The First Mate

Chapter 18: Finally Home

Gabriel took me to a small boutique, wanting me to try on dresses for the Red Moon Ball I'd almost forgotten about.
He made me wait in the curtained change room, while he and a female worker picked out things for me to try on.
I stifled a few giggles, hearing her attempt to flirt with him and his blatant shutdowns everytime she did.
Had to give her points though, she was persistent.
They waited for me while I tried on the last dress, a pile already set aside with Gabriel of the ones he said he'd buy, smirking when I'd blushed.
"I'm sure you're sister is grateful for all the things you're buying her." She said brightly, her voice tinted with false nicety.
Gabriel made a grunt noise. "I'd be concerned if a brother was buying such garments for his sister." I heard his voice rise, as if he turned, calling to me. "Darling, is your favourite colour still mauve?"
I blushed, thankful for the curtain that kept me from view. "Uh, yes!" I called back, hearing his chuckle as I pulled on one of the dresses he'd picked.
It was low cut at the back but sat across my collarbones and hung from my shoulders, the fabric was velvet and hugged me beautifully.
There was false sleeves of tulle that hung almost like a cape across the back and then down my arms.
I shyly stepped out into the circular viewing set up of mirrors, lifting the dress to stand on the small podium and finally looked.
Gabriel gave a small smile in approval as I turned to him.
"Do you like it?" He asked, his red eyes trailing my body, I turned against, showing him the back.
I wanted to see if Annie's partial form would fit the dress, but I wasn't sure how to ask.
I saw him say something to the woman, she frowned but nodded, disappearing into the back room, leaving Gabriel and I completely alone.
I blushed, but he spoke before I could ask. "Go ahead." He smirked.
I ignored rolling my eyes, closing them for a moment and let Annie rise.
I felt Gabriel in front of me. "Don't move." He commanded in a low whisper, his hand grabbing my hair tie and pulling my hair free.
He combed his fingers gently through my waves, brushing Annie's ears and they twitched as I giggled from the ticklish feeling.
I heard him give a huffed laugh, moving behind me, his hand on my waist gently spinning me.
"I won't hurt you," he said, softly grabbing my tail, I flinched for a moment but felt him adjusting the dress to sit more comfortably. "You mean everything to me, Rose." He kissed my bare shoulder.
I opened my eyes, seeing him stand behind me in the mirror, watching me. "I know." I whispered. I turned, his hands at slightly on my waist and I looked up into his eyes, the blood red was beautiful and moved like Jezette's did, a magic moving beneath them.
His eyes trailed over my face, my lips and I stepped into him, leaning up and brushed my lips against his.
I intended only to give him a peck on the lips, a moment of giving in.
But our lips met and my arms tangled around his shoulder, pulling him further onto my lips.
His arms wound around me, pressing me firmly against him as he tilted his head, deepening our kiss and his tongue finding mine.
I moaned at the taste of him, feeling him smirk as he grazed my lower lip with teeth, making me shudder with pleasure.
I didn't want the kiss to end, I didn't want to let him go.
But he pulled back with more control and strength than me, holding me in place as I breathed heavily.
He smirked, cocky and sexy and.. I gripped his shirt and pulled him back down to my lips.
He was playing on the bond again and knew I didn't want to resist him, I just wasn't sure how to approach him.
So, he forced my hand with teasing and arrogance I found irresistible.
"Jerk." I muttered against him.
He squeezed my ass, making me squeak and chuckled darkly. "And all yours."
I rolled my eyes at him when the worker came back out, seeing the gleam of annoyance and restraint.
He wouldn't punish me in public, but if he wanted to play with teasing and arrogance, I could play with flirting and being a brat.
I gave him a bright smile, pointing at the dress I wore. "Can I get it in black and mauve?"
He chuckled and nodded once. "Of course, darling." The worker scowled at me as we smiled at each other.
We finished shopping just before sundown, Gabriel driving back slowly while I read one of the books he had bought me from an antique book store, an eighteenth century romance, hard to read if you weren't use to the language, but I fell in love with it instantly.
