Chapter 10 : No One Disrespects My Mate

*Estelle*

I was either paranoid, or people were still talking about me. It had been two days since Gabe returned from his trip. Since then, every time I stepped outside, I felt like I was being watched. I caught people whispering or pointing at me. Sometimes, they just glared as I walked by.

I wracked my brain but couldn't think of anything I'd done that might have offended anyone or upset the pack like this. I wanted to talk to Gabe about it, but I was afraid he'd think I was being dramatic.

Things hadn't exactly been sunshine and rainbows between us. Sure, we were getting along better, but that was because we had a tentative agreement about my staying. I had an out, at least in theory. He could always change his mind and refuse to let me leave. If it came to that, I'd find a way out, but it was pointless to dwell on it now.

I tried to stay away from the main house during the day because Gabe was always working. He'd get irritated if I was underfoot. But he was also irritated if he didn't know where I was. It was easier to stay near enough to the house for him to follow my scent. I'd wandered too far yesterday and poor Val had come running to get me. Apparently, Gabe was convinced I was trying to sneak out of the village.

It annoyed me that he thought I'd break our deal. I wasn't stupid enough to risk his anger like that. We had a huge argument about it last night, so I was trying to lay low today.

I had spent the morning sitting in the beautiful garden behind the inn. It should have been relaxing, but all I could think about was Gabe. His stupid face wouldn't leave my mind. I don't know why I was so bothered that he thought I was trying to run away. In fairness to him, I had tried it before. It made sense he'd have trouble trusting me.

I had just as much reason not to trust him. So why did I feel guilty?

I gave up on relaxing in the garden and went for a walk. That was when I started to notice the whispers and glares again. I was already in a bad mood, and this was doing nothing to make it better. I was irritated, and had I been more confident, I would have demanded to know what the problem was.

Instead, I was resigned to accept the glares and pretend that they didn't bother me. It was middle school all over again. I looked at my feet as I walked, so I didn't realize that two girls had approached me until I was nearly tripping over them.

"Go home," one of the girls said. I blinked in confusion and looked her over. She couldn't have been older than fourteen.

"You don't belong here," her friend added. She looked even younger.

"Excuse me?" I said in shock.

"You heard us," the first girl said. She had sandy brown hair that she tossed over her shoulder as she fixed me with the most withering glare she could manage. "Leave our Alpha alone and go back to where you came from!"

"Megan!" a woman's panicky voice called out.

I looked up to see an older woman rushing toward the girls with a look of mortification on her face.

"I am so sorry, miss," she said to me.

"What's going on?" I asked.

The woman put herself between me and the girls and crouched to talk to them. "You cannot talk to our future Luna like that!" she scolded. "Apologize right now!"

"No way!" the second girl protested. "She's trying to steal Gabe away from us. She's the one who should apologize!" She jabbed an accusatory finger at me and glared.

"Steal Gabe?" I asked. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I'm sorry," the woman said again. Panic was evident in her hazel eyes as she looked at me. "They don't know what they're talking about. I'll take them home. I promise this won't happen again."

"Well, hang on," I said, holding my hand up. "I'm not mad, I just want to know what this is about. I don't understand."

"Don't play dumb," the first girl said. "Everyone knows that you're planning to take our Alpha away to live in the human world with you."

"That's absurd," I said. "Gabe would never leave the pack."

As hard as he was to read, it was obvious that nothing mattered to him more than his pack. The man worked day and night to care for them and address even the smallest issue in the village. I didn't think there was anything that could drag him away from them.

"Duh!" the second girl said with an eye roll. "That's why you should just give up and go home."

The woman, who I guessed to be their mother, sighed deeply. "They're just repeating rumors they heard at school, rumors that they should know better than to believe," she added, pointedly looking from one girl to the other.

"That's a stupid rumor," I said. "I don't want Gabe to leave, and even if I did, he wouldn't. Who would believe something so crazy?" I shook my head in disbelief.

The girls narrowed their eyes at me, then looked at each other. "You mean it?" the second one asked. "You really don't want him to leave with you?"

"Why would I want that?"

"Because you don't like it here," the first said. "That's why you didn't come to the block party last week or even the school fair yesterday. You don't want to spend time with the pack." She said it with such conviction that I couldn't help but smile.

I leaned down and softened my tone. "I'll let you in on a secret," I said.

The girl leaned forward just a little. I could tell that she was interested, even though she was trying to keep the angry expression on her face.

"No one invited me."

"You weren't invited?" their mother asked in surprise.

"No," I said. I stood up and looked at her. "I didn't even know there was a party or a school fair. I'm not avoiding people on purpose. I'm just," I shrugged helplessly, "awkward."

