Chapter 27

((WARNING: My editor had technical issues and this chapter is NOT YET EDITED! Read at your own risk, there will probably be some mistakes that I didn't catch! Also, the chapter may be formatted strangely because I wrote it in a different program.

Check out the cover by BrittanyLeigh8, it's really cool and captures the dark undertones of the story. I might make it the main cover of the story once I get bored of this one. :)

Song doesn't go with the chapter that much, but for some reason I think of Skylar when I listen to it, so I often play it in the background while writing. Plus, I'm a HUGE nerd, and love the video game it goes with. Don't make fun of me. ))

---

---

I awoke the next morning feeling a strange mixture of hope and apprehension. I wanted to think that Raziel had good news for us, or that he found some secret weakness of Cain's, but knowing our luck we would learn something horrible today.

The tension between Gabriel and I was very fragile at the moment. After Raziel had contacted him, Gabriel and I returned to the main pack village before we parted ways, my Mate claiming he had some Alpha business to take care of. I wasn't sure if he just wanted an excuse to get away from me or not. After all, Gabriel had opened up to me, which was something he was not accustomed to. Neither one of us really knew how to act now. Truthfully, I knew the pressure was on me. Gabriel had laid out all of the possible consequences of our Mating and it was up to me to make the decision; he was just giving me space until I chose which path I wanted to follow.

Well, I knew which path I wanted to follow. My Wolf ached for our Mate and despite my complicated feelings, I knew a lot of my desire for Gabriel could not be blamed solely on my Wolf. I was trying to think things through logically like I always had. I possessed the same sense of self-preservation Gabriel had referenced the night before. In this case, though, I was tempted to just throw all logic out of the way as my window of opportunity was closing. The Stone of Jacob, which Gabriel either carried with him or kept securely hidden in my house, was waning. Who knew how much longer it would last?

My thoughts a muddled, confused mess, I quickly got dressed and brushed my teeth, throwing my rebellious curls up into a ponytail. We were returning to the same town in which I had first come into contact with the vampires. Not exactly pleasant memories, but at least Gabriel would be with me this time and it was the middle of the day. I was a bit confused as to why Raziel would risk coming to us, but I was sure he'd explain his reasoning upon his arrival.

I said a quick good-bye to my parents on my way out, tossing some feeble excuse over my shoulder as I closed the door behind me. I felt guilty lying to them but they couldn't know anything about the Angel or the Ritual. They were in enough danger as it was, so I knew lying to them was the best thing to do in this scenario. Hopefully my father wouldn't grill me about it later. For now, he was just glad I was getting out of the house, since my fever was nearly gone. I wondered when he would bring the whole 'Affinity' issue up. So much had been going on that I hadn't had time to dwell on the changes my body was going through.

Gabriel was waiting near my front porch, looking slightly impatient as he stood there, tall and imposing as usual. He had on a tight-fitting white t-shirt that only accentuated his broad torso and made me look away before I blatantly ogled him. I had embarrassed myself enough recently.

“Sorry, woke up a bit late,” I mumbled, not wanting to explain how I had spent many minutes daydreaming about him this morning.

“Let's go,” was his curt reply, and I inwardly sighed. Typical Gabriel. He had opened up and shown me a different side of him, and now he felt exposed and vulnerable so he was shutting down.

'I can practically become a psychologist if I keep up the analysis,' I thought to myself dryly as we meandered towards the forest. We were running in Wolf form today since the city was such a short distance away. As we entered the fringe of greenery and prepared to Shift (away from each other's line of sight, of course), I faintly wondered where Will and Eva had gotten to. Had Will had any luck persuading the she-wolf to accept him when she was so enamored with MY Mate? The thought of her aggravated me so I pushed it aside. It felt like I had so many issues in my life at the moment, and I could only hope I would be able to manage them all at once.

Perhaps this was what it was like to be Luna.

---

Unsurprisingly, there was scarce conversation between Gabriel and I on our way into town. My Mate could directly mind-link to me now if he wanted to, but he seemed set on avoiding it. After hearing his reasoning the previous night I supposed I couldn't blame him.

“Where are we meeting him?” I finally asked after we'd Shifted back to human form and gotten dressed. We were just inside the shelter of the trees, after which the ground sloped down to meet the outskirts of the city.

“Some local coffee shop in the middle of town.”

I almost wanted to laugh at the absurdity. “We're meeting an Angel in a coffee shop?”

“It's more inconspicuous to blend in, and it'll be loud enough that we aren't overheard.”

I shrugged. It still felt strange. “Why did he want to meet in town, anyways?”

“I'm not sure.”

