Page 259 of My Unexpected Mate

Jake and Gabriel looked at me wide-eyed. I could feel Nick’s gaze on my face as well.

“Apologize?” Jake asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Aria, it’s okay,” Blake said quietly. “They don’t have to apologize. I deserved it.”

“No, you didn’t,” I said, looking at him. “They need to apologize.”

I looked back at Jake and Gabriel. I gently elbowed Nick. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

“Fine,” Nick mumbled. “I am sorry, Blake.”

Gabriel and Jake turned to him and muttered an apology. I wasn’t happy with the way they did it, but I knew this was all I was going to get from them right now. I know they blame Blake, but I will change that. It wasn’t his fault.

“I told you she would be pissed at you,” I heard Annie’s voice behind us.

She was leaning on the doorframe and looking at us with a smirk on her face.

“Shut up, Ann,” Gabriel said and rolled his eyes.

I slapped his arm and Annie chuckled.

“I told them you'd beat their asses when you return,” she said as she walked over to us.

“I guess Annie knows me the best,” I chuckled.

“I do,” she grinned at me. “Come on, now. Breakfast is ready.”

I smiled at her and tried to get up, but Nick pulled me back to his chest.

“I will carry you,” he said as he started getting up.

“I can walk,” I protested.

“She is right, Nick,” Patricia added. “She can walk, and it would be good for her.”

Nick mumbled something to his chin and growled. I didn’t understand him, so I gave him a questioning look.

“Fine,” he sighed and placed me on my feet gently. “But I will be right next to you, and I will pick you up if you need me to or if I think you are hurting yourself.”

I smiled warmly at him. “It’s just a short walk to the kitchen. I will be fine.”

Nick ignored me completely and grabbed my arm. We began walking toward the kitchen, and he never looked away from me. I rolled my eyes, but I was glad. Nobody ever cared this much about me, and it made me feel safe and wanted.

Walking wasn’t hard, but my body hurt, so I had to walk slowly. It took us a few minutes to get to the kitchen. When we entered, everybody smiled warmly at me, and Gabriel patted the seat next to him. I sat down and started eating my breakfast.

I looked around the table, and a warm feeling spread through my body. I love these people. I missed them so much.

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE – Ideas

Gabriel’s POV

It’d been a week since Aria came home.

She had been recovering well. Her bruises and scrapes were gone. Her ribs were almost healed. She made a potion from a Rue plant and a red clover that was supposed to help heal broken bones. I guess it worked because her ribs looked great.

Victor hasn’t made a move to take her back yet, but it was only a matter of time before he did.

We had been preparing for him. We will be ready when he comes. It was time we ended this once and for all.

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