She looked conflicted. I wanted to ask her who she'd heard this rumor from, but I already had a pretty good idea of who started it. I would have to talk to Gabe about this. Isolde's games were getting out of hand.

The woman bit her lip with uncertainly, then reached into her purse and rummaged around. "There's a craft fair on Saturday," she said. "It's nothing big, but it could be fun." She handed me a flier with a time and address printed on it.

I smiled brightly at her and took the flier. "Thank you. I'll be there."

"See," the woman said as she grabbed the girls by the arms and started to drag them away. "I told you there was an explanation. You can't believe everything you hear."

I kept a smile on my face as they walked away, although I was anything but happy. I quickly made my way to the main house and hurried inside. I was pissed.

I followed the smell of citrus down the hallway to the parlor. I was about to push the door open when I heard voices from within. I stopped. I didn't want to interrupt Gabe in the middle of a meeting. As I hesitated, I heard a familiar voice speaking from inside. It was Charles.

"The unrest in the pack has only increased since she arrived," he said.

"The latest rumors are distressing, to say the least," an unfamiliar male voice agreed.

"I told you already," Gabe growled. "She never asked me to leave the pack."

"Even so," the voice continued. "The fact that the rumor has gained so much traction shows the unease the pack feels about this girl."

"Oh, shut up," a woman said. It sounded like Mama Iida. "Estelle is a gem; you're being prejudiced."

"I won't deny that it bothers me that the girl was human-raised," the man's voice said. "But that's not the reason we're here."

"Isn't it?" Gabe demanded.

A hush fell over the room. Even from the hallway, I could sense the anger in his tone.

"Alpha," the unknown male voice said. "We aren't trying to insult you–"

"No. Just my mate," he said angrily. "The constant insults toward her are wearing on my patience," he growled. "I want to know who started this ridiculous rumor."

My heart swelled a little. He was defending me. I thought he would be mad at me for this, but he was speaking up for me.

"I understand your anger," Charles said. "But Gabe, you must consider the way her presence is impacting the pack. She's been here for such a short amount of time."

"How is Estelle to blame for the way the pack is treating her? Not one of you has bothered to introduce yourselves," Mama Iida scolded. "We are the Elders. The pack looks to us for guidance. How should they interpret your coldness toward the girl? You are just as much to blame for this as whoever started the rumor."

"We don't all have the time to play games all night," Charles replied.

"Enough!" Gabe shouted.

The room went quiet again. Even when it wasn't aimed at me, his yelling made my heart rate double. That baritone of his was like a crashing wave when he was angry.

"Nip this in the bud," he commanded. "No excuses."

There were grumblings from within. I moved away from the door and sat in a chair across the hall. Gabe was furious, but Charles was right. My presence had caused him nothing but trouble since I'd arrived, even if it wasn't my fault.

I thought about my recent encounter. The anger that those kids had on their faces before was alarming. They clearly loved Gabe fiercely, and the thought of me taking him away had emboldened them enough to approach me. There was so much at play here that I didn't understand. I felt guilty that I was causing Gabe problems, and I felt guilty that those kids were so upset.

The door opened and Charles and another older man walked out. They sneered when they saw me there. I lowered my eyes.

Mama Iida patted my shoulder reassuringly. "Don't you worry, sunshine," she said. "This will blow over."

"Estelle," Gabe called.

Mama Iida smiled at me and walked away. I stood and walked into the room. I was nervous; Gabe was still visibly angry.

"I'm sorry," I said softly. "I just found out this was happening. I was coming to talk to you about it."

"Don't apologize to me unless you've done something wrong," he said sternly.

I clasped my hands in front of me and looked down. I really didn't know what to do in a situation like this other than apologize. "Ok," I said softly.

"How could such a ridiculous rumor even start?" he fumed. He slammed his palm into the table and I jumped.

"I–" I hesitated. I didn't want to start more drama. Isolde was a very involved member of the pack and I didn't want it to seem like I was creating more issues. "I don't know."

"No," he said. He walked over to me and grabbed my chin. I looked up at him. "I will find out who started this and they will be punished." The rage in his eyes was chilling.

I wanted to protest, but I was afraid to anger him further. "I'm sure it will blow over," I said meekly. I didn't believe it.

Without warning, Gabe leaned forward and kissed me. Despite his anger, it was soft and gentle. It was also full of desire. I gasped as the touch sent electricity zipping along my nerve endings. I couldn't tell if I wanted to push him away or pull him in.

When he pulled back, I was breathless.

"No one disrespects my mate," he growled.