That worried me. Surely Raziel had a reason for wanting to meet amidst the mass of humans as opposed to a more secluded location.

“So, you can use the feather to talk to him?”

We were making our way down the slope towards the buildings on the edge of the city. Gabriel glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, likely exasperated by all of my questions.

“Yes.”

“Do you have it with you now?”

“I had no way to carry it in wolf form.”

“When exactly did you get it?”

“I had Eli bring it to me when I met up with him two days ago. I sensed that Raziel was trying to contact me.” Gabriel must have seen my perplexed look because he elaborated further. “He used to be able to mind-link me without the feather, but his Angelic power has waned, so now when he's contacting me I barely sense his presence in my mind. I actually have to be touching the feather to directly talk to him.”

I glanced down at my hands, feeling the sudden urge to tell Gabriel the truth. After all, he'd finally revealed everything to me, I might as well fess up.

“I already knew you had a feather. I went exploring one day and found the box in your closet.” I felt my cheeks reddening because of the confession and avoided his gaze. There was a chance Gabriel would be furious with me, I knew. He probably didn't condone snooping about in his room.

I peeked at him in my peripheral vision. His expression had hardened, unsurprisingly.

“And you didn't say anything because....?” He asked, clearly trying to mask his irritation.

“You were already pissed at me half of the time. I didn't want to make it worse.”

Gabriel let a sigh, turning his head slightly to observe me. He was silent for a moment as he examined my expression. “Had you put the pieces together already when I took you to Raziel?” He seemed disconcerted by the thought and I quickly shook my head.

“Not at all. I never would've guessed....” I trailed off. Saying it aloud still felt unreal. My Mate had holy blood, and it was unnerving to think about. Eva didn't know about his Angelic blood, I was pretty sure, but I knew it would have only reinforced her ideals about me being 'unworthy' for Gabriel. I hurriedly pushed thoughts of the redhead away, because despite my conversation with Gabriel the night before, I wasn't quite 'over' the whole topic.

“What's the locket for?” I couldn't resist adding the question.

He tossed me a sharp glance, and for a second I thought he wouldn't bother replying, but with a small sign Gabriel relented. “I'm not sure. Raziel brought it to my after my mother...left. He think she stole it from Cain. I haven't noticed any special properties other than the fact that it irritates my skin.” Judging by his tone of finality, Gabriel didn't want to discuss any more issues relating to his mother.

Several minutes passed in silence. We made our way along the edge of a shopping center, walking casually as if we hadn't been beasts running through the trees just moments before. If anyone had seen us a few minutes ago, giant wolves with clothes tied to their ankles and shoes clutched in their mouths, I was sure nobody would've believed it. Humans were funny that way.

I wasn't sure how Gabriel knew where we were going but I trotted along obediently as we cut through a few side streets before finding one of the main roads of the city. There were other passerby on the sidewalks around us, and I noticed several of them giving Gabriel cautious looks out of the corners of their eyes as they passed. It wasn't exactly one of those small towns where everybody knew everybody, but it was small enough that people knew an outsider when they saw one. I was surprised I hadn't seen anybody I knew my last couple times here. After all, I'd gone to school in town for years.

I also could not help but notice a few young women (or girls, in some cases) sneaking glances at Gabriel, too. The admiring glint in their eyes was not lost on me and I tried to remain calm. Getting possessive for no reason would only worsen the situation, and it wasn't Gabriel's fault that they noticed his looks.

“Are you scared of me, Skylar?”

Gabriel's quiet question nearly stopped me in my tracks. I turned to face him as we strode through a narrow alleyway, and I'm sure my surprise was clearly visible on my face.

“Um...” I responded, caught off guard.

“You said you were worried to tell me you went through my things, because I might have been angry with you,” he elaborated, although I'd figured that's what set him on this train of thought.

I hadn't considered it in a long time. On the night of the Meeting when we first met, I had truthfully been terrified. I had thought of him as the formidable enemy Alpha, so of course I'd had my reservations.

Now, Gabriel was still rough around the edges, short-tempered, brusque, and intimidating. Yet, underneath all of that, I had seen true emotion. And despite all of our arguments he had never hurt me, physically at least. My Wolf and I knew Gabriel would never lay a finger on us.

“Not exactly. Not the same way as before,” I finally answered slowly, aware that Gabriel had a pained expression on his face because I was taking so long to answer. He didn't look satisfied by my answer, so I continued. “I used to think of you as an enemy Alpha. Not anymore.”

“What reason would you have to be scared now, then?”

I looked down, my cheeks starting to burn. The truth was, I was scared now because of my feelings, and I was scared of the possible consequences of Mating with him. I was nervous about how Gabriel would act if I decided to accept him as my Mate. There were many things to be worried about.

