CHAPTER 8: THANK THE MOON GODDESS

~ Gabriel’s POV ~

I held the door of my father’s office open for Harper as she exited into the hallway. I internally kicked myself knowing good and well that I held that door not to just be a gentleman, but to get a good look at her ass as she walked in front of me. I feel like a real creep right now for checking out a girl who has recently been to hell and managed to walk back out. I couldn’t help it though, her long black wavy hair trailed down her back stopping mid back. I love her long hair, but right now I am thanking the Moon Goddess for not hiding this girl’s shapely yet slim Waist.

My eyes trailed down her back, drinking in every curve of her hourglass figure. Continuing their descent, my eyes rested on her perfectly round and toned ass. I have always been a booty man, but this girl is on a whole other level. In my father’s office while she was introducing herself, I could tell she was having a reaction to me. The red blush that settled on her cheeks wasn’t the only thing that gave her away. Her subtle hints of arousal exaggerated her scent. It made it so hard for me to lock Mika down. He was like a mad wolf, trying to take control. He begged to be let out so he could shift and claim her right then and there. I was accustomed to this type of female reaction to me, but Harper’s scent overpowered my mind. I couldn’t think or concentrate. I was able to see that she wasn’t only built nice in the back. She had to have a nice full C cup concealed under her fitted tee shirt. Her stomach appeared to be flat and toned. I could tell she loved to train, but still has a feminine body. I was never into she wolves who had too much muscle. Yeah… her body set me ablaze with want. Her eyes… Green emeralds that seemed to constantly be rotating with hints of blue. It reminded me of little fairy’s playing hide-and-seek at night in a field full of flowers. The most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. They complemented her tan skin and full lips perfectly.

Today she was sad, but when my father allowed her to become part of our pack, she let herself be happy for a moment. That’s when she smiled. A beautiful pristine smile that had me mesmerized. At that moment I would have done anything to keep her smiling. It felt as if her smile faded, my soul would fade out with it. If I’m not careful, this girl is going to catch me hook, line, and sinker and she’s not even trying. I don’t go through girls like my Beta Tanner, but I can’t say I haven’t had my fair share of fun. Watching Harper walk in front of me made me wonder if I’ll ever be able to enjoy another one-night stand in my life.

Harper stopped to let me catch up. I hadn’t realized I had let her get that far ahead of me. I guess when my mind is concentrated on a woman as tempting as Harper, my legs stop working. Well… that is the first time that has ever happened. I started to walk at a normal pace again, trying not to look like I was so eager to be near her. I needed to pull myself together and start acting like the gentleman and future Alpha that my father and mother raised me to be. Thank the Goddess my mother can’t read my thoughts right now. She would try to bend me over her tiny knee to give me an old-fashioned ass whooping. I smirk at my thoughts as I try to picture my tiny 5’1 mother attempting to wrestle with my 6’2 frame.

I wiped the smirk off my face as I reached Harper. Walking side by side now we were nearing the end of the hallway entering the main dining hall. As if her perfect figure and interest in being a warrior wasn’t enough to have me swooning over her, the mere scent of this girl was enough to cause my wolf to howl and leap excitedly in my mind. Since we first caught her scent, Mika has been demanding I take her to my room and make her ours. He is acting like she is our mate. He is all but coming right out and saying it. What if she is our mate? Maybe we can’t feel the entire extent of the mate bond because she hasn’t gotten her wolf yet. If I get any worse than I am already, I’m going to kiss all my pride goodbye and beg at her feet to have me.

“So, this is the dining hall. Plates are situated at the end of the bar, just grab one and help yourself.”

Harper looked up to me with her eyes shining. I could see that she wasn’t comfortable with this whole situation. I wish I could make it easier for her to adjust.

“Thank you, I have only been here almost a day now, and I have received more hospitality since I have been here than I did the whole time I was a prisoner to alpha Thane.” I clenched my jaw trying to stow away the anger bubbling up in me.

Thinking about what he had done to Harper, and what he planned to do to her caused my blood to boil. My wolf was itching to break out, hunt that prick down and rip his heart straight out of his chest.

I smiled down at Harper, and when our eyes met my anger instantly vanished. How did she have that effect on me?

“I think she’s ours.” Mika was having a hard time keeping his drool contained. I blocked him out, drawing my attention back to Harper.

“As long as you are here, you will be safe. Our boarders are the most well protected of any wolf pack. No one has tried to enter without permission in years. Sometimes I wish they would try. It would be less boring here.” Harper giggled, causing me to feel a strange giddiness as well.

“I appreciate your offer of protection, but I won’t allow anyone to put themselves in danger for me. If Thane does come for me, it is my fight alone. I won’t let anyone else get wrapped up into my troubles. Your pack has been so kind to me, I am hoping I can move on from the past and become a productive member of this pack.” Her fearlessness was admirable, but there is no way I would let any she wolf fight a battle like that alone. Especially my potential mate!

I decided to keep that thought to myself and turned just in time to notice Tanner my Beta coming straight towards us. He was beaming his big bright shit eating grin with his eyes trained straight on Harper.

“Well,well,well… this must be our newest member of the pack. Let me be one of the first to personally welcome you.” He took her hand while leaning down to kiss her. Before I could stop myself, Mika had gained some control and elicited a growl that was heard through most of the dining hall. Shocked pack members stared with fearful looks plastered to their faces, but soon they went back to eating.

Harper was looking at me with a worried look while Tanner looked like he regrets not stopping at the little wolf's room before walking over to talk to us. He may have accidentally relieved himself right in front of Harper. Realizing my unspoken jokes were becoming too much, I decided it was time to excuse myself. I don’t understand what was causing me to have these thoughts and feelings toward Harper.

I reluctantly left Harper to have breakfast with Tanner while I made my way to my room on the fifth floor. I need a cold shower and a drink. I couldn’t go back around Harper until I cleaned up my act. I decided to spend the rest of the day in my room. I didn’t have any responsibility today so calling it a lazy day and relaxing shouldn’t be an issue.

After my shower, I poured myself a stiff drink and quickly knocked it back. The liquid burned my throat on the way down, but this didn’t faze me anymore. I turned on the TV and propped myself against the headboard of my bed. Flipping through the channels I stopped on one of those teen wolf shows that all the girls were so crazy over. It didn’t take me long to roll my eyes at the characters. If only they knew what it was all really like… my mind drifted back to Harper. What if she is my mate?

“Then you have left her with that player of a best friend of yours to flirt with as much as he wants. I can just hear him now laying it on thick. I hope Harper doesn’t fall into his trap. I would hate to kill my Beta but……”

“Mika SHUT UP!” I blocked Mika’s link. If I continued to listen to him, I would find myself strangling Tanner to death before anyone could stop me.

I opted for another drink and settled on a nap. Hoping that when I wake up, my attitude, thoughts, and feelings will be reset back to normal. Somehow, I don’t think things will be that simple. I drifted into unconsciousness thinking about those emerald, green eyes drawing me in…