Only Human

2.4

"Are you sure they're going to like me?" I asked Gabe as the car rolled to a stop out of a really nice house in the mountains. 

"I don't know, but it would have nothing to do with your personality if they don't. Besides, I love you. They are going to have to," He said, grinning as he helped me hop out and we started walking toward the front of the house. 

"You should know," He started, and I whirled to face him. I was thrown off by the mischievous look in his eyes. "Every werewolf within 50 miles can hear how fast your heart is beating right now." 

He was snickering as my jaw dropped. I couldn't believe the audacity he had to have made such a comment when I was in such a state. I let out a little growl, far less tough-sounding than his are, and lept at him, clawing and smacking every bit of him that I could get. 

I was so busy putting my Alpha in his place that I failed to notice the open door and the two people watching us with such concentration. It was only when the woman began to talk that I let out an embarrassed gasp and stepped away from their son. (Only to be yanked into his side not even a second after. He really can't survive without me.) 

I observed for a second before I tuned into what she was saying. The woman was very tall. She had long blonde hair that fell below her waist. White hair was growing in regal-looking highlights, only adding to her beauty. Her body was powerful, full of muscle. One look and I knew this woman was strong in almost every way possible. I was immediately intimidated. 

"I'd always hoped he would find a girl to keep him on his toes. You seem to do a very good job of that," the woman said, smiling warmly, albeit nervously, at me. I offered her a shy smile back. 

"Thank you, Ma'am. He's really good for me too," I said, speaking to her, but looking up at Gabriel with stars in my eyes. I felt the stars. When I talked about him. I knew my eyes were shining. I didn't even mind. The whole world could know how I felt about him and I wouldn't care. He was everything to me. 

"Well, let's get you two inside and fed! We made a lot of food, so I hope you're hungry!" His dad finally spoke up. Gabriel's hold on my waist tightened so I was basically flattened to him (not that I minded!). I looked at his Dad in the eye and observed that he seemed to be trying to intimidate me. I, of course, was. But only because I knew that he was just physically a lot stronger than I was. I didn't want him to know that though. My dad had always taught me that I wasn't below anyone, and the more I believed it the more other people would start to believe it too. 

Our little stare-off ended when Gabe's dad smiled at me, stepping backward and inside the house. Gabe pressed a kiss to the side of my head and whispered in my ear. 

"That was a test, and you just passed." 

Inside the house felt just like I expected it to. It was a home. The walls were decorated with family photos, the wood paneling had intricate carvings all over (mostly of wolves), and the smell of steak filled the air. I could feel the heat of the fireplace from across the room, my body shivering at the unexpected warmth. 

"Are you cold, Sweetheart?" Gabe asked immediately. I blushed, smiling at him. 

"I'm alright. It's just warm in here," I explained. He nodded. 

"Is it too hot?" His mom asked, starting toward the fireplace. 

"Oh no! It actually feels kind of wonderful. I love your home. It's perfect," I told her. Her face bloomed with a smile and all the awkward tension melted away. 

"Thank you. Let me give you the grand tour?"

------

"Well, that went better than expected!" I sighed happily once the door shut behind us. Gabriel rolled his eyes. 

"I told you they would love you. They would be crazy not to," He informed me, squeezing my hand and sending me a sweet smile. 

"I love you," I told him. He smiled even wider. 

"I love you too." 

We were in the car and halfway back to my place when the call came. 

"Hello?"

"Viola? It's Mom. Grandma's in the hospital. I'm on my way to the airport. I'll meet you there." The line clicked dead before I could even register what I had just heard. 

I couldn't breathe right. My throat was suddenly clogged and my vision was blurry. I was losing focus on the world around me while my brain worked overtime to process the information I had just heard. 

A warm hand landed on my thigh, immediately filling me with a sense of peace. I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the seat. 

"Please take me to the hospital, Gabe," I whispered softly. His hand just gave my thigh a little squeeze in acknowledgment. I think he knew that was what I needed right then. Oh, how I loved him. 

The drive was good for me. The silence, the trees dusted in snow, the stars shining clear and bright above the mountains. Ever since I had known Gabriel nature had become my comfort. I felt incredible peace being outside. Because Gabe's parents lived in the mountains it would take us at least an hour to arrive at the Hospital. Plenty of time for me to panic about the situation. 

When we pulled into the parking lot my hand automatically went to the seatbelt, but Gabe placed his hand over mine. I looked up at him. I'm sure at that moment I looked exactly like a deer in the headlights. My eyes were wide in fear, jaw tense, and every muscle poised for action, but which action was unclear. I felt completely helpless. I wasn't ready to go inside. I had already had such a hard week, and I wasn't sure I would be able to deal with whatever this building would have in store for me. 

In an instant, he was unbuckling me and scooping me up and onto his lap, cradling me to his strong chest as a father would to a child. I cuddled in tightly. He was my anchor to sanity. 

"I love you. I know this is going to be really hard for you. I will be with you through it all. You can talk to me," He promised. Soft words filling my head and empowering me so that I would be able to go and be the support for my Grandma. 

"I love you too, so much," I whispered through my tears. 

When we walked inside I didn't even know what to do or how to find her. I was so lucky my mate had come with me. 

"Excuse me?" He asked a nurse passing by. She turned and looked at us expectantly, but kind. "I was wondering if you could help us figure out how to find her grandmother? Who do we need to talk to?"

"That depends. What is she in here for, honey?" The nurse asked. I felt touched by her immediate kindness. 

"Cancer. My mom just told me I needed to get down here and that it was bad. I think she was just admitted, but I don't really know much," I managed to explain. I was tearing up even just talking about it. 

Before I knew it the lady's arms were around me. The hug felt so maternal that something inside me broke and I flung my arms back around her, crying quietly. I missed my mom, and I missed my grandma, and I wasn't going to be okay with losing her. This hug wasn't something Gabriel could have given me, try as he might. There is something different about the way a mother hugs. 

I wiped my tears after a moment, pulling away and thanking her quietly. 

"There is a receptionist on the fifth floor. That is where a lot of our cancer patients are. That would be my best guess. I wish you the best of luck," the nurse said after our moment, and then she bustled away to go take care of something. I stared after her for a moment, completely confused. 

"She is an angel." 

"What?" Gabe asked, looking at me like I was looney. And maybe I was. 

"She is an angel. I don't care if you don't believe me. I felt what I felt."  He held up his hands in surrender. 

"Whoa, I don't disagree. I've got your back, babe. Always," he promised. I smiled bravely at him. "Let's go find the elevator then. We've got a grandma to find."