“I'm not really scared of you, just the situation, I guess.” It was true. Gabriel was intimidating as a person but I really had toughened up when I got to know him. His brevity and cold mannerisms didn't deter me quite like they used to. I was becoming accustomed to his difficult personality.

Gabriel made a noncommittal noise in his throat and, moments later, directed us to a coffee shop across the street. Once again, the absurdity of Raziel in a coffee shop struck me, before I realized that he had been on Earth a very long time and probably acted like a human all the time to blend in. I wasn't human either, yet I had attended high school and gone clubbing. Humans outnumbered us on such a massive scale that it was best just to act like one.

'Ginger's Cafe', read the aged sign above the door as Gabriel ushered me inside. The bell chimed merrily as we entered and I immediately inhaled the warm odor inside; I had always adored the smell of coffee, and my heightened senses made it even better.

Gabriel was right about the place being crowded. It had that 'homey' feel to it, with little mismatched chairs with plush cushions and tables in almost every square inch of space, and a few booths in the corners. Almost every spot was occupied and loud chatter filled the air. The lady behind the counter greeted us but Gabriel scarcely noticed as his eyes roamed the room for Raziel. There were several people staring at us (or, more specifically, Gabriel's massive and imposing form) but I did my best to ignore them. My eyes finally settled on Raziel, sitting at a table in the back corner and eyeing us with something almost akin to amusement in his piercing blue eyes.

We made our way over to the Angel and he greeted me warmly, tossing me his dazzling smile. I blinked and weakly returned his greeting as I settled in one of the comfortable chairs. Gabriel copied my motions, nodding his head as he acknowledged his grandfather, but wasting no time getting to business.

“Why did you want to meet in a human settlement?” my Mate asked, the same thing I had been wondering earlier.

Raziel's smile dropped a little, becoming grim. I saw preoccupation flash through his blue orbs. “I can't be sure, but when I was heading back to my house I thought I sensed a vampire nearby. It was likely just coincidence, a rogue vampire, because I've done a good job of staying well hidden. However, just in case I decided to come back here to throw any pursuers off the scent. I will be returning shortly, of course. I can't leave her alone.”

I knew he was talking about Rebekah. Raziel probably felt like he was abandoning her in the mausoleum, even though she was in a comatose state so deep that she might as well be dead. His clear affection for his daughter was touching and I had to look away.

Gabriel did not look pleased by this vampire-related information and he folded his arms in front of his chest, contemplating.

“The human settlement is perfect because the vampires' sense of smell is nowhere close to yours, so they'll never be able to track us. Plus, it's one of the last places they'd expect a rendezvous and they can't do anything about it during the day,” Raziel added.

I had to admit, he had a point. I really hoped he was right about it being a rogue vampire and not one of Cain's. If they found the Angel, we were in trouble. Raziel had to remain in complete and utter secrecy.

“Anyway, on to the subject at hand, here is what I want to show you.” Raziel reached down and lifted a black messenger bag from next to his chair. He opened the flap, giving me a glimpse of the bag's contents, which appeared to mostly be papers. He reached in and pulled out a small packet of documents. I leaned slightly closer, peering at the papers before determining that they had obviously been scanned or copied judging by the quality of the printing.

I had absolutely no clue where Raziel had copied them from. My eyes widened as Raziel spread the papers out and I got my first good look at the contents of the pages; writing. Endless lines of flowing script in a language I had never seen before. I had taken spanish in high school but other than that I had little experience with foreign languages; however, I instantly knew that the writing on the pages was in no modern day language. It seemed archaic and foreign. Somehow, I got the feeling that the words themselves had power.

“Where is that from?” Gabriel asked, an edge in his voice.

“I've been here a long time, Gabriel, and I've made a lot of contacts, some older and more powerful than others. Just know that I copied these pages from someone with a very....large collection of old books. Trust me, our secret is safe with him.”

Gabriel looked uncertain, his dark brows furrowed, and I knew he wanted to press Raziel but had enough respect for the Angel not to.

“What language is that?” I blurted out, genuinely curious.

Raziel smiled tightly, and the expression didn't reach his eyes. I could tell this was an uncomfortable subject for him. “It's the language of my kind. Very old, and unknown to humans. It's a dialect I'm not as familiar with, though, so I'm working on translating. Some of it is harder to read because the original book was hand-written.”

I stared at the papers with renewed interest, absorbing the impact of the hundreds of black characters scrawling across the pages. The language of Angels...it was an intimidating concept. I couldn't even think of a response, so I just nodded absentmindedly as I tried to study the pages as much as I could from across the table.

