Chapter Eight
Autumn sat in the living room working on her latest novel. Chloe and Michael had dropped her off at the house nearly an hour ago and still there was no sign of Gabriel. She’d thought he was coming home, but the house had been empty when she arrived. If Michael hadn’t had a key, she’d have been locked out. She wasn’t upset, just worried. She hoped her confession hadn’t done more harm than good. Maybe she should have just kept her mouth shut. What good had it done to tell him she had feelings for him? It was stupid.
She stared at the blank screen, begging the words to come to her, but her mind couldn’t focus on the story. She wondered where Gabriel was and when he would return. Or if he would return. What if she’d finally pushed him over the edge and he’d decided to leave Ashton Grove? She’d never know if he’d removed things from his room. Guilt ate at her.
Giving up on her story, she closed the laptop and went to sit on the front porch. A large wooden crate sat at the top of the steps and she wondered when it had been delivered. She hadn’t heard a truck, but then she’d been lost in her thoughts. Autumn tugged on it, but it was too heavy for her to budge. Stepping around it, she sat on the steps and watched the cars pass by. One of the mechanics across the street waved to her and she lifted her hand in response.
A rumble coming up the street drew her gaze and she watched as Gabriel came into view on his motorcycle. He pulled into the driveway, turned off the bike, and put down the kickstand. As he approached her, he pulled off his sunglasses and hung them from the front of his shirt.
His gaze strayed to the crate behind her. “What’s in the box?”
“I don’t know. It wasn’t here when I got home, but when I came out a few minutes ago I found it. I tried to tug it into the house, but it was too heavy.”
He looked down at her again. “I’m sorry for taking off the way I did. There were some things I needed to sort out.”
“Do you feel better now?”
“I do.” He smiled. “I feel better than I have in a long time.”
“I can still pack and move back to the apartment, if you want.”
Gabriel shook his head. “You’re right where you’re supposed to be. It just took me a while to reconcile my head and my heart. They’ve been at war with one another since you showed up on my doorstep, but I think I have it all figured out now.”
She frowned, feeling more than a little confused.
Gabriel reached down and tugged on her hand, lifting her to her feet. Even standing on the bottom step, she still wasn’t as tall as him. She looked up into his eyes and her heart nearly stopped at what she saw there, or what she thought she saw. It wasn’t necessarily love, but there was definitely affection there. She didn’t know what had happened while he was gone, but he seemed lighter, happier.
“There’s something I’ve wanted to do all week,” he said, gripping her waist.
“What?”
He stepped closer. “This.”
Gabriel leaned down and pressed his mouth against hers. It was just a soft brushing of their lips, but Autumn felt the tingle all the way to her toes. Other than Perry, she’d only ever been kissed one time, and this kiss far surpassed any that she’d ever had before. It was like rainbows and stardust and…magic. Yes, it was pure magic. When he pulled away, she found herself leaning toward him, not wanting the kiss to end.
Her eyes opened and she looked up at him in wonder. “What was that for?”
“I came to realize something while I was gone this afternoon. It wasn’t just the scent of fae that I recognized when you came to my house that day; it was the scent of a potential mate for the pack. But over the past week, the more I thought about you being with other guys, the more I realized I didn’t want to let you go.”
“So you want me to stay?”
“I want you to make this your home, Autumn. I know that I’m no bargain, and I’m sure we still have a rough road ahead of us, but I want you to think about something for me.”
“What?”
“I want you to consider being my mate.” When she opened her mouth to respond, he held up a hand. “When Kiera died, I thought that was it for me, that I’d had my shot at happiness. But today, she told me that she wants me to move on, to be happy again.”
“Told you?”
He smiled. “That’s a long story.”
“So you want me to be your mate because Kiera told you to do it?”
“No. I want you to be my mate because I enjoy our time together. Because I’ve wondered for the past week what you would taste like when I kissed you. I want you to be mine because I can see us growing old together and raising children together. But most of all, I want you to be mine because of how much I care about you. It may not be an all encompassing love, a lightning strike that leaves you dazed, but there’s a warmth in my heart for you, Autumn. It may not be the blazing passion you’ve dreamed of, but I do love you.”
Autumn blinked back tears.
“Say something. Anything.” He looked at her expectantly.
“When I told you how I felt today, I thought I’d doomed our relationship, that you wouldn’t want anything more to do with me. And now you’re telling me you want me to be your mate? It’s all so sudden, so fast. I feel like my head is spinning.”
“We have time.”
She nodded and stepped up onto the porch. “Why don’t you bring the box inside and we’ll see what’s in it?”
Gabriel smiled and climbed the stairs, easily hefting the box in his arms and carrying it into the house. He set it down in the front entry and pried an envelope off the lid.
Ornery bastard made me work for it, but here are your blessed knives. There aren’t enough for the pack so choose your guards wisely. Don’t make the same mistake you made last time. Arm Autumn and make sure she knows how to use the blade.
Eric
Autumn read the note over his shoulder. “I actually know how to fight with a knife.”