He shadowed the shopping into the house as we came in through the garage.
"I'm home!" I called, finding Theo and Dane in the gym sparring, both sweaty and bloody from healed broken noses and split skin.
Gabriel had taken me by Roughnecks to see Xavier, he gave me an apologetic look for ambushing me with the Vampire, I kissed him and made him promise to bring me home the nights dessert special of creme brulee.
He'd chuckled, kissing me back and agreed.
Dane and Theo pulled apart from their grapple.
Theo pointed a finger at me, scowling. "You're late for training."
I widened my eyes innocently, throwing a thumb over my shoulder at Gabriel. "He was the timekeeper!" Theo settled his eyes on Gabriel, who just shrugged, his hands in his pockets as he smirked.
"She distracted me." Then his face fell, stern and slightly angry. "Though, I'm not sure exactly why you insist on this."
Dane shrugged as I walked across the room, finding my gym clothes already waiting on the weight bench.
I changed in the room, feeling their eyes watching me while trying to still argue.
"She needs to know how to defend herself." Theo said, turning away from me to glare at Gabriel.
Gabriel scoffed with absurdity. "She's a Witch! And a Foxen!" He countered.
I pulled my sports bra on and turned on him, angrily.
"Which you clearly don't know, makes me human every second lunar cycle!"
His eyes widened, looking to Dane and Theo for a moment to see the grim reality.
I sighed. "Every two months, Annie needs to rest." I stepped to them, to Gabriel. "To do that properly, she has to seal herself from me for five days."
Dane spoke up, talking to Gabriel. "It's why we train her." He said.
"So, she's never truly defenceless." Theo added, giving me a small smile of confidence.
I smiled back, only for it to fall when Gabriel snarled in annoyance at Dane and Theo.
"She still weak! She is no match for-" Gabriel's words were cut off when I ducked low and swept his legs from under him.
He hit the ground hard, going to turn to me with anger.
I straddled him, locking his arms and legs under my own and pinned his throat with my forearm. I knew I wouldn't be able to hold him long.
"Don't ever call me weak!" I growled at his face, using my speed to get off him before the Bond flared too far, and fall between Dane and Theo.
They smirked at Gabriel who stayed on the ground for a moment, watching me with surprise.
Theo crossed his arms, Dane following him. "Now," Theo rose a brow at Gabriel. "Would you like to help us train her, or does she need to remove you from the room herself?"
Dane chuckled darkly. "She'll do it too, she's thrown Xav on his ass a few times."
I beamed at their praises and confidence in me.
Gabriel got to his feet, sighing in resignation and straightened his shirt sleeves, a bored expression on his face.
"Very well," he said simply, his eyes suddenly meeting mine. "Let's see how quick you are, darling." He formed into shadows.
Dane and Theo backed away as the smoke tackled me to the padded floor of the gym.
I grunted from the hit, my back rocking with pain for a moment as he pinned me, his hips pressed between my legs.
I regained my senses, dipping under his arm and spun, pulling him off me in a roll so I laid across his chest.
I sent a hard elbow to his rib, he grunted from the impact as I got to my feet and crab walked away from him.
He smirked, matching my crouch and bared his fangs at me in a smirk.
"I see your size comes in handy," he cooed at me.
I rose and ran at him, he straightened to catch me but I ducked low, slipping between his legs and spun, punching into the back of his knee.
He fell in a kneel, his elbow swinging back to hit me in the nose, breaking it.
He hesitated, realising I took the hit and worry flashed across his face.
I used his moment of hesitation, slamming a fist to his ribs, locking his arm with mine and returned the elbow.
His nose cracked.
Before I could move, hands grabbed my waist and I was yanked and tossed by Dane.
"Don't get distracted, Rosie." He growled seductively, circling me as Gabriel got to his feet. "Always be aware of your surroundings."
I nodded, getting into a crouch. "Yes, Dane." I rolled out of the way as I felt Theo try and sneak behind me.
I kicked, hitting him in the chest to throw him back.