“How much have you deciphered?” Gabriel cut in, moving his chair closer to Raziel so that he could get a better view of the documents. I understood now why Raziel picked the most secluded table in the coffee shop. Gabriel and I would block the view from any prying eyes, not that any human would be interested in a stack of papers. Didn't most humans deal with that sort of thing every day?

“Not a lot, unfortunately. I'm having difficulty with the messy handwriting and some phrases that are specific to this particular dialect. Plus I haven't had to read or write this language in...well, a long time.”

“How many pages is it?”

“The book as a whole is hundreds of pages long, but this is the section on Rituals involving Angelic presence. I found a couple of keywords that might pertain to our situation and copied the relevant sub-sections...so I ended up with about forty pages from the book.”

Gabriel's eyes returned to the pages and he pulled a couple of them towards him, dark eyes scanning the lines intently. I noticed Raziel watching me and my eyes met his. I raised my eyebrow questioningly but the Angel said nothing, staring at me as if he was trying to find the answer to a conundrum. After a moment he appeared to come to some sort of conclusion, for his piercing gaze returned to the task at hand. He spread the pages out further and for several minutes, the two continued to look over the foreign script.

I wanted to scoot closer and lean over Raziel's shoulder as I watched, but something held me back. I didn't want them to think I was getting in the way while it was already surprising enough that Gabriel brought me along. Plus, I sincerely doubted I would be of much help. The language of the Angels was beyond my comprehension. Surely Raziel would let me know if he needed something.

As a quarter hour passed with Gabriel still silently reading and Raziel pointing out some marks he had made while previously scanning the papers, I let my eyes wander around the cafe. There really wasn't a lot to look at. It was mostly young human couples or working professionals enjoying coffee. Once again, the fresh scent wafted into my nostrils and my stomach growled. I blushed, hoping the men hadn't heard it. My piercing hunger was just now making itself known and I shifted in my seat uncomfortably.

When Gabriel finished reading, he looked poised to ask a question but Raziel spoke before he could.

“Now that you've looked over them, I will tell you that there were some small parts I deciphered earlier. Most of them contained nothing of use to us, but there was one section that I think will be immensely helpful for you to read.”

I leaned forward eagerly, hoping it was something that could help us bring Cain down, but when Raziel's gaze focused on me I was surprised to see him looking almost apologetic.

“Unfortunately, Skylar, this is something that requires I speak with Gabriel alone. It's quite personal, and I think it is best he hears it when you aren't here.”

I frowned, feeling slightly offended and hurt, but not wanting to argue with Raziel. Why had I been brought all the way out here if they were just going to make me leave?

“You two can speak about it later if you so desire, but for now it needs to be a private conversation.” Raziel's tone was polite but unwavering. I sighed and glanced at Gabriel, who looked completely confused. I thought I saw regret flash through his eyes, as if he wished I could stay, but he kept his mouth shut and just gave me a small nod.

“Okay...um...I'll just go get something to eat,” I said quietly, feeling uncomfortable. I tried to keep my face expressionless. Gabriel would have some explaining to do later. I wanted to be kept in the loop, but making me leave before revealing the only important information made me feel oddly insignificant and useless.

“Don't go far. I'll come find you,” Gabriel said. Had I just imagined the way his tone softened slightly when he spoke to me?

I nodded and turned to leave the cafe, aware of my Mate's eyes boring into the back of my head. Part of me wanted to get some coffee but as my eyes fell upon a bar and grill across the street, I realized that I actually needed a heartier meal. Striding out of the cafe, I was glad I had shoved my wallet into the back pocket of my jeans on my way out. These jeans had buttoning pockets in the back, which was perfect so the contents didn't fall out while I was running in wolf form and my clothes were tied around my ankle. I hadn't been sure we would have time to eat, but now I was grateful for my foresight.

It was bright and sunny outside but there was a slight nip to the air as I made my way towards the grill; many humans had on jackets, and a cold fall was fast approaching. The grill was called “Rocky Mountain Burgers”, and I recalled eating here a couple of times in high school. The meaty smell of grilled beef assaulted me as soon as I entered the establishment along with a loud wave of human chatter. The grill was fairly busy but I didn't attract much attention as I approached the hostess stand.

“Hi, can I help you? Are you waiting for someone?”

“Um...no, just me actually. I'd like a booth if you have it.”

The blonde waitress raised an eyebrow but kept a false smile plastered to her face as she grabbed a menu and gestured for me to follow her. She led me to a booth next to a window that funnily enough gave me a view of the cafe across the street.

