I almost didn't like it.

" Just relax Gabriel" I said as I ran my hand through his hair, he leaned in closer as my touch was soothing to him but I miss the spark I felt when I found out he was my mate.

Though it wasn't enough to forgive him for the way I was treated by him for the past few years, and that is for sure.

Gabriel lets just take things slowly,once at a time. I said to him,and he looked very relaxed under my touch.

"What do you think the pack will think of us?"? I asked him and he looked up at me with a furrowed brow.

"What do you mean"? He asked me to look him in the eyes.

Have you forgotten that you single handedly destroyed my reputation? What? Do you think the whole pack will accept a slut for their luna? I asked, looking him straight in the eyes and he growled back at me.

"Don't call yourself that" he said and I narrowed my eyes on him.

"I didn't. You did" I said pointedly and his face fell before he laid his head back on my lap. He moves his hands around my waist , I let him do it hoping that some intimate contact would calm him down from throwing a tantrum when I leave.

" Am so sorry, I will never forgive myself for what I did to you" he murmurs and I rub the back of his neck to sooth him gently. His emotionally are throwing the fuck out of me.

" This doesn't actually matter for now " we have to think of a way on how this will look. I sighed and he looked up at me again.

" I will kill anyone who says anything bad about you" he says firmly, I can't help but giggle. He looks up at me in awe and watches me.

Do that again, he says.

Do what?

" Laugh. It was beautiful" he says, shaking me a little.

Well I can't just laugh on command. It doesn't walk like that. He lifted his hand up and tickled my side, making me laugh until I could barely breathe.

Ok, ok stop, I yelled at him and he pulled his hand back quickly. I looked at him and he had a wide, beautiful smile on his face.

" I could listen to that forever". He murmurs, reaching up to run his thumbs down my cheeks.

Rachel? Where are you? My mum links me and pulls me out of my daze. I stood up suddenly, making Gabriel fall over.

"Sorry, that was my mom, I have to go. I said as I was heading towards the door. If before I could get close to the door a pair of large have wrapped around my waist pulling me into his strong embrace.

"No, tell her you are staying with me. Gabriel growls at me. He sounds more wolf than man. I turned around and met his dark eyes, which showed that his wolf he's in charge. I took a deep breath and held his face in my hands.

I will come back tomorrow okay? I need to talk to them, and explain things. I tried to reason a little with him, he held my hands in his kissing palm like he did earlier.

"You promise to come back tomorrow? I nod, my stomach sinking at the thought of what I am getting myself into.

Yes tomorrow, his eyes were back to normal as that of Gabriel as he let go of my hands.

See you tomorrow little mate. He said leaning in to take a sniff of my scent as he placed a gentle kiss on my neck, I smiled at him gently before leaving the room. Taking a deep breath of fresh air before I find my way out of here.

Rachel

On getting home." What took you so long? My mom asked with a worried look on her face as soon as I walked in through the door. My dad was with her standing at her back, staring at me worriedly and I sighed before entering the kitchen.

My parents know that I easily get hungry once I am stressed out.

Gabriel tried to persuade me to stay, he has been acting so strange. I said while I opened the fridge to pull out some snacks for myself. Suddenly my Mom grabs the food from me, and starts preparing something else while my dad pulls to sit beside him inside our kitchen.

" You mean he wasn't treating you like a piece of trash like he does? My dad asked irritatedly and somewhat angry.

Sweetheart,why didn't you tell us it was that bad from the start, my mom asked with a sad and worried expression. There is a pang in my heart at the thought of hurting her.

He is our Alpha son, what would you have done to him? I asked while trying to avoid their gaze. My dad sighs and crosses his arm over my shoulder, pulling me into his embrace while he plants a kiss on my forehead.

" You know we could have spoken to the alpha about it, you heard what he said today. He wouldn't have tolerated his son's behavior towards you mate or know mate. My dad pointed out but I just Shaked my head.

" If he was going to change, I wanted him to do that on his own, not reporting him to his father. That would have made matters worse , he needs to grow and learn how to be a good Alpha in the future. I know doing this all these years probably hurt you guys feelings towards me today, saying what I did about trying to leave the pack. But I want to know that it has nothing to do with the both of you. Only Gabriel, I said, met both of them gaze. They both nod in agreement while my mum places a plate of food in front of me.

"We know, sweetheart. We just feel bad for you, you know we have been excited about you finding your mate. And then you got that little shit" My dad said angrily, snatching a carrot off my plate. I growled at him and he chuckled back in response, he munched on it happily. My mum watches us with a warm and affectionate look.