He looked at her in surprise. “Where did you learn that?”
“It was the last thing my father taught me. There were many times I wanted to use the skill to gut Perry, but I always held back.”
“So you can protect yourself?”
“I’m not sure what good a spelled blade will be against a fae’s magic, but in hand-to-hand combat I can hold my own.”
Gabriel smiled. “Good. As for the magic part, there’s a way around that.”
“What would that be?”
He hooked an arm around her waist and tugged her closer. “You just have to allow yourself to fall in love with your destined mate.”
“I’m scared to love you, Gabriel. What if you wake up in the morning and change your mind?”
“I won’t,” he assured her.
“Give me some time to think it over.”
“Take all the time you need, Autumn. I’m not going anywhere.”
***
Gabriel had lain awake for an hour after heading to bed that night, wondering if Autumn would put her faith in him. He knew he had some baggage, but so did she. Since hearing of her abusive past, he’d made sure he didn’t make any quick movements around her, not wanting to scare her. He touched the scars running down his cheek. She said she had feelings for him so obviously his appearance wasn’t off-putting. Which meant it was Kiera and his love for her that stood in the way. Maybe telling her that his dead wife had given him permission to move on hadn’t been the best of ideas. The last thing he’d wanted her to believe was that he hadn’t desired her before then. She’d been a temptation since she stepped foot into his house, even if he’d been too blind to realize it at first.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Gabriel?”
Autumn’s soft voice pierced the darkness and he leaned up on an elbow and looked toward the door.
“Everything okay?” he asked, worried that something had scared her. He’d armed her with one of the blessed blades, but that didn’t mean she was safe against the outcasts.
“Can we talk?”
He scooted over and sat up, patting the empty space beside him. “Come on.”
Autumn slowly walked across the room and used the little stool beside the bed to climb up. He’d bought it for Kiera during her first pregnancy and hadn’t removed it. Now he was glad it was there, even if he had stubbed his toe on it nearly every morning since it had first graced his bedroom.
“Were you sleeping?” she asked.
“No, I was just lying here.”
“I tried to sleep, but I couldn’t. I kept seeing the look on your face when I told you I had feelings for you. You ran from me as fast as you could, but then you reappear and suddenly you want me as your mate.”
“I had some things to work through. You have to understand. Kiera was my world. When she died, I told myself I would never love again, never let anyone get that close to me. Then I opened my door and there you were. My stubborn heart refused to recognize that you were my mate, but I think my wolf knew. I’d thought all along that I was protective of you because you were related to Kiera, but I think really I was being that way because you’re mine. Even if you deny me and refuse to take me as a mate, you’ll always be mine and I will always watch over you.”
She took his hand. “The thought of being mated again scares me. I’ve only ever been intimate with Perry and it was only a few times. I’ve never…” She blushed.
“You’ve never what?”
“I’ve never enjoyed being with a man in bed. It was painful and messy. I always felt used afterward.”
“Autumn, it would never be like that between us.”
“I know.” She looked at their clasped hands. “After that kiss tonight, I know that I want more with you, but the thought of forever scares me.”
“What are you asking for, Autumn?”
She lifted her gaze to his. “Would we have to mate right away? Or could we have a little more time?”
“Honey, we’re mates whether we go through a ceremony or not. Nothing is going to change that. Is it the title that scares you? Because I’m already bound to you in my heart. You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”
“I guess everyone will know we’re mates?”
“I’m going to announce it soon. I don’t want those single males sniffing around you, trying to claim you for themselves.”
“Could we…could we hold off on the ceremony? Just for a little while? At least until the fairy situation is taken care of. I know the sorcerer said if I was mated and pregnant the fairies would back off, but I want them gone permanently. I don’t want them to return as soon as our children are old enough to take over the throne.”
Gabriel caressed her hand with his thumb. “We can hold off on the ceremony. But I’d really like it if you’d start sleeping in here at night. If for no other reason than so I can watch over you. We’re stronger together if the outcasts should attack.”
She nodded. “I feel like I should make you work harder for this. For me.”
“You make me work as hard as you want to.” He smiled. “Having you by my side will be worth the effort.”
She reached out and gently traced the line of his jaw. “Are you sure you want me to stay in here tonight?”
“Tonight and every night.”
Gabriel realized in that moment that he truly meant the words. Now that he wasn’t fighting his attraction to her, he found that he looked forward to spending the rest of his life with her. If what Kiera said was true, after the threat of the outcasts passed, they would have a long and happy future together. He’d been given a second chance and it would be foolish for him to waste it. Besides, Autumn needed him, just as he needed her. He only hoped the fates weren’t cruel enough to take her from him before they could start their future together.
Chapter Nine
Marin watched Autumn pick at her food. She’d asked her out to lunch, thinking she might like to get away from Gabriel for a while. Marin couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him so protective of someone. If it were her, she’d be going nuts by now. She’d thought some girl time might be good for Autumn, but now she had to wonder if there was something weighing on her mind. She seemed preoccupied today.