“Your server will be right with you!”

I nodded and smiled, knowing she probably thought I was strange. When the waitress came and asked what I wanted to drink, I received a similar odd look. The woman was probably wondering what kind of a person came and ate at a sit-down establishment by themselves. I was getting a couple glances now, especially from a table of a group of guys sitting near me, but I studiously ignored them as I examined my menu. I wasn't a human, and I didn't care about human standards.

It wasn't like I had a boyfriend to eat with, anyways.

You have Gabriel, my Wolf chided, as if he hadn't already been on my mind.

I can't exactly picture us eating together at a place like this. It's too...normal.

Well, sometimes normal couples are the happiest. Look around!

I did as she ordered, letting my eyes scan the couples nearby. I felt a little pang as I saw the guys' cheesy grins, the girls' bright expressions and happy eyes. A few young men and women had kids tagging along with them. I watched one woman spoon-feed her child as the man across from her beamed proudly, love and adoration in his eyes.

I bit my lip hard. I wanted that, I really did. One day I wanted a child of my own. I wanted to be one of those couples holding hands across the table or just sharing a casual lunch in the middle of a busy day. Granted, werewolves didn't partake in the whole 'dating' scene as much as humans, but they still spent time together whether it was running, hunting, or doing more 'human' activities such as cooking and dining. Some werewolves occasionally went on dates in places like this or around town.

I wanted that. Looking at the visible love around me, I was struck by just how badly I needed that companionship, especially when the man I dreamt about was so close to me.

You'll never want it so badly from anyone else, my Wolf said quietly. For a moment, it was as if everything around us faded and it was just my conversation with my inner Wolf that mattered.

I know, I admitted quietly, done with denying the facts.

If you reject him, you might love someone else again. A long time from now. But you'll never be able to feel as strongly about anyone else as you can for him. And I will never love another.

I wouldn't expect you to.

He has been through so much, Skylar. He has never known love, never been shown love, but I know it's there inside him. We both know that.

I thought about it, realizing with a jolt that she was right. Gabriel had never experienced what it was like to be loved, at least not knowingly. His mother had abandoned him when he was young and he had grown up with that sense of abandonment. His father had been cruel and cynical, telling him true love didn't exist. Eva had loved Gabriel, but Gabriel had not been in a position to receive it and she had hidden it from him because she knew he couldn't love her back. And me? I hadn't even given him a chance yet.

He deserved that chance just as much as I did. There might be horrible consequences of Mating with him, but there was a chance of true happiness as well. Sure, if everything went wrong I would have to deal with the agony of losing Gabriel's love, if I ever secured it in the first place. But if I didn't even try? I would have to handle the guilt and regret of never knowing. I would be condemning Gabriel to a life without love because I was scared of what MIGHT happen. It would be my sense of self-preservation prevailing, and it would be incredibly selfish of me.

That's what I've been telling you all along, my Wolf said.

The waitress arrived, a bit belatedly, with my Dr. Pepper and took my order. I asked for the biggest, meatiest burger they had and a side of fries, slightly irritated that she had broken into my train of thought even though she was just doing her job.

Her expression clearly indicated that she didn't think I was making a wise choice with my order, but she didn't comment.

“So are you sure nobody else is joining you?” I didn't like the smug tilt to her lips.

“Positive,” I mumbled, and her smirk widened. I narrowed my eyes at her condescending behavior. She flounced away, leaving me alone with my thoughts again.

He's designed for us, Skylar, perfect for us. He has his issues, but there is a reason Fate deemed him worthy of being our Mate. It's like spitting in mother nature's face not to try.

For some reason, I felt my hands shaking slightly, and I interlaced my fingers. All of the pieces were clicking together in my head, the reasoning finally making sense. In a burger joint, of all places, I had really managed to sit down and think about what I wanted to do. I had wasted enough of my time. Cain could show up on our doorstep this week! The thought struck me with horror; what if he hurt Gabriel? What if something happened to my Mate before I could even give him an answer?

Or, what if you Rejected him only to later find out, some way or somehow, that it would've worked out? My Wolf asked.

The concept caused a sharp burst of pain to shoot through me and I tensed. No, I couldn't do that. I wouldn't be able to live with the what-ifs.

If I said no to Gabriel, I had absolutely zero chance of having true happiness. I would also force him to live a life alone because I was too scared to act on my instincts. If I said yes, I had a fifty percent chance. There was the potential for severe pain and loss, but the trade-off was a higher chance of a happy life. Was it worth it?

