All I Ever Needed

Chapter 29

His face held a long beard. Starting from above his lip and ending at his breast bone. He was a well built man-tall and muscular. He looked like a guy that you would see in a history book from the Vikings.

His voice was deep and scratchy, causing my ears to perk and my attention to be fully on him, "You must be Annora Donna Guerriero. I'm pleased to meet you." He outstretched his big hand that held multiple scars.

I grasped it with my tiny one and smiled lightly. He talked to me as if he'd known me my whole life. I did, indeed, feel a sense of familiarity. His house was five miles out of town, like Am had said, but I didn't expect him to live out in the middle of the woods like Chase's pack house. He lived in an old colonial, looking like it belonged to an elder lady who isolated herself from the world. His house was surrounded by trees and nature that when I steeped out of the car I had to stop and breathe in the smell if earth, and not the haunting woods in my town.

The old man sat in his arm chair that was facing the blazing fireplace and motioned to another armchair positioned next to him, "Have a seat, mikró."

Mikró-he was Greek.

I nodded my head and folded my arms in front of me, hesitantly walking towards the chair. Something told me that I was going to get so much more information than I actually came for. Chase would be boiling if he came home early and saw me gone.

Gabriel turned in his seat to face me, "Why has your wondering mind came to me?"

I pushed some strands of hair out of my face and sat up a little straighter, "My parents were murdered and the one who killed them has an odd interest in me. He's taking people from my life every time I turn around-he needs to be stopped," I gulped and saw a hint of red, "He's taking valuable people from me and I need your help to put a stop to it."

Gabriel nodded and looked off into the fire, "I suppose Aminiti told you about me."

"Yes, she did. I'm curious of how she knows you."

Gabriel chuckled and scratched his beard, "The little rascal is my eldest daughter."

My eyebrows shot up and my mouth hung open, "What?"

Gabriel nodded, "She is a good child. I raised her to be a fighter but she never had it in her to injure someone. I was-am-very protective of her because of her compassion for everyone, she couldn't see the evil in people like her brothers. I didn't allow her to leave my protection until I believed she could be okay on her own. Once she found her mate, Luke, I found out pretty soon that he was raised just like my sons and would be perfect for my daughter.

With my consent I allowed for Luke to take my daughter. But only if he promised to protect her with his life. The look in his eyes told me that he would do anything for her, so I trusted him...and still do." Gabriel said, looking off into the fireplace.

The contours of his face was lit up from the flames and I noticed that his nose resembled Am's along with his wide eyes. I always wondered how Am grew up and why she was so compassionate.

"If Am grew up to fight and that's all she knew...then why trust everyone?" I asked, sitting back in my seat and getting comfortable.

Gabriel chuckled, "That's what I was thinking. Her mother was just like her, she died when Aminiti's youngest brother, John. Her mother couldn't take another child birth. Four kids was enough for her. O Theós as anapáf̱sei ti̱n psychí̱ ti̱s..." Gabriel trailed off and looked in my direction.

I fidgeted under his gaze and looked away, "Three boys and one girl?"

Gabriel nodded and continued to look at me, "They live here in the woods with me. They'll arrive around dinner, would you like to join?"

I shook my head, "I would love to but I can't stay that long. Chase would have a heart attack."

Gabriel smirked, "Alpha Tutore, your mate?"

"Yes." I whispered, "He's been through a lot during my disappearance."

"So I've heard," Gabrield hard voice said, "I have something for you."

Gabriel stood up and pushed his long coat behind him, he took a couple of steps toward the fireplace and grabbed a box that was lying on top of it, it blinded in so well that I hadn't noticed it at first. Gabriel turned towards me and handed the box to me, "She gave it to me to one day give to you. I've been awaiting your visit for a long time."

I pang of dread washed over me at the mention of my mother. I felt like breaking down and crying, begging for answers to things I have yet to find out about myself.

The box was small and had initials engraved on top of it. ADG. I flipped open the clasp that held it closer and slowly opened the box. The wood was smooth beneath my palm-it had been kept in safe keeping.

Inside was a piece of silk wrapped around an object. I looked up at Gabriel who had sat back down in his chair, and was looking at the fire. I took a deep breath as I held the material in my hand and began to unwrap it.

The object fell out onto my hands, cold to the touch. It was a necklace-my mothers necklace. It was remains of a copper weapon that mother's father gave to her. It was the first weapon my grandfather shot at a demon. The copper remaining from the arrow was shaped in a heart-he had found it while scavenging for bodies.

The arrow was attached to a chain that completed the necklace. And in that moment I knew what my destiny was.