" You know, a few days ago when he was spewing bullshit at me like he normally does, I told him his mate would be disappointed at having him as her mate, and that I hope she would never accept him. I said with a little giggle, that got both my parents laughing.

"How does it feel? The revenge? Does it feel good? My mum asked but I shook my head".

I didn't reject him for revenge, I rejected him because I don't want to be his mate.

Both my parents sighed and their looks turned from amused to somber.

Rachel we didn't want to say these in front of the alpha, because we want you to know that we are on your side. My mother starts but looks at my dad for help. My eyes flit between the two of them as unease builds inside me.

Alpha is right, sweetheart. As much as I hate to admit these, once Gabriel becomes your mate. Your first responsibility is to devote yourself to the pack.if your mate had been someone else other than the future alpha of this pack. I would have said wholeheartedly that you have every right to reject a man who treats you like trash and has no respect . But that isn't an option in a case like these, in fact regardless of what the current situation is , I am very proud of the fact that you stood up to him. For believing in your worth and yourself, you are very smart and intelligent. I just wished that you don't have to take back what you said. He said sadly and I shook my head.

" That's quite unfair," I said ,as tears were springing down my face.

We know it is not fair Rachel, we know it is not. My mum said as tears were brimming in her eyes. She rounded the counter to pull me in for a warm hug, and I couldn't stop my tears any longer.

You know he's put me into so much hurt and humiliation over the years and you expect me to forgive him just like that? To hope that the mate bond is the only thing that stops him from treating me like trash? All for the pack members who treat me like a leper all because of the rumors he kept spreading about me? Just listen to yourselves, doesn't my happiness mean a thing to you?" I shouted and pushed my mother away from me, running up the stairs that leads to my room.

When I got into my room u locked the door behind me, and took a deep breath to calm myself down, I could still smell Gabriel scent on me. Which got me even more angry. I ripped my clothes from my body and threw them into the hallway to get them to stay away from me, not caring if it made them angry, before climbing into the shower to scrub myself clean from his scent. I allowed myself to break down in tears, sobbing again with the water spray, lowering myself to the ground.

It was already hard enough that I rejected my mate and also had to accept I would never have that bond again. But it was fair for me to accept a man who has always been treating me like trash for as long as my other half. That sounds worst, I could never trust to be safe with him nor love him with my whole heart. Any feeling I have would be because of the mate bond. Will that be a better way to leave?

I stepped out of the shower only to hear the sound of someone pounding on my door, which is something my parents would never do. They must be really angry with me, so I wrapped a towel around me before heading to open the door.

"What?! I yelled and was surprised to see Gabriel's distraught face. His eyes traveled over my body, not hungrily but more like looking for injuries, before making eye contact with me.

" Are you okay? You felt distressed over the bond" He says confused as his eyes catch my red puffy ones.

I'm fine you can go. I say attempting to close the door. He pushes it open further and takes a step towards me.

" You are not fine" your face is all red and puffy, you have been crying. He says his voice is breaking. " Please don't cry sweetheart. He says practically like a whisper as he tries to wrap his arms around me. I pushed him away From me and took a step backward, tightening my towel around me and starting to shiver as a result of the cold water dripping off my hair.

" Stop, don't touch me" I told him firmly and his shoulder slumped.

Just let me comfort you. He pleaded, reaching his hand out to me but I rejected it.

"I already told you that I don't feel the bond. Your touch doesn't comfort me. I yelled at him loudly and he rolled his eyes.

I did mean the bond. Rachel I meant me, just me . Just let me hold you. He begs but I shake my head in disagreement.

" Why? Because you don't have your clothes on? Here. He says removing his shirt and handing it to me.

" No, I say. I just took a shower to get your scent . Why can't you just leave me alone? Just give me enough time and space to think, I can't help but yell at him, starting to get hysterical. His eyes widened in concern as he looked out of my bedroom door. My mother comes in the next seconds while he walks out of my room.

" Come on sweetheart" let's get you dressed. She says gently pulling a shirt over my head and handing me some pajama pants before leading me into the bathroom and drying my hair, at least it gets to stop dripping before braiding it for me like she did when I was still a child.

" Why did you let him in? I asked bitterly and she sighs.

He was upset, Rachel, we knew you were also angry. We were hoping he could help you calm down, I realize we are wrong. "I'm sorry" she says earnestly and I nod.