He had already hurt me with the revelation about Eva, and I knew I couldn't just accept their history in a couple of days and move on, but I already knew the answer to my mental pondering. Thinking of Gabriel's dark eyes, perfect face, and his moments of rare but true emotion was enough to answer the question. Thinking of how my parents and every other Mated pair acted around each other was enough to answer the question. Thinking of the happiness in my mother's eyes when she saw my father every day was enough to answer the question.

I was ready to be brave and follow my heart. It was impulsive, and there could be consequences, but for once I was going to take a risk, because the reward was worth it. I would only ever get one true Mate. I was going to-

“Hi there!”

The deep, male voice cut into my determined thoughts. Snapping out of my reverie, my gaze focused on the young man sitting across from me. He had sandy blonde hair and glinting hazel eyes, with a mischievous tilt to his mouth. He was one of the human men from the table near me; his friends were blatantly staring at us, a couple of them chortling.

“Um...hi?” I asked, furrowing my brow as I stared at him in confusion. What could he possibly want?

“I'm Brandon. I just noticed that you're sitting here alone.” His eyes glimmered with amusement. Inwardly, I sighed, really not wanting to deal with this now. Normally, random guys didn't just come up and talk to me. Anne had always gotten the majority of the attention. Thinking of her, I felt a pang of sadness so I shook myself out of my unpleasant thoughts.

“Yeah...” was all I said, not sure where he was going with this.

“Well, would you like some company?” Brandon grinned, flashing a set of white teeth. A burst of chortling broke out from his friends. With my sensitive hearing, I could detect the laughter even though they were trying to hide it.

“I'm fine, thanks.” I kept my tone clipped so he would get the message.

He didn't take the hint. “What's your name?”

“Skylar.”

“Where are you from?”

Why did people always ask me that? “About an hour away.” Surely my choppy replies were boring him.

“May I ask why you're sitting here all by your lonesome?” Brandon's grin widened. Was he mocking me or hitting on me? I couldn't tell at this point.

“May I ask why the Hell you're in my seat?” A new voice broke in, angry and deep, and I felt shivers run up and down my spine as I registered Gabriel's presence. He stood next to me, towering over the booth and glaring daggers at the human. He looked ridiculously attractive even when furious, I couldn't help but notice.

The boy glanced up, his amused expression morphing into one akin to fear before he attempted to school his face into a blank mask. It didn't really work.

“I...uh...she was sitting alone and...is she your girlfriend?”

“Leave. Now.” Gabriel was practically snarling. I was pretty sure the human, Brandon, was about to lose control of his bladder. His friends had quieted immediately and were staring at us in horror.

The human stood up very hurriedly after that, his face paling. He mumbled something practically incoherent before stumbling back towards his table. His friends scooted slightly away, and I knew Gabriel's Alpha presence was affecting them although they didn't know it. I felt like smirking, actually basking in Gabriel's protectiveness for once, although if he'd hurt the human it would've been an unnecessary scene. My Mate was still glaring at him as if debating whether to follow Brandon and threaten him more.

“Gabriel....” I said softly, placing my hand on his arm in an attempt to soothe him. He tore his eyes away from the cowering group of humans to focus them on me. I quickly pulled back my hand, remembering Gabriel's previous words about physical contact. With a sharp exhale, he slid into the booth on the opposite side from me, though his face remained tense.

“Thanks,” I said quietly, feeling my cheeks turn red. “I think they were just making fun of me for sitting alone more than anything.” It was true; I mean, why else would Brandon have felt the gall to just sit with me? I doubted that he was going to ask me on a date. High school experience taught me that most guys my age preferred their women much curvier than myself.

Gabriel's eyes darkened and I saw some undefined emotion flickering in their depths. “You should never have to sit alone.”

I blushed even further as he stared at me, and suddenly my previous thoughts came back to me. I clasped my hands to prevent them from shaking as I took in every detail of my Mate's appearance. I felt nervous, or far more nervous than was usual.

Was it because I'd had such deep thoughts about him and made some major headway with my decision, even while sitting alone in a random burger joint of all places?

“...Skylar?” I belatedly realized Gabriel had been trying to get my attention and I blinked at him, knowing I'd been staring off into space. The waitress had arrived at our table and was setting my steaming food in front of me, glancing at Gabriel out of the corner of her eye. My mouth watered as I inhaled the delicious scent of beef.

“Umm...hello...sir. She, um, didn't tell me anyone else was coming! Let me get you a menu!” The waitress spoke in a rush with pink-tinged cheeks, quickly dashing off to get Gabriel a menu and silverware. She wasn't looking down on me anymore, that was for sure.

“Are you okay?” Gabriel seemed genuinely concerned.

