by Leela Ash
“Who would have thought that sexy little bitch would have such a pair of balls on her?” The tall dark-haired guy said, causing everyone else to cackle wildly.
“It’s not funny, you morons. This is important. If she interferes again, you know what we have to do.”
“It’ll be a waste of a nice piece of ass,” the dark-haired guy said.
Val trembled in rage, but she couldn’t do a thing about it. What were they talking about? Did they have something to do with the break-in of the record store? They hadn’t been there. She would have recognized them immediately. So what was going on? They hadn’t even taken anything. They were looking for something.
“It doesn’t even matter,” Ren said, waving his hand dismissively. “We are just going to have to be more careful. And the next time we see her, just leave her alone. We don’t need any confrontation right now. We’ll deal with everything as it comes; no more no less.”
His lackeys reluctantly agreed, and they went on down the hallway, leaving Valerie with more questions and confusion than she had to start with. As much as she had to admit it, she needed to tell Gabe about this. Only he would know what to do with the information.
She sighed heavily and made her way to the bus stop. She didn’t want to skip class, but the idea of staying there with Ren and his men lurking just around the corner made her feel a little sick. The sooner she told Gabriel about this the better. Whether she liked it or not.
13.
Gabe studied Val’s sincere green eyes, until she became uncomfortable and looked down at her hands.
“I wasn’t sure whether I was being paranoid or not, but it makes sense now,” he said slowly, more to himself than to Valerie.
“What makes sense?”
Gabe’s chest burned. He was angry, yes, but he was struggling with being so near to the young woman again. It was easy for him when he was by himself to get angry and say he was never going to deal with her again; that he was better off without her and that he was going to love his wife and his wife alone until the last of his days on Earth.
But when Val was right there with him, beside him, looking at him like that, it was nearly impossible to fight his feelings for her. The wolf had staked its claim for a reason. She was his. And he had to fight tooth and nail to keep from making that claim on her physical. He refused to let his wolf take over. The only woman he wanted in his bed was Molly, and that was the end of it.
“Not every shifter in Stonybrooke is good, you know. Some of them come here with their own agendas. There have been a lot of rumors going around about a group of power hungry men who want to harness all the magic in Stonybrooke so they can use it toward their own ends, whatever that might be. I usually just blow off that kind of thing.”
“Yeah,” Val said, her gentle voice like a balm on Gabe’s soul. “It seems unreal that anyone could be so selfish.”
“Yeah…”
Gabe was captivated, once again, by the beautiful, flawless features of Val’s face. She was ridiculously pretty. He looked away, frustrated both at himself and at her.
“So, why aren’t you dating anybody anyway?” Gabe grumbled, standing up from his kitchen table and running his hands through his thick hair. “You’re a pretty girl. You deserve a nice young man to spend some time with.”
“Why am I single?” Val asked, looking suddenly very put on the spot. “I don’t know… I just have my own thing going, I guess.”
Gabe nodded. He wasn’t sure what he would have done if he had heard her say anything else about it. He knew he wouldn’t be happy to hear about her dating someone else, but he also wasn’t happy knowing she seemed to blow off male attention regardless of the fact they were continually drawn together, for one reason or another, as if the universe had made its decision. Didn’t he have any say in who he spent his time with? Why did it have to be this girl?
“Well, I guess it’s not your fault that SU is full of idiots like those guys you overheard talking. I didn’t realize how valuable the land is that my store is on. I haven’t completely paid off the mortgage yet, so it’s not technically mine. That must be why they have been trying to fuck with my business. If business is bad, I can’t afford the payments and then they can swoop in and steal it right out from under me.”
“But what do they want with it?” Val asked, her pretty brow knitted in confusion. “What’s so special about this area?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Gabe said, though the wheels in his head were turning now. “It could be anything, but I have a theory…”
Val sighed and stood up, carrying her empty coffee cup to the sink and washing it. She did it so naturally, as if she were fully at home in his kitchen. And for some reason, it didn’t even bother him. It sent a surge of heat through his body; the wolf was pleased.
“Is it a theory a human can hear?” she asked, glancing back at him from over her shoulder as she dried the mug and placed it carefully back in the cabinet she had seen Gabe retrieve it from.
“Well, it’s kind of stupid. I don’t even think they’re real; just myth. But I can’t help but wonder if what these guys are after doesn’t have something to do with the portals.”
“Portals?”
“Right. When the shifters came to Earth, it’s said that each group landing created a portal back to the world where we’re from. But that’s just myths and rumors that probably have no standing or any basis in reality whatsoever.”
“You think those guys are looking for a way back to the world where the shifters came from?” Val asked, turning to face him.
Again, the wolf longed to take over; he could take her right then and there, against the kitchen counter. And he knew she would want him just as much. He had already been able to smell it for himself… the memory haunted him in the dead of night, when all he wanted was a peaceful night’s sleep. His longing for her tortured him.
