Gabriel POVThe sounds of birds reached Gabriel's ears as he stretched in their tent. The birds chirps and the pitter-patter of lizards and other animals outside told him morning had spoken and awoken him from the most wonderful dream. He turned to see Lucy asleep facing him with a blanket wrapped around her chest and torso. Her legs and shoulders were bare, hinting at what they had done the previous night.He smiled as he admired her features once more. They had a long night and taking the morning slow was definitely a welcome idea. Lucy looked peaceful as her hands rested on the pillow. He brushed her face gently with his fingertips, feeling her creamy smooth skin.She moaned softly in reaction to his skin against hers. He smiled as she opened her eyes sleepily as the sunlight peeked into the tent. Gabriel grinned thinking about all of the things they had done just a few hours ago. Lucy slowly smiled back at him with a yawn."So, it wasn't a dream?" she asked with a whisper. Her

Gabriel POVThe tension in the room was so thick Gabriel felt like he could cut it with a knife. If his uncle could blast fire from his eyes, he would with the look he was giving them. Fennick's face was contorted into an irate angry frown, his eyes flashing with contempt and disdain. "An act of extending a branch of peace," Gabriel answered tactfully with a serious look directed at his uncle. His uncle stared him down as if daring Gabriel to continue looking him in the eyes. Gabriel felt a pulsing buzz throughout his body that he had never felt before. He felt stronger and more confident. The power to speak out against his uncle was radiating from him.Uncle Fennick broke away from Gabriel's gaze with a look of doubt and concern. "Fine. If that's what this is, I'll accept the branch of peace for now. I can admit when my pack members act out of naivety and stupidity.""Thank you," Gabriel answered with a nod. "We appreciate that and look forward to being neighboring packs."Unc

Lucy POVLucy stared across the table at Gabriel, watching his face contort in confusion. She knew how it sounded, but she was more than confident in their relationship. She wanted this."Hold up," Gabriel responded, putting his hands up in a time-out gesture. "You want me to mark you? Why?""If marking me means that our mate bond is solidified even more than I want that. Gabriel… I … I know exactly who I want in my life. I love you. You are my love, there is nobody that compares to you." Lucy blushed as she spoke but continued triumphantly getting her point across.Gabriel's eyes stared back at her as she spoke and he barely moved. Did she say something that rubbed him the wrong way?"You love me?" he asked, standing and kneeling down in front of her with a bewildered expression."I love you," Lucy whispered, lifting a hand to touch his cheek.Gabriel smiled with a goofy grin and pulled her lips against his in a fervent kiss. Lucy blinked in shock but kissed him back just as lo

Gabriel POVGabriel felt Lucy's thigh muscles tense as they heard Sara ask about why Moonlight Pack members were entering the liquor store across the street. He furrowed his eyebrows as he made note of the baseball bats they were carrying into the store. That could not be good.Someone must have called the cops because quickly pulling up to the store were three cop cars. They jumped out of their cars with their guns drawn. "Looks like those baseball bats will be no match for the cops," Vance said, taking another sip of his smoothie."Were they going to rob the store?" Sara's tone was filled with shock."I think they may have," Lucy replied, pointing as the cops came out with Barry and the other Moonlight Pack members in handcuffs. Barry was shouting so loud that they could hear every word in the smoothie shop."You can't arrest me! Do you know who I am? My dad works for Fennick Herman, he'll bail me out. Just you wait and see!" Barry bellowed as the police officer shoved his hea

Gabriel POVThe stray shifter residents were starting to gather in the driveway and Gabriel joined the rest of the crowd as Vance stood on a rock wall greeting the pack members. "Hello everyone! Thank you so much for coming out to discuss what's new around the compound. Also, a big envelope arrived in the mail today from the Shifter Council of Arizona."A few shouts of excitement and cheering rang throughout the crowd filling Gabriel with pride. He was thrilled that this new direction was filling the strays with joy. "Open it!" one of the pack members loudly shouted."All right, all right, hold your horses," Vance laughed before he unceremoniously opened the envelope with his teeth. The strays grew quiet as they waited to hear what the council had sent in response to their request to officially become a pack. Gabriel felt the blood pump through his veins as he jumped up beside Vance on the rock wall.Vance handed the letter to Gabriel. "Why don't you do the honors, Alpha?"G