“Everything okay?” Marin asked. “You’ve hardly touched your lunch.”
Autumn gave her a half-hearted smile. “Just worried, I guess.”
“About what?”
“I think Gabriel wants to tell you himself.”
Marin frowned.
Autumn worried at her bottom lip. “If I tell you, do you swear not to tell anyone? Not even Cole?”
“Of course. You know you can tell me anything. I’d like to think we’ve become friends.”
Autumn nodded. “We have; it’s just that what I’m going to say is a big deal and I’m not sure how you, or anyone else, will take it. It’s about Gabriel. And me.”
“The family can never thank you enough for what you’ve done, Autumn. You did the one thing no one was able to do. Get Gabriel out of the house. I’ve heard he’s even taken over payroll for the garage again.”
“Yes, he has. He said once the threat to my life was over, he would go back to the garage a few days a week. I don’t think he wants to work full-time anymore, unless he has to. He said something about giving Michael more responsibility.”
Marin grimaced. “I’m not sure Michael is going to like that. I think he was hoping Gabriel would step back in and things would go back to the way they were.”
Autumn toyed with her silverware. “I’ve talked to Gabriel a lot since moving into his house. Now that he’s venturing out again and is ready to rejoin the pack, he wants to spend more time with his family than at work.” Autumn’s gaze met Marin’s. “He wants to spend more time with his mate.”
“Mate?” Marin’s eyes widened. “Oh my god! Are you…”
Autumn nodded, looking like she was taking a trip to the gallows instead of giving Marin the best news she’d heard in months.
“Why aren’t you excited?” Marin asked.
“What if everyone doesn’t accept me as his mate? I’m Kiera’s cousin. What if they think he’s trying to replace her with the next closest thing?”
Marin reached for Autumn’s hand. “What if everyone else thinks that? Or is that what you think?”
“I don’t know what to think. I told him I had feelings for him and he took off like he couldn’t wait to get away from me. Then he returned a few hours later acting like nothing was wrong, suddenly ready to forge a new life with me.”
“Did he say what was going through his mind?”
“He said he had Kiera’s approval.”
Marin wasn’t sure what to make of that statement. Had Gabriel been able to see Kiera one last time? Had his wife talked some sense into him when no one else had been able to? It was hard not to see that he had feelings for Autumn. Marin would have never guessed the two were mates, but she’d sensed a hint of romance in the air.
“If I know Gabriel,” Marin said, “he was feeling guilty about wanting to move on. When Kiera died, he swore to never love again.”
“That’s what he said.”
Marin smiled. “Life will find a way though. He might not have been ready to go on without her, but you were brought to us, and you brought him a second chance. Not just at life but at love. Don’t you see how that would be scary for him?”
“Yeah.” Autumn chewed on her lip some more. “Do you really think everyone will accept me as his mate?”
“They’ll be thrilled with the news.”
“I told him I want to wait. To make it official. He says we’re mates whether we have a ceremony or not, but I don’t want to go through one until I know the danger has passed.”
“Tell me more about the danger. Gabriel told his brothers that someone was after you, but he left out all the details.” If another war was coming, Marin thought the pack had a right to know. And if their alpha female was in danger, they had a right to know that too.
“There are t
wo groups of fae. The light fae, which I’m descended from, and the outcasts. My entire line, the royal line, has been murdered. Except, I think my grandfather is still alive. Regardless, I’m the last heir to the throne. I don’t want it, but Gabriel said our children are destined to rule the fae. We talked until the wee hours of the morning.”
“How do we stop them?” Marin asked.
“The sorcerer gave us a box of spelled daggers. They’re the only thing that will neutralize the outcasts’ powers and kill them. I have one in my purse, and Gabriel said he was keeping one on him. He plans to arm certain members of the pack, starting with the family.”
“Is this going to be as bad as the battle with the demons?” Marin asked.
Autumn shook her head. “They only want me. That doesn’t mean they won’t kill anyone who gets in their way, but if you were to drop your blade and step away from me, you’d be safe.”
Marin shook her head. “Gabriel needs to tell everyone what’s going on. They have a right to defend you.”
“I’m sure he’ll get around to it soon.”
Marin drummed her fingers on the table. “Well, this might not be the best time to bring this up, but how about a subject change?”
“Okay.”
“I’ve been talking to Chloe, Aislinn, and Kendall. We weren’t sure if Gabriel would want to be part of Thanksgiving this year, but now that he has you…we were hoping you could convince him to come. Of course, that was before I knew you were his mate. Now the two of you definitely have to come!”
“Where is it?”
Marin smiled. “My house. Thanksgiving day at eleven o’clock.”
“That’s not far away. Do you need me to bring anything? Candied yams, maybe?”
“Whatever you want to bring will be great. Aislinn and Connor are bringing green bean casserole. Chloe and Michael are bringing the dressing. And Kendall and Colin are bringing the rolls. I was going to provide the glazed carrots, cranberry sauce, and turkey.”
“Why don’t you just worry about the turkey? I’ll bring a few dishes along, including the carrots.”
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