Page 13 of The Alpha's Stolen Mate

The moment our lips touched, an electric shock of understanding shot through me.

Oh!

It was only one kiss, but it shifted my perspective on everything.

We pulled away, and I gasped, having a sudden epiphany.

Of course.

There was an actual reason I had been drawn to Gabriel my entire life. Everything clicked into place, like the right key fitting into a lock.

Gabriel was my Fated Mate. For shifters, if we kissed our Mate, a supernatural bond was formed tethering our souls together. Since this was our first kiss—even though we had known each other our whole lives—we had had no way of knowing we were destined for each other.

For the first time, I could sense my soul as a physical thing in my body. It was like a second heart, and it belonged to Gabriel. At that moment, as I stared into his eyes, I could truly understand the word soulmate. Although I'd known Gabriel most of my life, he seemed like an entirely new person to me.

Because, as of a few seconds ago, he was myperson.

Chapter Five: Starting and Ending

Gabriel POV

Summer is my Destined Mate.

My mind was whirling, rapidly answering questions that had been keeping me up at night for years. Right before the attack was the first time I'd seen Summer in my wolf form. That was when I became drawn to her. I'd heard that some Destined Mates became interested in their partner when they got their wolf. It was almost like the magic that made us shifters triggered the bond. Then, any intimate physical contact, like a kiss, solidified it.

When I was thirteen and my parents explained that they were Destined Mates, they told me that once the Mating bond was in place, a couple was irresistible to each other. Back then, I thought it was gross since the only Fated Mates I knew were them. But now as I stared into Summer's bright blue eyes, the same color as a robin's egg, her long, silky, black hair cascading over her shoulders, the swell of her breasts showcased by her little white tank top, and her pink delicate lips opening slightly in surprise, a strong sense of desire coursed through me that was so powerful it almost knocked me over.

I wanted her more than I wanted to take my next breath. No, “wanted” wasn't the right word. I neededSummer. It wasn't only physical desire that was pumping through my system. I needed to be around her if only to hear her lovely voice or listen to what was on her mind. I needed to do everything in my power to make her happy. And above all, I had to protect Summer. An anxiety unlike anything I'd ever known washed over me just at the thought of anything ever happening to her. Even though she was sitting right in front of me, a list of potential threats to her ran through my head, starting and ending with another Rogue wolf attack.

Was this the drawback of giving your heart and soul to someone? Knowing that one day, something horrible could happen to them, and there was nothing you could do about it?

Summer noticed my rigid posture and put her arms around my shoulders, one of her hands gently stroking the back of my head.

I allowed my eyes to close and leaned into her touch. My heart began to beat rapidly as I encircled my arms around her waist and pulled her closer.

She laid her forehead against my chest and continued to play with my hair.

“Are you…um, I don't know how to say what I'm experiencing. I don’t know how to ask if you’re feeling the same thing I am,” Summer muttered, keeping her head down, avoiding my eyes. “What if I'm wrong? I don't want to embarrass myself…”

I tilted her chin up until she was looking at me. I had to be honest with her. Now was the time to put all my cards on the table.

“Summer, we are Destined Mates.”

She quietly gasped, and I wanted to capture the sound and listen to it on repeat.

“The day at the stream,” I started, but stopped when she flinched. It killed me to bring up her attack, but it was the only way to make her understand. I rubbed her back, trying to bring her a little comfort. “That was the day when I realized the depth of my feelings for you. Seeing you there, sitting on that rock…it changed something inside of me. Of course, I’ve always thought you were beautiful. But before, you were my beautiful friend, Summer. Then, after that day, you were all I thought about. You were my everything.”

She bit her lip and glanced down.

“I, uh, I've liked you for a lot longer than that,” Summer admitted. “Honestly, I think my feelings for you started in first grade. Remember when, um, Axel…” She paused at his name, and her cheeks flushed.

An anger so deep that it seared my insides flowed through my bloodstream at just the mention of Axel. I meant what I had told Summer. I didn't care that he was my brother. He hurt and disrespected my Mate. How dare he?

Then, my mind played back what she said. She’d always been interested in me? A surge of happiness made my heart lift.

“Remember when he wouldn't talk in class that first day of school?” she continued.

I nodded, half of my mind still thinking about how to teach Axel a lesson for hurting Summer.

---