Page 42 of The Alpha's Stolen Mate

“This place—my compound—is populated by people all over our kingdom, and people from the Pyregate and Tideridge Kingdoms as well,” he continued. “As my compound was being built, I traveled throughout our three kingdoms and met many different people who were either lone wolves or didn’t feel safe against the Rogues in their pack.”

Lone wolves were different from Rogues. The former was born without a pack, but Rogues were wolves who were kicked out of their pack for breaking wolf law.

“I arranged for the people who wanted to come with me to travel to my compound when it was ready. These shifters make up all of the staff at my security company, the guards, the grocery store, the healers at this hospital, even the young lady we just ordered our coffee from—everyone in my compound. Healer Nia had been working in the Pyregate Kingdom. The hospital she worked at had been raided many times by the Rogues—trying to finish off their victims—and one time, Healer Nia nearly died trying to protect her patients.”

I recalled the long, faded scar across Healer Nia's neck and shuddered.

“She ended up bringing most of her staff of healers and the patients from her hospital to reside in my compound,” Gabriel finished and smiled.

“So, you created a sort of…safe haven,” I said with awe in my tone.

“Well, I don’t know if I would say that exactly, but…”

“Gabriel, you’re not only trying to help protect people from WaterLock against the Rogues, but our whole kingdom. And even people from our surrounding kingdoms as well,” I said.

Gabriel took a small step toward me and my heart rate increased.

“Thank you for saying that, Summer. It means a lot coming from you.”

My hands began to shake around my coffee cup and a few drops of hot liquid spilled onto my hand. I didn’t even register the burn. My heart was already on fire.

“There’s something I wanted to ask you,” Gabriel said.

Immediately, my guard came up. I hadn’t even been aware I’d let it down. I shuffled a few feet away from him, needing my space.

“What do you think of the idea of you, your aunt, your mom, and Grayson coming to stay at my house? It’s within walking distance of the hospital,” Gabriel said.

“No,” I answered briskly and took a step away from him, needing distance. “Gabriel, I can’t stay with you after everything that’s happened. That’s ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous?” Gabriel repeated, hurt flashing in his eyes for a moment, but then it was gone. “I just thought it would be nice for your family to have a space separate from the hospital. Just to relax and sleep. I thought it could be good for you guys. That way, you aren’t too far from your dad, but you’re not reminded that he’s sick every single moment because you’re in the hospital. And I have enough guest rooms to accommodate you guys.”

I wanted to tell him that I’d rather sleep in my aunt’s jeep than stay under the same roof as him, but then I caught sight of my mom with her back to us, still staring out the window. I remembered Grayson becoming quiet after we left my dad's hospital room. Would it be selfish to say no to Gabriel’s offer?

Yes, it would.

“If we’re going to do this, we have to take things slow with introducing you to Grayson,” I warned.

“Of course. Is there anything I can do to make the process easier?”

I remembered Grayson's broken expression when I told him we couldn't bring his dog with us.

“You could find a way to get Grayson’s pet here,” I suggested.

“Grayson has a pet?”

“Yeah, Goose,” I said.

“Grayson has a pet goose?”

My lips twitched, but I shrugged and feigned disinterest.

“Anything for Grayson,” he said without hesitation.

Chapter Fourteen: Three Women

Gabriel POV

Goose turned out to be a well-behaved black lab. The dog was sitting by my feet, staring in the same direction as me, as if he knew that we were both anxiously waiting for his five-year-old owner to arrive.

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