Gabriel climbed the stairs, his shoulders stiff and sore with tension. He'd been working for weeks, digging through all his contacts, trying to find anything he could on Honorera, her family, her past, and the price on her head. But he'd made almost no progress. He traced Tanner and Kayla Lee back to a small pack in Ohio. Kayla Lee had been an almost invisible member of the pack, an obedient omega. When her brother was exiled, she went with him. Possibly she was forced by her brother to accompany him into no man's land. But somewhere along the way, they had parted.
Todd would not reveal the owner of the contract, and King’s denied all knowledge of the mark. "It's not one of mine, Rico. When are you coming back to work? We need you man; the boys are getting sloppy without you."
When he reached the top of the bedroom, he was surprised to be met by his mother. She was wrapped in her favorite tattered terrycloth bathrobe, but she was no less intimidating as she propped her hands on her ample hips. “What are you doing, Gabriel Shepherd.”
He gave his mother a troubled look. His mother knew better than anyone exactly what he had been doing. He was doing everything in his power to protect his mate.
She poked him in the chest, “You are pushing Honor away, Gabe. You are scaring her. If you aren’t careful you could lose her before you ever get around to saving her.”
“But…”
His mother shook her head at him, wrapping her robe even tighter around her body. “Get a clue, before its too late.” And then she turned and shuffled down the hall to the alpha suite that she shared with her husband. Gabriel turned in the opposite direction, more eager than ever to find Honorera, to touch her, to smell her, to comfort himself with her presence, and the warm, steady sound of her heartbeat.
He opened the door to his bedroom. The lamp on the side table had been left on, but the bed was empty. He frowned darkly and searched the room anxiously. He found Honorera curled up asleep in the overstuffed chair by the window. She had laid her head on her knees, with her long hair loose and spilling over her shoulders. There were tear stains on her cheeks, and her pants were still wet from her tears.
She'd been crying? Why? He thought of what his mother had said. He was neglecting her, he was hurting her... he was in danger of losing her.
He leaned down to stroke her hair, but before his hand reached the silky soft strands, her eyes opened. She hadn't been sleeping, after all, just waiting quietly for him. "Hey baby girl," he said quietly.
"Gabriel..." she lifted her head and searched his eyes. "I need to ask you something."
The way she framed the question made his blood chill with fear. He squatted down beside the chair so that they were at eye level. "Ask me anything, baby."
"Can I borrow bus fare? I think it's time for me to go home." Her voice was small and timid.
He stared at her in disbelief. "You want to leave? Why? Has someone been unkind to you? Tell me Honorera, and I will rip their head off."
She shook her head, making her long hair tangle around her shoulders. "Your family is wonderful. You are so lucky to have them. But you said if I ever wanted to leave, I could go."
"No! No, that's not what I said! I said 'we'. I said WE would go Honorera, not you to leave me! And not to go back to Talbot. You can't go back there. He'll kill you."
She sighed and looked down at her hands. Her silence was even more worrisome than her words. It was like she had already resigned herself to leaving, she had already given up.
Gabriel felt panic rise in his chest. "Honorera, please. Please don't do this to me. I can't let you go. I love you. I need you. I can't live without you." He laid his head on her lap. She hesitated a moment and then began to run her fingers through his hair, much the way she did when he was in his wolf form.
"Say it again," she whispered.
He lifted his head to look into her sad, brown eyes. "I love you Honorera."
She closed her eyes and sighed, savoring it. "But these last few weeks..."
"I'm sorry baby, I've been really busy with some work stuff. I didn't mean to neglect you. Believe me, all I want to do is make you happy and keep you safe." He lifted his head to plead with his eyes.
Honorera held his cheeks in her hands, caressing his rough stubbled jaw. "Being with you makes me happy,” she confessed, “But you haven’t really been with me lately.”
He rose up from his knees and kissed her then, not the careful, tender kisses she was used to, but a hungry, urgent, and possessive kiss, as if he intended to brand her with his mouth. She didn't resist but melted into him. By the time she broke away, she was gasping for breath.
"Honorera... my love... please... accept me as your mate?" He gazed deep into her eyes with his silver-grey orbs, willing her to see his soul.
She took a shaky breath. "Yes," she whispered. "I accept you."
He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. "Oh, baby girl...thank you. I won’t disappoint you again, I promise."