Page 10

Mika

I watch Gabe carefully, trying not to laugh at my mate’s reaction on how a mate was converted into a shapeshifter. Having avoided the conversation for days, I’d finally given in.

“Are you shitting me? That’s just…gross. Wrong. Fucked up. The sixty-nine from hell.”

Gabe’s green eyes are sharp, questioning, and I know he’s trying to piece together what I’m saying. I completely agree with him. Having anyone, mate or not, bite my cock hard enough to draw blood as I come… The thought alone makes me shudder and has my cock aching with imaginary puncture wounds.

“So, you shifters can just run around biting other people’s parts and swapping a little blood and, wham ! A new shifter is born? Bet y’all would be really popular at a BDSM club.” The teasing light in Gabe’s eyes doesn’t manage to dispel the tightness in my stomach. I look at him, t rying to judge whether or not the man was ready for the truth about mates.

“I know that look, Mika.” Gabe frowns at me. “What is it?”

“You pretty much forbade me to talk about anything to do with…us,” I point out, and know my mate had been right in doing so. Gabriel had needed time to digest what had to be, to him, an almost fantastical situation. There’s no way I want to jeopardize the relationship we’re building.

Gabe has the decency to look embarrassed about his demand for silence. “Yeah, well, it was a lot to accept, you know? But, I, ah, I think that maybe from here on out, we need to be honest. Not that you’re lying; that’s not what I meant. Just…I want this, you know?” He gestures between us. “I want you, so I’ll deal with everything else. It’s not fair of me to refuse to acknowledge who and what you are. You deserve better, and I should be a better man.”

“The need we feel for each other,” I start again, my voice steady, even though my nerves are raw, “physically, emotionally—it’s not random. The ability to share a mind-link, the way I could change someone into a shifter if I had to…those things only happen with very specific people.”

Gabe’s expression shifts slightly, his forehead furrowing. “Specific people?” he repeats, his tone calm but curious. He’s not shutting me out, which feels like the tiniest lifeline I can cling to.

I nod, swallowing against the lump in my throat. “Yeah. They’re called mates. It’s rare, Gabe. Some shifters never find theirs.” I pause, the words sticking for a moment before I can force them out. “But when we do, it’s…everything.”

The silence stretches, and I can’t help the nervous energy building inside me. I don’t know what I’ll do if Gabe doesn’t accept this. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart, trying not to read too much into his expression.

“So, you’re saying I’m…your mate?” His voice is cautious, but there’s no anger in it. Just curiosity mixed with the slightest edge of uncertainty.

I nod again, taking a step closer to him. “Yes, Gabriel. You’re my mate. My one true mate.” The words come out quieter than I mean them to, but the weight of their meaning feels almost too much to voice. “That’s why I showed up at your place that night. I couldn’t stay away, even when I thought it might be better for you if I did. The pull…the bond between us…it’s unbreakable.”

His jaw stiffens, but it’s not in rejection. He’s thinking—I can see it. His eyes flicker over my face, searching for something. “You said some shifters don’t find their mates,” he says finally, his voice low. “What happens if they don’t?”

The question hurts in a way I wasn’t expecting. It’s not about me, not really, but the thought of shifters who live without ever feeling what I feel for Gabe…it’s a hollow ache. I glance down at the floor for a moment before meeting his gaze again.

“They survive. Most of them do, at least,” I admit, my tone softer now. “But it’s not the same. Mates…they complete us. Without them, there’s always this emptiness. Most shifters will settle for someone else, and it can work, even be good sometimes. But it’s never like this.” I gesture between us, letting my hand drop to my side. “This is… It’s different. It’s everything.”

Gabe stays silent, and the weight of his attention feels almost unbearable. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, and it twists my gut into knots. But then he nods slowly, his eyes softening. “So, I’m your mate. Does that mean you’ve always known? Like, from the moment you saw me?”

“ Not exactly,” I admit, rubbing the back of my neck. “I felt the pull before I even saw you. When I was still in my wolf form. I couldn’t explain it at the time, but I knew I had to find you.” I take a breath, forcing myself to keep going. “And then, when I shifted, when I saw you face-to-face…yeah, I knew. My wolf knew it, too.”

Gabe exhales, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little. “You’ve been carrying this around the whole time, haven’t you?”

