Chapter 171

Chapter 42 (Chelsea POV) In the rearview mirror as we drove from Gabriel’s family, Mina was being held back by George, while shockingly Jay was looking at our car pull away. Anya was right he was thinking. Leo was gone… permanently, out of my life. That thought should have made me delighted, overwhelmed with joy and relief but all I felt was a dull ache in my chest. The only way to describe my mental, emotional and physical state was to say that, right now my life was both coming together and dreadfully coming apart simultaneously. I wouldn’t change it, though, I preferred it this way. Life without twist and turns were boring, granted I could do with less twists, I still wanted the life I had. I hadn’t noticed Gabe’s tension, when we drove out of the gates, his body sagged against the seat, and the near crushing grip he had on the steering wheel flexed. He had been nervous, or worried, for the life of me I couldn’t fathom why. You’re stronger than the Elders? He inquired. I sighed, yes. How? Are you sure this conversation is one you want to be having while you drive? It was Gabe’s turn to sigh, against the headrest, my eyes on him; he glanced at me, returning his eyes to the road, home then. The first five or so minutes I spent with my hands wringing in my lap, fidgeting until Gabriel released the steering wheel, taking my left and clasping them together. The rest of the ride, wrought with tension, Gabriel didn’t even drive around to the back garage just stopped right out front. He threw the car into park, hopped out and was at my side before I could even swing my feet to get out, he was a man on a mission, and nothing could deter him at that instant. I wouldn’t even try, any longer and I felt like my chest was going to burst. The stress was cutting into my inner mind I just needed a clear mind. Helping me out of the closing the door, I was resigned, this could only go one of two ways, and I was sure it didn’t end nicely. Before I could comprehend much else, Gabe trapped me between his body and the car, molding the planes of his taut muscular body against mine, lips included. Taken off guard it took second to respond, but when I did, put everything I had into that kiss, worried it would be the last. I returned his fervor passionately, eagerly, my hands against his back, pulling him into me more. His tongue, skilled, demanding, leading me as I burned inside, and forgetting all my troubles. As we moaned into each other, my knees felt weak, legs were shaky, and I was physically unable to hold myself upright. Sensing so, Gabriel dipped down, lifted and pinned me against his truck with his hips, never once breaking our kiss. Gasping I pulled away, panting, my chest pounding against his, rising and falling rapidly, but in time with his, and out of nowhere Gabriel began laughing. I arched my eyebrow, “I’m just so happy,” he said and even in the darkness his smile warmed my heart. I looked away, inhaling I felt whole, “I know what you mean.” “Let’s head in-” “Actually before we talk inside, I have some things to show you and doing them outside will be better. So let’s go for a walk?” I spoke, my heart still racing from the kiss. “Fine, you know that no matter what you have to say or show me, it won’t make me turn my back on you right?” he asked imploringly. I bit my lip, and finally let my feet touch the ground. “I’m more afraid you’ll think that I’m selfish Gabriel,” I whispered into the cool night air. Instead of evening bothering to reply verbally, Gabriel took my hand and started walking and each step away from the house I tried to reassure myself. I would just be as blunt as possible. . . When we were far enough and secluded, I stopped walking and turned to Gabriel, “Leo attacked me, as you already know but I was furious, my moods were manic that night, plus my whole body ached. I thought that maybe I was getting my period or something; I had yet to get it… I took two Advil’s and went to sleep but it didn’t really help me you know? So – so in the middle of the night I just, knew what to do. I ran out into the woods and had my first shift, but it was horrendous and lasted for almost six or seven hours.” Gabriel looked thoughtful, “the longest I’ve heard is three hours max.” I took a deep breath, “my individual shifts were two hours each,” I paused at Gabe’s confused expression, “My first wolf, Aria. Then I went back to my human form, before shifting into my wolf Avena. I think I fell asleep or maybe passed out because when I woke up I was human again,” I explained my voice shaky. Gabriel said nothing, his face giving nothing away and I wasn’t brave enough to read his mind. Deciding to show him, I took a step away, thought of myself as Aria and then I was on four legs. Unlike when he first saw me shift, I did not shed my clothes and as quick as I was Aria, I went back to my human form, with all my clothes still intact, before shifting into Avena. Doing so I kept my eyes on Gabriel’s’, when I was Aria I made my aqua colored eyes glow, and when I was Avena I made the purple glow. I shifted back into my human form, and then finally back to my mixed wolf, black and white, one aqua eye color, the other purple. I shifted back to my human form, still dressed just as Gabriel murmured, “What the fuck?” it was so slow I’m sure he only meant for he to hear. He was speaking so I took that as a good sign that he wasn’t in some type of shock. “I can change the size of my wolves as well,” showing him what I meant, then showing him the levitation which still, I could only get six feet off the ground.  When I shifted to my human self again, Gabriel stumbled back, leaning against a tree for support. “Are... W-who – I” he stopped abruptly, and then heaved a heavy sigh, looking away from me. ”Three.” He nodded, “Are – is one more dominant than the other?” that stopped me short. That was the first thing he was going to ask? “No, not really, I can only hear Aria and Avena though.” I answered and waited because Gabriel had yet to lose the blank face, but after a few minutes, he walked over to me and I held my breath for whatever he had to say. It was unexpected, “Now… I know that I don’t deserve you…” he said wistfully shaking his head. What? I asked myself. That was… definitely not what I prepared myself to hear.