Twisting Her Fate
Chapter 32

Gabriel sits in the drivers seat, one hand hanging languidly on the top of the steering wheel as he adjusts his posture once more. He just cannot stop the uncomfortable feeling that just keeps sitting heavily in his chest. It isn't that uncomfortable blinding pain, it is Maggie rubs her chest and sighs in frustration as she stares out the windscreen.

just there, just a dull ache that just sits, just lingers.

"That Connor, does he ever get out of bed, is he addicted to kissing or touching or whatever he is doing from dawn to dusk"

Gabriel barely acknowledges her.

"What are you on about?"

"It is just like a lingering pain stemming from where the other comes from but it just lasts all day"

"I hardly think Connor is in bed all day"

"What else can explain it?"

Gabriel looks down at his own chest. Right, what else can explain it?

"We are here Gabriel. Are you going to drive past?"

Gabriel looks out the windscreen in shock at the coffee shop that came up a lot faster than he had anticipated. He steers the car into a free space before alighting from the vehicle with a sour look on his face, shoving his hands into his pockets and walking toward the coffee shop with brisk steps, his shoulders slightly hunched as Maggie tries to keep up with him latching onto his arm and as soon as they enter the coffee shop, Maggie has the brightest smile on her face and the loving twinkle in her eyes. Maggie leads them straight to sit down across from her parents. Alpha Simon and Luna Astrid.

Gabriel looks at the two, no matter how many times he meets them and how many times he looks at them, he just can't see any similarities between them and their daughter. They have a son too, but he is always away from pack. First it was boarding school and then he runs businesses off site. The last Gabriel heard Oscar was overseas somewhere. In all these years with Maggie, he has never seen Oscar in the flesh, only on video calls, but that is all about to change as he will soon be arriving to attend the wedding. Gabriel has never heard of a future alpha being off the pack so much, but each to their own. Oscar is only twenty-four, one year older than Maggie, so he still has lots of time to take over the pack, but Gabriel would assume he would want to be getting settled soon. Luna Astrid always has a slightly vacant look in her pale blue eyes, her hair is white blonde and cut into an attractive pixie cut. She doesn't look a day over thirty, she is a beauty and one can tell that back in her day she would have been unbelievable, as she still attracts countless eyes even though she has two fully grown children.

In the alleyway beside the coffee shop, Connor stands and sprays Leilani head to toe in masking spray.

"Are you sure he is going to recognize you like this?"

"That is not the point I want him to have the faintest recollection only. I don't want full recognition yet. Maybe he won't, maybe I am completely cast from his mind, but no one else has this hair that I have met in all my years"

Connor reaches out and runs his fingers through her soft hair that is looking in contrast to her outfit, which can only be deemed rags, calling it clothing would be a stretch.

"It is unique, so beautiful, but unique"

Connor steps back and assesses her from head to toe.

"I know you have said already, but explain it to me once more why you are dressed in such a way"

"I am showing Gabriel a ghost of his past, so I am dressed the way I was back then. It is hardly effective if I walk in wearing fancy clothes and looking super hot"

Connor growls in frustration. The way they treated Leilani that way is beyond him. No one would get treated like that within his pack, even the weakest wolf is treated with respect. They all have to work and train. But they are all provided for. "It makes me distressed to see you dressed that way. I want to take you out to buy the whole world for you"

"That is because you are a prince and Gabriel is the evil stepmother"

Connor doubles over laughing.

"Gold, he so is. But wait does that make Maggie the ugly step sister?" "Incest between step mother and step sister? Your mind is filthy" Leilani laughs after pointing out the flaw in his words.

"So I took it too far?"

"Nope it is perfect"

Leilani presses a tight kiss on his lips before messing up her hair and pulling a tight bun on the top of her head, making sure she is suitably dirty. She turns back and looks at Connor.

"I hope this outfit does it for you as it will be best if Maggie's parents know all about her giving up an alpha fated mate"

"Why?"

"Because her father is greedy. When the pack standings come out, who do you think is going to get punished?"

"Devious and I am always ready, rags or ballgown, I will tear them all off and have my way with you"

Connor throws a glass vial to her, Leilani catches it emptying the contents into her mouth as she walks forward, placing the bottle in the bin before she walks into the coffee shop.

Gabriel sits and tries to listen to the conversation about the wedding that seems to be getting more and more out of control. His hand comes up to rub his aching chest once more as a sort of numbness rushes over his body, he can't feel anything and it is a relief, too much of his mind has been consumed by the ache. Gabriel leans back in his seat enjoying his moment of peace, a figure walks passed. He is not sure whether it is the clothing that is so out of place in the venue, or the messed up hair tied in a tight bun. He has no idea whether it is the coloring of the hair or the rips in the clothing, even the pale skin with smudges of dirt.

Gabriel just stares at the figure wide-eyed, her shoulders are hunched, her head lowered, there is nothing that should attract his eyes to the figure, he should even snort in disgust that someone would even be out in public looking like that, but he can't seem to look away, there is something just so familiar.

The girl walks close to the table and Gabriel tries desperately to see her face, but her whole body is angled strangely and he can't see it. Her whole body screams weakness, her posture screams submission.

Gabriel sucks in a deep breath but he can't smell anything. He looks around but no one else even sees her. How can no one see the girl that looks like she just got out of a dumpster?

Gabriel stands abruptly and the three sets of eyes at the table all look at him in shock.

"I just need to go to the bathroom"

Gabriel makes some feeble excuse, not even looking at the three when talking. Simon isn't about to say anything, even if it is disrespectful, Gabriel could crush him without blinking. Simon may also be an alpha, but there are varying degrees. It is not just a blanket similar strength between alpha bloods, some are stronger and some are weaker.

Gabriel walks off after the figure. He has no idea why but he just has to follow that hair, it is unique. Luna Astrid's eyes follow the man, a strange feeling brewing within. Simon looks at Maggie.

"What the hell is wrong with him now? Why do you both look so strained? It wasn't like this last week"

"Things have come up"

"I don't care, lock him down, do you want to see all our hard work fall apart at the last second"

Maggie looks at Gabriel's back as he disappears out the staff only door, the door to the bathroom remaining untouched.

"Don't worry daddy, I will be Luna of half moon. The wedding will go ahead"

"It better"

The figure has disappeared from Gabriel's sight and there is absolutely no scent. Was he hallucinating? Seriously, why would he even think of that peasant when he sees some white blonde hair? Leilani is already gone.

But the image of her disgusting lowered head and weak shoulders is enough for him to be thankful that he did what he did. Imagine if she had of come of age within the pack, imagine if word got out that she was his mate? He would be the butt of every joke.

It would be a stain on him. If he was mated to someone so weak, wouldn't that mean he was weak? Wouldn't others take that as an opening to strike?

A luna like Leilani?

He wishes she had a grave so he could spit on it. He can only take comfort in the knowledge that she is dead.

"Gabriel, something is going on with Maggie"

A nervous Astrid calls out, effectively pulling Gabriel out of his stupor, he turns on his heel and walks back in with brisk steps, looking at Maggie, who is curled in a ball on the ground screaming.

Gabriel rolls his eyes as he looks at the ceiling. Maybe they should start scheduling in with Connor at what times it is inconvenient for him to suddenly decide he has a s*x drive, after months of nothing, Connor is really going at it now. If this continues, won't Maggie just keep embarrassing him?

Maggie is meant to be the strong luna he always wanted. As he watches her writhing with agony, she looks as weak as the girl with the lowered head.

Did he get rid of a fated weakling only to choose a weakling?