I dip my head in acknowledgement, a small smile tugging at my lips despite my nerves. “Yeah. I didn’t want to overwhelm you. Hell, I didn’t even know if you’d believe me. But you’re handling it better than I thought you would.”

A short laugh escapes him, and he shakes his head. “You’re giving me a lot of credit here, Mika. I’m still wrapping my head around half of this.” His voice is lighter now, teasing but warm. “But I’ll admit…it does explain a lot.”

Hope flares in my chest, tentative but real. “Does that mean you’re okay with this?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Gabe tilts his head, studying me for a moment before he steps closer. He reaches out, his hand brushing lightly against mine. “It means I’m not running, Mika. And I’m not going to.” His smile is small, but it’s there, steady and sure. “We’ll figure this out. Together.”

Relief washes over me so intensely it’s almost dizzying. I don’t know what I expected—fear, maybe rejection—but not this. Not Gabe meeting me halfway, willing to take this on, willing to take me on.

“Thank you,” I murmur, my voice cracking slightly.

“Okay, and…?”

Gabe’s question catches me off guard, not because I didn’t expect it—eventually—but because of the way he asks it. The faint blush creeping up his neck, the way he can’t quite meet my eyes, and the nervou s shift in his posture…it’s endearing in a way I never imagined seeing in my mate.

I take his hand, squeezing it gently, letting him know it’s okay to ask me this. “You want me to shift?”

His eyes dart up to meet mine, searching, maybe for hesitation or resistance, but there’s none. “Yeah,” he says softly. “I mean, I know what you are—sort of. I’ve seen you, kind of. But I haven’t really seen you, you know?”

I do know. Shifting in front of him would make this real in a way nothing else has. It’s not that I don’t trust him; I just don’t want to scare him. But the hope in his eyes, the curiosity mingled with something deeper, reassures me. He’s ready. Or at least as ready as he’s going to be.

“Okay,” I say, my voice steady. “But you might want to step back. Not because I’ll hurt you,” I add quickly, seeing the flicker of apprehension in his eyes. “It’s just…the process takes up a little space.”

Gabe nods, releasing my hand and moving back a few steps. His gaze never leaves me, and there’s something in the intensity of it that fills me with warmth.

I strip off my shirt, then step out of my sweatpants, leaving myself bare. No sense ruining clothes when I don’t have many to begin with. Gabe’s eyes widen slightly, his gaze trailing over me in a way that has heat pooling low in my belly. Even now, his attraction is palpable, and it strengthens my resolve.

Ah, hell, I love Gabe. I’ve been circling the words for days, holding them back like a coward. When did I become so damn afraid? The thought spurs me into motion, shrugging off my clothes and letting them drop to the floor. When I’m completely naked, I glance at Gabe, intending to speak, but he’s already caught on something else entirely. His gaze is locked on my cock, his lips parting just enough to drag his tongue across them. The sight makes me twitch, heat pooling low in my belly.

It takes a few snapped fingers to bring him back to the moment. “Gabe,” I call softly.

“Huh?” His head jerks up, his expression like a kid caught sneaking candy. “What?”

I can’t help the grin tugging at my lips. “Watch me,” I say, my voice quiet but firm. Then I take the leap I’ve been too afraid to make. “I love you, Gabriel.”

I barely register the widening of his eyes before I drop to my hands and knees. My heart pounds in rhythm with his sharp intake of breath, and I know this is as much a test as a confession. Bones pop and stretch, the familiar pain of the shift grounding me as muscles twist and reform. Dark fur flows over my skin in waves, my face elongating into a snout, jaws heavy with sharp teeth. The world sharpens and shifts, sounds and scents overtaking sight for a moment.

When it’s done, I shake out my thick black fur and glance up. Gabe looks stunned—his mouth open, his eyes wide. I wag my tail, unable to resist, then throw my head back and howl. The sound echoes off the walls, full of emotion I can’t put into words.

“Holy fuck!” Gabe yells, his voice halfway between shock and laughter. “You shit! How dare you say that and then just…just shift like that!” He’s ranting, but the wide grin on his face tells me everything I need to know. His eyes are bright with something wild and warm, and my chest swells with relief.

Still, I wait. I sit back on my haunches, my gaze locked on him, unblinking. This moment feels too big, too critical to rush. My wolf instincts churn, urging patience while my human heart aches for his answer.

