Chapter 2: My New Mate

Gabriel's POV:

She looked so beautiful lying helplessly in my arms. I was so happy to have her there, too. She loved the look of the place and the warmth of the healing waters. I was proud to show her my home and what I was born to protect. I was also proud to introduce the fountain to my mate. Two precious things for me to protect.

Once my mate was healed though, she became desperate to leave. She didn't want to worry her father. I understood that but I couldn't let her go. The blizzard had already caught up to us and it was just too dangerous to venture outside.

"Thank you very much for helping me," she says, "and as much as I would like to stay, I'm afraid I must return to my pack before the snowstorm catches up to me," she reasons in hopes that I will understand. "My father will be worried sick about me. I don't want him to send out a search party for me and put those wolves' lives at risk," she explains.

"You are too late, I'm afraid," I tell her. "The storm has already caught up to us and it's too dangerous for you to leave. I will take you home once it passes," I promise her. "No, please understand that I must go. Dangerous or not," she demands. "I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that, I will die if something bad happened to you!" I speak. "That doesn't make any sense," she tells me. "Why would you die if something happened to me?" she asks in confusion.

I wasn't trying to upset her, but I needed her to understand that she was too important to me to risk her safety. So, when she asked me why her safety mattered so much to me, I told her the only thing I was sure she would understand, " because you are my Mate," I said softly. I watched her face for her reaction to what I had just revealed to her. I saw shock, joy and then confusion when she asked me how I knew where she lived.

I had been watching Nicole for a few days now. I watched her take off running towards the tree line from her pack house. My mate is very fast. I was impressed with her speed and agility. I had to keep using my ability to portal just to keep up with her.

I laughed when I saw her wolf doing her happy dance when she was able to outrun her guards. I laughed again when I saw her playing with the woodland creatures she caught.

She was so caught up in playing and eating that she didn't see the bear who was sneaking up on her. It wasn't the way I wanted us to meet but I had no choice but to intervene. One lone wolf could not kill a bear. She would have been killed if I didn't save her.

It wasn't clear why the bear wanted to hunt her because bears don't usually hunt other carnivores, but I guess he must have been desperate? Still, I found it odd. I got a running start and then I barreled myself into the side of the bear. This knocked the bear sideways and off the hillside, landing below.

I guess the fast movement frightened her because she quickly got back into her fighting stance and readied herself to attack me. My mate was brave. She was reckless, but brave.

I was fortunate that something tripped her, causing her to come crashing down. This allowed me to avoid her attack and have a chance to play hero and get on her good side. I was quick to seize the opportunity. I lifted her up into my arms and carried her back to my cavern where we could take shelter from the approaching blizzard, and I could heal her injuries.

"You are my mate?" she questions. "Yes, I am your mate and you are mine," I assure her. "Then why can't I sense it?" she asks. " I am not sure," I admit. "I could try shifting into my wolf. Maybe that would help?" I say. She nods in agreement. I take a step back away from her and begin to shift into my white wolf.

She is smiling brightly when she sees me in my wolf form. "Wow. Your wolf is amazing!" she squeals. I feel my wolf preen. He is full of happiness at her words. "May I touch you?" she asks. "Yes, you may," I say as I give my permission. My wolf is snow white. His fur also has highlights of platinum, silver, and blue in it. He looks quite magical in the right light. He also can appear to glow in the darkness.

I walk closer to her and allow my wolf to nuzzle her with his head. She laughs and reaches her hands down to pet me. I notice her wolf in her eyes as she comes to the surface to look at me. "Mate!" I hear her say. "Mate!" I say right back to her. I see the air around Nicole begin to change and then I see her shift into her beautiful white wolf. I have seen her white wolf before but now, seeing her up close, I realize just how majestic and gorgeous she truly is.

She walks over to me and rubs her head against the head of my wolf, nuzzling me lovingly. My heart begins to beat faster. My wolf is nearly leaping for joy, he is so excited to finally have a mate. So excited to have her. After all of these days of watching her, pining for her, desiring her, we finally have her here with us. Ours to love, ours to protect. Ours...forever. No more loneliness. We have, at long last, found our other half and we could not be happier.

I nudge her towards the furniture on the other side of the cavern. I walk behind her and watch how she moves as she walks towards the furniture. My wolf is practically drooling as he watches her butt and her tail wiggle. She climbs up onto the couch and I join her. We both lay down next to each other, still in our wolf forms. She snuggles into me. She might be feeling cold again. I begin to lick her all over. Grooming her while putting my scent all over her. She purrs softly and then slowly drifts off to sleep. We stay that way all night.