Gabriel’s POV
I was finally able to relax now that Aria said she would move to my house. Knowing she will be near me all the time gave me a warm and peaceful feeling.
I could tell Nick was happy as well. He was smiling so wide I thought his mouth was going to rip. I chuckled at his expression.
The more I thought about it, the more this mate thing annoyed me. I just found my sister and now I will have to compete for her attention once Nick told her. I knew it was stupid, but I couldn’t escape these feelings. I wanted to spend time with her. Get to know her. But I knew how possessive Nick can be, and he will make it difficult. Because he wanted the same thing. I was already pissed at Nick, but he was my friend and I wanted him to be happy. And Aria made him happy. I will just have to find a way to keep my own possessiveness in check.
“How about we go to the living room and watch a movie?” Annie asked, interrupting my train of thought.
“Sure,” I nodded, “but not some chick flick.”
Annie laughed. “Fine. No chick flicks. What do you want to watch?”
“Any superhero movie would be cool,” Nick added.
I looked at Aria, she was in deep thought. I would give everything to be able to hug her right now, and tell her I was her brother. She wouldn’t be this conflicted about living with me.
“A? Are you up for a superhero movie?” Annie asked, placing a hand on Aria’s shoulder.
She flinched and looked up at Annie.
“Sorry, what?” she asked quietly.
“Are you okay?” Annie asked her.
“I am fine,” she smiled slightly. “Sorry, I was just thinking. What did you ask me?”
“Do you want to watch a movie with us?”
Aria nodded and smiled. “Sure. A movie sounds fine.”
We all walked to the living room and took our seats. Annie made sure Aria and Nick were sitting on the couch and we sat on the sofas. I gritted my teeth and looked at Nick. He couldn’t be happier if he tried.
Annie gave us the choice between the first Avengers movie or Spiderman: Homecoming. After a short debate, we settled for The Avengers.
The movie started and I glanced toward Aria. She sat farthest away possible from Nick. I saw him frowning and I smirked. It’s not going to be that easy, buddy.
I focused on the movie again. I actually enjoyed watching it, even though I had seen it several times before.
I was interrupted by Nick’s loud sigh. We all looked at him, but he didn’t meet our gaze and just stared at the TV. The girls looked away, but I kept my gaze on him. I knew something was bugging him.
A few moments later, he looked at me and I raised my eyebrows. He frowned and looked at Aria’s lap. I followed his gaze and saw a phone on her lap. So, she was playing with her phone, what was the problem? I looked at him confused and he just shook his head. I will ask him later.
The movie ended and Annie turned on the lights.
I got off the couch and walked toward the kitchen.
“Do you guys want a beer?” I asked.
The girls nodded and Nick got up and walked behind me.
“I will help you,” he said.
I didn’t really need help getting four beers, but I guess he wanted to talk to me.
He walked in and leaned on the kitchen counter, his hands in fists. What the hell happened?
“Nick, man, what is it?” I asked him.
“She is texting someone,” he said, gritting his teeth.
“And you are this angry?” I laughed. “It is probably one of her friends with lady parts, man.”
“What friend, Gabriel?” he stared at me. “She has Annie. Everybody from her village is dead.”
He is right. I didn’t think about that. Who is she texting?
“Maybe she met some girl at that party she and Annie went to,” I suggested.
“No. She met a man,” he said, and I could see his eyes flickering between natural brown and wolf black.
“How do you know?”
“I just do,” he growled. “I will kill him.”
I think Nate came forward.
I walked to him carefully and placed my hands on his shoulders.
“Nate, give Nick control,” I said slowly. “She doesn’t know, Nate. You will scare her.”
He growled and I saw his eyes going back to brown. I let go of his shoulders and took a step back. Nate was getting more powerful.
Nick sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
“I am not used to Nate coming forward this much,” he said. “I am having trouble controlling him.”
“It will get easier,” I said and took four beers from the fridge. “Let’s go ask her.”
He took two beers from me, and we walked back to the living room.
Both girls were on their phones, and I could see Aria typing.
Nick and I took our seats, and I could see how nervous he was.
“Aria,” I called her and she looked up at me. “Who are you texting?”
I could see Annie looking up from the corner of my eye. She knew.
“A friend,” she said.
“What friend?” Nick asked and I could hear the anger in his voice.
I gave him a warning glare. He took a deep breath. Annie was nervously glancing between Nick and me.
“A friend I met at that party Annie and I went to,” Aria said, looking at Nick.
“Is this friend a man?” Nick asked.
“Yes. It’s Jack,” Aria said calmly.
Nick let out a growl so loud we all flinched. Aria was looking at him with a shocked expression.
“Nick. Calm down,” I told him. “Aria, what does he want with you?”
She turned to me, and I could see her getting angry.
“Why does that concern you?” she asked me.