Gab e crosses the room in a few quick strides, then sinks to his knees beside me. I stay perfectly still, letting him come to me, hoping I haven’t overstepped. Then his arms are around my neck, pulling me close. His face presses into the thick fur of my scruff, his breath warm against my skin. The scent of him—man and mate—floods me, and I feel more grounded than I have in days.

“I love you, too, Mika,” he murmurs, his voice muffled against my ear. The words hit me like lightning, electrifying every nerve. My wolf wants to howl again, to claim this moment for the world to hear. Instead, I let the shift take me, faster this time, almost seamless as I transition back to my human form.

I pull him into my lap the second I’m fully human, my hands cupping his face as if to anchor myself to this moment. “You do, do you?” I ask, grinning as my chest feels like it might burst. “I think maybe you should show me, Gabe. You know, since actions speak louder than words.”

He raises a brow, clearly unimpressed with my teasing. Then, with a wicked glint in his eyes, he pinches my ass, hard enough to make me yelp. “Oh, you’ll get plenty of action, Mika.”

I laugh, the sound unrestrained, feeling lighter than I have in weeks. Gabe smirks, clearly pleased with himself, and it’s everything I need to remind me that this is real. This is us. We’re okay.

The laughter fades as I lean in, brushing my lips against his. It’s not the heated, desperate kisses we’ve shared before, but something softer. Deeper. A promise in its own way. Gabe’s hands find my hair, tangling in it as he tilts his head to deepen the kiss. His body presses closer, and the heat between us builds, familiar and electric.

I pull back just enough to rest my forehead against his. “You’re mine, Gabriel,” I whisper, the words slipping out unbidden but utterly true.

“ That works both ways, lover,” Gabe says with a teasing grin as he grabs my ankle and gives it a firm tug, pulling me down to the floor on my ass.

“Stay right there, don’t move,” he adds, his voice low and laced with mischief.

I watch him stand and start to strip, every movement slow and deliberate. My cock pulses in anticipation as he teases me with each item of clothing he removes. By the time his shirt—a final barrier between me and that gorgeous body—is off, I can’t help myself. My hand wraps around my shaft, stroking slowly as soft moans slip past my lips. My gaze stays locked on him, burning with hunger I’m not even trying to hide.

Damn, he’s magnificent.

Gabe saunters over, his grin deepening as he sits beside me, hip to hip. His brow arches, a wicked gleam in his eyes, and I feel a shiver of anticipation run through me. Then the realization hits—the position, the angle, what he’s suggesting. My hand stills, and a wave of heat flushes through me, followed quickly by a chill as the idea takes root. Sliding to the floor, I feel my face pale, unsure if I’m ready for what’s coming.

Gabe laughs, a warm, genuine sound that cuts through my sudden tension. “Without the biting, mate! Relax… I won’t bite if you won’t.”

The word mate hits me like a thunderclap. My entire body trembles at the significance of it, the way it settles in the air between us. He said it so casually, but the weight of it makes my chest ache. He’s calling me mate now, not in hesitation or testing the waters. It’s a declaration. The thought overwhelms me, both thrilling and humbling. How did I get so lucky?

Gabe seems to sense it, his grin softening as he slides closer. He shifts down until his hips are level with my shoulders, then lies on his si de, pressing his body against mine. His hand trails down my stomach, and I suck in a sharp breath at the warmth of his touch.

His fingers comb through the coarse curls at the base of my cock, tugging firmly, urging me to turn toward him. When I do, he wraps his hand around my shaft, the contact strong and sure. He leans in and takes me into his mouth, his tongue circling the head and teasing the slit.

“Oh, fuck,” I groan, my hand instinctively gripping his hip, pulling him closer.

I don’t think. My mouth moves on autopilot, taking him in, savoring the weight of him on my tongue. I swallow him down to the root, humming at the sheer perfection of it. I let my free hand slides down his back, tracing the curve of his ass before finding its way lower. I press my fingers against his entrance, then retreat briefly as I wet them alongside his cock in my mouth.

When I return, his body relaxes instantly, letting me press inside. His heat surrounds me, clenching and fluttering as I move in rhythm with the bob of my head. Gabe groans around my cock, the vibrations shooting through me, and I know he’s close.

Twisting my wrist, I find that smooth spot inside him, pressing just enough to draw a strangled shout from him. His body tenses, his cock jerking hard against my tongue as he comes. I swallow reflexively, letting him ride the wave of his climax until he collapses, spent.