“I don’t think it’s as innocent as all that. The portals are rumored to be a source of great power. If you were to find their location, anything could happen. It depends on the person who located it. Maybe it would take you back to the original world where the shifters came from, or maybe they would use the portal to harness the power there and use it to serve their own twisted agenda. It could be dangerous.”
“We should tell the Council,” Val said, her beautiful face serious and determined. It took all he had not to kiss the firm line of her lip as she stared at him, her fists balled at her sides; ready and willing to do whatever it took to protect Stonybrooke right alongside him.
“We won’t do anything, kid. No humans are allowed at the Square without a formal invitation. But you’re right. I’ll let them know what’s going on. It’s better than being ambushed.”
Val’s defensive stance relaxed a bit and she sighed, nodding slightly.
“All right. If they think there’s something magical in this area, they aren’t going to stop looking until they get it.”
“You’re right,” Gabe growled, a sudden fierce urge to protect the girl consuming him. “I can’t let you go anywhere until this is resolved. You’re in danger. They already know your face.”
“What?!”
Val’s beautiful face changed from determined to outrage in less than a second, and Gabe nearly laughed.
“I’m serious,” Gabe said, shaking his head. “You’re not safe. Especially not in that shitty little apartment complex of yours. I’m going to drive you up to get whatever you need, but you aren’t going to stay there another second longer. Not until we know what’s going on.”
“You can’t do this to me,” Val said, shaking her head wildly. “That’s like kidnapping or something.”
Gabe sighed, locking his eyes on hers and mustering the most serious expression he could. He had to make her understand the urgency of the situation. She had nearly been abducted and raped, and now he was starting to figure out why. He had to protect her, no matter what the cost.
“It isn’t kidnapping if you can just see the damn sense in
it!” Gabe said, his voice a low growl. “You know that place isn’t safe. And there isn’t anything in this house that’s going to hurt you. All you have to do is lay low. I won’t even charge you rent. Is that really so hard for you?”
Val glared down at the ground, her face proud and flushed. He had never been more attracted to anyone than he was to her in that moment. She was so young, and yet, she had the soul of a wizened warrior. To top it all off, damn was she attractive.
“Look, it’s just temporary. I’m not going to do anything to you. We’ll stay out of each other’s way. You can talk to your professors about finishing as much of your coursework from home as possible, and on days you need to go to lectures, I’ll go with you. Be your body guard. Just until we figure out what the hell is going on and how to make it stop. I’m not going to let anything happen to you, and that’s final.”
Valerie’s fierce eyes turned to him, her expression impossible to read. Her energy was all over the place, and when she opened her mouth, Gabe was convinced it was going to be so she could more easily bite his head off.
He was stunned when she finally spoke, and her words hung in the air between them as if stuck there by Velcro.
“All right,” she said quietly. “But we’ll have to protect each other.”
14.
The next few days went by in a blur. Valerie could hardly believe it as she packed up her few belongings and loaded them into Gabriel’s car. It took a few trips, but soon, she was officially moved in to his house. They went together to the school to speak with her professors, and Gabriel explained the severity of the situation to them in terms only other shifters would truly understand. By the time they returned back to the house, the realization that her life as she knew it had changed forever crashed upon her suddenly, and she locked herself in the bedroom Gabriel had assigned for her, unable to truly comprehend just how different her life was going to be.
“I really appreciate you guys cleaning up after the robbery, and even taking the time to do the inventory the way you did, and once Gabriel is convinced you are safe, you are welcome to come back to the record store anytime you want.”
She could hardly believe Randall’s words, but they were her only source of comfort in the moment. She hung up the phone with him and looked around the sterile little room. It was nice in its way, it had a woman’s touch. Gabriel probably hadn’t had anything to do with its design. It was probably all due to the late wife he didn’t seem able to get over. In a way, she felt jealous of her, but mostly, she just felt sorry for Gabriel for having to endure such a huge amount of pain. Sometimes, life just didn’t seem fair.
“I serve dinner at six o’clock,” Gabriel said from outside the bedroom door. “It’s all right if you don’t want to eat with me. But if you do, I always make enough for two. It’s just an old habit I never got out of. I eat a lot of leftovers.”
Valerie wanted to answer, but there was a big lump in her throat, and she was afraid that if she did, she would just begin to cry. She had never handled change very well, least of all the changes she had no control over. Part of the reason she resented Gabriel’s claim on her so much was because it took so much of her control way. That was what she needed most during the times when she had been trapped in the foster care system. She worked hard to carve her life out in the direction she wanted to go, and anybody interfering with that wasn’t welcome.
And yet, knowing Gabe cared so much about her, and was doing everything in his power to protect her from the threat gave her a feeling unlike anything she had ever experienced before. She felt as if somebody cared for her. As if she were safe. And that made her even more confused than before. Because she knew there is no way it was possible that she really was safe. She didn’t know anything about Gabriel, and the truth was, even if he wanted to protect her from the bad shifters, there was a possibility he wouldn’t even be able to.