“Yeah I'm fine. You don't have to stay if you don't want to. I wouldn't have ordered such a big meal if I knew-”

“No, go ahead. I'll eat too.”

My eyes nearly bugged out of my head as the waitress returned and Gabriel told her to bring him whatever I was having. This all seemed surreal. I knew it was circumstantial that we were eating together, but sitting across from him at a restaurant was something I would never have expected to happen. It was just so...normal. Almost like we were dating. The notion made my heart skip a beat and my Wolf yipped in joy at my newfound thoughts about Gabriel. I realized just how patient she'd been with me ever since we left the Black Mountains Pack.

“So, about Raziel....” I started, noting that Gabriel's expression instantly became guarded. So he didn't want to talk about the Angel's revelation, then. It must've indeed been personal.

“I'll tell you, just not now,” Gabriel replied after a minute of silence in which I waited expectantly. “I'm not even sure what to do with the information yet.”

Despite my insatiable curiosity, I just nodded. It wasn't my right to push him, even though I wanted him to open up about it. I had to respect his privacy on the issue if it was that big of a deal.

“Wait, if you're here, where did Raziel go?”

“He's still going over the pages, and we will stop by on the way out. He hardly had any information for me to begin with.”

“Oh.”

“Are you going to start eating?”

I glanced down; I'd been waiting for Gabriel to get his food.

“You don't have to wait on me.”

It was as if he had read my thoughts. Tentatively I began to much on my fries, aware of his eyes on me.

Now I felt awkward. I tried not to openly fidget in my seat. Truth was, I had a whirlwind of emotion raging through my head and I didn't even know where to begin. There was so much unexplored territory between Gabriel and I but he was very difficult to approach.

Taking a large bite of my burger, my eyes strayed to the happy couple and their small child they'd been spoon-feeding earlier. They were standing up and preparing their things to leave. As I watched, the man threw his arms around the woman's slim shoulders, chuckling about something. He looked so carefree. I could never imagine such a carefree expression on Gabriel's face.

Come to think of it, I had never even seen him smile. I'd never seen a smirk, a slight upwards tilt of the mouth...nothing. Even being around me had never made him smile. How depressing.

I shoved another fry in my mouth with more force than was necessary as the waitress finally brought Gabriel's plate to him. She thought she was being sneaky while she ogled my Mate but my eyes caught it and I scowled darkly as she walked away.

Gabriel started to eat in silence and I tossed glances his way while we ate. For some reason, I still felt extremely jittery and even more nervous around him than normal. Butterflies were erupting in my stomach and I was sure my cheeks were a light shade of pink.

It's because you're finally admitting to yourself just how much you want him, and that it's possible to have him, my Wolf said, making no attempt to hide how content she was with the idea.

There are a lot of obstacles. He's still so hard to read.

Then why waste time? The relationship needs work but it's possible if you're willing to try.

When did you get so wise? I asked, smiling a bit to myself.

I'm not wise, I just know that we're supposed to follow our instincts.

I couldn't argue with that. Now I don't know how to approach the subject.

Just do it soon. I'm tired of waiting. I want him to Mark us as his!

My Wolf's words made my blush increase as I realized just what the 'marking' entailed.

We finished the rest of our food quickly and the waitress brought the check. I pulled out my wallet from my jeans and fished around for a few bills, but Gabriel's hard glare stopped me.

“I'll pay for it.”

“You don't have to-” I began to protest, although I felt warmth blossom inside of me at his gesture.

His eyes narrowed slightly. “You honestly think I'd make you pay for your own food?”

Without waiting for my response he pulled out couple of twenties, leaving a decent amount for the waitress (although I wouldn't have cared if he didn't tip at all). As he indicated that it was time to go, I tried to keep the bright grin from my face. Again, I was struck by the surrealism of the situation; Gabriel had just paid for my food at a burger joint. It was almost like...a date. As I contemplating, I realized I really could get used to the situation, provided Gabriel was a bit more forthcoming with words in the future.

Then again, he was just the brooding time. I doubted my Mate would ever be a chatterbox.

“Thank you,” I said softly, a little shy as he led me towards the restaurant's entrance. Gabriel glanced at me and his eyes flickered briefly with some indescribable emotion while we walked back to the cafe at an almost leisurely pace. My stomach was pleasantly full and I rubbed it absentmindedly, my thoughts returning to their earlier subject. Gabriel. Of course my mind would never stray from him.

To my surprise, Raziel was packing up the pages of Angel writing when we returned to Ginger's Cafe. Gabriel glanced at him questioningly and he smiled tightly. “Too many humans in one place,” he said, very quietly. “I'm going to return to my motel room and continue from there. I'll contact you the usual way.”

