"Did you also think she is going to be your mate?" I asked Gabriel, he shrugged and looked out into the forest.
I didn't think about it. I figured that I would find her when I was meant to, it wasn't worth worrying about. He said and I huffed at him.
"Or worth waiting for". I say quietly and I feel his hand tightening on my own.
"I should have waited, if I knew you were going to be my mate, I would have". He says honestly never breaking eye contact. I sighed and looked away defeatedly.
"Why?" I asked, unable to curb my curiosity.
" Because I know you would have waited for me". He said simply and I looked back at him with a nod.
"How did you find me anyways?" I asked and he smirks at me.
"Well, when you left me there laying all by my lonesome, I freaked out a little when I woke up. You weren't in the house so I started walking around until I could find your smell, when I finally found you, you had Debbie in a headlock. "I didn't see anything before that". He says.
"She asked me to reject you so she could have you". I said with a sly smile. He laughed at my comment and shook his head.
"I would never pick her in the first place even if you weren't my mate". She is so whiny and always needy, she has such a headache. I like an independent woman more, one that leaves me sleeping on the couch alone to do her things". He says amused and I smile at him.
" You promised that after the movie you did leave me some time on my own". I pointed out and he gave me a mischievous grin, his brown hair falling into his eyes.
What do you think your leisurely walk around the pack was? He asked and I scoff at him
"That was anything but quiet and leisurely" I shot back but he just shrugged.
"That was hardly my fault" he responded as he opened the front door to my house for me. I walked up to my room not paying much attention to him, I shut the door behind me not realizing how close he was to me as I heard a loud growl. I opened the door only to see Gabriel holding his nose.
"Seriously, Rachel, do you have to be this aggressive?" He asks, obviously unamused.
I didn't realize you were following me. I'm going to take a shower to get the smell of blood away from me. I say trying to close the door. He put his hand out to stop me.
Do you need a hand? He asked with a smirk and I rolled my eyes at him, I will just sit on your bed. He says trying to push into my room. I put my hand up to stop him and his expression drops, knowing what's coming.
"Gabriel, this has to stop. I know it is not your fault that this is the bond effect on you, but you are smothering me, I'm used to spending most of my time alone and until yesterday you were my number one enemy, you need to give me some space to digest things, I think it the best for me right now". I tried to explain firmly but kindly.
"Well then mark me!" He practically yelled, his voice stunning me." Mark me and see how it feels to be away from you for more than three feet, how physically painful it is. More painful than the constant ache in my chest From you rejecting me". I furrowed my brow at him and I felt a pang of sadness in my heart, even my wolf whined a little.
" I didn't realize you were feeling that much pain," I said honestly and he nodded.
"Of course, you didn't, because you can't feel my emotions, if you mark me, you will be able to feel how much I care for you. How sorry I am and how I felt about you before you became my mate. You would know I have been nothing but honest with you from the moment I smelled you" he yelled and I took a step back away from him.
"I'm not going to be forced into marking you, I will do it when and if I'm ready. I don't want the mate bond to cloud my judgment or my feelings, I'm sorry you are in pain and I know this is hard for you but don't sit here and pretend like my reservation is without no reason. This is your fault because you maturely and cruelly. If you had been nice to me, this situation would look entirely different" I yelled back at him, his eyes widened in surprise because I rarely lose my cool like that.
"Oh yeah? What would it look like then? What would the perfect Rachel have done if I was just some random guy when we met? Would you let me hold your hand? Hold you when you cry?" I can sense his frustration through the bond, which means he must be feeling it very strongly.
"Yes, Gabriel. All of the above. Marked and mated in an hour would have been a real thing, I've been waiting for my mate you think I wish to wait longer? Hell no, but I am not going to give my body just because you are my mate, you need to earn this" I say harshly, motioning to my body. He growls in frustration and hits the wall with his fist. I flinch and take a step back as he looks at me with wide eyes.
"Fuck I'm sorry Rachel, I didn't mean to scare you, I would never think of hurting you". He says quietly, and I shake My head.
That's my point, Gabriel. You have hurt me, physically and emotionally, you need to let me adjust to these new changes. I can't jump in with both feet, I just can't. You need to respect that. I reply, keeping my voice level and trying to be soothing. He nods and hangs his head low.
"I will leave now, but can....Can I just come back tonight and sleep on the floor again?" He asks, his eyes big and pleading. I take a deep breath and sigh before nodding.
"That's fine". I responded and he nodded.
"Can I hug you before going?" He asks and is surprised he's asking.
He usually just lays himself on me. I nod again and hold my arms open for him, he rushes to me and wraps his arms around me, and takes in my scent. I nuzzled my face against his chest and heard him purr, hoping that would give him enough affection to give some more needed space. He planted a few kids on my forehead and then let me go and he made his way to leave the room without any other word. I hear the Front door close quietly behind him and I could see him walking down the street through my window. I take a deep breath and look around me, convinced that I am finally alone.
I walked into the bathroom, and turned the shower on, removing the cloth from my body. I took in one deep sniff of his scent before throwing them into the laundry basket and stepping into the warm shower.