“Because we don’t know him. He could be a threat,” I said calmly.
“He is not a threat. He is Annie’s friend,” she said.
Nick looked at Annie with such anger that she whimpered a bit. I think it was her wolf.
“Nick, what the hell?” Aria yelled. “Do not look at her like that! What is your problem?”
“My problem is that fucker who wants you,” he said, gritting his teeth.
I could see his eyes going from brown to black and he was shaking uncontrollably. Fuck. I couldn’t let him shift. He would hurt her. I stood up and pulled Aria to her feet making her stand behind me.
Aria’s POV
I watched Nick shaking and fighting his wolf for control. What the hell is going on? Why is he so angry at me?
Gabriel was in front of me in a protective stance and he raised his hands like he was surrendering. Annie was frozen in her seat.
“Nick, please calm down,” Gabriel said slowly. “Don’t give Nate control.”
He kept growling and his eyes were on me.
“Breathe, man,” Gabriel spoke again.
He took a few deep breaths and slowly calmed down. He closed his eyes and put his head in his hands.
“Aria I am sorry,” I heard him say quietly. “I am afraid of something happening to you.”
Gabriel was still standing in front of me. I tried to move past him to sit back on the couch and talk to Nick, but he grabbed me and pressed me to his chest.
“Not yet. Let him calm down,” he whispered in my ear.
We all watched him take a few more deep breaths and he finally raised his head.
“I am sorry, guys,” he said. “I am having trouble controlling my wolf lately.”
“It’s okay, Nick. I understand,” Annie said and took his hand.
What does she understand? Is it a wolf thing? Why do I have a feeling they know something that I don’t?
“Aria,” Nick said, turning back to me. “Can you please tell me what he wants from you? I need to know.”
I wanted to scream. Why did he need to know? Why was he so angry at me?
“He asked me out on a date,” I said, getting out of Gabriel’s grip.
“You are not going,” I heard Gabriel behind me and I turned around.
“What?” I asked.
“You heard me. You are not going,” he repeated, and I felt anger coming to the surface.
Who the hell was he?
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I said angrily. “You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do. I am an adult, and we are nothing but acquaintances who have some sort of prophecy to find. You don’t get to meddle in my life and make choices for me.”
I felt anger fueling up my magic. I needed to calm down before I did something stupid.
“I do get to make decisions,” he said, gritting his teeth. “You are obviously important in this prophecy, and you can help save our kind. That gives me the right to keep you safe. And going on a date with some vampire I don’t know who could hurt you or give you to inquisitors is not safe.”
“He wouldn’t do that,” I spat back at him.
“You don’t know that,” he said. “Please. Just listen to me. Let’s figure this out first and then you can go on as many dates as you want.”
I heard Nick growling behind me, and Gabriel sighed.
“Not now Nick,” he told him, looking annoyed.
He was staring at me waiting for me to agree. I didn’t want to agree. I was not as important as he thought I was. There had to be some mistake. I couldn’t be the key. And Jack was not dangerous. I wanted to scream.
“I think you are wrong about him,” I said quietly. “He is not dangerous. Annie knows him. She knows he is not a threat.”
I saw him take a few deep breaths. He came closer to me, put his hands on my shoulder, and lowered himself so his face was right in front of mine. He was staring into my eyes, and I could see how similar his eyes were to mine. I was definitely going crazy.
“Aria,” he said calmly and quietly. “Please. Don’t go with him. For me. If he is that good, he will wait for you. And I need you safe and by my side.”
I stared back at him trying to find a way out of this, but I was tired of fighting. I would not win. Not right now, anyway.
“Fine,” I sighed. “I will tell him no.”
He smiled brightly and hugged me. He placed his chin on my head and breathed in deeply.
“Thank you,” he said quietly. “Thank you for understanding.”
Suddenly, I was pulled away from him and my back was pressed into Nick’s chest. I felt tingles all over my body.
“Thank you, Aria,” he whispered into my ear, and I could feel him breathing in my scent.
“Okay,” Annie said, getting off the sofa. “I had more than enough drama for today. Go home, guys.”
Nick let go of me and laughed. “I am willing to admit that most of the drama was my fault.”
“Good thing you know, man,” Gabriel said.
“I hope you guys will lay off the drama when we move in,” Annie teased. “I won’t be able to tell you to go away.”
“About that, can you move in tomorrow?” Gabriel asked, looking between Annie and me.
“Sure. I will not pack much. Your house isn’t far. I can always come and get something if I need it” Annie said, smiling.
“Aria?” Gabriel looked at me.
“I will be ready,” I said quietly.
“Great. We will pick you up around 6 pm. That should give you enough time to pack everything,” he smiled.
Gabriel hugged me and Annie, and Nick apologized to me again before giving me a kiss on the cheek. They left and I let out a frustrated breath.
What was going on with them? And why did I feel they were hiding something?