He spoke to Gabriel another brief moment before turning to me, looking me up and down contemplatively. “I haven't forgotten you, Skylar. Gabriel told me everything that has happened, and Cain's interest in your blood. I'll look into it.” He placed a large, strong hand on my shoulder. “Take care.”

“You too. Thank you.”

With a few more parting words, Raziel left, easily blending into the crowd of passerby as he exited the cafe. Gabriel and I trudged back towards the pack village without further ado. The air between us was tense as usual, and I could not stop fidgeting. This time, however, my agitation was due to anticipation of my decision. All I could focus on was my thoughts, which kept going in circles even while I was enjoying the fresh air in Wolf form.

In short, I'd come to realize that the potential reward of having my Mate outweighed any risks. Since deciding that it was as if a ton of stress had been lifted off of my shoulders. I realized that I knew this was the right decision all along, it was just about letting my logical and emotional sides come together to reach that conclusion. Part of me regretted just how long it had taken me to reason all of this through. I had always been level-headed and thoughtful, traits which aided me in most situations, but it had hindered me from following my instincts here. I should've listened to my Wolf more and accepted Gabriel even after learning everything about him. I sent a mental apology to my Wolf for pushing her away so many times.

I was still terrified, of course, because Gabriel's emotion for me could start fading as quickly as it had formed. But it would be so much worse to never know what I could've had with him.

Are you going to tell him now? My Wolf asked eagerly.

I had spent weeks worrying about thinking through this conundrum, and now I had a whole new problem when it came to how exactly I was going to bring it up. I had already wasted plenty of days with my own selfishness. Gabriel had been left alone, thinking he may never get a chance with his Mate, and I didn't want to prolong his suffering.

I was still examining the scenario from every angle in my head as we finally reached the village and began weaving through the large houses. To my surprise, Gabriel stopped walking a safe distance away from my home.

“I've got to go take care of some things,” he muttered vaguely, and I wondered if this had anything to do with what Raziel had told him.

“Oh...okay. Well do you need my help?”

He looked confused for a moment before he shook his head. “I'll be able to handle it.”

“What did Raziel want?” I blurt out, unable to help myself. Whatever the Angel had said to my Mate, it was clearly bothering him.

My suspicions were confirmed when Gabriel's expression closed down completely. “I don't want to talk about it now.”

I exhaled loudly, completely unsurprised but a little hurt as usual. Here he was again, pushing me away.

You know why he's doing that, my Wolf said calmly.

It isn't just the whole 'scared of me rejecting him' thing. He just has issues opening up to anybody. She couldn't argue with that.

“Well...I'll talk to you later then?” I asked, completely unsure what else to say.

A flash of disappointment crossed Gabriel's dark eyes but he nodded stiffly before turning to leave.

Immediately, my Wolf began to chastise me. Go after him!

He's acting like he wants to be alone right now, I argued, but my excuse sounded weak even to me and my feet itched to follow my Mate.

Skylar, haven't you tarried long enough? I know you're scared to approach the subject but it's what you want, it's our Mate you want. You've always known what your decision would be, but you've been too scared to face it and put yourself in that vulnerable position. Well, you can't be scared anymore. You're stronger than that. He's hurting and lonely and he will need you. You need each other.

I took a deep breath, feeling my heart's pounding rate increasing. Gabriel had vanished around the side of the nearest house but his heady scent still hung in the air. My Wolf was right and I knew it...she had been right all along. I felt my palms grow clammy as I realized what I was about to do.

Go. It was a single command, firm and unrelenting, my Wolf's stubborn streak rivaling my own.

I straightened up, pausing just in front of my house. She was right. I didn't want to be here, I wanted to be chasing after Gabriel and telling him that I had finally made my decision. I know I still had to get over some of my emotional turmoil, especially where Eva was concerned, but lingering on that problem now (when Cain was lurking just on the horizon) seemed so....petty. I really had no time to waste on jealousy when there was nothing Gabriel could do to change what had happened.

Squaring my shoulders, I tilted my chin up in a defiant stance. I spun on my heel and marched away from my house towards where Gabriel had disappeared, maintaining a near-jogging pace, feeling my nervousness compound with every step.

I had made my decision. It was time to give Gabriel an answer.

---

---

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please forgive any errors! I hope you all are happy that Skylar finally made up her mind, and I'm sure you're looking forward to the next chapter. I'll try to upload soon. :)

MULTIMEDIA:

Cover by BrittanyLeigh – looks awesome, thanks!

Song from Final Fantasy X, “Suteki Da Ne”, instrumental version (check out the original, too! It's beautiful)