Suddenly, the three descended on me and all I could do was dodge and stay on the defence, blocking what I could or ducking and spinning out of the way.
I managed to stay out of their grip for a good twenty minutes, but their speed, strength and sizes were impossible to gain the upper hand.
I started to tire, my breathing heavy and my movements started to become slower, more human.
I ducked Gabriel's grapple, moving under Dane's arm as he went to stop me and spun into Theo.
A thought flashed, remembering seeing Dane's strategies with multiple opponents.
I shoved, pushing Theo back far enough I could kick his chest.
I got behind him as he stumbled, kicking his leg and dropping him into a headlock.
I clenched my arm and he tapped my forearm in surrender, a smirk on his lips and his bond pulsing in lustful approval.
I released him and moved, Gabriel headed for me in shadows.
I met it, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him from the shadows, I moved my legs behind his and flipped him over my hip.
Dane was behind me, I stayed low as he swiped, ducking under his arm and punched into his stomach to make him hunch.
I interlaced my fingers across the back of his head and brought it down onto my knees, following through to kick him back and climbed him like a tree, my legs wrapping his throat and locking my ankles.
Dane gave a primal growl, a moment of lust distracting him as his hands cupped my ass.
I smirked, squeezing his throat and punched.
He smiled at me through a bloody face as I hit again.
He slapped my ass. I unlocked my legs, knowing Gabriel was advancing.
I flipped back on Dane, seeing Gabriel upsidedown, putting my arms above my head.
My shirt fell down, exposing my breast to him.
He faltered.
I slipped from Dane's shoulders enough my palm hit the ground and I followed through, slamming the top of my foot into Gabriel shoulder.
He dropped with me, I fell to my knees and kicked back, booting him in the chest to throw him onto the ground.
I scrambled, getting behind him and locked my legs around his throat, pinning him against me.
I panted, sweat poured from my skin and my heart was erratic. My body ached, my mind was shaking.
I was at my limits.
Gabriel tapped my leg in surrender and I fell flat on the ground, star fished as I regained my breath.
I looked at the clock on the wall, sitting up to see Dane offer Gabriel a hand up.
Gabriel gave him a smirk, taking it and they both looked down at me.
Theo crouched beside me, handing me a bottle of water and small towel.
I kissed him as I took the water, letting him clean the blood from my body.
I looked up at Gabriel, panting slightly after I took a large gull of water.
"So," I breathed out, looking at the clock again. Gabriel turned to see it before looking back at me confused. "You have an hour and ten minutes to get to me if I'm ever in trouble. Give or take a few minutes if they're like you three."
Dane chuckled, reaching out to lift me up by the hands, kissing me when I was on my feet.
"You did well, baby." He said sweetly, pushing my hair from my face and stroking my cheek lovingly.
I lent into his touch, my eyes closing with a moment of exhaustion and his warmth, his touch, was comforting.
I know I passed out for a moment, coldness pressed to my side, my eyes opened just enough to see we were out of the gym.
Gabriel carried me up the stairs, Dane and Theo in front of him, talking quietly.
"If you still take issue with us training her, you're outnumbered on this, so don't even try." Dane said, his voice low and warning.
Gabriel tensed, his hands tightening on me protectively. "I'm not going." He said, his voice flat. "But, you won't stop me from not enjoying hurting her."
Theo turned on the top step, snarling viciously at Gabriel.
Shadows covered me and I was suddenly on the bed, the door closed but their voices loud enough for me to hear.
"You think we like it?" Theo snapped. "You think we want to put our hands on her like that?"
Gabriel's voice was still flat, almost uncaring. "Then why do it?"
Theo snarled and I heard a punch land, Gabriel grunted. "You may have your memories of who she was, but you have no idea who she is!" Theo shouted at him. "Do you know what she's been through?"
A moment of heavy silence. "No," Gabriel sighed, annoyed but he knew they were right. "She seems different."
The fragments I'd seen of Roxanna.
She was sweet and kind, strong willed and devoted, but she was human.
Gabriel had spent her whole life protecting her from the world, because unlike any other version of me, she was completely defenceless.
