I'm Alpha Micheal Delvini, Daisy Roe's third mate.

~Gabriel~

Hearing his name makes Gabriel come out of hiding. Rubbing his palms to clear whatever this black greasy shit on his hand is, he comes face to face with the other Alpha. Lifting his brows in surprise, he eyes the other male's facial features. The bastard is actually more handsome up close than what he has been seeing from afar while following him all day and what he remembers at the cafe. Clearing his throat and straightening his posture, he nods at him. "You know me?"

"I know of you," the asshole smiles and damn if it doesn't annoy Gabriel that he looks even better that way. "My question is, why is a business tycoon running after me like a lost puppy? It can't be because of my good looks, can it? Didn't think you swung that way," he smirks, tilting his head.

Gabriel's eyes follow his shoulder length pitch black hair that shifts with his movements. He catches earrings and multiple piercings on his ears. Unlike the turtle neck the male was wearing on Sunday, he's wearing a white button up shirt and a cozy black sweater on it. His black pants and slacks does wonders for his long legs. Up close, the guy has really broad shoulders. His muscle definition isn't bad either.

It takes a while for Gabriel's mind to recover from the fact that he's actually admiring his enemy's fashion sense and body proportions. Damn his mother and instilling a subconscious appreciation for good fashion sense and body frames. By the time he glances at the Alpha again, he's already giving him an amused smirk. Fucking prick. "Enough with the wise cracks. Who are you and how do you know Daisy?"

The smirk fades slightly and the male's aura gets threathening. "I think the more appropriate question would be, how do you know Daisy?"

Trying to keep his already agitated wolf under control, Gabriel steps closer to the male. They're roughly the same height but Gabriel is only a centimeter or two taller. "I ask the questions here, young man," he says, mentally cringing at his choice of words. Who says that in a serious conversation? All that jumping around like a ninja all day must have fried some of his brain cells responsible for intelligence.

The handsome male huffs out a brief chuckle. "Is that supposed to mean you're older than me? You're what, twenty five, twenty six?"

He was right the second time but Gabriel isn't about to tell him that. "Stop avoiding and tell me how the fuck you know my mate."

"Ah. So you're one of her mates," he smiles, his aura relaxing into something pleasant and almost friendly.

Gabriel eyes the Alpha suspiciously. What is his deal? Is this some kind of attack tactic? Confuse your opponent by becoming casual and non threathening in front of them then strike when they least expect it?

"I guess it would make sense for you to be cautious and send three people after a man you saw with her."

Gabriel pushes down the pesky feeling of defeat that comes with the fucktard's shit eating grin. If he knew all about the tails Gabriel sent then that explains why they got nothing on him. It also means the asshole knew he had been following him ever since. He must be naturally paranoid to have such good perception.

"Unfortunately, I have just as much right to meet up with her as you do," the bastard says, still smiling.

What does he get off smiling so much? And what the hell does he mean he has as much right as he does? Daisy is his mate- "No," Gabriel lets out. Fuck no. It can't be. There is no way it's this guy.

"You're a smart guy but you don't seem like you want to hear it," the asshole muses with fake sympathy. "Which is why I'm going to say it. I'm Alpha Micheal Delvini, Daisy Roe's third mate. Pleasure to make your acquaintance," he says, sticking his hand out for a handshake.

Gabriel stares at his hand. It's pale and light much like his baby skin. He has long fingers too. Gabriel wonders if he can play an instrument. He should really. He'd do good- Focus, Gabriel!

"I don't like you," Gabriel scowls, annoyed by how he can't even properly hate the guy like he does Alexander. How the hell is he supposed to compete with him without getting carried away? Gabriel sights the male's long lashes fan over his cheeks when he blinks and retracts his hand. With a little mascara, it can fit his dark brows and make a perfect contrast with his bright skin. This man needs to be a model-

Oh for God's sake!

"From what I've heard about you and her other mate, you're both assholes and a handful," Micheal says, tucking his hands into his pockets. "I don't know if you're the one on a redemption arc or the one stuck being a pain in the ass, but one thing is for sure. If it comes down to having to compete for her, I'm winning even though I'm a bit late."

Stuck being a pain in the ass? Gabriel frowns. Is that really what Daisy thinks of him? "Bold words for a man who's sorely behind," he shoots back, not allowing the other male to know how affected he is by those words.

Micheal hums. "Seeing as you're here and not with her and I have an appointment with her for most of next week, I'd say I'm rather fine. Thank you for your concern." He swirls around, his stupid hair moving with him in a perfect florish as he starts walking away.

Gabriel walks ahead and blocks his path. "Where are you going? I'm not done talking to you." He tenses up in shock when the guy wraps an arm around his shoulders. Oh he smells nice. What perfume does he use? It's mild on the nose. Maybe he could ask-

Sighing, Gabriel officially gives up on his thoughts.

"See that building over there?" Micheal points to a lit up building across the street. "It's called a library. I'm done talking to you so I'm gonna go there now," he says sarcastically, patting Gabriel's shoulder. Letting go of him, he's about to cross the street but he stops. "Oh, right. Here," he pulls out what Gabriel is sure is a business card and shoves it into his jacket.

"Next time you want to hang out with me, call. No need to follow me around like that. It's embarrassing. You're a CEO and an Alpha for crying out loud," Micheal winks, slapping his chest and rushing off.

Dumbfounded and seething, Gabriel scoffs. Huffing, he kicks at the air. It's how the bastard was blatantly insulting him and all he was doing was wondering if he should ask about his perfume or not. It certainly doesn't help that he's happy to have the brat that he's all too sure he's older than's number. Pissed at the world and himself, dails the first person that comes to mind.

"You better have a good excuse for why you've been dodging my calls for the past three days or I swear to God, I'll-"

"How do you kill another Alpha gruesomely without starting a war?" He cuts Delilah off before she can threaten him and his generation yet unborn.

She sighs, already sounding tired of whatever he has to say. "What happened?"

×××

~Alexander~

Opening the door of the car before the taxi properly parks in the hospital premises, Alexander jumps out of the car. Hurriedly pulling out his wallets, he pulls out a hundred dollar bill and slaps it into the driver's hand. He catches a glimpse of the man's wide eyes before he turns around to run towards the entrance of the hospital.

"Sir! Your change!" The driver yells, from his car window.

"Keep it," Alexander shouts over his shoulders, nearly bumping into a nurse walking out the door. "Sorry," he whispers. Rushing toward the reception counter of the hospital, he skids to a stop. "Please I'm looking for a patient that was brought in an hour ago. Her name is Sabrina Bane-"

"Alexander."

Recognizing that monotonous voice, he whips around to find once lifeless almost black eyes filled with concern. "Aunt Maine!" He runs to her, huffing out a breath. "Where's my mother?" He asks, the sound of his heartbeat loud within in ears.

"She's still in the emergency room. The doctors haven't said anything yet," Tremaine says softly and for once, her voice becomes an anchor to him rather than a source of horror.

"What happened to her?" He queries, allowing the woman to take his hand. "I spoke to her one hour ago. She was being annoying and totally fine," he says, feeling like a child as his aunt leads him down the hallways and towards the emergency room where he can see Robert pacing in front of in his suit that fits like a second skin.

Sighing, Tremaine lets go of his hand to rub her forehead. Placing her hand on her waist, she turns to look at him. "She hasn't been fine, kid. Not for the past four months."