My Powerful Mate

Chapter 4

It was well over 10 and I still couldn’t sleep. My brain was dead, disconnected from the world and begging me to sleep. Though my eyes weren’t listening – they wanted to stay up all night and scold me, creating an alliance with my wolf who was still mad at me for denying my mate.

Maybe I needed to be more confident; Carp Diem – seize the day. I needed to realize that this man was created with a bond and soul aligned to me, something he’d never have with anyone else. But if I didn’t get my game together he wouldn’t want me and that’d be all my fault.

With a new found determination I thought I’d never had I got up and march out of my room, focusing on the wonderful smell of my mate; eventually standing outside of Gabriel’s bedroom doors.

Okay. Do I knock or just open the door? My wolf and I eventually both deciding on the latter so I slowly opened one door, peeking my head in and catching the sight of my beautiful mate. Somehow totally oblivious to me, Gabriel sits on the edge of his bed, shirt off, hair tousled and unkempt and the face of a lost man. Oh how I longed to hold him.

“Gabe?” I say in a small voice. My mate’s eyes snap to mine as his gaze drinks me in, watching me with curiosity and desire.

“Charlotte?” He asks, “What are you doing here?”

Stepping into the centre of the room, I don’t take my eyes off his green orbs. “I can’t sleep,” I say softly.

Gabe stares at me for a second with his blank, emotionless stare before his eyes soften and he holds out of arms for me. “Come here, baby.”

And that’s all I need to hear before I rush into my mates awaiting arms.

~

We both lie in Gabriel’s extravagant sized bed, wrapped up in each other’s arms and facing each other. Gabe occasionally strokes my cheek with his long fingers.

“I’m glad I came here,” I speak up, breaking our bubble of silence.

“As am I Charlotte,” Gabriel murmurs, planting a soft kiss on my forehead.

The proximity of Gabe and I has my wolf stirring restlessly; most likely trying to remind me to mate with Gabriel, something I’m not ready for yet.

Would he get mad at me for not being ready? I hope not. Gabriel’s only been mad at me once and already I never want to experience that kind of alienation again.

“You tired?”

Gabe snaps me out of my thoughts and I gaze at him, shaking my head. “No, not anymore.”

He nods slowly, looking like his wants to smile but he doesn’t. God, what I’d do to see a smile on my mates face.

“What are you thinking about?” Gabe asks, gently following the contour of my cheeks with his thumb.

“You.”

“Me?”

“Yes you silly. I would love to see you smile Gabe,” I tell him, entwining my hand with his that was resting on my cheek.

My mate suddenly stills, becoming completely rigid beside me as he continues to stare at me with emotions I couldn’t comprehend.

Oh no. Was I in the wrong saying that? Had he remembered something horrible or thought I was being blunt and rude?

After a moment of silence Gabe closes his eyes and briefly opens them, once again staring at me. “I haven’t smiled in a long time. I haven’t had reason to.”

I’m suddenly engulfed in sadness, aching to crawl inside Gabe’s body and hold him tightly; helping him overcome whatever’s hurting him. I just want the best for him.

“Oh please don’t cry, baby.”

I’m crying? Oh, I am. I’m overwhelmed by my feelings and all I can do is sob. Sob for the broken man in front of me, who is unable to smile for reasons beyond my knowledge.

I can feel Gabriel’s arms around me, both of us suddenly in a sitting position, strong arms guiding me to straddle my mates lap. If I wasn’t cry right now I would be flustered and affected by the seating arrangements, but right now my mind was somewhere else.

My head lay in the crook of Gabe’s neck, tears leaking down his naked chest as I can’t control my sobs.

“Please stop crying, baby. It’s killing me, I’d do anything to see you stop crying,” Gabe begs as one of his hands curls up in my hair, the other running soothingly up and down my back.

“I-I’m sor-ry,” I manage to sob out. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, it happened in the past and I won’t taint you with it, you don’t deserve that you beautiful girl.” Gabriel continues soothing me until my tears run out, gently rubbing my back and planting my forehead with gentle kisses that make me feel nurtured.

“You don’t get it though Gabe, I want to be tainted with your past. I want to know why you can’t smile and what made you so cold and unfriendly to people. I want to know everything about you and carry your burdens on my shoulders as well, so it’s not as heavy as load for you. Because that’s what mates do. They support, love, cherish and protect each other and I know physically you can protect yourself and I’m not much help, but emotionally I want to make a difference so you can be happy,” I cry, letting all my concerns and feelings out so Gabe can understand how I feel.

He stares at me. Shock written all over his face as I finally manage to control my sobs, now, only small hiccups fill the air as Gabriel continues to stare at me.

Gabe sighs, softly kissing my nose and putting his forehead against mine, making our position all the more intimate.

“One day I’ll tell you my past, one day. Right now I just want to focus on spending time with you and protecting you from all the bad and making you happy.”

“But I want to make you happy as well,” I sigh.

Gabe runs his nose along mine and begins to pepper kisses all over my face, my wolf purring in delight.

“Baby, right now I’m the happiest man alive.”

And he meant it. It’d just be a long time before he could smile in happiness.

He was worth the wait though.

~

Double upload! I was on a roll.

Enjoy!

xxx