Sold To The Alpha
A Love spoken Chapter 24

Storming her way down the stairs, Gabriella made her way into the recreation room where the pack teenagers tended to hang out, standing in the door frame, her eyes wandered around the room until they fell upon Troy, one of the trainee warriors who had always had a crush on her, though she had always spurned his advances. He was standing by the pool table, chalking his cue as he chatted amicably to one of his friends.

Marching over to him, she leant against the pool table, fluttering her eyelashes as he stared at her in surprise.

'Hey Troy' Gabriella purred, running her fingers up his arm as he swallowed loudly.

'Hey Gabby' the warrior squeaked before clearing his throat embarrassed.

'Can I play?' she asked, looking up at him coyly, a small smile playing around her lips.

'Yeah, of course' Troy replied quickly, handing her a cue.

Leaning over the table, Gabriella slid the pool cue between her fingers, aiming at the white ball before striking the tip against the sphere, sending it sideways into the cushion. 'Oops, my bad' she murmured, 'I'm so bad at this, can you help me Troy?' she added, pouting at him.

'y.. yeah, OK' Troy said grabbing the white ball and placing it back in front of her. Leaning over, he helped her hold the cue correctly as Gabriella continued to get it wrong until he stood behind her, leaning over her to help her hold the pool cue straight. Placing his hand behind hers, he slowly drew the cue stick back before sliding it forward and connecting with the white, sending it down the table where it knocked one of the striped balls into the pocket.

Squealing excitedly, Gabriella wiggled her hips before standing up, turning around and throwing her arms around the warrior, hugging him tightly to her chest. 'Oh I did it! That was so exciting' she gushed happily before placing her lips on his in a heat fuelled kiss. Troy stood there dumbstruck for a second before putting his arms around her and kissing her back desperately.

Upstairs, Rowan and Vaughn were still sat silently on the bed, each lost in their own demon filled thoughts, suddenly Rowan let out a howl of pain, his body slipping to the floor as he clasped at his chest, his breathing ragged as if some hidden entity was torturing him.

Writhing on the carpet, he gasped for breath, tears falling down his cheeks as the Prince dropped to his knees beside him in horror.

'Rowan? Are you OK?' he called out desperately, trying to pull the warrior into his arms and cradle him as the werewolf hunched over in agony.

'It hurts' Rowan gasped out desperately, 'the pain, help me' he whispered.

'What hurts?' Vaughn asked in panic, 'I'll get the pack doctor, wait here.'

Rowan grabbed the hybrid's wrist, shaking his head as she eyes closed against the pain slicing through his heart.

'Gabriella' he finally gasped out, 'she's.. with.. someone' he finished before his head fell to the floor and he curled up in a foetal position, rocking back and forth whimpering.

Jumping to his feet, Vaughn rushed out of the room, taking the stairs two at a time, searching the common rooms until he stumbled into the recreation room. His eyes immediately drew themselves to the Princess who was wrapped around a tall dark haired teenager, her hands in his hair as his caressed her back, their lips locked together.

Striding over, he dragged Gabriella out of the warriors arms, growling loudly as he went to challenge, forcing the youth to submit immediately.

Grabbing the Princess by the hand he dragged her out of the room, pulling her forcefully across the foyer and into an empty room before swinging around to face her. 'What are you doing?' he yelled furiously.

Gabriella placed her hands on her hips defiantly, 'I am moving on Vaughn' she replied angrily.

Vaughn ran his hands through his hair distractedly, 'Gabby, do you know how much pain he was in? It was like you took a knife to his heart and just kept twisting! I've only known him a short time and I'm sure that very little has the power to bring Rowan to his knees like that' he said worriedly.

Gabriella's eyes widened, 'his name is Rowan? How do you know that?' she asked surprised.

'He told me obviously' Vaughn replied, 'though that is hardly the issue right now, you caused him unbearable pain! And for what? To punish him? Just reject him, don't torture him Gab' he said pleadingly.

'I did Vaughn! I rejected him, he wouldn't accept my rejection. Nor would he claim me! I was trying to force him to accept' she muttered, her eyes clouding with guilt.

'What did he say when you rejected him?' Vaughn asked, his voice softer as he took in the teenager's guilty expression.

'Nothing, he never says anything, I've never heard him utter a word and I don't know why' she replied bitterly.

