A Ripple in the forest

Chapter thirteen

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12th December, 2017
Alpha Gabriel's Territory
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"Your attempts are frivolous," I laugh, flickering my eyes up from the book.

"I do not know what you are talking about," Gabriel replies with his own smile.

I hum and gently turn the page, trying to ignore the soft brush of his leg against mine. His continuation lasting until I can no longer handle the pressure building up. 

"You very well know what I am talking about!" I exclaim as a light blush flushes my face.

He gives me a sly smirk before reaching over the table and brushing his fingers against my tinted cheek. His fingers continue to glide down my face until his fingers catch a loose strand of my golden hair. He rubs the strand between his fingers, his eyes locked onto the movement. I dare not move, my body frozen from his heartwarming gesture.

"Beautiful, Amore" he whispers in a tranced state, the accent that I haven't heard since the first time we met coming through. Almost as if when he is off guard he no longer hides it.

I clear my throat, my entire face now burning.

"It is almost lunch is it not?" I divert and shoot up from my chair.

I rush from the table and out the libraries door. My ladies hurry behind my flustered self. I speed walk to my room, and I swear I hear Gabriel's roaring laughter from behind me. My chest rises and falls rapidly by the time my door comes into view. My two guards bow their heads respectively before opening the door for me. I smile at them but keep my head down, afraid that they might be able to see my blushing state.

I all but jump into my room. Adrenaline courses through my blood and tingles dancing across my skin.

"Are you alright Luna?" Emilia asks worriedly.

I seem to be the only one out of breath as I dump myself onto the bed. My ladies breathing is steady and soft while my lungs are on fire. We ran up countless staircases, each on a steep slope in order to get to one of the top floors in the palace, yet I seem to be the only one reaping the consequences.

"Luna?" she asks again.

"Oh, yeah, I'm alright Em. I just really wanted to get back," I trail off.

I will never admit that as of late I have been feeling adulterous emotions towards Gabriel. It is not just the bond - I do not think- but he is actually someone that I enjoy spending time with. He always seems to lighten up my mood, which always seems to be down whenever I am not around him. I think this is a perfect example of Stockholm syndrome. He captures me from the forest and locked me away without another word for an entire week. He isn't to be trusted. But... a small voice in the back of my head says and brings forth all the good times we have had together. When he finally agreed to help me return to earth, putting his own wishes aside to see me happy. When he took me to his waterfall those months ago. His efforts in making me smile and laugh, the gifts that always seem to appear in my room, our 'accidental' run-ins when I am going for my walks in the gardens. It is not only his kindness towards me but also towards his pack. Everyone adores him here, they all hold a level of respect for him that can only be earned through the actions he has taken to care for his people.

"Can one of you fetch Fern for me please?" I ask needing to hear her words of encouragement.

"Right away my lady," Kenna says, before curtsying and leaving the room.

Vanya curtsies as well before excusing herself for a moment. Emilia and I are alone together, leaving an eerie silence.

I pat the spot next to me on the bed.