The Secret Pull

Chapter 19 - A Warning

PAUL  -

I blinked as Gabriella's mother stepped out of the cavern's darkness and into view. I hastily covered my privates in front of her. I am not ashamed of my body. I have shifted into my wolf and have been seen naked by a good number of my pack. We have all seen each other shift at one time or another. Embarrassment over nudity was not typically felt in our wolf community, but this was my mate's human mother, an outsider. She was the reason for the light and the warmth of the fire my father started. If she was affected by our nudity, she didn't show it. I moved to the opposite end of the fire pit for cover. She was wearing a light blue dress and matching flat shoes. She was dressed to be standing in the middle of her home instead of in one of the deepest caves of the densest forest in the state. My head whips to my father in surprise.

"Why did you bring her here? To our most sacred space." I pulled at his link for an explanation. I knew my father and Mrs. Alarie had a partnership where he used her magic to benefit the pack. With her help, the pack and the Alarie family became financially prosperous. This was no secret between us, but ever since I started tormenting Gabriella in high school, I assumed they had no contact.

"Mrs. Alarie has some concerns she would like to share with us," he answered aloud. I was surprised he didn't share his thoughts with me. I stared back at him in confusion. Why would he call me here for Mrs. Alarie? Days ago I made it clear Gabriella was staying with me. I assured Sheriff Alarie and his wife that their daughter would be safe with me. I even allowed their frequent visits to the house to check on her.

"Paul, I need to know more about the night my daughter healed you,'' I noted the tone of urgency in her voice. I didn't understand why that was so important. I was perplexed at why my father pulled me away from my mate bonding to answer her questions.

With my lack of response, she continued, "I remember you said she created a barrier to protect herself from the charging werewolves." I nodded in agreement. "To my knowledge that is something she has never done before. Only the most powerful witches can conjure up that kind of power. And... I think her newly untrained abilities have something to do with your presence or your bond."

"Have you marked her yet?" my father interrupted. I shook my head at him slowly. He shot a glance at Gabby's mother. I followed his gaze and was met with a look of concern. Gabby's mother stared at us both solemnly from across the fire.

"Meeting you in high school triggered the onset of her magical abilities. When the two of you...discovered each other later that year her power increased tenfold. Before that she was capable..but not as powerful," she explained quietly. My brow lifted slightly in surprise but I stayed quiet and tried to appear unaffected. I am guessing my little visits through Gabriella's bedroom window did not go unnoticed back then. Here I thought I had ninja-level stealth skills. I would have laughed aloud but Mrs. Alarie's eyes were set on me. She was waiting but I had no reply.

"Did you think I wouldn't know of the presence of a werewolf in my home? I was the one that told your father the real reason you were sneaking through the woods at night was to see my daughter." I gave my father a side-glance at the last part. If he knew about me sneaking off to see Gabriella he said nothing of it. My mind raced for reasons why he didn't tell me then I discovered my mate. Claire's voice interrupted my thoughts. "I believe that Gabriella's powers grow as your bond grows. And with the.... consummation... of your mate bond, her magic could peak beyond what she can control."

My head pivoted in her direction. "So you brought me here to stop me from completing the mate bond?" I asked incredulously. I drifted back to the memory of Gabby, warm, naked in my arms, ready and willing for my bite. I was so close to having her mine forever. That was a bliss that I was NOT going to delay. "You might as well try to stop the sun from setting!" I answered flatly. I tried to keep myself under control.

"We don't know how a bite from a powerful young alpha wolf could affect Gabriella. With the way she has responded to you in the past, it could increase her powers tenfold. Without proper guidance, before acquiring that kind of immense power she could become....unstable" Claire's voice raised.

My brow furrowed. "What do you mean unstable? As in mentally unstable?" I shook my head again in disbelief.

"She could be unable to control her powers. If she is unable to stop what she does and when she does it, it might make her ....irrational," Claire continued. I was taken aback by the look of anger and desperation in her eyes.

I raised my hand angrily, motioning for her to stop talking. "I know you wanted Gabby to finish school before our bond. But Gabby was the one who removed my bracelet and Gabby was the one who returned it to me". I could see my father and Claire's eyes meet at my confession. "She didn't know what she was doing." Before Mrs. Alarie could say anymore I finished. "You don't know for a fact that anything will happen. Gabby will be the only one to stop me from marking her."

My father opened his mouth to protest but I was already backing away from the fire. "I think I've heard enough," I said as I stormed out of the cavern and started to make my way out of the caves. My father called out to me to stop through our link but I closed him off. As I reached the main entrance and walked out to the dark woods I saw Claire again. She was standing with her hand resting against a large redwood a few feet away. I sighed and strode towards her as if I completely expected her to be there. I was starting to realize that you don't walk away from these Alarie women, they disappear when they're done.

"Paul, I know that what I'm saying is difficult to hear but please don't dismiss my warning," she begged. "After you mark her, she could become a danger to everyone, to you and especially the pack."

"I would never endanger my pack!" I seethed. "And I haven't seen her act erratically." I certainly wasn't going to tell her about our little argument earlier. That might not bode well. "I have to wonder if this isn't just another ploy to keep me and Gabriella apart," I added. She remained quiet and motionless in the dark. I wasn't going to hide my suspicions of her and she should know. "Why did you call for me to come without Gabriella? This concerns her as well. You are asking me to reject my mate by not marking her! And then what? Lie to Gabby about my reasons why?" I demanded to know.

Mrs. Alarie let out an exasperated sigh, "I'm not asking you to never mark her. I am only asking for a little time to observe her as the two of you spend more time together." She took a step closer and I could see her pointing at me in the dark. "I came to you because you are the one who needs to control your base mating urges."

Base?

"Gabby seems to be charmed by this...this primal lust..you call a mate bond, but it could cause her great damage. I thought you would be careful with her but I should have known. We all remember that you tormented her for a year before breaking her heart!"

Hearing her mother dismiss what I felt for Gabby as simply lust made my blood boil. I admit the chance of being inside Gabriella almost set my wolf free earlier, but I was also prepared to die for this woman. My eyes flashed, warning her that she was going too far. "That was your spell that caused her pain!" I spat out defiantly.

I felt my father's hand on my shoulder and I looked back to see him shaking his head. His eyes warned me about losing my temper. I turned back to face her and composed myself. I knew that he and my pack expected better of me. I sighed deeply before conceding, "Forgive my outburst Mrs. Alarie but I won't let you downplay my devotion to Gabby. She's mine and I am hers. My concern will always be for her, so I won't push Gabriella for the mark. And, I will watch to see if she is losing control."

Claire nodded at me silently before disappearing into the night.