Chapter 26

Freya

Dad and the other members arrived after nearly fifteen minutes. The moment his eyes settled on me, they screamed disappointment and hurt. My guilt increased ten folds. I should have thought about him and Mom before leaving the pack like this. They would have been devastated if Gabriel would not have saved me.

I looked at Gabriel who was slowly gaining consciousness. He sat up holding his head and looked around, when his eyes settled on me he sighed in relief. Dad instructed the warriors to clean up the mess of the accident. The warriors started pouring gasoline on the SUV and torched it after were done pouring the gasoline.

The vampire's body was being burned too, Dad was ignoring me and I was not brave enough to walk up to him and apologize. I wished I had not left my home in the first place. It had not brought any good, two hours out alone and I had got myself captured.

Gabriel slowly walked up to me and stood at my side, he snaked his arm around me and pulled me to his side, giving a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"You okay?" He asked in a gentle voice.

His touch and gentleness melted me and I turned and buried my face in his chest, letting go of all the restraint. I was crying like a baby in his embrace and it felt absolutely amazing.

Gabriel kept rubbing my back with his hand and stroking my hair with the other. All I wanted was to stay in his arms forever and forget everything.

"Shh.... it's okay, baby," Gabriel cooed.

My cries only increased in intensity, I didn't realize why I was crying but it felt soothing. Gabriel was so careful with me like I was a fragile doll and would break with a little force.

When my sobs didn't subside he pulled me up in his arms, carrying me bridal style to one of the cars in which Dad and the other members had arrived. He settled me on the backseat and slid inside beside me, pulling me on his lap.

I curled and snuggled closer to him, my face buried in the crook of his neck. He smelled so good of pine and fresh wood, that made me forget everything for a moment.

"Freya," Gabriel rasped.

I could feel how much our proximity was affecting him if the bulge in his pants was any indication.

"I have wanted nothing more in my life than I want you at this moment," Gabriel's lips were touching the rim of my ear and his breath was fanning my neck.

I too wanted to drown myself in him right now but the thought of Titus crawled into my mind. How could I let Gabriel have what was Titus's right? Even though Gabriel claimed to be my mate but it was a fact that Titus and I were still mated.

"Say something, Freya," Gabriel nudged my shoulder.

"Titus," I could only say his name.

I noticed Gabriel stiffening at the mention of Titus. It would not be easy for him to come to terms with the fact that I had Titus in my life. Though he had not contacted me in the past months and had gone to the training he still was my mate and I couldn't overlook this fact.

I had not allowed Titus to kiss me because somewhere in my mind I had this thought of Gabriel. Then how could I give Gabriel something which also belonged to Titus? Mate or not, Gabriel still had to prove himself trustworthy.

It was not like I trusted Titus, I did at one point but not now. Not after how he treated me, but giving myself to one of them would not be an easy decision.

"You still care about him? After what he did to you? You are still thinking about him?" Gabriel asked, his voice full of hurt.

"Gabriel, Titus is still my mate, it doesn't matter if you agree or not. We are still mated and you still have to prove yourself trustworthy," the words slipped my mouth before I could control them.

Gabriel pulled back a little from me and looked into my eyes in astonishment," You still don't trust me? I saved you twice from the vampires," he asked in disbelief.

"Exactly my point, what proof do you have that you were not the one to put them after me in the first place and then come and save me," I replied, in a calm voice.

"This is ridiculous," he sneered.

I didn't replied to him and turned and looked outside the window, where my Dad and the warriors were trying to clear the remaining signs of the accident.

"What's there in Titus, that you trust him and not me?" Gabriel asked, after a while.

I didn't have any logical explanation for his question. It was true that I had trusted Titus more than I could ever trust Gabriel, even though he had saved my life twice. Maybe I was being harsh on him, but after what Titus did to me it was not easy for me to trust anyone so soon.

"You still love him?"

" Of course, I love him. He is my mate, "I replied, again without thinking.

Gabriel pressed his lips into a tight line trying to control himself from saying anything further.

"Someday you will regret acting so cold towards me," Gabriel said with a sigh.

"It's better to be cautious, I don't want to break again," I huffed, crossing my arms on my chest.

"I won't ever hurt you, Freya," Gabriel spoke and for once I felt my resolve breaking at the sincerity in his voice.

"I have waited centuries for you, how can I ever hurt you, Freya?"

My heart fluttered in my chest from the sweet words he was whispering and I wanted nothing more than to drown in the sea of emotions that was ready to lash out from his eyes. Logic and sense flew out of the window when Gabriel leaned onto me, his lips brushing mine ever so lightly.