Only Human

2.9

"Viola!" He greeted, reaching a hand out for me to shake. I was still staring at him. 

"Paul?" I hadn't even finished saying the name before I felt Gabriel towering over the both of us from behind me, his arm curving gently around my waist to sit on my hip. I comfortably leaned into him to calm him down. 

"What are you doing here?" I asked, still staring. He had grown up a lot since high school. His hair wasn't sandy blonde anymore. Instead, it was a dirty blonde/brown color that suited him much better. He was definitely in really good shape physically. I was completely shocked. He looked so much more put together than he had when I had last seen him. 

"Your stepfather asked me to come by for lunch," Paul explained, glancing up at Gabriel and then back at me. 

"Oh, well then I guess come on in. Sorry, I didn't realize we were having company," I apologized, threading my fingers through Gabriel's and stepping out of the way for Paul to enter. 

"I thought you knew. I would have reached out, but I know you changed your number before you moved out west a couple of months ago," He explained. I shrugged. 

"That's fine."

I felt a rumbling in Gabriel's chest and I knew his wolf was unhappy with an unknown male being friendly towards his mate. I loved how in tune we were with each other. I turned my head slightly to look up at my tall mate, popping up on tiptoe to press a kiss to his jaw. 

"This is Gabriel," I said to Paul when I noticed the distasteful way he was eyeing my mate. Something deep and wild in me didn't like the way he was judging my man. "My Fiance."

I watched Paul's eyes grow huge and he hesitated to shake the hand that Gabriel had graciously extended after the introduction. 

"Well, that must have been really fast! You've only been gone for four months!" Paul exclaimed, trying to play it off. Uh oh. I knew he had offended Gabe's wolf and I wished desperately that someone else would appear but I knew my mom was in the dining room and my stepdad was still in his office. 

"When you know then you know!" Gabriel said, cuddling me back against him. Both his arms were wrapped securely around me and I was holding onto them with my own arms. "Isn't that right, Sweetheart?"

"Oh for sure! I've never loved anyone the way I love Gabe," I replied truthfully. I tried to ignore the way Paul's face turned bitter at that. Probably not the best thing to say in front of an ex but its the truth. 

"That just seems highly unlikely," Paul started. I saw his eyes glance up at Gabriel, who was the largest man I had ever met and easily towered over my ex. "But congratulations to the two of you!"

"Thanks. Let's go get some lunch," I said quickly, ending the small talk. This meal would not go well. 

I led the way down the hall with Gabriel clutching my hand tightly. I needed to be alone with him to calm him down but I couldn't do that until I had dropped Paul off in the dining room. 

"Mom! Look who came to lunch!" I announced stiffly, walking in. I was glaring at her pointedly and she looked startled to see who it was. She shot me an apology in a look and then wiped her expression polished. 

"Hello, Paul! Welcome," She greeted. Paul smiled at her and walked over to shake her hand. I took the opportunity to drag Gabriel out of the room, down the hall, and into a service closet that no one ever used. It was the size of a large pantry so there was plenty of room for us. I shut the door, turned on the light, and then was immediately greeted by a pair of lips on mine.