Page 93 of Mercy & Her Devils

Gabriel’s voice is grim. “A long time ago.”

He still doesn’t let go of my hair.

I shift around on the uncomfortable mattress. “Why are you sleeping alone in this room? Is your Chief Alpha isolating you? Punishing you for something? Did you screw up a mission?”

I let out a surprised gasp, as Gabriel rolls me onto my back and pins me down.

“I know that this is going to take a while to believe.” His expression is serious. “It took me months to, and sometimes, I have to still pinch myself. But this pack isn’t like the ones that we were raised in. Kai isn’t going to punish you, unless it’s in a consensual way that you’re both going to enjoy. Trust me on that. We’re both safe here, unless you count the fact that we’re being hunted by your psycho ex and dad and I have a kill order on my head. But that’s just another Sunday around here.”

“It is hard to believe,” I whisper. “I want to.”

“There’s no rush.” Gabriel’s hard voice softens. “We will prove it to you. My bond mates will, I promise.”

My gaze settles on the photograph of Antonio and Kai.

I’ve never seen a Beta and Alpha look like this, as if the Beta is being indulged and petted by his Alpha.

From the photograph alone, you wouldn’t be able to tell the men’s dynamics.

I want to tell Gabriel that his lovers have already proved themselves to me but I’m not quite there yet.

“We have a main bedroom that we all share,” Gabriel explains. “This room is little more than a barracks that I use when I want to be alone to plan missions or when I’ve come back unexpectedly or late from one. Kai is a grumpy bear, if his sleep is interrupted. He suffers from migraines, which are hereditary in his family. I offered to use this room in order not to impact his sleep patterns and make those worse.”

The thoughtfulness of that makes warmth unfurl through me because it’s just the sort of logical but kind thing that the Alpha who was my first love would have done.

Gabriel may have become more serious and cold to have survived through his military career but he’s still the same person underneath.

“I’ll watch out for his migraines to see if there’s anything I can do to help,” I offer.

Gabriel huffs. “How about entertaining Toni? He’s normally the one who causes everybody’s headaches.”

I chuckle. “Bet you love him really.”

“I do.” Gabriel’s gaze softens. “He’s a brat but he’s my brat. I’d fight to my last breath for him, just like I would for you, Mer. Pack is everything to me. Now that I’ve found you again, I couldn’t live without you.”

The emotion is so powerful and raw, I avoid his gaze. “Who’s your dragon friend? It looks like the only thing that you own in here. Plus, it must be worth millions.”

“It is,” Gabriel says matter-of-factly. “She was my first courting gift from Kai, when I was stationed in Scotland. The American ambassador is always guarded by SEAL level trained operatives because Scotland is viewed as an enemy country in a cold war way. It truly opened my eyes. It’s up to Kai what he shares about his life. But I may have…definitely did…spend long winter nights talking over a shared whiskey bottle with him about my red haired, aquamarine eyed lost Omega.”

I gape at him. “So, this dragon is me…?”

“Meet Mercy Dragon.” Gabriel’s lips quirk.

“I don’t know if it’s a compliment.”

“It is,” Gabriel murmurs.

He rolls to sit up and then pulls me onto his lap, slipping his arm around my middle.

He strokes his hand up the hollow of my back in a way that makes me shiver. “Do you know why?”

I shake my head.

“Kai told me to worship her in a ritual every day. He didn’t know if he could be with an American Alpha. As I said, enemies and different cultures. But he helped to show me his view of Omegas, and I helped him to see that he was worthy. The ritual was to touch her head every morning, while thinking of him. Then to touch myself.”

My eyes widen.

When Gabriel’s fingers splay out lower, his touch is electric. Sitting in his warm lap feels perfect.

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