Page 33 of Rescued

“That’s when Todd came to me,” he continues. “He didn’t know what else to do. He wanted someone to help him figure out how to fight back without getting fired—or worse.”

I exhale slowly, letting my anger settle into something cooler, more controlled. “He came to you for help,” I say. “And you’ve been helping ever since.”

Gabe nods, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “We couldn’t save those three dogs, but we’ve saved plenty of others since.”

The pride in his voice is clear, and I can’t help the swell of admiration I feel for him. This man—my mate—is something extraordinary.

“You’re incredible, Gabe,” I say quietly, the words slipping out before I can overthink them.

He chuckles softly, glancing at me with a mix of gratitude and something deeper. His hand in mine says everything.

I watch Gabe’s profile closely, the tension in his jaw and the faint hitch in his voice betraying the emotions he’s trying to keep under control. It’s hard to see him like this, carrying the weight of something so heavy. My chest compresses, my wolf pacing inside me, restless to do something, anything, to soothe him.

“I used to spend summers here with my grandparents. That’s how I got to know Todd. He was about the only friend I had here. He’d come over, and we’d hang out. At first, I didn’t think anything of the little bruises I saw here and there, but one day when he showed up, he was really stiff. When I asked him about it, he just paled and brushed it off.”

My stomach twists, a low growl vibrating in my chest that I quickly stifle. I don’t need Gabe to spell it out to understand what Todd endured. Abuse. The word flashes through my mind like a dark stain, the thought of it setting my teeth on edge. In shifter packs, hurting a child is unthinkable. But this isn’t a pack, and Todd wasn’t protected.

“Later on,” Gabe continues, quieter now, like the words are clawing their way out, “we were joking about some stupid shit, and I clapped him on the back. He just…dropped to his knees. Didn’t yell or anything, just hissed out a breath and collapsed.”

I grip my thigh hard, trying to keep my anger in check. My wolf bristles, ready to tear into whoever hurt Gabe’s friend. But I force myself to stay calm, to listen.

“I yelled for Grandma,” Gabe says, his voice deep with emotion. “Both her and Grandpa came running. Todd was just…out. Unconscious. When Grandpa got him inside and peeled off his shirt…” He pauses, shaking his head, his knuckles white as they grip the steering wheel. “God, Mika. I’ve never seen anything like that. I’ll never understand how parents can be so fucking cruel.”

The pain in his voice feels like a physical blow. My own anger simmers beneath the surface, but it’s nothing compared to the ache I feel for Gabe. I lift his hand to my lips. “I’m sorry, Gabriel,” I say softly. “Sorry I called Todd a wuss, sorry about his parents…and yours.”

He glances at me, his green eyes shimmering with gratitude. I kiss the back of his hand, holding it firmly in mine. “Some people are just born mean, and others are made that way,” I add. “But you and Todd? You’re stronger for not becoming like them.”

He squeezes my hand, his lips curving into a faint smile. “Thank you, Mika. It helps, you know? Just hearing you say that.”

Thewarmth in his smile hits me like a ray of sunlight, breaking through the storm clouds of his story. I feel my chest squeeze, my pulse quicken. How did I get so lucky to find him? How did I find someone this strong, this kind, this…mine?

“Anyway,” Gabe says, his voice lighter now, though his hand still grips mine tightly, “Todd was paralyzed with fear back then, swamped with guilt. When he told me what happened, I had to beg him to keep his job.”

I arch a brow, curious despite the lingering tension from his story. “You had to beg him?”

He grins, a hint of mischief creeping into his tone. “Yeah. I told him he needed to stay on the force and let me know anytime they got a call about strays. I built the kennels in the barn, set up a website, and made sure Kaufman knew I was dogging his heels—so to speak.”

I groan, but his smile is infectious. My wolf settles, content for now, as the happiness returns to Gabe’s voice. The more he talks, the more I realize just how extraordinary he is.

“You’re a pretty special guy,” I tell him, my voice quiet but firm. I don’t care if I sound like a fool. He needs to know. He deserves to know.

The tips of his ears turn red, the blush creeping across his cheeks visible even from this angle..

Yeah, that’s too adorable to resist. I unbuckle and slide across the seat, leaning in to chase the flush of red on Gabe’s ear with my tongue. He lets out a soft, breathy moan that shoots straight to my cock, but the moment is cut short when the truck jerks onto the shoulder. Gabe wrestles with the steering wheel, cursing under his breath.

“Jesus, Mika!” he growls, his voice more exasperated than angry.

I chuckle and scoot back to my side of the cab, snapping my seatbelt into place. He shoots me a heated glare, the kind that promises retribution I’d gladly endure.

“You know, that’s a good way to get us killed,” he mutters.

I smirk, gesturing to the obvious bulge straining against his jeans. “Yeah, well, I see two bigger problems that might cause trouble.” I glance down at my own sweats, where my erection isn’t exactly subtle. “You’re gonna have to take the long way to the clinic or something because these aren’t going to go unnoticed.”

Gabe groans, slumping a little in his seat. “Fair point.”

Without arguing, he cranks up the air conditioning, angling two vents directly at his groin. I raise an eyebrow and adjust the remaining two vents toward myself, but the icy air barely dents the heat surging through me. It’s laughable, really. We’re trying to cool a raging fire with a hand fan!

By the time we reach the clinic, I’ve just managed to get my breathing under control. Gabe pushes through the door first, his body radiating tension that has nothing to do with the wolf rescue.

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