sort of," I replied, remembering my rushed tour where Gabriel hadn't actually told me about anything.

There was a knowing look in Eli's eyes, and I felt like he must be more comfortable with Gabriel than anyone else. "Well let me know if you need anything." I smiled gratefully in response.

"And—oh, just a minute, I have to take care of this." He cut off, turning and approaching a wolf that was hovering nearby, leaving me by myself again.

I couldn't help the prickle of irritation that emerged as I observed Gabriel still talking to the two wolves. I may have been patient and reserved compared to some, but that didn't mean I liked being practically ignored by my own Mate. He had gotten distant ever since we left my pack and I couldn't help but feel that I had done something wrong. I worried that I had made the wrong choice coming here. So far he'd been about as warm and inviting as a brick wall.

As much as I was still getting used to the idea of Gabriel being my Mate, I had made the effort to come all this way, hadn't I earned better treatment than the cold shoulder?

My stomach clenched unpleasantly as I noticed the redhead from earlier approaching Gabriel, joining in their conversation. They weren't too far away and I pricked my ears, not caring if it was rude to eavesdrop. The conversation itself was innocent enough, not giving me any cause to worry; I suspected it was just my insecurity emerging, as she really was quite beautiful.

Fortunately, seconds later Gabriel disengaged himself from the conversation and came towards me. I tried not to let my flare of irritation make me do anything stupid.

"I have business to take care of back home if you're ready," He said calmly, although I got a sneaking suspicion that he wouldn't care if I was ready or not. I shrugged noncommittally, and we turned and headed back the way we came, hands just inches away from brushing. Despite our proximity I couldn't help but feel like there was a massive distance between us.

---

His house really was something to behold. It was elegantly (and very formally) furnished, with a massive stone fireplace being the center of attention in the living room. There were plenty of plush armchairs and leather couches to accommodate a small crowd, and the color scheme was rich and inviting. Gabriel showed me the living room, kitchen (rustic, but large), and dining room (which looked like it was barely used) before leading me up the curved staircase to the second floor.

We strode down to the end of the hall where he opened the door. A large four-poster bed stood against the wall. It looked like it had been recently made. There were large windows on either side of the bed and a comfortable armchair in the corner. I felt a prickle of excitement upon seeing a shelf with plenty of books that would occupy me for days. The room was designed in the same rich colors, deep red, creamy white, and brown, as the rest of the house. Lastly, a door in the back clearly led to a private bathroom. There was one thing that confused me, though. If this was Gabriel's room, why did it look like nobody ever stayed here?

"This will be your room. Mine is upstairs," Gabriel said quietly from behind me.

My heart sank at his words and I felt as if I couldn't breathe for a few seconds. We were staying...in separate rooms? The idea of staying in different rooms of the house seemed odd, as if we were strangers. Despite the fact that I wouldn't have known how to handle myself had we been staying in the same room, I felt a rush of disappointment and frustration.

Then I knew I was being a hypocrite, because I wasn't ready for any sort of intimacy with him yet. This whole situation was complicated and my emotions warred with each other. I shouldn't feel hurt by his actions of putting me in my own room, but here I was.

"Oh..." Was all I could muster at first, standing there as I tried not to let my confusion show.

Gabriel gave me an appraising look, sensing that I wanted to say more, but he looked unsure as to whether he wanted to hear it.

"Okay," I muttered. Apparently I could only handle one word sentences at the moment. All of my small disappointments throughout the day were catching up to me.

Gabriel clenched his jaw, avoiding my gaze. He seemed to have accurately gauged my confusion. "I think for now it's better that way."

Mates weren't supposed to stay on opposite ends of a house, no matter how unconventional the relationship was. Once again, I noticed my own hypocrisy. I probably wouldn't have been able to handle sleeping in the same room as him, regardless.

But the way he had been treating me all evening had really gotten to me, along with the unwelcoming and hostile treatment from his pack. My patience was wearing thin, and it was a difficult situation to begin with. Frustrated with him, I couldn't help but argue with his logic.

"It's better to isolate me?"