I got up from the bed, going to the door and opened it, finding Gabriel's eyes as he stood on the step below Dane and Theo.
"I am different." I said, drawing their attention.
Expressions of guilt and apology crossed Dane and Theo's faces.
I sighed, opening the door wider.
"Come in, all of you." I said, turning back to the room.
I crawled into bed, bringing my knees to my chest and hugging them as they entered.
Dane and Theo came to sit beside me, Dane putting his arm around my waist while Theo rubbed my arm in assurance.
Gabriel hesitated, unsure where to sit.
I looked behind me pointedly, the room between the pillows and me enough for him to fit.
I met his eyes. "I want all my mates." I said breath, almost pleading.
His eyes softened, his mouth tightening and he shadowed, appearing behind me to wrap his arms around my waist and pulled me between his legs.
Dane and Theo let him, moving to shuffle beside me.
I took a deep breath. "I was a Pack slave." I started. "My parents were drug addicts, they died from an overdose and they owed money to Wolf Shifters, I think my parents were as well." I shrugged. "They took me as payment and kept me under boot and isolated until two months ago.
Every day from the age of five, they tortured, beat and starved me. They didn't care about what happened to me, until I came here."
Dane stroked my thigh lovingly, Theo pressed his lips to my shoulder. "They'd been poisoning me with wolfsbane and blood." I felt Gabriel's hands tighten on my waist, anger and pain. "I met the Triad a week before the potion could break me, but years under them did." I wiped my cheek on my forearm, over my scars.
"Their son Jordon, sees me as his property, as you've heard." I gave a hard scoff. "I don't know why I was surprised, honestly. He was always the first to suggest violence against me, but when I Shifted and he realised I was a Foxen, greed gave him a deeper desire to ruin me, his parents only care about having a slave." I leaned back, pressing into Gabriel. "I am not a weak person, Gabriel. I never have been."
His arms wrapped me, hugging me and he buried his face in my neck.
"I didn't -"
"It's okay." I cut him off, knowing he said it because he cares, he was scared for my safety. I put my hand into his hair, tugging the silken tuff to make him look at me. "Since my creation, I have let my mates fight every battle ever waged because of me, all of you hid me away and tried to fight without me. You signed a deal for the very same thing."
His eyes tightened, recalling the same memory.
The parchment hadn't been him writing a call for arms to the Triad.
It had been his acceptance to the Triad and Goddess, that he would answer the call when I returned.
"It's time to stop hiding me, Gabriel." I said softly. "If there's a war coming, I'm fighting beside my mates."
He watched me, his eyes looking for doubt or fear, something he could use to argue.
He'd find nothing but sincerity and determination. "Why?" He asked quietly, his brows together.
I leaned forward and kissed him.
He bent down, pressing into my kiss and held me against him.
"Because I love you Gabriel," I said simply when he pulled away, his eyes shone, his brow raising in surprise at my words.
"I'm so-"
I kissed him again, giggling at his smartass expression. "I said, I love you, you jerk."
He smirked, cocky and beautiful. He stroked my cheek. "I love you too, darling." He bent to kiss me again, only to stop just short of my lips and pinned me with his eyes. "Though, cut me off again, and I'll spank you."
Theo and Dane laughed, Theo rolling off the bed and going to the shower to turn it on.
Dane patted Gabriel's shoulder, giving him a tight lipped look. "That's not a punishment for her."
Gabriel looked down at me as I blushed, shrugging and crawled out of his grip to go to Theo who was waiting for me.
Gabriel moved, one hand wrapping around my waist to stop me before I got off the bed, his other hand came down on my ass, hard and heated.
I hissed and moaned as he slapped me three more times, increasing his strength with each hit.
I gave a heated groan on the last spank, his cold hand palming the heated cheek.
I sighed, pressing back into it and rose my ass.
Gabriel chuckled darkly, his hand skimming across my soaked core, feeling the excitement he'd created.
"No, it seems it's not," he purred in amazed lust, his thumb dragging across the fabric over my pussy, pressing gently on my clit to make me shudder a moan. "Quite the opposite."
