Chapter 6
Gabe
H iding in the shadows of the trees, I watch as the back door to the clinic opens. Dallas steps out, looking tired from his night shift.
Sensing me, his golden eyes flick up to meet mine. "What are you doing here?" he asks in amusement.
"Had nothing better to do," I grunt, pushing myself off the tree I was leaning against. "Thought you could use some company on the way home."
He chuckles. "Well, aren't you being all caring and whatnot today."
Rolling my eyes, I move in step next to him as he starts down one of the trails that leads deep into the forest.
"Don't read into it," I grumble. "It was better than sitting at home doing nothing."
The sun peeks through the trees, warming my black fur. It stormed last night and the ground's still wet beneath my feet. I hate the feeling of mud between my claws, so I step away from Dallas and onto the grass that runs along the trail.
"Or, you could have gone and checked the traps with the others." He shoots me a raised brow. "Did you come into the village in hopes of seeing a certain young princess?"
My back stiffens, a low rumbling growl vibrating in my chest. How did he know?
"I'm not stupid, Gabe. People talk around here, and more than a few have noticed you lurking in the shadows. More and more since the time you came into town to grab flour."
"We didn't even fucking need any," I snap back. "Henry had a whole damn bag hidden!"
Dallas laughs deeply. "So defensive."
"I'm not being defensive." But I was because I hated that he was right.
That day, a few months ago, when I came into town, it was the first time I saw her. Princess Snow, with her long raven hair and skin as fair as her name.
At first, I felt rage at the sight of her. She was the daughter of the man who killed our brother, our packmate. A man who continues to destroy his kingdom and the people within it. The only thing I felt in that moment was the need for revenge, despite the agreement of peace we made with the King.
So I followed her. What I didn't expect to see was her going into the orphanage. Something within me needed to see what she was up to. I risked someone seeing me and went up to the house, peeking inside one of the windows.
There she was, the kids gathered around her with happy smiles, eyes full of wonder and laughter. She was talking to them, getting down to their level, listening to their stories, and speaking to them like everything they said was important.
Then I saw her hand Annie, the lady who ran the orphanage, money. Annie cried and hugged Snow.
I didn't buy her kindness, not convinced it wasn't all an act. I had it in my head that I needed proof she was a liar, a con artist, someone who was just as fake and full of shit as her father.
So I started following her home, lurking in the shadows of the forest. I knew my way around these woods, and I knew how to go unseen, unheard.
I watched from the treeline as she disappeared into some sort of secret exit. Whatever she was up to, she didn't want anyone to know she was leaving the palace.
I had myself so convinced that I started going into the village because I wanted to see what Snow was really up to, to make sure she wasn't planning something that would be harmful to the villagers.
But I was only lying to myself. Because what Dallas and the others don't know is... I haven't only been coming into town with hopes of catching a glimpse of the stunning Princess.
I've been stalking the forest surrounding the palace. It was stupid and reckless, but something inside me pulled me to her. It demanded that we watch over her, protect her.
There's only one reason a feeling like that would consume a lycan. Mates.
It was clearly the answer, but I've still been lying to myself and refusing to believe it because that would be the worst thing that could happen.
If the king found out Snow was mated to a monster, he wouldn't care about the agreement. He'd slaughter us all.
Then there's the fact that I'm sure this gorgeous princess would take one look at me, see something horrifying, and kill me herself. Because who would want to be mated to a seven-foot wolf-like monster covered head to toe in fur with razor-sharp claws, teeth that can rip flesh from bones, and a jaw that can crush skulls.
"Relax, I'm just messing with you." Dallas chuckles. He's the leader and the oldest one in the pack, at thirty-five. None of us, apart from me and my younger brother, Brady, are related. All of us are orphans, our parents killed by humans who either thought our kind was an abomination and wanted us wiped from the Earth or who were so afraid they shot first.
Dallas found Brady and me first. He was sixteen, and we were ten and eight. When he found us, we were sobbing by our mother's bloody body, utterly destroyed by her death. We saw every second of her murder as we watched from our hiding place.
He took one look at us and knew he couldn't leave us behind. Dallas brought us back to our pack, only to find out they were all gone. Some were killed, some ran. So, from that day forward, we formed our own little pack.
I shudder at the memory, sending a rush of white-hot anger through me.
The traumatic events we lived through changed us. It made me cautious of everything, unable to trust anyone but my pack brothers. Brady became quiet and withdrew into himself. He doesn't talk very often unless he is comfortable around you.
"You're wrong, by the way," I mutter as we reach the halfway point to our home.
"Wrong about what?" he asks.
"I didn't come with hopes of getting a glimpse of Snow. It's too early in the morning for her to be here anyway," I grunt, glaring at him as he chuckles at my admission. Fuck. "I came because the storm sent a branch crashing into the outhouses. I had to meet with the lumber yard and order some wood to rebuild it."
"Damn it," Dallas groans, rubbing his hand against his grey muzzle. "The six of us sharing the bathroom inside the cottage is going to be hell."
"Tell me about it," I sigh.
"How much you wanna bet Sterling falls asleep on the toilet with his toothbrush in his mouth again." Dallas shoots me a toothy grin.
"He better fucking not. Last time he did that, we were waiting over an hour for our turn. It's why we made the damn outhouses. If that's the case, he goes last."
Dallas laughs, shaking his head. He's tired, though. I can see it in his eyes. He works hard for our pack, the only one of us that has two jobs.
He works at night as a doctor in the village and, after a few hours of sleep, joins us in the mines.
It's the only job we're able to do, or at least anyone is willing to give us. While the village is accepting of us for the most part, there are still people who don't want us around. It's why we live far in the forest, secluded and away from everyone.
"You're staying home today," I tell him as the cottage comes into view.
"Gabe." He gives me a tired sigh.