Gabriel ran a hand through his tousled dark locks, clearly agitated. "It isn't isolation. I..."

"Yes it is! You asked me to come here with you, away from my family and friends, and now you are shoving me to the side like you'd rather me not be here!" I wasn't sure where this bravery was coming from but my anger had been building up all day and I was having a difficult time containing it.

Gabriel's eyes flashed and he took a step back, balling his fists at his sides. "You're overreacting."

"I am not," I spit out. "You're the one-"

"Why are you being so argumentative?" He said, his voice a growl. That was rich, coming from him, I thought.

"Why are you being so cold to me?"

He hesitated, irritation still plain in his expression, and I continued,

"I could be back home with my mom and dad..."

"They can't protect you," he snapped.

"Back at my pack village, with my friends!" I continued recklessly.

"Is this house not good enough for you?" He snapped, clearly agitated.

"Maria...Will...."

"WILL?" Gabriel demanded, eyes darkening, and I felt warning bells going off in my head.

"My friend-" I began weakly, unsure what else to say.

Gabriel suddenly roared, slamming his palm against the wall near him with such force that I swore I heard something splinter. If his hand had been in a fist, he surely would have punched through the wall.

"I swear that if that pup touches you again I will fucking rip his throat out!" Gabriel snarled in fury, his deep brown irises no longer visible. His pupils had expanded and I could tell his Wolf was about to take over. I stood there, frozen in shock, my hands gripping the doorframe on either side on me. I was sure Gabriel was about to Shift any moment and the logical side of me wanted to hightail it out of there before he could.

I was still frozen in shock at his outburst, breathing heavily, deciding whether to back away or try to talk him down.

Comfort him! Do it! My Wolf snarled into my mind, her conviction washing over me in waves. I hesitated briefly. Part of me yearned to do just that, to ease his anger, as it was one of the things a Mate was supposed to do, but I was still stubbornly furious. I stalled, trying to set my thoughts straight, but before I could, Gabriel was already backing away.

"I'm going for a run," he seethed before I could say anything. He spun around and took off down the corridor, shoulders hunched and hands clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.

Still feeling somewhat numb after seeing him more infuriated than ever before, I slowly walked into my room and closed the door behind me, ignoring my Wolf's reprimands in the back of my mind. I already felt guilty, even though it was Gabriel that had angered me in the first place. I could have helped him, I knew. I could have eased his anger. But I was still angry, too! He dragged me all the way here and then treated me callously.

We deserve better than that sort of treatment, I told my Wolf.

I slowly slid down the door into a crouching position, resting my head in my hands, lamenting my current situation.

What had I gotten myself into?

-----

A/N: This story actually made it up to #1, so WOW! Thank you all so much!

Some issues regarding Gabriel (because I'm sure you'll have them ;) ),

-I know he is cold and unlikeable at times. I promise as the story unfolds and you learn more about him, his family, his history, and his reasoning it will all make sense. He will be getting developed a whole lot in the next couple of chapters so be expecting it.

-Secondly, I had many people ask for pictures. When I originally wrote this story, I did not have any actors or actresses in mind for Skylar or Gabriel, so it has taken me forever to find faces that are acceptable with what I pictured. I do have pictures available if enough people are interested. I know some people prefer to make it up in their head and I don't want to ruin anyone's mental image.xD However, if I do upload pictures and you are disappointed, keep in mind that they aren't set in stone. They'll just be general ideas of what the two main characters look like.

So please, leave an opinion in the comments section of whether you'd like to see what they generally look like or not. If I get enough 'yes's, I will post a pic of one of them in the next chapter.

-Last note, Gabriel is in fact 25. That's why he doesn't act like a teen. I am 22 years old and have a hard time writing about guys younger than me, so sorry. Skylar is 19, nearly 20. Age difference doesn't really matter in my werewolf world, soul mates are soul mates.

Thank you all, and sorry for any grammatical errors (I try to edit)

MULTIMEDIA:

Picture of Eli >>>>>>>>>>>>

Another love theme from 'True Blood' that I listened to while writing this chapter.