It takes him a moment to recover, but when he does, I feel his mouth wrap around me again. The heat of it pulls a grunt from my throat, my hips bucking instinctively. He doesn’t relent, taking me deeper, his fingers digging into my hip.

“Shit,” I manage to choke out as the pleasure builds fast and sharp. My body coils tight, trembling on the edge. When he hums around me, it’s over. My orgasm slams into me, leaving me shaking as I spill into h is mouth. He swallows me down, every last drop, until I’m nothing but a boneless puddle on the floor.

He flops beside me, his chest heaving as he grins up at the ceiling. “See, Mika? No biting.”

I laugh, low and breathless. “Yeah, no biting, but if it’s always that fucking hot, I don’t think even biting my prick would stop me. Maybe.”

His laugh joins mine, rich and full of the joy I’ve come to crave.

“Well, let’s not test that theory anytime soon, ‘kay?” he says, tapping my hip lightly as we sit up.

We help each other to our feet, gathering our scattered clothes with easy smiles and we make our way outside to relax for a while with drinks gathered from the kitchen enroute.

The moonlight bathes us in silver as Gabe sits across from me on the porch, his hands cradling a steaming mug. He’s looking at me like I hold all the answers, but I’ve never felt more uncertain. The warmth in his green eyes makes something twist in my chest—a yearning I haven’t let myself feel in years.

“You don’t have to talk about it more than you have already,” Gabe says softly, his voice envelopes me like the warmth of a summer sun. “But if you want to, I’m here. About the pack. About…what happened.”

My wolf stirs uneasily, the memories clawing their way to the surface. I draw in a shaky breath and look away, focusing on the stars. They’re so far away, untouched by the mess of this world.

“It wasn’t always bad,” I start, my voice barely above a whisper. “The pack was my home for a long time. My family. I believed in the pack, in Zane, in the rules we were raised to follow.”

Gabe doesn’t say anything, but I feel his steady presence, his silent encouragement.

“ I hid who I was for years,” I continue, my throat contracting. “It wasn’t just fear of rejection—it was shame. They made us believe that being different was…wrong. That it made us weak, unworthy of the pack.” I swallow hard, the bitterness rising like bile.

“And then Jared happened,” I say, the name like a curse on my tongue. “He wasn’t just another wolf; he was my best friend. We grew up together, trained together. I trusted him. Thought I could share my secret with him.”

Gabe shifts, his fingers tightening around the mug, but he doesn’t interrupt.

“I told him how I felt,” I admit, my voice cracking. “I told him I…I cared about him, more than a friend should. And at first, I thought he felt the same. He kissed me, Gabe.” I laugh bitterly, the memory cutting like glass. “He kissed me, and then he turned me in. Told the council I’d tried to corrupt him.”

“Jesus,” Gabe breathes, his face a mix of anger and disbelief.

“They didn’t even ask for my side of the story,” I continue, the words spilling out now. “They called me a threat to the pack’s stability, a danger to our traditions. Zane—” My voice falters, and I have to take a moment to steady myself. “Zane didn’t say a word in my defense. He just stood there, letting the council decide my fate.”

I close my eyes, the memory of that day vivid and sharp. The council chamber, the cold, hard stares. The humiliation of standing there while they tore my life apart.

“They exiled me,” I finish, my voice hollow. “Told me I wasn’t welcome anymore, that I wasn’t a wolf worthy of the pack name. And then they turned their backs on me. All of them. Even Zane.”

Silence stretches between us, heavy and suffocating. When I finally open my eyes, Gabe is staring at me, his expression raw and unguarded.

“ They didn’t deserve you,” he says fiercely, the conviction in his voice catching me off guard. “Mika, you’re better than all of them. They were cowards, every last one of them. And Zane… I don’t care what his reasons were. He failed you.”

I blink, the heat rising behind my eyes. I don’t cry—I haven’t in years—but Gabe’s words hit something deep inside me, something I didn’t know was still there.

“You’re not alone anymore,” Gabe continues, his voice softening. “You’ve got me now. And I promise you, I’ll never turn my back on you. Never.”

I reach out, gripping his hand. “Thank you,” I whisper, the words feeling inadequate but all I have at the moment.

For the first time in years, the ache in my chest eases, just a little.