"Nope. You work too hard. You're running yourself ragged when you don't have to. There's five of us working those mines, we would be fine if you chose to just work at the clinic."
"But six means getting more ground covered, more diamonds and gold. That means more money for us."
It also means more money for the kingdom. It's part of the agreement we have with the king. We work the mines, get the treasures his people are unable to gather, and get paid a hefty sum.
There's something within the mountain that emanates from the walls, making humans pass out—some even die.
Maybe it's our DNA, but it doesn't affect us unless we're down there for days. Working for the king feels like a betrayal after what he did to Derek.
"I said, stay home," I snap coming to a halt, baring my teeth. I instantly regret it.
Dallas is bigger than me, a good few inches taller too. He growls, getting in my face. "I don't know what the fuck has gotten you to be a moodier bastard than normal, but cut it the fuck out."
"Sorry." I deflate.
"What is going on, Gabe? Is this about the princess?"
Yes. I want to tell him yes. That I've been going out of my damn mind since finding out who she is to me. When a lycan finds their mate, a bond is made, one that can only be broken by death.
I hate how I crave her—need her—when I don't even fucking know her.
"It's..." I shake my head and start walking again. "Never mind. I'm sorry for snapping, okay? It's been a long night."
A long fucking night staying up thinking about her. Damn it. I'm knot whipped by a stranger, lovely.
As we approach the cottage, something feels different. Not bad... just out of place.
Dallas and I glance at each other, brows furrowed. He feels it, too.
When we get inside, I can feel my brothers' presence. They're here, in the cottage, only I can't see them.
"Henry!" Dallas calls out.
"Brady?" I shout next.
A second later, Henry comes stumbling out of one of the rooms, a massive smile and wide eyes staring back at us. "Shhhh!" He puts a finger up to his lips.
"What the fuck is going on?" I growl in annoyance.
"Come, come." He waves us over, practically bouncing like an eager puppy. "But be quiet," he urges.
I cast Dallas another look. He just shrugs. With these guys, it's anyone's guess what they're up to.
We follow Henry through the cottage and into the first bedroom on the left. That's my room.
"What the fuck is everyone doing in my room?"
"You're going to wake her," Henry hisses.
"Wake who?" My nose burns at the off-putting smell. "And what the hell is that smell?"
The guys part, moving out of the way to show what's got Henry all worked up.
"What the..." My eyes widen as I take in the sleeping form on my bed.
My nose twitches, and through the scent of mud and grass, I smell sweet apple pie.
It makes my cock twitch, my heart race, and something inside me twist. Omega. There's an omega in my bed. A sweet-smelling one that makes me want to lose my fucking mind.
But not just any omega, my omega. My mate . But I've already found my mate. This can't be.
But then the sleeping form makes a soft sound before rolling over.
"Snow," I whisper, eyes widening in pure shock.
"Oh, shit. Is she the princess?" Henry gapes.
"Everyone, out in the living room now!" Dallas whisper-shouts.
There's a chorus of grumbles, but everyone starts to file out of my bedroom. I continue to stand there, nostrils flaring, cock aching. I don't even know what to think, what to do right now.
"You too." Dallas grabs my arm and yanks me out of the room.
"Holy shit!" Henry starts to pace, that smile still on his face. "Guys, there's a girl in there. A girl who is an omega."
"A girl who, I guess, is our mate?" Sterling asks with a yawn. "I'm not the only one who smelled her, right?"
"If you can make it past the stink, yeah." Sullivan rubs at his nose. "She smells like apple pie."
"Apple pie that has my cock hard." Sterling grins sleepily.
"What does this mean?" Henry asks, eyes finding Dallas.
"I don't know." Dallas runs a hand over his head, attention drawn in the direction of my room before looking back to me. "What do you think we should do?"
"Me?" I ask, blinking a few times before the anger starts to rise. "What do I think we should do? I think you all need to fuck off. She is not your mate," I snarl. "She's mine."
"Hey." Henry protests with a frown. "You can't just claim her for yourself. She's all of our mates, man. You have to share."
"I don't have to do fuck-all," I snap. "I found her first. I'm the one who's been making sure she's fucking safe. I've been going to the palace and keeping an eye on her for weeks now."
All but last night. With the storm coming, I didn't want to spend the night in the rain. I knew she would be safe behind the palace walls.
Only... she wasn't. My eyes snap back towards the bedroom, reality finally settling in. Why was she here? What happened to her? Is she okay? How did she end up here? Why did she smell and look like she spent the night outside?
"Gabe!" Dallas calls out as I stride back to the bedroom. I ignore him, open the door, and approach the bed.
Anger mixed with worry swirls around inside me. I'm not used to being this protective over anyone but my pack mates. Yet, as my mind conjures all the things that could have happened to her, I find myself wanting to sink my claws into someone and rip them apart.
She looks so tiny and fragile as she sleeps deeply. If she hasn't woken up by now, she must be really tired.
"What happened..." I whisper out loud, fingers twitching to reach out and touch her.
Even now, with her hair a mess and a questionable smell radiating from her, she looks beautiful. Her long lashes fan out against her cheeks, lips pink and parted.
Everything inside me screams to gather her in my arms and take care of her.
"Gabe." Dallas puts his hand on my shoulder. "Come. Let her sleep. We have a lot to discuss."
I know he's right. But fuck, it feels like having my heart ripped out as I make my way out of the room again.
I don't want to leave her. I don't want her out of my sight. She's my mate. My omega. And I guess my whole packs'? My brother might not have said anything, but the guilty look on his face is all the confirmation I need. She's his mate, too.
Whatever happened to her last night, it's my fault. Of all the nights I choose not to go to the palace wall, she gets hurt. I feel gutted—a guilt so strong it hurts.
I won't let that happen again.