Maybe they were both just kidding themselves by thinking her living there might change the situation. If she was meant to get into trouble, then she was just meant to get into trouble. Maybe some things were useless to fight. Maybe she would never be anything more than a powerless ward of the state; a victim.
Val was distracted from her thoughts by the strong scent of food wafting through the house. Wolf shifters were notorious for their incredible cuisine, and the only taste she had ever had was the take-out food she bought. Shifters heavily guarded their secrets, rarely allowing humans to taste the full range of flavors present in their food unless they truly trusted them not to insult the shifter palate.
Her stomach rumbled despite herself.
“Traitor,” she grumbled down at it.
No matter how irritating it was to be ordered around by Gabe, she was helpless to her desire to try real shifter food; especially when she was so hungry. Her schedule left her strapped for time, to the point it was nearly impossible to find the time to cook.
And so, Val took a deep breath and headed out to the kitchen, her nerves bad enough that she was nearly too sick to her stomach to eat by the time she reached the table.
“Ah, so you’ve decided to join me, then,” Gabe said, keeping his back to her as he finished flipping something on the burner. A satisfying hiss came from the food and soon, Gabe’s strong frame was beside her, placing a plate full of delicious looking food in front of her.
“This is my favorite dish,” he said quietly. “My wife used to make it for me.”
Val pursed her lips at the news, feeling awkward and out of place now, more than she ever had in her life. Her mind leapt to the framed photo of the beautiful woman on Gabe’s mantel. How would he ever be able to get over a woman that gorgeous? There was no way. No wonder he was so resentful of her any time things started to get physical.
“Thank you,” Val said quietly, hoping to sidestep the uncomfortable subject altogether. Gabe seemed relieved for this and sat down across from her, his own plate piled high with food.
He seemed to sense Val’s disbelief, and he looked at her, his dark eyes wide. “What?”
Val laughed. “That’s just a lot of food.”
Gabe grinned and flexed playfully. “I’m a big guy. It takes a lot of fuel to keep this body going.”
“So I see,” she said with an easy laugh.
“Try it,” Gabe said, smiling at her. Val couldn’t help but stare. His chiseled features seemed softer somehow when he smiled. She wished he would do it more often.
“All right,” Val said, suddenly catching herself. “I will.”
She brought a spoonful of food to her lips, gasping in shock when the explosion of flavors burst on her tongue. Val had never experienced anything like it before, and she stared at Gabe, her eyes round and bright. He laughed as if he had expected a reaction like that, and leaned back in his chair to wait for her to swallow her bite.
“Good, isn’t it?” he asked as she chewed. She brought another bite to her lips right away. Gabe laughed heartily and nodded.
“I’ve never had anything like it before,” Val said when she had finally felt satisfied by her first taste. “You really cook like this all the time?!”
“There’s no other way to eat,” Gabe said, his lips twitching in an effort to suppress a smile.
Soon, they were eating together and having an easy conversation; talking about Val’s course load and all the things she hoped to do with her degree.
“I’ve never met a woman who wants to be a ranger before,” Gabe said, chuckling deeply. The warm rumble of his laugh brought an involuntary smile to Val’s lips, and she realized just how good a time she was having with him. She had never felt like part of a family before, but here at the kitchen table at Gabe’s house, she could almost imagine what that might be like. It was a comforting feeling. One that kind of scared her.
“Well, I don’t just want to be a ranger,” Val said. “I want to work for the benefit of the forest. Conservation and preserving the homes of the wildlife. That’s why one of my former professors recommended coming to Sto
nybrooke. They said the shifter’s programs are the best.”
“I imagine we would have a vantage point on the topic,” Gabe agreed with a small smile. “It just seems strange for a woman to want to roam around in the woods with a gun, helping little birdies that fall out of their nests.”
“I don’t mind getting my hands dirty,” Val said, unable to prevent the flirtatious smile from creasing her face. Gabe’s smile widened for a moment, and then his features grew dark.
What the hell was she thinking, coming on to him right at the same table he had shared meals with his wife? The beautiful woman she would never be able to compare to, no matter how hard she tried? It was a hopeless effort. Why bother? And why would she let herself make him feel so badly?
“Anyway, that’s just what I’d like to do instead of bouncing around and juggling three jobs.”
“You don’t have to do that anymore,” Gabe said quickly. “Not with me.”
“I’m not going to have any man supporting me financially,” Val said, quirking her brow at him. “No matter whether we’re married or I’m claimed or not. I’m going to have my own life outside of the man I’m with. That’s just the way it has to be.”
Gabe grinned at her and nodded slowly. “Well, you finish your degree and be a ranger. But until that happens and the danger around these parts dies down, you just enjoy getting a little rest and relaxation. You feel me?”
A hot flush darkened Val’s cheeks and she looked away quickly, remembering just how good it had felt when she had physically felt him. How they had managed to stop themselves she would never know; except for the fact Gabe would never be able to care for her. The only woman he would ever want was his wife, and she was gone. That meant that whatever agonizing feelings she was having for him, she wasn’t going to be able to act on them, whether she liked it or not.