As her face crumbled, Vaughn pulled her in to his arms, hugging her tightly as she sobbed quietly against his shirt.

'Gabby, I know Rowan is a strange confusing man, I've been travelling with him for a couple of weeks and have to say I don't understand him in the slightest, but when it comes to you, I think he cares' the Prince muttered softly. Gabriella leaned back to look into Vaughn's eyes, 'why do you say that?' she asked, sniffing back her tears.

'Just the way he is when I asked about you, he said he can't talk to you and doesn't know why, I don't think it's his fault, I don't really understand what is going on but I really do think he wants you' the Prince replied, his brow furrowed as he thought back over the warrior's words.

Gabriella took a few shaky breaths before speaking, 'I'm scared to replace out Vaughn' she admitted, casting her eyes down, 'what if I decide to wait for him and he never claims me, he's like an enigma wrapped in a question mark and he draws me to him, I think I could really love him if I let myself but I'm not sure that I could survive handing my heart to someone to then replace they never wanted it in the first place.'

Vaughn ran his hand down her hair as he held her, resting his chin on top of her head as she tried to calm herself down. 'I can't say everything will be OK Gabby' he murmured, 'but maybe give him a chance, and even if you can't give him that, please don't hurt him like that again, he's an a*s hole but I think under all that gruff manly sullenness, he's actually a decent guy!

Smiling weakly, Gabriella untangled herself from the Vampire's arms, wiping her cheeks in embarrassment, 'well aren't I just the poster girl for the Alpha's offspring' she joked as Vaughn pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it too her. Raising an eyebrow, Gabriella sniggered, 'a handkerchief? Who carries a handkerchief in this day and age?' she teased.

Vaughn shrugged as he scratched the back of his neck self consciously, 'hey, cut me some slack, my dad is literally ancient and he rarely let me leave the castle' he pouted.

Dabbing her eyes, the teenager chuckled, 'don't worry Vaughny, I won't tell anyone about your old man tendencies' she teased before handing it back to him.

Holding up his hands, Vaughn shook his head, 'keep it, I have another half dozen in my back pack' he admitted, blushing furiously.

Laughing, Gabriella tucked the handkerchief in to her pocket before meeting Vaughn's gaze again, her facial expression hardening, 'oh and talking about mates and giving people a chance, you would do well to give the same courtesy to Olivia' she said sternly. 'I want.. 'Vaughn began before he was cut off by the young Princess.

'No excuses Vaughn, she thinks that you don't want her, you ran away from her and one conversation over some food is not enough to make up for that. Olivia is one of the nicest girls I know and if you hurt her, I promise the pain Rowan felt is nothing compared to what you will feel' she growled warningly.

Vaughn took a step back instinctively under the teenager's steely gaze, 'if you want to know how vicious I can be, just ask my brother' she added before giving him a knowing smirk and turning around, opening the door and slipping outside, leaving the Vampire alone with his mouth hanging open.

Making her way back upstairs, she hesitated on the top step momentarily, her mind and heart warring with each other before her resolve crumbled and she slowly made her way toward the heavy wooden door to her right. Standing on the other side, she rocked back and forth on her heels for a few seconds before taking a deep breath and raising her and, knocking smartly on the painted door and stepping back slightly. Waiting impatiently, she wondered if the room was empty, just as she was about to walk away, the door creaked open, a crack appearing that showed a pain filled eye that widened in surprise.

Giving a meek smile, Gabriella ran her fingers through her hair nervously, twisting the ends as she studied the small bit of face she could see.

'Can I come in?' she asked softly.

The warrior watched her for a moment before he slowly stepped back and pulled the door open allowing the Princess to enter.

Stepping over the threshold, she turned around as Vaughn's guard shut the door carefully behind her, his eyes downcast as he leaned against it.

Gabriella took in his pained expression, the pasty look to his skin as if he had been ill, the puffiness to his eyes from the tears that she realised had been caused by her.

Stepping closer to him, she placed her hand against his cheek, watching as he automatically closed his eyes at her touch, pressing herself against his chest, she used her free hand to lift his chin, forcing his eyes to meet hers.

As their gazes connected, the Princess gave a small smile, taking in his features, breathing in his scent that though no longer intoxicated her, still had the power to make her feel like she was home.

'Hi Rowan' she whispered softly as she leaned closer.