Page 41 of Rescued

I nod, swallowing against the lump in my throat. “Yeah. They’re called mates. It’s rare, Gabe. Some shifters never find theirs.” I pause, the words sticking for a moment before I can force them out. “But when we do, it’s…everything.”

The silence stretches, and I can’t help the nervous energy building inside me. I don’t know what I’ll do if Gabe doesn’t accept this. I take a deepbreath, trying to calm my racing heart, trying not to read too much into his expression.

“So, you’re saying I’m…your mate?” His voice is cautious, but there’s no anger in it. Just curiosity mixed with the slightest edge of uncertainty.

I nod again, taking a step closer to him. “Yes, Gabriel. You’re my mate. My one true mate.” The words come out quieter than I mean them to, but the weight of their meaning feels almost too much to voice. “That’s why I showed up at your place that night. I couldn’t stay away, even when I thought it might be better for you if I did. The pull…the bond between us…it’s unbreakable.”

His jaw stiffens, but it’s not in rejection. He’s thinking—I can see it. His eyes flicker over my face, searching for something. “You said some shifters don’t find their mates,” he says finally, his voice low. “What happens if they don’t?”

The question hurts in a way I wasn’t expecting. It’s not about me, not really, but the thought of shifters who live without ever feeling what I feel for Gabe…it’s a hollow ache. I glance down at the floor for a moment before meeting his gaze again.

“They survive. Most of them do, at least,” I admit, my tone softer now. “But it’s not the same. Mates…they complete us. Without them, there’s always this emptiness. Most shifters will settle for someone else, and it can work, even be good sometimes. But it’s never like this.” I gesture between us, letting my hand drop to my side. “This is… It’s different. It’s everything.”

Gabe stays silent, and the weight of his attention feels almost unbearable. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, and it twists my gut into knots. But then he nods slowly, his eyes softening. “So, I’m your mate. Does that mean you’ve always known? Like, from the moment you saw me?”

“Not exactly,” I admit, rubbing the back of my neck. “I felt the pull before I even saw you. When I was still in my wolf form. I couldn’t explain it at the time, but I knew I had to find you.” I take a breath, forcing myself to keep going. “And then, when I shifted, when I saw you face-to-face…yeah, I knew. My wolf knew it, too.”

Gabe exhales, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little. “You’ve been carrying this around the whole time, haven’t you?”

I dip my head in acknowledgement, a small smile tugging at my lips despite my nerves. “Yeah. I didn’t want to overwhelm you. Hell, I didn’t even know if you’d believe me. But you’re handling it better than I thought you would.”

A short laugh escapes him, and he shakes his head. “You’re giving me a lot of credit here, Mika. I’m still wrapping my head around half of this.” His voice is lighter now, teasing but warm. “But I’ll admit…it does explain a lot.”

Hope flares in my chest, tentative but real. “Does that mean you’re okay with this?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Gabe tilts his head, studying me for a moment before he steps closer. He reaches out, his hand brushing lightly against mine. “It means I’m not running, Mika. And I’m not going to.” His smile is small, but it’s there, steady and sure. “We’ll figure this out. Together.”

Relief washes over me so intensely it’s almost dizzying. I don’t know what I expected—fear, maybe rejection—but not this. Not Gabe meeting me halfway, willing to take this on, willing to take me on.

“Thank you,” I murmur, my voice cracking slightly.

“Okay, and…?”

Gabe’s question catches me off guard, not because I didn’t expect it—eventually—but because of the way he asks it. The faint blush creeping up his neck, the way he can’t quite meet my eyes, and the nervous shift in his posture…it’s endearing in a way I never imagined seeing in my mate.

I take his hand, squeezing it gently, letting him know it’s okay to ask me this. “You want me to shift?”

His eyes dart up to meet mine, searching, maybe for hesitation or resistance, but there’s none. “Yeah,” he says softly. “I mean, I know what you are—sort of. I’ve seen you, kind of. But I haven’t really seen you, you know?”

I do know. Shifting in front of him would make this real in a way nothing else has. It’s not that I don’t trust him; I just don’t want to scare him. But the hope in his eyes, the curiosity mingled with something deeper, reassures me. He’s ready. Or at least as ready as he’s going to be.

“Okay,” I say, my voice steady. “But you might want to step back. Not because I’ll hurt you,” I add quickly, seeing the flicker of apprehension in his eyes. “It’s just…the process takes up a little space.”

Gabe nods, releasing my hand and moving back a few steps. His gaze never leaves me, and there’s something in the intensity of it that fills me with warmth.

I strip off my shirt, then step out of my sweatpants, leaving myself bare. No sense ruining clothes when I don’t have many to begin with. Gabe’s eyes widen slightly, his gaze trailing over me in a way that has heat pooling low in my belly. Even now, his attraction is palpable, and it strengthens my resolve.

Ah, hell, I love Gabe.I’ve been circling the words for days, holding them back like a coward.When did I become so damn afraid?The thought spurs me into motion, shrugging off my clothes and letting them drop to the floor. When I’m completely naked, I glance at Gabe, intending to speak, but he’s already caught on something else entirely. His gaze is locked on my cock, his lips parting just enough to drag his tongueacross them. The sight makes me twitch, heat pooling low in my belly.

It takes a few snapped fingers to bring him back to the moment. “Gabe,” I call softly.

“Huh?” His head jerks up, his expression like a kid caught sneaking candy. “What?”

I can’t help the grin tugging at my lips. “Watch me,” I say, my voice quiet but firm. Then I take the leap I’ve been too afraid to make. “I love you, Gabriel.”

I barely register the widening of his eyes before I drop to my hands and knees. My heart pounds in rhythm with his sharp intake of breath, and I know this is as much a test as a confession. Bones pop and stretch, the familiar pain of the shift grounding me as muscles twist and reform. Dark fur flows over my skin in waves, my face elongating into a snout, jaws heavy with sharp teeth. The world sharpens and shifts, sounds and scents overtaking sight for a moment.

When it’s done, I shake out my thick black fur and glance up. Gabe looks stunned—his mouth open, his eyes wide. I wag my tail, unable to resist, then throw my head back and howl. The sound echoes off the walls, full of emotion I can’t put into words.

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