Page 41 of The Alpha's Stolen Mate

“Gabriel, hello,” I said in a brisk tone, angry at myself for being affected by him.

“Healer Nia told me that you've visited your father. How are you?”

My heart lifted a little.

“I'm doing all right. Thank you,” I replied and crossed my arms as we shuffled forward in line.

“How's your shoulder feeling?”

“It’s all right,” I said.

Our conversation was stilted, awkward. I almost preferred our brutal honesty last night. At least that talk had seemed real.

The woman behind us turned around, and her brown eyes brightened when she saw Gabriel.

My jaw clenched.

“Gabriel, I just wanted to thank you for all you've done for my husband. Adam wouldn't be alive today without you,” the woman said with tears shining in her eyes. “Can I please buy you a coffee? It's the least I can do.”

“Oh, that's not necessary, Hannah. I'm just glad I could help.”

The two chatted until it was Hannah's turn to order. She ended up paying for our coffee, and after I thanked her, I walked back over to my mom to give her a small coffee with one cream and two sugars. My mom murmured a thank you and continued to stare out the cafeteria window. Her passive behavior was really starting to scare me.

I went back over to the other side of the room and found Gabriel at the coffee station pouring cream into his cup.

“So, did you become a healer in the last six years?” I asked as I took off my white lid to add two sugars to my drink.

“What do you mean?”

“Hannah said her husband wouldn't be alive without you. Why did she say that?” I asked and picked up a wooden stirrer.

Gabriel's cheeks reddened. I could see the maroon color even through his beard.

“Oh, yes, that.” He blew on his coffee to cool it, and his lips momentarily distracted me.

Get a grip.

We moved to the side and leaned against one of the walls, so we were out of the way.

“The reason I built this hospital was to help treat people who have been injured from the Rogue wolf attacks,” Gabriel explained. “At first, I wanted to help with the overflow from WaterLock’s hospital. But that problem was solved by hiring more healers.”

“Who are all these people then?” I gestured around the cafeteria.

“The families of members from other packs around our kingdom—plus Pryegate and Tideridge Kingdoms—that have been injured by Rogue wolves. Most of their hospitals are too overwhelmed with injuries to treat them,” Gabriel answered, his eyes sliding around the room. “I have a medical helicopter that airlifts them here. Then, their families can fly or drive, depending on how far they come to stay here with them.”

“Oh,” I said and took a sip of my coffee. “And you do all of this along with managing your company and helping run WaterLock?”

“I have a lot of help with everything,” Gabriel said modestly.

I swallowed as we stared at each other. I had to be the one to look away first.

It was hard to focus when Gabriel's green eyes were staring so deeply into mine. I needed to be able to think clearly. There was still something that didn’t make sense to me.

“How did you create a secure compound without anyone from WaterLock joining? No one wanted to join for their safety against the Rogues?” I asked.

This time, Gabriel was the one to look away.

“No one wanted to move away from their homes. Everyone wanted to stay in Brindle Creek, which I can understand.” There was a note of embarrassment in his tone. But then his voice brightened.

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