The Night Children

Part 3

I decide to change to go for a run and opt for black leggings and a matching black tank top. I head down the stairs and leave without even saying goodbye. Tom is on duty at the door.

"I'm going by the river," I warn him.

"Understood."

He lets me go and I start running, crossing the garden at a trot before increasing my speed when the house is far behind. The sun is already high in the sky and I start sweating quickly, but the adrenaline does me good. My wolf wants out but I contain her, now is not the time. I arrive near the river and I can hear the water. I've always found it soothing. I stop and kneel down to catch my breath and admire the view. For a minute everything is perfect until I hear footsteps behind me. I sniff and still.

"Gael."

"Gabi."

I turn around and here he is, smiling broadly.

Not impressed, I cross my arms on my chest and wait.

"I'd like to invite you for dinner," he says.

What.In.The.Hell.

I did not see that coming.

"Dinner?"

"You, me, town, tonight. I hear there's an Italian restaurant."

"Thanks, but, no thanks."

He frowns.

"I'd love to get to know you Gabi, you're my new alpha's daughter."

"You can get to know me all day, in the house, with everybody around."

He takes a step toward me and I raise a brow. His gaze slides down my body and I huff.

"My eyes are right here," I snap when he stops at my chest.

He looks at me and the heat in his eyes makes me uneasy.

"You'll come around Gabi, I'm not going anywhere."

He leaves as quickly as he arrived and laughs when I swear at him.

After my encounter with Gael I try to clear my mind by killing another dummy, and he takes it like a pro. His head is a mess, half of it in pieces on the floor and one of his legs is definitely broken. I kick one last time before I slump on the nearest mattress to catch my breath. I stretch to grab water and pour the rest of the almost empty bottle on my face.

"What a jerk," I mutter. These males think we women will grovel at their feet every chance we get, but that's not how it works with me. I inhale deeply and stand up, noticing someone in the door frame. The homophobic assbag.

"What do you want," I growl.

He seems to have problems looking at my face, his eyes keep lowering to my tank top and my boobs. I realize the water must have worked its way to it and that the top is almost completely soaked. I decide I don't care and snap my fingers at him. He starts and finally looks up, but refuses to meet my eyes.

Good pup.

"I wanted to... a-apologize for my reaction."

"Okay, you've done it, now get lost."

He tenses and his eyes finally meet mine.

"What can I do to make you forgive me. I'm staying in your house you know, it would be a shame if you and I couldn't get along."

The audacity.

"You could leave and never come back, that would be great."I frown to actually find a way for him to find redemption. "Or you could strip every time Ty and Will are around you, so they can get a eyeful of you until I decide you've paid your debt."

He smirks.

"Are you sure you don't want to get an eyeful?"

The AU-DA-CI-TY.

"Get out before I do something I regret."

He bows and turns around.

"My name's Matt by the way,' he shouts from the corridor.

I shake my head, smiling to myself. Things will probably get interesting.

One hour later we are about to have lunch when Esteban comes closer to me.

"Gabi, you need to make an effort."

"I beg your pardon?"

"These wolves, they're not going anywhere, so, be more...nice."

"I am nice thank you very much. I just don't intend to crawl at their feet or anything. I won't behave with them differently than I do with the rest of the pack."

"You know they're used to females being more...compliant."

"You mean utterly submissive."

He seems genuinely baffled.

"Look, I haven't done anything Esteban. Gael asked me out and I said no, I don't think that's a big deal."

"I heard your conversation with Matt." He seems unfazed about the Gael thing.

"So? That's hardly making his life horrible, we're already naked half the time here."

"When we shift."

"Spoilsport," I mutter before leaving his side to grab some food and sit at the table beside Rhys, who barely looks at me.

We're all seated and eating when my dad shows up. The men stand up as one and bow to him.

Come on.

They sit when my dad does and he looks at me.

"Mike's been here."

"Again?" This guy is relentless.

"Gabi I have to ask, did you ever encourage him to court you like this? He's persistent."

My jaw drops.

"Are you for real? I beat his ass twice so he would leave me alone! I told him I wasn't into him and I told his father to talk to him about it."

My dad nods his approval.

"I told him this was his last warning. If he continues I'll transfer him on border duty for the rest of his life and he'll live with the old wolves at the cabin."

Ty strolls on over and grabs a plate before throwing some steaks on it. He sits at my dad's side while Matt casually removes his shirt, showing his perfect abs to everyone.

"Mister Anton?," my dad asks.

"Sir, after a unfortunate wrong move of my part I am trying to regain your daughter's trust and respect."

"Is this why you're half naked at my table?"

"Yes sir."

"I said strip," I intervene. "You forgot somethings." I ignore my dad's scowl.

I hear Matt unzip his pants and a second later his jeans are on the floor behind him. He looks at me and raises a brow.

"Strip," I say again.

His eyes are glued to mine while he obeys, and at last, he's completely naked.

"Challenge accepted," he mouths to me.

Silence falls and I smirk.

I sense Ty's eyes on me and I smile at him, which makes him shake his head. But not before I see a small smile on his lips.

"Have you settled well?," asks my dad, choosing to ignore the naked man in front of him and his last words. The ten newcomers nod and I notice Gael's lustful look on me.

Ugh.