Theo smirked, stepping into the shower.
Dane crouched in front of me, cupping my cheeks and kissed me passionately.
I writhed, my hips moving and grinding against Gabriel's hand between my thighs.
He pressed into me, his finger sliding across the fabric, as I slowly moved on his hand.
The cold touch was sinfully amazing against my heated core, even through the pants of my tights, I moaned when his cold palm cupped me and pressed his fingers into my clit.
My pants were pulled off and I gasped as he buried himself into me, his tongue lashing and plunging into my hole, lapping up my juices he created.
He moaned into me, enjoying the taste of my flesh.
Dane's tongue swept through my mouth, tilting my head down to push my chest onto the bed, my ass raised for Gabriel to feast on.
I moaned wildly against Dane's mouth, trying to keep up with his tongue, desire tightening me as my orgasm rocked me and I cried out, my juices coating Gabriel's mouth.
He pulled away, panting and growling with each breath. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself." He said softly, almost embarrassed.
Dane kept me trapped, unable to beg Gabriel to take me.
I moved my hips, spreading my legs slightly wider in his face.
Theo chuckled from the shower. "She's greedy too."
Gabriel seemed to consider something, Dane finally released me, smirking as I panted, seeing the need and hunger in my eyes.
He gave me a wink.
Get him, baby.
I spun, moving to straddle Gabriel as he sat on the edge of the bed.
I met his surprised eyes.
I rose my brow. "You all have rules for me, so here's mine," I said, loud enough Dane and Theo heard me. "You eat me, you fuck me." Dane and Theo laughed, swapping places in the shower and agreed.
Gabriel smirked, he flipped me to my back and his cock slammed into me effortlessly, pushing past my initial tightness and burying himself deep, pressing down on me.
I cried out in pleasure as he groaned and gave a panted breath as he he slowly moved.
My legs tightened around him as he started to thrust, his mouth meeting mine as he started to fuck me.
My hands tangled in his hair, moaning into his mouth as our tongues danced.
He pulled back, hissing and his hands pinned my hips, pulling me up slightly to give him even more depth.
"I like this rule," he hissed at me, watching my body bounce against him as he delivered bucking thrust. I clenched around him, the feeling throwing me into an orgasm.
"Gabriel!" I came undone, he started to fuck more wildly, his speed and depth impossible and I was a screaming mess of pleasure.
I felt his movements become determined, his own release close.
"Fuck," he growled in pleasure as I squeezed around him. "I want to fill you, Rose."
I moaned at his words. "Please!" I begged meeting his eyes. "Don't stop until you do." His eyes flared.
He fell on me, kissing me deeply as he fucked me to his own release, groaning against my lips as he filled me.
He thrusted a few more times, riding his own high as I came down from mine, he leaned back panting and held himself above me on his forearms.
I looked up at him, feeling the glow in his eyes, a small smirk on his lips as he looked over my face. "So beautiful," he kissed the corner of my mouth gently.
I giggled. "You're a little biased."
He chuckled, kissing my jaw and neck. "Oh, I'm very biased, darling." His hips moved, making me moan as he was still seated inside of me.
His size matching my knotted mates in their ability to keep me on them.
The feeling made desire tighten me again, wanting to flip him and ride him until he filled me again.
"Don't," I moaned at him, my head tilting back in pleasure.
He chuckled against my skin, his teeth grazing my neck and my hips pressed into him, making me moan again and then growl as he'd made me mimic his action.
"Jerk." I breathed out.
He laughed, pulling out of me gently and pulling me into his arms, carrying me to the shower and kissed my temple.
"Brat." He countered, handing me to Dane in the shower, Theo grabbed me clothes from our closet.
They both chuckled, giving me a 'told you so' look.
I rolled my eyes at them and giggled, stepping into the hot water, hearing Xavier call out as he came in downstairs.
My heart pounded in excitement as he entered the bedroom, smiling at me.
Annie stirred, seeing the four of them smile at me.
They're all home. She sighed.
And they're all ours. I smiled at them.