Chapter 8

But since he's here for you, why don't you ask him to stay? She asked and I Shaked my head. I stood up and went out to meet him in the room where he kept wandering around. Looking at my things.

" I'm fine you can leave" I said and he observed me with a worried expression. He sighs as he runs his hand through his hair before looking back at me. He walks over to me and reaches up to run his hand through my braid.

I have always liked your hair like this, it gives off the innocent sexy teacher vibe. He said smiling at me, I crossed my hands over my chest as I kept looking at the ground making him sigh again.

" Rachel please" try to listen to me just once, if you let me in give me a chance , I'm telling you what I feel for you is very sincere and it has nothing to do with the mate bond at all. Because I have always loved you for years, Rachel I couldn't express my feelings for you because I wasn't good enough for you, and that really pisses me off most times I see you. Everyone is aware of it, you know it, and my parents are also aware of my feelings for you. Apparently the only person who did know of these is the Moon goddess. I don't understand what the hell she was thinking of doing to you, making me your mate, but I will try to make it better. I am aware that you need enough time to think about it , but I just wanted you to know that I care about you so much. I shrug and Him while I look up to meet his eyes.

The way you have always treated me for years, your lame reasons won't cover up for it never. You were so harsh and cruel to me at the same time. I said bitterly and he nodded in agreement.

" I really have no good excuse, just know that I regretted the way I treated you in the past before you became my mate.

Gabriel

I could feel the sorrow and hurt she was feeling right now because of the mate bond, it felt like being pricked with a thousand needles in my chest. Almost as bad as when she rejected me as her mate. I remembered being over the moon when I caught her scent this morning . I have always had a soft spot for her over the years, maybe that was one of the reasons why I treated her badly, I didn't want anyone to know that she meant alot to me. The care and love my parents show her when she is with them made matters worse. They were so obsessed with her ,they had no other thing to talk about other than her, though I was impressed with her too. She is not just a smart girl, she can see beyond what others see, like she can play a whole game of chess in her head and also know every possible outcome from every possible means, it is incredible right. My parents knew that and this makes me feel like a disappointment to them.

Then she grew up to be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, her long and silky hair , trimmed waist , thick hips and firm breast. Even her nose is cute and she has slightly large ears that give the vibe of innocence to all those sexy curves. If I hadn't been an asshole to her. I was probably able to wrap my arms around sexy curves freely and adore her the way she deserves to be adored.

Just another layer of punishment for my past terrible behavior toward her.

If I could go back in time to apologize to her I would have done that ,I would have treated her better. Am going to look like a complete asshole if in front of the whole pack, they are going to think of me as an idiot. She was right about everything she said at my dad's office the other day. No one has ever said it straight to my face before. Sure it really pissed me off but it was interesting. I really need that in my life. Some to push me forward, to make me better so I can be a good Alpha.

Shit! Maybe she should run the pack in my stead, I have no doubt she is going to do a better job than me.

It kills and annoys me that they can't feel our mate bond , but I really can't blame her for that. She putty in my hands, just like I am in hers. That is not what she wants and not what she deserves. If she decides to give me a second chance, it should be based on her real feelings for me.

And if that moment comes, I will cherish it for this lifetime. The brief second at the forest when she said she was going to give me a chance felt like the cloud opening up and sunlight streaming on me after days in the rain. I had never been that happy my whole life. Then she ripped her hands away from me and rejected me, I couldn't believe it. I never thought the girl had anything so vindictive in her.

She was fucking savage.

And it was actually really hot, after the agonizing pain dissipated. I could still feel it a little bit, like a constant headache , but I will take it, I will take whatever punishment she wants as long as we get to be together at the end of it.

God, if the guys could hear me now, the did think am fucking whipped. But none of them have experienced a mate bond before, this shit is way more stronger than I expect it to be. I still can't believe she was able to fight it so hard, I would have marked and mated her on the forest floor if she let me. Now I feel like a fool for saying that thing about marking and mating within hours of meeting her.

That didn't work out well

After she left , I could feel her torrent of emotion, but she seems a little calm, more in control of things than she was in that god forsaken meeting. When I told my dad I didn't expect him to call everyone in to have a freaking talk about our love life. I just wanted his advice . I've never seen my parents so embarrassed of me ,even ashamed of me. If I could command the ground to open and swallow me I would have done that immediately. Her parents looked livid , I will have to let her dad take a few shot at me